How do people book?

[kerrie1781]

Hi all,

I am just wondering how people book a trip? Usually do Florida so it’s a package and my head is spinning with it all.
I want to do Disney so Anaheim for around 4 days, I may do Knotts Berry Farm as well.
Then want to go and do some sites in Hollywood such as Universal. How many days do I need there? I’d like to do six flags but I won’t drive over there, so is this possible?
Do I just book a flight to LAX and then hotels separately?
How do I get from Anaheim to Hollywood? Sorry for all the questions 😂. Also, would 7 nights be long enough for Hollywood or is that too long?
Thanks in advance x

[400ixl]

Lots of questions there. I always book myself, did for Florida.

There are lots of hotels within walking distance of Disneyland of all budgets so that one should be straight forward with a bit of research. You could use this same base for Knotts Berry Farm and could Uber to there if not driving.

You would then want to relocate north for Hollywood, universal, Warner Bros etc. Picking somewhere near the metro line would make sense here as you could also use it for a day at the beach. There are coaches that go between the two, you could Uber to the train station and go that way, or just Uber all the way.

Six Flags is about 40 minutes away and you could Uber it. There may be organised trips as well but never looked.

7 days is probably too many unless you have other things in mind. Personally could lose weeks in LA but most who only want to do a visit of the typical tourist attractions find 3 days enough.

You can do LA without a car. Never have as find it more convenient to have a car. We sometimes only have the car for parts, no point having one for Anaheim if you are doing days in Disney for example.

[cornishfrogboy]

This will be a long one, but bear with it!

I do DIY every time. Many do it differently and with good reason, but this is how I do it. Flights and then fill in the gaps. Flights are the biggest pricing variable by a huge margin and therefore I want to be as flexible on dates, duration, departure and arrival airports as possible in order to drive down that expenditure. Everything else can be fitted in afterwards!

1. I have a list of ‘must do experiences’, just like you do for LA, but mine are USA and even Worldwide. I will stick with the USA.

2. I have in my mind a map and plotted on this map are all of those ‘bucket list’ locations. Some I have done, but would like to return and see in greater depth, some have changed/improved with new attractions and some are in the future. Typically in my case for the future there are Philly, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Hawaii etc etc. You have greater LA.

3. I have 3 options to move between locations, Car hire, AMTRAC and internal flights. I am constantly researching all three and learning, routes, sample pricing, convenience (airports are generally outlying whilst AMTRAC stations are generally in city centres, thus removing shuttle requirements from the airport).
In your case, given that it is all in one city, you have car hire (ruled out?), Uber, lyfft, Taxi, Bus, organised tour with transport. I would be playing with all of them, dummy fares, how long does it take, Google research etc.

4. I look at a basic plan that will cover several things I want to see. A good example would be the Boston trip of 2019, the report of which is in my signature.
Boston was no1 objective, but I wanted more.
I love aircraft and the biggest military aircraft museum in the world is in Dayton OH.
I missed seeing CBGB in NY and also the 9/11 Museum on my previous visit, (time constrained)
We wanted some Orlando.
I try to knock off as many states as I can over time.
I had heard that an airboat ride on the Tamiami causeway was in a different league to anything in Orlando (Buffalo Tiger).
I am a tightwad and never pay a penny more than I need to.

With all of the above, I found that a flight in to Boston and a flight out of Miami would work well, so I booked and paid for it after Google research. Hand baggage only and a 3 week split. I worked out how many days I needed at several locations and put it in my trip planner. It is hand baggage as there are to be 4 x flights and cost matters!
AMTRAC run a train from Boston to Penn in NY, 4 hours duration and very good value. Central Boston to Central NY is therefore both quicker and cheaper than flying, plus it goes through lots of States.. ticket purchased.
Flights to Dayton as the train takes 24 hours. Dayton Hotel has wash and tumble dry facilities as we are hand baggage only.
Car hire to get around Dayton, but a flight out of Cincinatti as I could drive down in a couple of hours, passing through Indiana and in addition, Cincinatti airport is in.. Kentucky.
Flight to Orlando, but I always have a luxury night in a Universal Hotel. Not wanting to waste time and money doing it first night, we got a taxi from MCO to the Ramada on IDrive (£60 for the night including breakfast) and then turned up at the Royal Pacific next morning at 0700 to take advantage of 2 days Xpress pass, club level food freebies etc etc. You will note I have no car and am paying neither car hire or carparking fees!
Car hire pick up at end of Universal stay, but from Holiday Inn as it is cheaper than from the Royal Pacific, now on to 10 days in a Villa.
You get the drift and it goes on until eventually flying out of Miami... Always researching and looking at options.

In your case, I would be planning similar, but on a City, rather than State or whole USA scale.
You will be flying in and out of LAX, so that is simple. Google flights for research, then try a direct approach to your best deal airline to cut out complication and agents. Look at, 11, 12 and other numbers of nights away, rather than the standard 7,10,14,21 as this can save you lots.

You will need transport to Anaheim and again, that should be straightforward. I would be looking at Uber as it is cheaper than a Taxi and you are paying for a vehicle rather than 4 or whatever seats in a bus/coach/whatever. At worst a taxi, but you are saving on car hire and also, car parking.

You will need a hotel close to Disney and look at Uber or Taxi to Knotts Berry. It is not really practicable to ferry across to Universal for a day and you have also mentioned 6 flags (which is excellent). I would look at a hotel move after Anaheim. We are staying at the Hilton Universal this year as it is right there. Many like the nearby Tangerine. It is also worth mentioning that Warner Brothers Studio tour is either a long walk or a short taxi from this location.
I have never done a Hollywood tour from this location (I drove and used Santa Monica) I have no doubt that research will reveal a suitable day tour from the area.
Many also visit Brea tar pits and the Griffiths Observatory whilst in this area.

6 Flags is a fair way away... If I was planning this, then it would not deter me. I would weigh up an Uber/ taxi to a Hotel that is less than a mile from the 6 flags front gate, the Hilton Gardens, Valencia. It has a Red Lobster and a Wendy next door and was very good value.. such good value compared with the Hollywood hotel prices, that it will more than cover your taxi fare, particularly if you preposition for the night, do 6 flags and then stay there for your last night. You will find it in the California trip report in my signature.

Last day and I would taxi/Uber from Valencia to LAX, dependent on your flight time. It is a 40 mile journey!

Hoping that this gives you some ideas and direction in your planning! If you plot that idea on a map, you will find that you have kinda travelled in a big circle throughout the stay, thus minimising expense, whilst covering everything you mentioned. There is one thing additional that I would add, were I you...
I would finish by going from Valencia to Santa Monica for my last night (if in fact you decide to go to Valencia). Flights from LAX are generally in the evening and thus, you could do your Hollywood sightseeing from there instead of from Anaheim whilst also getting to see the Pacific, the pier etc. Again, detail is in the trip in my signature. Santa Monica is around 7 miles from LAX.

[megaflyer]

After many years or visiting for work (running 2 separate projects form San Diego at same time helped) and using down time to explore CA I know California better than I know most of the UK including London ! I generally know what I want to see and where I want to stay (and the times that are good and times it is gloom) but I am not particularly loyal to any hotel (one exception Palm Springs which I am loyal too) so Google around for ideas, including time (ie some hotels give better rate for say staying 3 or 5 nights -often with one free but thats not all... ) then narrow down location and hotels at that location then the hard work seats. I look for best deals online and then email hotel to see if they are better the deal (nearly always they can) then I call a few and see if I can strike an even better deal over the phone - with all the data in front of me and drive a price I am happy with and seal the deal there an then. In California if you stay 30 nights in a hotel you can save the tax - it can be really good so for say Palm Springs where in August I can get a room in my hotel that advertises from $299 upwards for $99 a night - every 3 night free and book for 28 nights to give me the tax break but I dont stay there the whole time - I go to Disneyland for a night or 2 mid period, I may go to Victorville to stay with a friend or to Laguna Beach (one of the prettiest villages in California) but my place of residence is the hotel in PS where the bulk of my stuff is etc. I work it legally to my advantage but it takes a lot of patience and being able to walk away from a hotel I really fancy if I feel they re not wiling to work with me or getting a fair deal (I have great friends in CA that really help me with tips on maximising my buck)

[kerrie1781]

Thank you for your detailed replies! I will look into everything, very helpful information and food for thought x

[kerrie1781]

I’ve booked!
Booked for Nov 8th 2022 for 10 nights. Staying in Anaheim for 5 nights (clarion Anaheim) and then 5 nights in Hollywood (Hilton Universal City). Just over 3k for 2 of us. This includes transfers from airport to Anaheim, Anaheim to Hollywood and Hollywood to hotel.
Booked with Ocean Florida so it’s a package.
Very excited as never seen Disney at Christmas and Nintendo Land should be open at Universal.
My daughter is currently planning everywhere she wants to visit, the list is massive! X

[kerrie1781]

Is this an average price? Please say it is 😂. I know it’s dearer than DIY but I much prefer packages with peace of mind and I also have transfers.

[megaflyer]

Maybe price up with BA Holidays or Virgin Holidays rather than going a Florida specialist ?
It does seem quite expensive if you have a look at hotels $87 a night which I know cold be driven right down by speaking with the hotel by email THEN telephone call (they will be desperate for our business as I am finding out)

COuld you not investigate yourself to see if you can get a better deal and if so cancel ?
Flights are on sale to LAX at the moment too ... I think it may be worth a couple of hours of your time

[danisleigh]

We paid £3000 for flights with BA to Las Vegas and return from Los Angeles as well as 4 nights at cesars palace and 3 nights at Hilton universal city but that is for 3 adults. We booked all the rest of the hotels ourselves but wanted to add some accomodation to the flights so it was a package and we could pay deposit only. Might be worth giving BA a try?

[kerrie1781]

I did try both virgin and they were slightly dearer. BA don’t go up to November 2022 and I got a bit impatient and booked. I was struggling for prices as it’s quite a way off. My deposit was quite large so it’s tough now. My own fault. I thought it would be dearer than doing DIY but I wanted transfers. Just don’t want to have been completely ripped off.