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Old 11 Jan 20, 02:40 PM  
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Vertigo
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Join Date: Aug 18
Location: Kent
The "OMG I'm 50, Start the bucket list" trip to LA (Updated 19th may 2020)

I wasn't going to write a pre trippie as the Dibb is really a Florida site. But i felt it will help me as we are new to California and all input is welcome.

So I turn 50 two days before we go. Mid life crisis you say? Yeah, probably.

After 7 trips to Florida and as the kids are a little older now, we decided to change it up last year and we did Canada and New York. It was utterly magnificent.

When we were there, the girls said they really missed disney but also wanted to see more of the USA. I have always wanted to do the hollywood thing, so a plan was hatched to have this years holiday in California.

The girls will be 17 and 14 when we go. One in 6th form and one in year 10. They get two weeks holiday in October from their school which really helps with avoiding the USA during peak.

So background done...what are we planning?

Dates are fixed. 24th October to 4th November. We won't do the full two weeks for a number of reasons like jet lag, homework but in truth its also cost. Most places are £200+ per night and our budget is fixed.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of flights. Being used to the thick end of £1000 each for direct to Orlando, to price up direct flights at around £450 was lovely. In fact, it was so good in the BA sale I have already booked them.

Managed to get on the early American out and late BA back from Heathrow - with an SUV hire car for £1790 from the BA holidays site. Very pleased with that.Plus added bonus of it being a package, we have the extra protection. Only down side is that BA want £560 to book seats in advance. I will wait I think.

Now to fill the time.

Younger daughter insisted on Disney being at the end. When in Canada, we did Canada's wonderland on day one and she said she had forgotten all about it by the time we got to New York!

Looking at tickets, a 4 day non hopping pass is cheaper the a 3 day hop. so we will probably do that.

We plan to have the first 5 days in an LA apartment which we will use as our base for Universal (already have tickets as ATD had a two day for the price of one deal which seemed too good to miss), WB, other studios, Hollywood itself and full LA tour etc.

We will break this with 2 days in a luxury beachside property in Malibu. It is already booked and seen as my treat for being 50. It is over £500 a night! So i hope it doesnt rain! But it is astonishing. Literally walk down the steps to the beach.

from there we will drive to Anaheim to have 4 days at Disney.

We chatted lots about seeing more of California, especially the north and the PCH as there is so much to see and do. But we are there for 11 days and i don't want to live in my car as wonderful as the drive seems to be.

We can always come back and do that part. I dont want to cram. S only Southern California this time.

So one final thing for now is accomodation. Having two teenage girls, we do prefer apartmets with kitchens. They will all have their own beds instead of sharing a double in a hotel room and it also keeps the costs down as we are not really culinary people we dont need to eat out.

We are more than happy going to a supermarket and knocking up a home made spaghetti bolognese instead of $150 in a resturant. PLus we will do a packed lunch. Not only is this cost effective, it is actually a preference.

We have found plenty in annaheimd, but struggling a bit to find something well located in LA - especially as we know that some of the areas in LA are a bit dodgy.

Free parking is important too as that adds up.

so there we are - a long (intended to be brief, but once i start i cant stop) winded summary of our plans so far.

I have plenty more to say, but i will be surprised if many of you get to this bit so i will write more as time goes on.

feedback and opinions 100% welcome!

Dan.

Edited at 03:54 PM.
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