Flights booked.. let the planning begin!

[Bozza]

Adding...

I've long been of the opinion that we'll always be able to find somewhere to stay, so I don't stress about hotel bookings too much.

But Hotwire can be excellent for stays, particularly at short notice. It's an "opaque" booking site in that you can book mystery properties for a better price - you get a star rating, amenities and description but often, with a small amount of detective work, you can be pretty sure what you'll get.

That was the case with the two Hotwire bookings I made above - technically I didn't know what I was booking but I was 99.9% sure what I'd get, and I was correct. But I do this knowing that if the 0.01% chance happened, we'd take what we were given because, frankly, you have no other choice! But if you're only looking at 4/5* places and know the area you want to stay in, you're very unlikely to be disappointed.

I've always thought the same with hire cars too, although the world has changed a little bit there as we all know.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by Bozza

Trying to pick through emails...

Nine nights car hire upon arrival at SFO, Full-size - £411

First night at Courtyard by Marriott Palo Alto, Los Altos (so we could visit Silicon Valley spots such as Google and Apple on our first day) - £112 incl breakfast

One night Solvang - £153. This was an AirBnb in what turned out to be, I think, a Marriott timeshare resort - airbnb/rooms/21754871 - so was, essentially, a large flat with access to pool and other shared facilities. Great value for what we got.

Two nights Monterrey - can't find an email for this booking, I'm afraid. I can find bookings for the aquarium, whale-watching, Uber receipts and a Chipotle order but nothing for the hotel.

Five nights Hilton LA North Glendale - $860 (booked on Hotwire US, hence USD price) - this was a lovely hotel with a fantastic bar, nice pool area and, from I recall, we were offered breakfast for a small uncharge which we took and the breakfast was amazing.

Four nights at the Disneyland Hotel - $334 per night (those were the days!)

Two nights at a mate's flat at Hermosa Beach. This was the bargain stay - only cost me dinner, an evening out on the beers and a nice bottle of gin.

Long Beach to San Francisco flights, booked the day before with Jet Blue - $97 per person inclusive of one hold case each and seat reservations.

Four nights at Hilton San Francisco Union Square - $799 (again booked on Hotwire). Great hotel in good location. Got upgraded to some sort of junior suite.

Single day car hire in San Francisco from Alamo Union Square - $35 all-in.

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Sounds brilliant. I am not sure that my OCD could cope with going that loose…. and Mandie is absolutely certain of this fact.

[Aims]

Congratulations on booking your trip, CFB! 👏🏻 I’m happy for you, and no kids- that’s always exciting 😃 I’m glad you saved the best place for last, too 😁👍

Enjoy the rest of your planning!

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by Aims

Congratulations on booking your trip, CFB! 👏🏻 I’m happy for you, and no kids- that’s always exciting 😃 I’m glad you saved the best place for last, too 😁👍

Enjoy the rest of your planning!

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It may have been ‘the best to last’, Aims… but it was always going to be one of the first on the list… and note that LA isn’t even on the list!

Balboa Park, Midway, Coronado Beach etc top trumped Disney, Universal, Warner’s, 6 Flags and I5 traffic by a country mile!
The only possible draw to LA was USS Iowa.

[Aims]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

Balboa Park, Midway, Coronado Beach etc top trumped Disney, Universal, Warner’s, 6 Flags and I5 traffic by a country mile!
The only possible draw to LA was USS Iowa.

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“I5 traffic” 😂 I felt that one in my soul! I was on the I5 last weekend, on a Saturday morning, and it just crawled for a few miles like it was rush hour. No accidents, just because there were too many cars on the road. I don’t blame you for not wanting to spend much of your precious vacation time in traffic.

You have a great itinerary worked out- plenty to see and do without LA. 😊

[OliMax]

Originally Posted by duchy

I got a not quite as scary as I expected quote online from FDCH. I emailed Andy yesterday asking if he had better off line prices (this was West coast too) and he does. May be worth an email to him.

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Yes would always check with Andy still over £1000 for 9 days though and he isn't confident that prices will come down. Demand is so high.

[Sew109]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

On that day from Vegas to Yavapai, we will only be stopping at that place where they film westerns and stuff as well as the Hoover Dam. We will likely be right at the bottom of the strip, close to McCarran. We should get to Yavapai in plenty of time for sunset!

The Yavapai lodge does seem basic.. but perfect in location.

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We stayed here in 2018 was one of my favourite hotels it was basic lovely short walk to the rim good choice of food even if quality was not great it was fine. We had a room upstairs with like 20 foot feelings the room was massive mate we loved it

[enjibenji]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

Seligman it is then! It looks real quirky and fun place to stop

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Road kill cafe for lunch 😊