West Coast Virgins - Itineray

[georgemac]

Our Itinerary

Thursday 12th March 2015 to Sat 14th March
Flight 1 - ABZ - LHR 11.00 - 12.40
Flight 2 - LHR - SFO 15.00 - 18.50 – hoping we keep our seats booked in the bubble – we did.

2 Nights (1 full day) in San Francisco
Hotel - Villa Montes at airport – San Bruno - shuttle from airport to hotel and crash out. I am intending enjoying the flight!
The hotel was booked in November and booked through the Choice Priveleges member scheme, non refundable. $278 for 2 nights, free car parking, free airport shuttle and continental breakfast included. Very good reviews. Located in San Bruno not far from the airport. Main reason for staying here was close to car pickup on Friday morning, and free car parking. It is also close to the San Bruno BART station should we wish to use it for Pier 39.

Pick up car Friday morning, plan is Muir Woods, possibly boat trip around bay and Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf. That will end our time in San Francisco.

Sat 14th March to Monday 16th March - 2 Nights - Pismo Beach
Plan is to drive down route 1 to destination, taking the whole day (google maps saying 6 1/2 hr drive), with AM and PM coffee stops and lunch stop. Then next day sightseeing/relaxing, possibly a visit to the outlets.

Hotel now booked. Seaventure Hotel on Pismo beach, booked through British Airways, appx £110 per night and good reviews.

Mon 16th March to Friday 20th March - 4 Nights - Las Vegas
Mon 16th will be the drive to Vegas - again with AM and PM coffee stops and lunch stop – again google maps saying about a 6 hr drive, with not much to see I don’t think.
Tues/Weds/Thurs/Fri will be spent sightseeing, shopping, show (at least 1 possibly 2) and day trip to Grand Canyon West Rim and Hoover Dam using the car.

Accommodation - I had booked the Palms on a very good deal (£60 per night inc Resort Fee) - but have now cancelled this - have been advised it may not be our sort of hotel, and TBH the requirement for the shuttle or taxi to get to the strip sort of put me off, not sure it should have as we could have used the car. The rooms looked great, recently refurbished and reviews good, although has a reputation as young person party hotel.
Now staying at the Vdara, just under £100 per night Inc Resort Fee – free with BA. Booked this and the Pismo hotel with British Airways.

Friday 20th March to Wednesday 25th March - 5 Nights - Ananheim
Changed from Carlsbad because of good hotel deal posted on Dibb - Hyatt Regency Orange County- £340 for 5 nights with Virgin holidays still close to the coast and can go to either San Diego or LA from here - but will likely be SD. Was doing a day at Downtown Disney anyway - and I have been instructed to get close to Cheesecake factory.
This deal includes resort fee and free parking for Virgin customers.
Saw a walking trail I fancied in LA up in the hills overlooking the Hollywood sign.

All hotels have been paid in full in January now so no further changes!

Wednesday 25th will drive to LA, our flights are then
Flight 1 - LA - LHR 17.10 - 10.35 – this will be my first flight in the A380 and looking forward to this.
Flight 2 - LHR - ABZ 11.40 - 13.15

So that’s us all set, not too many plans cast in stone about what we will be doing at each place.
Before I go, if I was planning it again, think I might have been tempted to do SFO, drive down coast, drop off car, fly to Las Vegas and back, then hire a car again. Not sure. Other option would have been do SFO without car, fly to Las Vegas, then fly to LA and hire car there.