Intinerary & Flight Advice Dec - DL

[marvel]

HI everyone. Looking for some advice from December Travellers. First time ever, if we want to travel we will need to go during school holidays, So looking to depart Melbourne around 8th Dec and return Jan 10th.

These are my tentative plans, but hoping all the DIS Experts can advise, if this makes sense.

Currently best flight options are Cathay Pacific $1680, next Qantas $1770, both expensive, but i know this time of year they are ok. So if any of have flown Cathay I am kind of tempted to try them out.

So tentatively planning the following, but any advice on swithcing things up, adding etc would be much appreciated. Torn between visiting DL at the start of Dec or coming back at the end, as we usually like ending on a high even though crowds will be high early Jan, they should come down in the second week.

Dep Mel Dec 8 - Fly to San Fran 5 nights (using points LA - SF)
Dec 13 - Drive to Vegas via Fresno and Death Valley (all up 8 nights) - we love vegas
Dec 21 - LA - 5 nights
Dec 26 - Palm Springs 4 nights
Dec 30 - Anaheim (10 nights or so)

Our 5th or 6th time in LA, but we do love it so, and just want to enjoy ourselves.

All and any advice appreciated, as nervous about going there across Dec /Jan.

 

[Luisa]

I would choose Cathay over Qantas, I've flown them to Hong Kong and the planes and staff were fantastic. I don't have a problem with Qantas, I just think Cathay have the edge on them for service. I've only been to DL once in January and I think it was around the 9th when I got there, it was so quiet and I had a blast even with the closures at the time, lots of great character interaction and plenty of time just to wander and enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[AussieNSW]

I would select Qantas over Cathay. We flew with Cathay to London return in Sept 2014. The food served to us was awful. The crew were polite but lacked personality.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Marvel - That time of year is a great time to be in the US. I would recommend that you lock in accommodation around their Christmas holiday period. The sooner the better. It does book out around that time.

And as it is Disneyland we're talking about, I would visit them in early December AND early January.
How are you getting back from Vegas to LA? Are you driving back? If so, it kinda makes sense to go from Vegas to Palm Springs direct rather than via LA. So....it may make sense to land in LA, do your 5 day stint there (and include DLR time) then head to San Francisco, Vegas, Palm Springs and then Anaheim. But you may have a reason for being in LA....for Christmas?

As to whether to fly Cathay or Qantas. I don't think it really matters. Both are pretty good; and it really does depend on how the crew are on the day you fly as to whether you enjoy their service or not.

 

[marvel]

thanks everyone. still not sure whether to go CX or Qantas, but appreciate all the advice. Enjoy the Qantas lounge which I won't get with CX, so not sure.

hey PrincessOz, was thinking of going straight to SF from LA, probably using points as you don't pay fuel surcharge, and then driving from SF to Vegas, through Fresno and Death Valley as the other passes via Yosemite would be closed.

Then from Vegas, yes, Palm Springs makes sense, last time we stayed purely in Anaheim and drove to and from to get to universal, rodeo drive etc, so this time we though spend some time in LA and end with DL for the last 10 or so nights, purely relax and Disney. That's the thinking.

We are still wondering if we are crazy going again so soon, were in LA March 2013 and then WDW in Sept 2014. Are we nuts !! I will never retire at this rate.

 

[aussie shaz]

Would you be flying direct with Qantas? If so, I'd easily chose a direct flight over a stopover flight. We like to just get on and get off, no transiting and sitting around. Personal choice though I guess.

 

[Meemoo]

Cathay is excellent, so far the best airline I have traveled with for service, food, entertainment and best ever kids packs, I'd go with them for sure over Qantas.

 

[PrincessInOz]

thanks everyone. still not sure whether to go CX or Qantas, but appreciate all the advice. Enjoy the Qantas lounge which I won't get with CX, so not sure.

hey PrincessOz, was thinking of going straight to SF from LA, probably using points as you don't pay fuel surcharge, and then driving from SF to Vegas, through Fresno and Death Valley as the other passes via Yosemite would be closed.

Then from Vegas, yes, Palm Springs makes sense, last time we stayed purely in Anaheim and drove to and from to get to universal, rodeo drive etc, so this time we though spend some time in LA and end with DL for the last 10 or so nights, purely relax and Disney. That's the thinking.

We are still wondering if we are crazy going again so soon, were in LA March 2013 and then WDW in Sept 2014. Are we nuts !! I will never retire at this rate.

You know that United have upgraded their fleet, don't you? They might well be worth checking out as well....unless you were chasing air miles points.
I think your options from your location are to fly via Sydney straight to SFO or via LAX to SFO. If it were me, I would choose to hub in Sydney rather than LAX. SFO is a much better airport to clear customs than LAX.

And no. You are NOT nuts for going again. And given that you and I are about the same vintage and have kids at school, you are FAR to young to be thinking of retirement. Besides....if you were retired, what else would you be doing but travelling anyway??

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Just my halfpenny but would think you might score flights a bit cheaper even though it will be December since you plan to leave on 8th since you are only going to the west coast (San Fran and LA) espy given how flight costs now are generally much cheaper than a few years ago. I know you want to lock in but $1770 for Q seems dear to me. If the experts here don't think so though then I bow to their wisdom. I haven't ever come back early Jan but; have either done a short trip completed before Xmas or longer and got back late Jan. You might also like to see what prices you can get at the upcoming travel expo (see other recent thread). I agree direct to San Fran is brilliant compared to transiting through LAX.

 

[marvel]

I have seen the post on the travel expo and will give it a go. I agree, that $1700 still doesn't sit well with me, having never paid more than $1250 for a flight. and now with this darn dollar slowly heading to 70c !! ouch.

we have always done direct flights, and getting on and off at airports for a few days sounds good in theory, but at the end of a trip, it can be a hassle.

AirNZ have flights just under $1700 but what is it with the 1 checked bag?? Figure i might wait it out for a while before pulling the trigger on flights, i tentatively put a hold on some rooms just in case.

hey princessOz, true about retirement, work to travel is what we seems to be the norm for us!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good luck with getting your flights at a reasonable price, Marvel.

 

[Marlea98]

We last flew 28/11/13 and returned 22/1/14. If we had have flown from the 30/11/13 it would have added an extra $1000 per person to our flights. We have travelled for around 8 weeks at a time on our previous trips around the same dates. If you are able to manage it with school terms try and travel around Thanksgiving.

With our first trip we found LA very cold in December - we were in beanies, scarves, gloves etc from 4.30pm. On our last trip, in January we were in shorts and t-shirts at DLR at night. Enjoy your December/January trip

 

[lffam]

We last flew 28/11/13 and returned 22/1/14. If we had have flown from the 30/11/13 it would have added an extra $1000 per person to our flights. We have travelled for around 8 weeks at a time on our previous trips around the same dates. If you are able to manage it with school terms try and travel around Thanksgiving.

With our first trip we found LA very cold in December - we were in beanies, scarves, gloves etc from 4.30pm. On our last trip, in January we were in shorts and t-shirts at DLR at night. Enjoy your December/January trip

thats good to know about the weather Marlea. Looks like you will be on the Fantasy 2 weeks before us