Bucket List for Mom w/Stage 4 Cancer-UPDATE #267

[weHEARTmickey]

Just bumping...looking for a safe & affordable hotel in Monterey & possibly San Francisco. I will check on the CA board too.

 

[kahpets]

Have you looked on Trip Advisor.

I've always had luck using their reviews and forums for everything not related to Disney .

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g32737-Monterey_Monterey_Peninsula_California-Vacations.html


Good luck, enjoy your time with your mom!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Have you looked on Trip Advisor.
I've always had luck using their reviews and forums for everything not related to Disney . I didn't realize there WERE forums that weren't for Disney!!
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g32737-Monterey_Monterey_Peninsula_California-Vacations.html
Good luck, enjoy your time with your mom!

Great news!! My dad (Mom's ex from 27 yrs ago!) donated roundtrip SWA tickets to Mom & me for our trip!! He also gave us enough points to cover LaQuinta Monterey for our first 2 nights!!! We will be staying in Monterey for 1 or 2 more nights after that before heading to SanFran. So, do we want to stay at LaQuinta, or move to something a bit nicer??

Also, I'd LOVE to hear your SanFran tour ideas/experiences. We want to see Ghiradelli trolleys, Fisherman's Wharf, Redwood Forest, & maybe even Alcatraz. Any advice on tours? Thanks Angela

 

[Leshaface]

Great news!! My dad (Mom's ex from 27 yrs ago!) donated roundtrip SWA tickets to Mom & me for our trip!! He also gave us enough points to cover LaQuinta Monterey for our first 2 nights!!! We will be staying in Monterey for 1 or 2 more nights after that before heading to SanFran. So, do we want to stay at LaQuinta, or move to something a bit nicer??

Also, I'd LOVE to hear your SanFran tour ideas/experiences. We want to see Ghiradelli trolleys, Fisherman's Wharf, Redwood Forest, & maybe even Alcatraz. Any advice on tours? Thanks Angela

Yay for the SW tickets!!

You're gonna LOVE Monterey! It's so beautiful and peaceful!

I've never stayed at La Quinta, but I'm sure it will be great!

Do you plan on staying a few nights in San Francisco? I've stayed at several hotels in the city, so if you need some suggestions, I'd be more than happy to help with that...I even have pictures from quite a few of the places we stay at which would help even more!

Ghiradelli is AH-MAZING! Their sundaes and hot chocolate is so succulent and wonderful! The trolleys are also fun to do to, but you have to get there early because there's usually a huge line by afternoon, but it's such a great experience! Fisherman's wharf is a must-do for anyone! Has lots of fun little shops and restaurants. There's even an aquarium if you'd like to do that! I've been to Alcatraz a few times in my life, and it's very interesting. It's kinda creepy and neat at the same time. The boat ride over is very relaxing and you can get some great shots of the city from the boat. Check out alcatrazcruises.com for pricing and tour times. What's nice is that you can tour the island at your own pace, or you can do a guided walking tour where you wear headphones, and the 'person' guides you throughout the island...not sure how long it takes though.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

 

[nena]

First I want to commend you for the positive attitude and willingness to stay strong for your mom. Glad to hear you guys are enjoying your time together building WONDEFUL memories!

I live in Salinas, which is 30 minutes away from Monterey. I think that the LaQuinta will be fine. There are other more expensive Hotels, but they are really expensive. I say, save the money to do a little shopping or more sight seeing.
There is so much to do in Monterey, but you have to go to the Aquarium. It's right off of Cannary Row. At the wharf you can go Whale watching, shop and grab something to eat. It can be as simple as a bowl of clam chowder or as fancy as an ocean view restaurant like Dominico's.
I saw that you have kids, there is also Dennis the Menace park which is right across from the wharf. You can rent a paddle boat or just enjoy the park.
You could also go driving from Monterey along the coast to Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. The views are breathtaking!!
If there is anything else I can suggest pm me.
Enjoy!! and bring a sweater just in case!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

WOW!!! Thank y'all for all the wonderful advice! We will be staying in Monterey for 3 nights & San Francisco for 3 nights! Since you think the La Quinta will be okay, I'll go ahead & book it for the other nights we're in Monterey.

Here are our tentative plans:
Night 1-arrive after a long day of flying & go to BED
Day 2-Whale watching (still need to find a GREAT company to take us)
Day 3-Monterey Bay Aquarium (if we see whales on 1st day, if not, we'll go whale watching again on this day)
Day 4-Wake up & drive to San Francisco (if we went whale watching on Day 2 AND 3, we might do the MB Aquarium before driving to SF)...not sure of WHAT to do today in SF! Nice dinner
Day 5-Tours (Alcatraz? Redwoods? Ghiradelli? Trolleys? Salsalito?? isn't that the name?, open to any tour suggestions) Nice dinner
Day 6-Same as day 5---don't know which tours to do today, nice dinner
Day 7-Wake up & drive to airport

We would love to get any & all suggestions about where to stay in Union Square, what tour companies to use, & where to eat. I hear Union Square is in the middle of where we're wanting to be (not to mention, safer?) We would also LOVE any restaurant suggestions...good, inexpensive lunch, then nicer dinner options. We seafood, so please let me know who's the freshest & best!

And on a not-so-great note, any hospital suggestions in these areas? We'll probably get some advice from her oncologist about where to go in an emergency Anyway-thanks for everything. We are SOOO excited! God bless, Angela

 

[nena]

I talked with some friends who live in Pacific Grove and asked them where they would recommend. They said the Days Inn because its actually in Monterey and there is more you could walk to. Her father, mother and other guests have stayed there. Not that LaQuinta is bad, I read the reviews and most people were happy. Its just in Seaside (10 minutes), not Monterey.

 

[nena]

I found a webite I thought you might like for the whale watching tours.

http://www.seemonterey.com/whale-watching

I would definately go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium....there is so much sea life to see.

 

[jessicaerv]

For hotels in San Francisco, try Last Minute Travel (http://www.lastminutetravel.com). Its similar to Hotwire in that you don't know the name of the hotel until after you purchase, but you can get some great deals. My co-worker used it and is staying at the Hyatt Regency this weekend for $99/night! Be aware, though -- most hotels in San Francisco charge for parking and it is EXPENSIVE!!!!! The Hyatt charges $50 a night for the car, and this is nowhere out of the ordinary.

Also, check Dealbase.com. This website will gather all hotel deals for the city you want and you can check and see if those discounts are available on the dates you need. For example, checking for late July, the Sir Francis Drake hotel (in Union Square) has a special called "AAA Continental Breakfast for Two" starting at $112/night. Rack rates are $198/night and breakfast is another $40, so you can see the savings are substantial.

If at all possible, use the bus system in San Francisco (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php). It is pretty easy, and one of the lines will take you all along the street that lines the bay (The Embarcadero). Be warned, though -- the transit vehicles can get VERY crowded during peak transit hours (before and after typical work hours).

Have a WONDERFUL time!!

 

[ekmom]

Try Mr. Toad's Tours. We took one in November and we absolutely loved it.

http://www.mrtoadstours.com/

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thanks for all the responses! I will research through these later tonight when I have a chance. We kinda came to the conclusion that I'd have to rent a car b/c we're flying in/out of San Jose. But, when someone donates free roundtrip airfare, you JUMP on it!!!

What if we use our car in Monterey, then drop it off at the SanFran airport? (Even though we won't be flying in/out of SanFran, but I thought that might be the only place to drop off a rental car.) Are there lots of shuttles that could take us to our hotel? That would remove any parking charges, right?? Then, how terrible would bus/shuttle/cab fare be for a trip back to the San Jose airport?

Okay, gotta go for now, but I'm so thankful for all your help!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thank you ALL for all the advice & prayers. It's amazing how God has worked everything out so perfectly Mom is thrilled beyond imagination & I am too. We have her TOP 2 Bucket List events scheduled & booked. Please continue to pray that we will be able to take these trips.

Here's our CA trip: (Please still help us with tour recommendations)
La Quinta Inn-Monterey
2 free nights!
http://www.themontereylodging.com/

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
called & asked for a deal (after Mom saw this suggestion on Good Morning America?) It paid off!!!!
http://montereyplazahotel.com/hotel.html

Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
called & asked for a good rate, & she immediately gave me "buy 2 nights, get 1 free"
http://www.westinstfrancis.com/

My dad also gave us a timeshare week, so we're staying in Ruidoso this winter. We'll go snow skiing w/ Mom, my 2 bros, 1 sis, & my DH, DD, DS & myself! I'm SURE hoping there's snow around Christmas

 

[averill94]

I will pray that you go on these trips!!!! How wonderful. What memories you will make

It really sounds like a wonderful time.

God Bless your Mom and your family.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Just noticed I'm hitting 1,000 posts right now, so I decided to post HERE! We're getting REALLY excited b/c our trip is right around the corner

We still have to book all of our tours + our rental car. I'm looking for any advice you can give me on tours you've taken Thanks, Angela

I will pray that you go on these trips!!!! How wonderful. What memories you will make
It really sounds like a wonderful time.
God Bless your Mom and your family.

Thanks averill94!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Please pray for my Mom...she's been running around 102 fever for the past week or two. It just seems to be a new side effect of her chemo. They are going to allow her to skip chemo on Thursday so she'll be in tip-top shape for our trip next week!!!! Look out California, here we come!!!

 

[StitchBuddy]

You are in my thoughts and prayers! I lost my mom to breast cancer 14 years ago this month. I hope you all have a wonderful trip! I am glad you are getting to spend time with her.

 

[mizzoumom]

I wonder if they have a make a wish foundation for adults. You know that would be so neat .

 

[SunnieRN]

I am so happy to hear that all is working out well! I know you will have a wonderful trip.

Avoid driving in CA during commuter hours if at all possible. I have not seen any traffic in TX as bad as CA traffic near SF at commuter time!

Since you have a car while you are in the Monterey area, on a week day head to the old Fishermans Wharf for dinner one night. The restaurants there usually have wonderful early dinner specials. Locals please correct me if I am mistaken about this as my last trip there was in 2005. (My gosh time goes FAST!)

In San Francisco on Fishermans Wharf, we used to buy our lunch walking by the stands outside the restaurants on the sidewalks. Fantastic seafood that you can eat as you browse!! Just add some real sourdough bread (sold there also) and manga!! Oh man the memories! If you have time to see Chinatown it can be a lot of fun also!

Have a wonderful and blessed adventure!!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thank you all for the prayers & suggestions! Mom & I are just sitting here reading this & we're SO EXCITED!!!! She just said, "Oooooh, I can't wait to eat fresh seafood!" We're such foodies, so this trip is gonna be a blast

 

[weHEARTmickey]

SunnieRN--I will have a car the entire time. Although, it's a bummer b/c parking will cost us an extra $170 But, we have to fly in & out of San Jose, so I have to have the car to drive from SF to the airport in San Jose. Wonder how much a cab would cost to take that far????

But, anyway--I'm TERRIBLE w/ directions, so I'm taking my GPS & I don't plan on driving ANYwhere while in SF.