Any Tips for Flighs to Los Angeles?

[Disbabe]

We're thinking of going West Coast for our holiday next year. We want to spend 3 days in Hollywood to take in Universal and the surrounding area of LA. Then 4 days stay in Anaheim to take in Disneyland - then our last week down in San Diego. We'll need to sort out 3 hotels, but my question is about flight prices etc.
There's bound to be plenty of you who have been to California, so any tips? Where is the best places for flight prices etc.? I'd be happy going back to Florida but rest of clan fancy a change (I just need my disney fix! LOL) - I still need a bit of convincing!

 

[scottishgirl87]

I can't remember how much our flights cost but we did a multi-centre trip to LA, a cruise round Mexico and then Vegas.

I can say though that we flew with United who were really good I would also say that the time difference is an absolute killer! We were there nearly 2 weeks and I think we were just getting used to it by the time we were leaving!

We went to Universal but not Disney. Be warned that Universal is alot smaller than Florida. However, it does have the Backlot tour which takes you on the set of Desperate Housewives and stuff which is really cool

 

[kieras nana]

i would also look at united,we fly with them,as i find the prices to be really competitive & alot cheaper than virgin.
i agree about the jet lag,it certainly takes some adjusting too!
tracy

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Just subbing to pick up some tips! Next year we want to fly to Sanfran, then drive to Yesomite, LA and Las Vegas (flying out of there) so this could help!

 

[torsie24]

I've flown a couple of times to LA with Virgin. Can't remember exact fares but I wouldn't have chosen them over UA/BA/AA/Delta if they weren't the most competetive for similar timings.

 

[wayneg]

We went in 2006 & 2007 both Oct half term.

1st time
Virgin, LHR~LAX direct £377.40 (+2,000 miles) a few weeks later they reduced price to £350 in sale without using miles.

2nd Time
AA, MAN~ORD~LAS,
internal flight LAS~LAX,
LAX~ORD~MAN £482.20
If we did this again we would drive from Vegas to Disneyland, by the time we checked in, sat in the airport, 33 min flight and then the hour drive back to Disneyland we could have driven it all as quick.

For us its easier to do indirect from Manchester than direct from London but Virgin tend to do good prices to LAX (or they did, not looked recently)

 

[heatherbelle]

If you have a look on the DIBB there is a special section all about the West Coast, here's the link http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=171

The trip reports are really good too, as you pick up loads of info on where to stay and where to go etc. If you have kids there is one called LA without a car or something like that and they went all over the place.

We stayed at Humprhires Half Moon Hotel in SD and really liked it. For Disneyland I would stay at the Ho-Jo or somewehere within walking distance of Disneyland. We stayed at the Staybridge Suites, but it was too far away to walk. I also recommend a Sat Nav for LA, and allow plenty of time to get from A to B, hence the walking to Disney recommendation.

have fun planning.

 

[Disbabe]

Just spent the last 2 hours reading different trip reports for the west coast on "The Dibb" - its such a great website! Thanks for the link heatherbelle

 

[j9000]

cannot recommend anything more than other people have for flights,
but take a look at the southern California attraction ticket, its all inclusive of 3day park hopper for Disney, Universal, Seaworld and San diego zoo.
was dam good value when i last went in 08.

also, if youre looking for hotels, take a look at the orchid suites in hollywood,
its not got a good view (rooms look onto a wall), but it is right behind the kodak theatre (about 10-20 feet) in a killer spot! comes with a full kitchen, and walkable in 5 min to a great In-n-out burger on sunset!

 

[heatherbelle]

Ooooo, in and out burgers, you must try one of those OP. Yummy and sooooo cheap, all the locals eat there.

 

[Sarah84]

We went to the west coast last september 6 nights in Anaheim, 4 in Las Vegas, 3 in san diego & 3 in Hollywood. We had a fantastic time, flights with Virgin heathrow - LA cost £330 each and we drove from Anaheim to Vegas, flew Vegas to San Diego with Southwest for around $50 each then got the Amtrack train from San Diego upto LA.

 

[Lizzybear]

Ooh my favourite destination! I went in 2008 and flew from Manchester into San Francisco and out of Las Vegas (indirect both ways, changing in Newark) with Continental. It was a bit gruelling and the time difference was a bit of a killer as other people have said but California is so worth it and i'd go again tomorrow I booked flights with Opodo but it's worth shopping around.. I think mine were around £500 per person and this was for October 2008.