Help with West Coast roadtrip plan

tfmay · 2 Sep 18, 04:33 PM

Having spent the last 13 years holidaying on and off in Florida we would like to do the West Coast but feeling a little apprehensive on hotel costs (we usually stay in a villa in FL) and our itinerary...
its the ‘unknown’ and lack of familiarity that’s bothering me, Florida seems almost like a second home...
Anyway, here’s a stab at an intinery what we would like to do... this will be in June as my daughter who is 10 has 2 weeks off school from the 8th, she doesn’t mind be8ng in the Car for long journeys

Any suggestions, must do’s/don’t do’s and above all hotel recommendation would be greatly appreciated, it’s not a budget h9iday I know but our budget is not bottomless either!

Day 1 fly into SFO
Day 2 Dylan’s tour
Day 3 Alcatraz and more sites
Day 4 pick up hire Car and eave SF and go to six flags SF - stay overnight nearby
Day 5 Drive to Monterey for whale watching and stay over
Day 6-7-8 Drive to Yosemite for 2-3 nights
Day 9 Death Valley/hoover dam - stay close by?
Day 10 Drive Grand Canyon- stay overnight
Day 11 drive onto Las Vegas and stay 2 nights
Day 12 fly out of Las Vegas

We have a max of 12 nights really as hubby hates landing overnight Andy working the next day so we have to Ben back into Heathrow by Saturday morning at the latest.

Have seen flights direct with VA but booked on travel up for £365 return (no hold luggage) so a little tempted by these I must admit!

We have told ourselves we are not returning next to Florida next year in an attempt to break the habit We have created in

Grump$ · 2 Sep 18, 06:39 PM

Your going to be spending a lot of time driving with that itinerary.

Pahrump is a good base for exploring Death Valley but not if your intending doing Hoover Dam on the same day. It's a 4 hour drive from Yosemite to Death Valley and a 3 hour drive from Death Valley to Hoover Dam so most of that day will be spent driving.

tfmay · 2 Sep 18, 06:54 PM

I think we may do a smaller version basing ourselves in LV as some incredible prices coming out from BA holidays and do GC/hoover dam from there and save SF for another trip and hopefully when thr exchnage rate is better. 😜

**pad406** · 2 Sep 18, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by tfmay

I think we may do a smaller version basing ourselves in LV as some incredible prices coming out from BA holidays and do GC/hoover dam from there and save SF for another trip and hopefully when thr exchnage rate is better. 😜

A sensible decision I think.

We did 18N but stuck to the west cost of the west coast. Still didn't do everything we wanted, but it was reasonably un-stressed.

If you're only doing 12N, flying in and out of LA would allow you some more time.

TBH I, personally, wouldn't spend that much time in LA, really didn't rate it very highly. Don't miss the GC though if you can fit it in at all. Could you perhaps fly into LA and out of LV? Would save a trip back?

Edit: Forgot to mention try and do the South/North rim of the GC, it's worth it

**pad406** · 2 Sep 18, 08:19 PM

Oh, in LA I would recommend the Orchid Suites. Just behind the Chinese Theater, free breakfast, only $10 parking, big spacious rooms with kitchen area. And reasonably priced too.

Really nice and friendly too

2 Sep 18, 04:33 PM	#1
	2 Sep 18, 04:33 PM tfmay Getting Excited
tfmay Getting Excited Join Date: Nov 08	Help with West Coast roadtrip plan Having spent the last 13 years holidaying on and off in Florida we would like to do the West Coast but feeling a little apprehensive on hotel costs (we usually stay in a villa in FL) and our itinerary... its the ‘unknown’ and lack of familiarity that’s bothering me, Florida seems almost like a second home... Anyway, here’s a stab at an intinery what we would like to do... this will be in June as my daughter who is 10 has 2 weeks off school from the 8th, she doesn’t mind be8ng in the Car for long journeys Any suggestions, must do’s/don’t do’s and above all hotel recommendation would be greatly appreciated, it’s not a budget h9iday I know but our budget is not bottomless either! Day 1 fly into SFO Day 2 Dylan’s tour Day 3 Alcatraz and more sites Day 4 pick up hire Car and eave SF and go to six flags SF - stay overnight nearby Day 5 Drive to Monterey for whale watching and stay over Day 6-7-8 Drive to Yosemite for 2-3 nights Day 9 Death Valley/hoover dam - stay close by? Day 10 Drive Grand Canyon- stay overnight Day 11 drive onto Las Vegas and stay 2 nights Day 12 fly out of Las Vegas We have a max of 12 nights really as hubby hates landing overnight Andy working the next day so we have to Ben back into Heathrow by Saturday morning at the latest. Have seen flights direct with VA but booked on travel up for £365 return (no hold luggage) so a little tempted by these I must admit! We have told ourselves we are not returning next to Florida next year in an attempt to break the habit We have created in

2 Sep 18, 06:39 PM	#2
	2 Sep 18, 06:39 PM Grump$ Excited about Disney
Grump$ Excited about Disney Join Date: Jun 09	Your going to be spending a lot of time driving with that itinerary. Pahrump is a good base for exploring Death Valley but not if your intending doing Hoover Dam on the same day. It's a 4 hour drive from Yosemite to Death Valley and a 3 hour drive from Death Valley to Hoover Dam so most of that day will be spent driving.

2 Sep 18, 06:54 PM	#3
	2 Sep 18, 06:54 PM tfmay Getting Excited Thread Starter
tfmay Thread Starter Getting Excited Join Date: Nov 08	I think we may do a smaller version basing ourselves in LV as some incredible prices coming out from BA holidays and do GC/hoover dam from there and save SF for another trip and hopefully when thr exchnage rate is better. 😜