Driving to DL, also Hojo advice

[mommato4]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm Trish, momma to 4, DS 14, DS11, DD7 DD 4.
We live in B.C. We've been to DL twice, 2003, 2006 and now this christmas again. We have always flown, this time we want to drive. Any tips on driving? I know to expect snow going through grants pass. We have a Honda Odyssey, we'll have chains. Any tips?
Also our first trip we started at Ramada which was not walking distance, last time we stayed at BW Stovall's inn. We liked the hotel, got a great rate, we did walk sometimes and took the ART sometimes. I was going to book there again until I came across the Howard Johnson with the great pirates pool area and is closer for walking. It will cost more though. Any advice there? Is it worth it?

 

[Queenbillabong]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm Trish, momma to 4, DS 14, DS11, DD7 DD 4.
We live in B.C. We've been to DL twice, 2003, 2006 and now this christmas again. We have always flown, this time we want to drive. Any tips on driving? I know to expect snow going through grants pass. We have a Honda Odyssey, we'll have chains. Any tips?
Also our first trip we started at Ramada which was not walking distance, last time we stayed at BW Stovall's inn. We liked the hotel, got a great rate, we did walk sometimes and took the ART sometimes. I was going to book there again until I came across the Howard Johnson with the great pirates pool area and is closer for walking. It will cost more though. Any advice there? Is it worth it?

Hey BC!!! Why drive with all the kids?? I think that would drive me bonkers before we ever got close to Disneyland. There are very reasonable rates flying out of Seattle and with the price of gas now, I doubt it would be much more than paying for gas for a trip that long.

The Hojo is nice - I would request building 1 and see if they have the entertainment card rates for your days. There are no restaurants in the hotel, but it's right beside Mimis and Millie's and you walk by the Golden Arches on your way (good for a cheap brekkie!). You can also take the ART to/from here if you need to, but the walk is really not that bad. The beds are pretty comfy and you get a fridge/microwave in the room.

 

[greenmustang]

welcome from sunny penticton.
i agree, the drive would do me in lol. but when i drove down as i kid we took the I5 which was great. i think we took 3 days to get there. i just got back from DL one month ago and stayed at fairfield inn. which is close to hojo. i think i got a rate of just over 100 per night. has millies mcdonalds and mimi on the property, just a hop skip jump to DL have fun
vicky

 

[JustAKid]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm Trish, momma to 4, DS 14, DS11, DD7 DD 4.
We live in B.C. We've been to DL twice, 2003, 2006 and now this christmas again. We have always flown, this time we want to drive. Any tips on driving? I know to expect snow going through grants pass. We have a Honda Odyssey, we'll have chains. Any tips?
Also our first trip we started at Ramada which was not walking distance, last time we stayed at BW Stovall's inn. We liked the hotel, got a great rate, we did walk sometimes and took the ART sometimes. I was going to book there again until I came across the Howard Johnson with the great pirates pool area and is closer for walking. It will cost more though. Any advice there? Is it worth it?

The snow is a big one. It's not just through Grants Pass. I'd say expect snow off and on from Grants Pass to about Redding. The Siskiyou Pass is especially nasty, and they sometimes close it all together so you might have to spend the night in some town where everyone else is also spending the night because they're stuck in the same situation (meaning getting a hotel room to accomedate your family could be tricky). It once took my family 17 hours to get from Yreka to Salem. That is INSANE. Be VERY aware of road conditions and arrange your vacation so that you have a little cushion in your timeline for any unexpected events. HTH!

 

[sonnyjane]

Ahh, I know that drive We are now stationed in San Diego, but prior to that we were stationed in the San Juans. When we moved up there, we drove north on 5 in January 2008 and Grants was completely shut, even for those with chains, which we had. We had to stop at a hotel for the night a few miles out. When we moved down here this January (2009) however, there wasn't a drop of snow in the pass, so it was a non-issue. Just have the chains and be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best! You can also check the status of the passes online, just Google them and it will tell you what to expect. We drove from the San Juans to Yreka, CA and stayed at a hotel there, then drove the next day down to San Diego, but we are commando-style drivers. You could probably slow that down and make it a three day trip if necessary.

 

[SnowWhite09]

Being from Australia, I have no idea about the drive (but would love to drive across the US one day); however, what I can say is that Hojos is fantastic! We stayed there for our last trip in May/June this year (13 nights). Ultra comfy beds, great spa and kids water play area, short walk to the park (only about 8 minutes), free internet in the lobby etc, etc. If you can get the Entertainment Rate for some of the nights you are there, it should make it more affordable. We will be staying there again for our trip next year!

Have a great time!

 

[mommato4]

Thanks everyone!
We are choosing to drive because we as a family really enjoying driving. We travel alot for my 2 sons hockey and husbands business. So no worries about kids driving me crazy.
Snow is what concerns me, husband isn't worried.
I'm glad everyone is happy with HOJO's. Anyone know if you have to have a entertainment package to get the rate?

 

[eduk8r26]

You just have to have the entertainment card, which comes with the Entertainment book. Typically the book costs about $30 and is full of coupons for restaurants and such. I don't know if they have one for Canada, though. I got just the card on E-bay for 99 cents.