And now for something completely different...

[wilma-bride]

Hubby and I always said that once we became a 'two holiday a year' family we would have one Disney and one non-Disney holiday. So far, that hasn't actually been the case but this year we are taking the plunge.

Just booked flights at the weekend for a West Coast trip, starting in Vancouver, Canada and ending up in San Francisco with stops in Seattle and Portland.

This is completely new territory for us so any and all recommendations, from things to do to hotels and restaurants would be most welcome

 

[peajay18]

Sounds like an excellent choice!
Have only been to San Fran out of those destinations, but can recommend the Alcatraz audio tour, the Movie Sights Bus Tour and riding the cable car from the Wharf to Powell Market.
We stayed in The Argonaut Hotel on the Wharf and thought it was very nice, if a bit pricey.

 

[ford family]

One comment about Alcatraz, book the trip about a month in advance, it usually sells out. We were there in September (Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale cruise) and noticed that there were no tickets available for over a week!

No need to completely abandon your Disney needs, the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco is excellent.

Places we enjoyed recently in Vancouver included Stanley Park, Granville Island, the Soarin' type ride at the Cruise Terminal, pottering around Gastown and taking the Seabus to North Vancouver.

ford family

 

[BudgieMama]

Sounds great! I'm sure you'll have a fab time! When are you going?

 

[Wills Mom]

That sounds wonderful! A family friend and his wife did a very similar trip several years ago and they still talk about how amazing it was, though they spent a small fortune on the 6 weeks they were away! It was a retirement celebratory trip so they really pushed the boat out. The Canadian part ended up being their favourite part. You guys will have an absolute BALL!!! And well done on booking a non-Disney trip lol, I just can't bring myself to do it no matter how much DH pushes me!

 

[wilma-bride]

Sounds like an excellent choice!
Have only been to San Fran out of those destinations, but can recommend the Alcatraz audio tour, the Movie Sights Bus Tour and riding the cable car from the Wharf to Powell Market.
We stayed in The Argonaut Hotel on the Wharf and thought it was very nice, if a bit pricey.

Thanks, Alcatraz is on our list for definite. And you can't go to SF without riding the Cable Car so we will have to do that too. I'll take a look at the Movie sights tour, my husband would probably like that.

I have come to realise that San Francisco hotels are ALL a bit pricey

One comment about Alcatraz, book the trip about a month in advance, it usually sells out. We were there in September (Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale cruise) and noticed that there were no tickets available for over a week!

No need to completely abandon your Disney needs, the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco is excellent.

Places we enjoyed recently in Vancouver included Stanley Park, Granville Island, the Soarin' type ride at the Cruise Terminal, pottering around Gastown and taking the Seabus to North Vancouver.

ford family

Yes, we will definitely buy our Alcatraz tickets early. I think they are released about 90 days in advance .

All of the things you mentioned, except the Seabus, are on my list

Sounds great! I'm sure you'll have a fab time! When are you going?

18th August to 4th September so a little over a fortnight. We are still stuck with summer holidays unfortunately.

That sounds wonderful! A family friend and his wife did a very similar trip several years ago and they still talk about how amazing it was, though they spent a small fortune on the 6 weeks they were away! It was a retirement celebratory trip so they really pushed the boat out. The Canadian part ended up being their favourite part. You guys will have an absolute BALL!!! And well done on booking a non-Disney trip lol, I just can't bring myself to do it no matter how much DH pushes me!

Yes, it is already looking to be an expensive trip, just for 2 weeks so I hate to think how much a 6-week trip would have cost. I am sure it will be worth it though, int eh long run.

DH is constantly pushing for a non-Disney holiday, although the more I see the prices for hotels, the more I feel like telling him this is why we keep going to Disney (no accommodation costs with our DVC )

 

[Wills Mom]

Yes, it is already looking to be an expensive trip, just for 2 weeks so I hate to think how much a 6-week trip would have cost. I am sure it will be worth it though, int eh long run.

DH is constantly pushing for a non-Disney holiday, although the more I see the prices for hotels, the more I feel like telling him this is why we keep going to Disney (no accommodation costs with our DVC )

Oh I'd say they spent a small fortune lol. They spared no expense and hadn't been on holidays in about a decade bless them so it was long overdue (and here's me moaning about no holidays this year lol!!)

Yeah I can definitely see the appeal in free accom with your DVC!!!! That would make it harder to stomach paying accom prices elsewhere but I suppose sometimes we have to let the DHs win...only once or twice though....ever!!

 

[wayneg]

Can't offer any help. never been to any of those place, although San Fran is high up on our list (possibly next year) just wanted to comment on hotel prices. Many of the US cities are silly money, especially if there is an event on while you are there. I am looking for a couple of nights in Charleston SC early April, couldn't believe hotel prices, all good hotel £300-400/nt, after Googling I found out it was the Charleston Tennis tournament on our dates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_Open
I can only assume that is increasing hotel prices, I am considering staying near and driving in.
Got a reasonable deal in Nashville at just over £100pn but hotel i wanted was about £250pn. New Orleans staying at Harrah's which should be £300pn but my Brother gets comp stays and he is there with us
Trying to find 4 nights hotel in NYC for after our cruise in Sept, not easy on my budget

 

[wilma-bride]

Wayne, the hotel we stayed at in NY was excellent. It is not the most attractive of hotels but the staff couldn't do enough for us and it was a fabulous location. The only negative I would give it was that the air con units (outside, not inside) were really noisy but we just got some earplugs (the hotel actually offered to send somebody out to get them at midnight for us) and we were fine. It was called The Shoreham and it was pretty reasonable for NYC.

 

[wayneg]

Thankfully both myself and Karen can sleep thru anything (I have been known to sleep thru my alarm clock which has very loud bells) will look into it, trying to sort out rest of our Easter trip then I can get on with Sept/Oct.

 

[saintrob]

We've used the Holiday Inn Express chain in NY - not the most luxurious of hotels but perfectly adequate. They are in several locations and they also throw in a good buffet breakfast. This Easter we're trying the Crown Plaza on Times Square and got a good deal on Hotels.com.

 

[wayneg]

We've used the Holiday Inn Express chain in NY - not the most luxurious of hotels but perfectly adequate. They are in several locations and they also throw in a good buffet breakfast. This Easter we're trying the Crown Plaza on Times Square and got a good deal on Hotels.com.

That's where we stayed 14 years ago, if it's just a standard room you have booked I highly recommend room 2101 if you can request it. We had a perfect view of Times Sq thru to the Empire State building.
Being so perfect is the reason I am struggling to stay anywhere else but back then I paid £150/nt now hotels.com are cheapest for our dates this year at £313/nt, I am not paying over £1,000 for 4 nts hotel.

Just had a look at Shoreham price Joh, £274/nt

 

[wilma-bride]

Just had a look at Shoreham price Joh, £274/nt

Woah!!!

 

[Kath2003]

We stayed in a Hampton Inn in NYC which was great - no frills but very clean and brilliantly located - but it's over £200 a night now It was great though - breakfast was included but on the mornings that we didn't have time to stay for breakfast, they put together a brown bag for each of us with water, fruit and a muffin!

 

[wayneg]

We stayed in a Hampton Inn in NYC which was great - no frills but very clean and brilliantly located - but it's over £200 a night now It was great though - breakfast was included but on the mornings that we didn't have time to stay for breakfast, they put together a brown bag for each of us with water, fruit and a muffin!

Which one? Times Sq central? that one is showing at £363/nt on Hotels.com for our dates

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We stayed at the Handlery Union Square (some years ago now), you can take the trolley bus from nearby. We saw all the usual, Alcrataz, Fishermans Wharf, the Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Bridge etc. We also took a trip to Sausalito and the John Muir Woods which we enjoyed.

The city hotel prices are high, I have been looking at returning to Chicago but I could spend 3 weeks in Florida for just 1 in Chicago so haven't taken it any farther than just looking.

 

[saintrob]

That's where we stayed 14 years ago, if it's just a standard room you have booked I highly recommend room 2101 if you can request it. We had a perfect view of Times Sq thru to the Empire State building.
Being so perfect is the reason I am struggling to stay anywhere else but back then I paid £150/nt now hotels.com are cheapest for our dates this year at £313/nt, I am not paying over £1,000 for 4 nts hotel.

Just had a look at Shoreham price Joh, £274/nt

I can't remember what I've paid as I haven't got the invoice to hand but it wasn't so expensive.

 

[Kath2003]

Which one? Times Sq central? that one is showing at £363/nt on Hotels.com for our dates

I think it was on 35th. It was right near Penn Station.

 

[wayneg]

I think it was on 35th. It was right near Penn Station.

The one on 35th is £273/nt.
No rush I will wait until I see a deal.

 

[Kath2003]

The one on 35th is £273/nt.
No rush I will wait until I see a deal.

Ouch. I don't think we paid even half that, but it was probably 5-6 years ago now.