jevs
Boring Poster
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 5,259
I've had so much help from disboards with previous trips I thought I would start a pre-trip plan for our upcoming trip later in the year. Also I have a couple of uni assessments due next week and figured this is a great use of my time rather than my usual clean-the-oven procrastination style
I travel with my three children (13, 10, 10) who are generally great to travel with but like all kids have their special moments so I like to keep things pretty flexible and relaxed.
We were originally aiming to travel as close to the school holidays in December as possible but I got a great deal with Qantas ($3599) leaving at the end of November which I could not pass up, the added bonus is Qantas fly direct from Melbourne and leave at 11.20am which means I don't have to find pre-flight accommodation and have dirty clothes before we even leave Australia
The last time I flew internationally with Qantas was in 1991 so will be interesting to fly them again, I hope the food is better.
Our last trips to the USA have been very much theme park orientated, this trip is very different although DLR will be visited because when in the USA it's a crime not to go, right
Our trips away are also very budget friendly although we do splurge on stuff we want to splurge on 
Anyway, enough jibber jabber. Here is our half-donkey plan - feel free to add advice, thoughts, complaints, whatever.
24th - Arrive at LAX, get to San Pedro somehow. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton here pre-cruise. I've had a quick look at things to do. Must remember to find a chemist somewhere and buy a load of sea sickness tablets. It's Thanksgiving, so I may investigate a late lunch somewhere - leave that with me.
26th - 3rd - Mexican cruise. We have never cruised before so a little nervous. I was reading Cruise Critic to get hints and tips but gave it up as a bad joke when I read one too many threads on 'How dare you bring your children on-board my own personal cruise line' and 'You must wear a ballgown and tux on formal night or you will find yourself walking the plank'. OK, I made those up but you can get the idea, right? We are cruising on the Ruby Princess in an obstructed view room. I have no idea what to do about shore excursions as yet. Watch this space.
3rd - Disembark and somehow get back to LAX. I'm still debating staying at a hotel for a night and catching an early morning flight or catching a late night flight. Again, watch this space. I do have the LA airport Marriott booked for the night.
4th - Fly to Buffalo, looking at a 530am flight which gets us there in the afternoon. Get across into Canada somehow. Super excited about Niagara Falls so have splurged with a full on fallsview room at Embassy Suites by Hilton. I know the Falls are going to be one of the highlights of my trip even though a lot of things close down for winter, just being there is going to be awesome.
7th - Fly to Washington DC. We have booked at Courtyard Washington Embassy Row. We're only here for 4 days (not including travel days) and there is SO much I want to do but I have to narrow it down to the most wanted or throw it all in a hat and random pick. At the 6 months to go I may apply for a White House tour, or I may not. I'm a bit shirty with politicians at the moment.
12th - Amtrak it to Philadelphia. We are staying at the BW plus Independence Park Hotel. I've done almost zero investigation into Philadelphia so any recs highly appreciated but please note I do not drive in the USA as can't trust myself to stay on the correct side of the road. Although at some stage I do want to re-visit the GCNP and will have to drive that time. Next trip!
16th - Amtrak it to NYC. Super, super, SUPER excited about NYC. We have 10 full days here not including travel days. I have a whole list of things I want to do, the kids also have a list each - thankfully there are a load of double ups. Will get back when those lists have been scaled down. We will find somewhere nice to eat lunch or dinner for Christmas day, willing to spend up to $100 USD pp (I never drink at lunchtime, and occasionally have a drink with dinner so I think that budget will be reasonable, I think..?) A broadway show is a definite on the list, plus the usual touristy things and I want it to snow - can someone organise that for us?
We are staying at the Salisbury Hotel, older style, gets fairly good reviews from other Aussies, and close to Central Park which is a must as the kids do need downtime running about using their outside voices. I booked this place back in early Feb and locked in a great rate - just under $2400 USD for the 11 nights.
27th - Fly to LAX. We have 3 nights in LA this time. Staying at the Hollywood Celebrity which I believe is a subway stop or two from US. We'll have a day at US, to check out HP and the new Walking Dead thing, and I believe a Willy Wonka shop may be opening in City Walk..? The other day will be spent doing the usual tourist things in Hollywood (again!). My 13 yo loves Hollywood for some unknown reason and we always have to have a day there. I hate the place, but the motto is 'family holiday = everyone gets a say'.
30th - Head to Anaheim for a
fix. Currently booked into the Desert Inn but may change that. I'm leaning towards a 3 day hopper as I think NYE will be a write off with crowds - still going on that day just because it'll be cool to be there. We *might* have a shopping day at the outlets in Orange as well, but that depends on the exchange rate, or we might just spend the entire time at DLR.
4th -



I travel with my three children (13, 10, 10) who are generally great to travel with but like all kids have their special moments so I like to keep things pretty flexible and relaxed.
We were originally aiming to travel as close to the school holidays in December as possible but I got a great deal with Qantas ($3599) leaving at the end of November which I could not pass up, the added bonus is Qantas fly direct from Melbourne and leave at 11.20am which means I don't have to find pre-flight accommodation and have dirty clothes before we even leave Australia

The last time I flew internationally with Qantas was in 1991 so will be interesting to fly them again, I hope the food is better.
Our last trips to the USA have been very much theme park orientated, this trip is very different although DLR will be visited because when in the USA it's a crime not to go, right


Anyway, enough jibber jabber. Here is our half-donkey plan - feel free to add advice, thoughts, complaints, whatever.
24th - Arrive at LAX, get to San Pedro somehow. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton here pre-cruise. I've had a quick look at things to do. Must remember to find a chemist somewhere and buy a load of sea sickness tablets. It's Thanksgiving, so I may investigate a late lunch somewhere - leave that with me.
26th - 3rd - Mexican cruise. We have never cruised before so a little nervous. I was reading Cruise Critic to get hints and tips but gave it up as a bad joke when I read one too many threads on 'How dare you bring your children on-board my own personal cruise line' and 'You must wear a ballgown and tux on formal night or you will find yourself walking the plank'. OK, I made those up but you can get the idea, right? We are cruising on the Ruby Princess in an obstructed view room. I have no idea what to do about shore excursions as yet. Watch this space.
3rd - Disembark and somehow get back to LAX. I'm still debating staying at a hotel for a night and catching an early morning flight or catching a late night flight. Again, watch this space. I do have the LA airport Marriott booked for the night.
4th - Fly to Buffalo, looking at a 530am flight which gets us there in the afternoon. Get across into Canada somehow. Super excited about Niagara Falls so have splurged with a full on fallsview room at Embassy Suites by Hilton. I know the Falls are going to be one of the highlights of my trip even though a lot of things close down for winter, just being there is going to be awesome.
7th - Fly to Washington DC. We have booked at Courtyard Washington Embassy Row. We're only here for 4 days (not including travel days) and there is SO much I want to do but I have to narrow it down to the most wanted or throw it all in a hat and random pick. At the 6 months to go I may apply for a White House tour, or I may not. I'm a bit shirty with politicians at the moment.
12th - Amtrak it to Philadelphia. We are staying at the BW plus Independence Park Hotel. I've done almost zero investigation into Philadelphia so any recs highly appreciated but please note I do not drive in the USA as can't trust myself to stay on the correct side of the road. Although at some stage I do want to re-visit the GCNP and will have to drive that time. Next trip!
16th - Amtrak it to NYC. Super, super, SUPER excited about NYC. We have 10 full days here not including travel days. I have a whole list of things I want to do, the kids also have a list each - thankfully there are a load of double ups. Will get back when those lists have been scaled down. We will find somewhere nice to eat lunch or dinner for Christmas day, willing to spend up to $100 USD pp (I never drink at lunchtime, and occasionally have a drink with dinner so I think that budget will be reasonable, I think..?) A broadway show is a definite on the list, plus the usual touristy things and I want it to snow - can someone organise that for us?

27th - Fly to LAX. We have 3 nights in LA this time. Staying at the Hollywood Celebrity which I believe is a subway stop or two from US. We'll have a day at US, to check out HP and the new Walking Dead thing, and I believe a Willy Wonka shop may be opening in City Walk..? The other day will be spent doing the usual tourist things in Hollywood (again!). My 13 yo loves Hollywood for some unknown reason and we always have to have a day there. I hate the place, but the motto is 'family holiday = everyone gets a say'.
30th - Head to Anaheim for a

4th -


