West, East and some in the middle!

[HappyGoLucky]

Hello everyone.

I have to write a brief pre-trip just to get myself organised!
This is a big trip with lots to do.

There will be me-
Jane (39)
Jacob (18)
Aaron (13)
James (6).

We have been to the east and west coasts before and love America.
This trip is trying to include all the essentials we haven't done yet, or want to do again because my oldest son probably won't do another family holiday after this one.
Now I have finally booked my flights for the transatlantic legs, I need to get it all down on paper!


The Plan so far:


August 2016- leave home for Premier Inn Gatwick. £35

Saturday - Fly Westjet to Las vegas via canada- chosen purely because of their good prices. I have trawled the net since release dates and flights for 4 people were beyond my reach for what we need (open jaw).
I have never flown indirect before, so it will be an experience!
Flights - £2673

Land at Las Vegas - Best western casino Royal - £168 for two nights.

Tuesday-
Fly from las vegas to Salt Lake City.
Amendment -
I am now driving from Las Vegas
Car hire £820 Dodge Grand Caravan or similar including one way fee-

to Grand Canyon - one night at Kachina lodge - £158
Then drive to Bryce national park - one night at Ruby's inn - £98.58

Drive to Salt Lake City stay two nights.
I have a friend here so hoping to meet up with her and family for a day or so.
Howard Johnson North Temple inn - £127

Friday morning August drive to Yellowstone National Park.
We have 4nights booked at Old faithful
Then move on to - 3nights booked at Lake Lodge, Yellowstone.
Costs approx £1000 for the hotels depending on exchange rate at time of payment

Friday- leave Yellowstone and drive to Jackson- got my eye on a few hotels here.
Painted buffalo - £358
Stay 3 nights. We will explore Grand Tetons national park, do a river float ride, not sure what else yet.

Drive back towards Salt Lake City for one night to be near the airport - no hotel booked yet but probably around Park City

Then fly from SLC to Orlando.
Southwest flights- indirect via Denver
£310 for 4 people including luggage

Orlando car hire via Alamo booked with Virgin Atlantic. Toyota Rav 4- £155.

Stay at the Enclave suites for 4 nights. We have stayed here twice before and like the space and good breakfast when you book through Virgin.
Booked £282 for a basic studio. Emailed the hotel directly, explaining our loyalty, and requested a free upgrade to a 2bed suite - granted

We will visit Universal two days as we havent been since the extension to Harry Potter world.
Tickets - £561 booked with Orlando Attractions.

Check out on Saturday morning for a 7night Disney Cruise.

Having done the 7night cruise this summer from Dover on the Disney Magic, I am now well and truly a cruise convert!
This time we have 7nights on the Disney Fantasy around the Caribbean. We stop at Tortola, St Thomas and Castaway Cay.

Paid a deposit on our previous cruise and this gives a slight discount.
£3626.04 cruise cost - now paid in full.

September- fly home overnight with Westjet, again via Canada. This will be a pain as I would like to just go straight home, but with this being the last day of the UK summer holidays flights are very expensive.

land 30 days after we left! = drive home and get ready for school and work tomorrow!
This will be the longest holiday I have ever had

[Taffy1959]

Sounds amazing and I'm looking forward to reading more

[HappyGoLucky]

So the revised plan is to spend the first evening we land in Las Vegas, followed by the next full day and night- but then things change.

I want to see the Grand canyon, so am going to drive there, have booked the Kachina Lodge for one night on the South rim, so we have time to explore properly.

This means we are no longer going to fly to Salt Lake City, but will instead drive.

After the second day at Grand Canyon we will drive that afternoon to Bryce National Park (approx5.5hrs drive).
This is to split up the drive.
I have yet to sort lodging for around here but we will stay one night and then set off the next day for the 4hr ish drive to Salt lake City.

It means more driving for me, but splitting it over a few days and driving at teatimes should be more bearable as my youngest will sleep.

Of course this puts up the cost of car hire and more hotels but that it offset somewhat by dropping the internal flight to SLC.

And it means we get to sleep at The Grand Canyon

[dozy]

it sounds amazing

[happytraveller]

Your trip sounds absolutely am amazing

[elliemay]

Sounds amazing - we are just missing you by 2 weeks - have a brilliant trip

[HappyGoLucky]

I have booked out hotel for Jackson- it is an expensive town!

We arrive on Friday 19th August and stay until Monday 22nd August at the Painted Buffalo Inn.paintedbuffaloinn/

I chose this as it was more affordable and has free parking, free breakfast and a small pool.
Free breakfast is always good when there are 4 of you!

[HappyGoLucky]

I just booked my hire car.

Pick up from las Vegas and drop off at Salt lake City, a dodge grand caravan.
Love these cars as there is so much room and the kids dont have to sit anywhere near each other!

A painful £820 (£110 of that is a one way fee), but my Quidco has tracked at £65.67 cashback, so not too bad!

[HappyGoLucky]

Have booked a Vegas hotel, with free cancellation in case something better turns up.

I went for the Best Western casino Royal, £168 for two night but NO resort fees.

This was a big draw as we are only here two nights so not going to be using much 'resort' anyway! And the location is fab, right next to the Venetian. I want to do the Gondola ride there.

I might change it nearer the time but its a decent back up just in case.


Also booked Ruby's Inn for Bryce National Park. it is not in the park- there is only one lodge actually in the park and it is very expensive. So went for the next best which is Rubys- according to trip Advsior anyway!
It cost £98.58 with £9.86 to come from Quidco.

[dozy]

wow that's fab