First time to Cali...

[thaysfam]

I am in the process of planning our first family vacation to California. We are planning on spending 3 days @ Disney, 3 nights in San Diego and 3 nights in LA.

I am thinking our first night we will drive from LAX to San Diego and then just relaxing since it is a travel day. Then doing the Zoo, Sea World and the beach for the first 3 days, then driving to Anaheim after the beach, 3 days at Disney and then driving to LA to do the Hollywood tour and Universal for two days and then flying out of LAX. It looks like we would have 3 night in SD, 3 nights in LA and 3 nights in Anaheim. I think I will be able to make a good decision on the Anaheim hotel, but I am clueless for a LA or San Diego hotel.

Any suggestions would be so helpful, this will be my first trip to Disneyland but I have been to WDW 5 times so that would be a breeze.

 

[Flitterific]

Hi! Welcome to DISboards

I am also trying to plan a trip to LA and have no idea where to stay. However, if you are planning on just going to Universal Studios and Hollywood in the LA area, you might want to consider just staying in Anaheim for 6 days instead of 3 in Anaheim and 3 in LA. The hotels in Anaheim are a lot cheaper and most offer free/cheap parking. The drive to USH is only about 40 minutes from DLR and you will need to drive regardless of where you stay in LA. Plus, the hotel rates in LA are about $150+/night + $25-$30 parking/night + 14% tax. Just my two cents though...

I am not sure about where to stay in SD though but I am sure others can give you suggestions. Good luck planning your trip!

 

[thaysfam]

I have considered staying in Anaheim. I don't know how keen my husband is about driving back and forth, we will probably fly out early on the day we leave so we will probably at least stay there the last night.

 

[johndavis1145]

I live here in Southern California. The drive between USH and Anaheim can be two hours if drive during peak times.

Peak traffic time is basically 7am to 10am, and 3pm to 630pm or so weekdays; and sometimes you will even encounter severe traffic on the weekends. If you have Google Maps on an iPhone, it will show you the traffic conditions and you can go around them.

The drive is not worth it before and after a long day in LA. Especially considering it could be a 2 hour drive each way. What price range of hotels are you looking at? The more you spend, the less likely you are in a crime ridden area.

 

[thaysfam]

We can probably spend between $150 and $200 a night in LA, since our lodging will be cheaper elsewhere

 

[mystic_path]

Look at the Southern California Gray Line Tour website. They offer ticket passes to Universal Studios from your Anaheim hotel which offers free round trip transportation. The tour costs about $90 per adult and around $80 for kids. But this tour is called the "Universal Studios Deluxe". Grayline picks you up at your hotel in Anaheim, takes you to Universal studios for the entire day, and at the end of the day you get back on your bus and it takes you on tour of LA/Hollywood where you see things like the Hollywood walk of fame, Chinese theatre where the foot and hand prints are. You will get to see Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Strip which is home to trendy spots like the Chateau Marmont Hotel, Whiskey A Go Go, House of Blues etc! On this tour we have always stopped at the academy awards building and Disney Concert hall. Personally this tour is amazing. Long day, but amazing and you get to stop and get out and take pics and have time to do some shopping etc. Then at the end of the day when your totally exhausted, your bus takes you directly back to your Anaheim hotel saving you from having to drive. This option may save you on trying to figure out one more unnecessary hotel in LA, or give you an extra day elsewhere as you can see Universal and LA all in one shot.

 

[sasywtch]

I personally would just pack up and go stay in Los Angeles. The price of the tours would cover a room. We stayed at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn but I don't know what it's called now. There are hotels by Universal. If I was spending 3 days in Los Angeles, I definitely would not want to drive back to Anaheim daily.

 

[HydroGuy]

I am in the process of planning our first family vacation to California. We are planning on spending 3 days @ Disney, 3 nights in San Diego and 3 nights in LA.

I am thinking our first night we will drive from LAX to San Diego and then just relaxing since it is a travel day. Then doing the Zoo, Sea World and the beach for the first 3 days, then driving to Anaheim after the beach, 3 days at Disney and then driving to LA to do the Hollywood tour and Universal for two days and then flying out of LAX. It looks like we would have 3 night in SD, 3 nights in LA and 3 nights in Anaheim. I think I will be able to make a good decision on the Anaheim hotel, but I am clueless for a LA or San Diego hotel.

Any suggestions would be so helpful, this will be my first trip to Disneyland but I have been to WDW 5 times so that would be a breeze.

For hotels in SD, one place to look is Hotel Circle in Mission Valley. Very central and close to SW and the SD Zoo.

For DLR here is some info that may help - "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[Judy from Boise]

follow this link to one of our sub boards, I think you will find answers there !
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=130