any ideas/tips on this?

[kirstyfly]

Hi guys posted this in the community board and has a suggestion that you guys would be more helpful.

Here is my question:

am looking at planning another trip to the states next year. My husband and i are going to do LA, San Fran and Las vegas.

Now there is usally deals you can get which include flight and 5 nights acccommodation either in la or san fran.

which would be the better deal to choose from to include the accommodation? which is more expensive is it san fran or la for accommodation?

also how long do you think we will need in the places? Las vegas is going to be a short trip maybe 3 nights max.

I want to do all the tourist things in la - disney, knotts, walk of fame, hollywood sign etc..

and same for san fran all the tourist thiings, alcatraze, golden gate bridge, cable car etc..

any ideas tips would be greatly appreciated as i need to work out a budget as the exchange rate is shocking for our nz dollar.

 

[lkohawaii]

Lucky you going to Vegas. I too am going to San Fran before going down to L.A. to get on the Disney cruise. From what I've found so far San Fran is much more expensive than L.A. Remember parking in San Fran is outragous too. As far as how many days maybe someone else can help you. I know in San Fran some people either love it or don't care for it. I'm one of those that doesn't care to go back. I'm going back just to show my kids the city.

 

[iceskatejen]

I can't help you with SF because it's been a very long time since I've been there, but for the LA portion you are looking at at least 5 days--3 days Disney, 1 day Knott's, 1 day Hollywood stuff. Have you considered visiting Universal Studios? Have you considered getting tv show taping tickets? These are usually free and are for sitcoms and talk shows. They may or may not be available depending on what time of year it is--most sitcoms wrap for the season in Feb or March and start taping again usually in August. Talk shows have a longer taping season and usually go until June. Also, there might be age restrictions for the tapings.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I have visitors out here from Spain right now for about 11 days, and we did only one day at Disneyland Resort - could only hit the highlights. We did Universal Studios, the beach, pier, Las Vegas for two nights, Hollywood area including the La Brea Tarpits, and today we're going to San Diego for a couple of days, driving down the coast (PCH), where we're going to stop at San Juan Capistrano, La Jolla, and then San Diego, where I'm hoping to hit the gaslamp district - tomorrow we're going to Sea World, and then on Tuesday making our way back home.

I think San Francisco is more expensive than LA, even when going to the nice restaurants in LA.

A few years ago, some other cousins came out for almost a month, and I took them on a week trip up north, leaving about 8am, stopping to see the sights at Santa Barbara and Solvang, spending the night in San Luis Obispo, driving up the 1 to Monterey, and spending the night there -- I loved the Aquarium (spent about 4 hours there) & 17 mile drive. We didn't even make it to Cannery Row because we ran out of time - beautiful there. Spent two nights in San Francisco, then went to Yosemite & spent two nights there.

I think it depends on what you want to concentrate on. Personally, I think you'll see more staying in Los Angeles, but the coast up towards Monterey is just gorgeous.

 

[kirstyfly]

Hi guys another question here, when are the school holidays over in the states for the La disney area?

I have been online looking at hotels in las vegas and see that some have specials around the time of august-september. is this a good time to go to las vegas heat wise?

don't mind when the the holidays are for san fran or vegas as we won't be riding the rides like at disney/knotts. dodn't want o wait in line for ever.

 

[kirstyfly]

me again where do i find out the list of names for tv/talk show tapings?

 

[kirstyfly]

I have lots of questions and no one to answer them

What domestic airport is closer to Anaheim? i am looking at the cost of getting to Las vegas. I have a travel brouchure here that has a coach usa transfer from anaheim for $117 NZ $ return per adult.

I have looked into air travel to las vegas from expedia. com and have worked out the prices with Nz exchange rate and there is like $30 difference to fly for both husband and I.


Flying is faster but still need to get own way to/from airport both ways.

What is the scenery like on the bus trip? much to see or boring and better to go by air?

Also note that because i live in NZ i can't book flights on expedia so would i get as good a deal by dealing direct with the airline ?

 

[sters]

Most schools are back in business by Labor Day, which is early September. They might even be back in school the last week in August. September will be less crowded and probably less expensive as well.

Where in New Zealand are you from? I spent a year in Palmerston North as an AFS student years ago. My NZ family is now settled in Wellington. Beautiful country! Hope to get back ther again... someday.

 

[sters]

I'd think flying from LA to Las Vegas would be the best, unless you have an interest in the desert. Here's a site that might help you http://www.southwest.com/cities/las.html If I see anything else, I'll post.

 

[iceskatejen]

A lot of tv shows use Audiences Unlimited to fill the seats. I'm sure they have a website, but I don't know it. As for whether it would be better the fly or take a bus from Vegas to LA--the Nevada and CA deserts along I-15 are among the most boring to look at. CA is better looking than Nevada, but it's still pretty long and boring. It would be one thing if you were driving yourself and could stop here and there, but I think I would not want to take that trip on a bus.

 

[year2late]

Look into citypass for all the cities you wish to visit

CITYPASS

 

[Judy from Boise]

August-September in Vegas can be almost unbearable during the day....but it is doable with a game plan.

I am not a big San Fransico fan either, but I second Mary Jo's idea about Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Barbara etc. ( infact that trip she described was almost my honeymoon trip )

I guess it would help to know where else you traveled and what you especially enjoyed about it, prior to giving too much advice.

 

[kirstyfly]

I have always liked the states and always wanted to go there since i was young and in highschool.

i finally got to go last year for a month and stayed/travelled with friends who are based in new jersery.

We went up Boston for 3 nights ( wish we could have stayed longer), WDW for a week, Washington dc for 3 nights, NYC for 2 nights.

I had always wanted to visit LA and do the tourist things - I was busting to get to disneyland as that is what i had wanted to see from a young age ( didn't even know about WDW till later on).

My ideal trip would be to hire a camper van and just cruise across the states from one coast to the other but can't do that as time/money are an issue at the moment.

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by Judy from Boise
August-September in Vegas can be almost unbearable during the day....but it is doable with a game plan.

Yes, it does get very hot. We usually go in June and have seen temps from the 90's to the 110's. It really isn't too bad, since you really aren't outside that much anyway. You can get around the strip w/o being outside for more than a few minutes (especially now with the new monorail).

 

[kirstyfly]

Originally posted by sters
Where in New Zealand are you from? I spent a year in Palmerston North as an AFS student years ago. My NZ family is now settled in Wellington. Beautiful country! Hope to get back ther again... someday.

Napier (Hawke's Bay) is where I was born and lived most of my life ( family still there). I moved to Hamilton (1 1/2 hours from Auckland) in 1996 to go to university and met my husband so now Hamilton is my home town.