Help for first-timer

[Allisonjane]

We are planning a 2 week trip to California next year, probably late August/September. We are travelling from UK so will be flying into Los Angeles and renting a car for 2 weeks. I have been to Florida many times but i know very little about California. What i'd like to know is where is it best to stay?
We would like to visit Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags, Sea World, San Diego Zoo and possibly Legoland. Also i'd like to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills and maybe a couple of days on the beach, but i have no idea how far apart the attractions are and what travelling times would be.
We are travelling with a 4 year old so don't want to be spending lots of time driving but also don't want to be changing hotels everyday. I don't mind staying in 2 or 3 differnt hotels, but don't know where to stay and how long in each?
Also if the budget allows we are thinking of adding a week in las vegas, is it possible to drive from los angeles or would we be better to fly?
Any help would be appreciated
Thank you

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

We are planning a 2 week trip to California next year, probably late August/September. We are travelling from UK so will be flying into Los Angeles and renting a car for 2 weeks. I have been to Florida many times but i know very little about California. What i'd like to know is where is it best to stay?
We would like to visit Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags, Sea World, San Diego Zoo and possibly Legoland. Also i'd like to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills and maybe a couple of days on the beach, but i have no idea how far apart the attractions are and what travelling times would be.
We are travelling with a 4 year old so don't want to be spending lots of time driving but also don't want to be changing hotels everyday. I don't mind staying in 2 or 3 differnt hotels, but don't know where to stay and how long in each?
Also if the budget allows we are thinking of adding a week in las vegas, is it possible to drive from los angeles or would we be better to fly?
Any help would be appreciated
Thank you

You will have a great time in California!

My advice is stay to in different areas for each part of your trip. California is very spread out and you can easily be stuck in traffic if you are driving everyday.

I would stay a few days in the LA area (Santa Monica would be nice, and it's the beach!), then I would stay a few days in Anaheim (for DLand, Knott's), and then drive down to San Diego for a few days (it can be a 4 hour drive from LA to SD).

It is definitely possible to drive from LA to Vegas. I personally prefer to drive because I hate flying, but most people fly. To me, I'd much rather drive the 4 hours then have to deal with an airport. Also, many UK residents are not as bored as Cali residents with the drive because it's desert and so it's different from what you're used to. But, like I said, it's really up to your family as to what would be best.

 

[StageTek]

Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios are all close
together. And even Six Flags is in the general vacinity - about
20 miles north of Universal.

About 30 miles south of Universal Disneyland and Knotts are near
each other.

Then about 100 miles further south of Disneylane is where Sea
World, SD Zoo and Legoland are.

If you are based in the Disneyland area you’ll have about an hour
to an hour and a half drive north (to Hollywood, Beverly Hills,
Universal Studios) depending on traffic. And two to three hours
to the San Diego area attractions.

That’s a lot of time driving. But it’s also at least three
differen hotels.

In the Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios area you could
stay at the Beverly Garland. In the Disneyland/Knotts area you
could stay at one of the Disney hotels. In the San Degio area you
could stay at The Island Palms Hotel.

 

[Allisonjane]

Thank you for the replies, it looks like we need to spend 4/5 days each in 3 different hotels. I know we will need a hotel near Disneyland and another in San Diego but where is the best area to stay for Universal/Hollywood.
Also can anyone tell me how long will the drive be to Las Vegas.

 

[caz]

We are a family of 5 going to Anaheim , SD and LV in July/August.We are planning to drive to Hollywood and Universal from Anaheim.We are driving to LV and I am really looking forward to the journey , I know it will be long but we plan to stop along the way.I don't want to pay the extra for our luggage on an internal flight either as I plan to hit the shops

 

[MAH4546]

Thank you for the replies, it looks like we need to spend 4/5 days each in 3 different hotels. I know we will need a hotel near Disneyland and another in San Diego but where is the best area to stay for Universal/Hollywood.
Also can anyone tell me how long will the drive be to Las Vegas.

Hollywood - unlike the rest of LA - is well connected with public transportation since the subway runs through Hollywood. Stay near a subway station, and you are fine. The subway even stops at Universal Studios.

The Renaissance at Hollywood & Highland is probably the best hotel to stay out. Not super cheap, but not outrageously expensive either.

Furthermore, you can leave your car parked and take the train out to explore downtown/Little Tokyo, the museums at USC (the train to there will be running by the time you visit), China Town and Pasadena.

 

[MousseauMob]

Thank you for the replies, it looks like we need to spend 4/5 days each in 3 different hotels. I know we will need a hotel near Disneyland and another in San Diego but where is the best area to stay for Universal/Hollywood.
Also can anyone tell me how long will the drive be to Las Vegas.

It usually takes us about 4 hours from Las Vegas to Disneyland, but I usually make sure I'm traveling in the opposite direction of the traffic. For example: So Cal tends to think of Vegas as their weekend getaway - so Friday nights and Saturday mornings traveling to Vegas gets very busy, and traveling from Vegas back to So Cal on Sunday can get busy. Going to San Diego usually only takes 2 more hours, but again, this can vary based on traffic. Personally, I would drive, by the time you get to the airport, park, security, check in, board. etc. etc. etc. - you're almost at the 4 hours anyway.

If you have some flexibility in your schedule, September after Labor Day will be less crowds, and as long as you miss work rush hours, less traffic during the week. Weekend traveling to the beach is always busy

 

[marvel]

We have driven to Vegas from LA before and plan to do so again in Sept. For us it's fun to drive in the US and hate having to deal with baggage check/parking etc at the airport. We are also looking for where to stay in LA prior to driving to Vegas so will be subscribing to your thread for more info.

The Renaisance has great reviews on tripadvisor and we are also considering the Castle Inn based on tripadvisor reviews.
We will be driving LA - Vegas and then Vegas Anaheim, so doing it twice, and really looking forward to it.