Someting old something new a 2014 TR

[Melbourne5]

It's been a while...about 18months in fact , a job holiday, a job change and relocation to our old home town. The Melbourne 5 are now the Newcastle 5 and happy to be home but missing our home for the past 7 yrs in Melbourne on the beloved bay.

Anyhow now that all is settled ( job,schools,house ) time to get on the move for our 5th visit to the USA and this trip has a little old and a little new in the itinerary.

So we booked the dear as poison Qantas school holiday flights for June for a 3 week visit. We'll I thought they were until I priced them recently and wondered if shouldn't try and sell them for a generous mark up and stay home. For the record we got $1859 syd-lax return for the school holiday window. I note they are priced at present at $2900 each at present so glad we booked early.

This trip will include the melb 5 ( DD,DM, DS1 -15yO, Ds2-13yo, ds3-7yo) veterans of 09,10,11,12 tours of duty to the USA and DLR or WDW plus dsister and BIL for their first trip to the USA.

Itinerary looks like this so far

Arrive 26 June Santa Monica 2 nights ( Huntley hotel)
Fly to SFO and drive to Yosemite national park 2 nights. ( most likely in a tent)
Drive to Sfo - 3 nights at pier2620 hotel
Fly to Vegas - 3 nights at tropicana with some tix to mammamia
Luxbus to Anaheim and 5 nights of full on Disney immersion ( doubletree suites)
Then home for a rest.


More to come.....

 

[maryr1oz]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned!

 

[Tashinwdw]

Its good you were able to get the cheaper flights, they sure did rise. Looks like a fun 3 weeks planned.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Your plans sound wonderful Melbourne5. Happy planning.

 

[zanzibar138]

Sounds great!

I have a question about camping at Yosemite. Where do you get the tent and supplies from?

 

[Melbourne5]

Sounds great! I have a question about camping at Yosemite. Where do you get the tent and supplies from?

Should explain....we are at Yosemite valley lodge at el portal. Trip advisor tells me it's close to front entry to park and facilities but a very 1.5 star motel.....so can't help with tent question. Just being a bit cheeky describing in advance the motel...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Have fun! Sounds like a great trip.

 

[zanzibar138]

Should explain....we are at Yosemite valley lodge at el portal. Trip advisor tells me it's close to front entry to park and facilities but a very 1.5 star motel.....so can't help with tent question. Just being a bit cheeky describing in advance the motel...

Oh whoops! That went right over my head

 

[LisaAJ]

Sounds like a great trip Melbourne5!!

Zanzibar, we have friends who tented their way across the US. They were amazed that none of the camping shops seemed to have the basic tent camping necessities. Apparently camping over there is only done in a Winnebago!!!

I think they ended up getting most of the gear rom Walmart in the end.

This was about 7 years ago though so maybe things are different now

 

[zanzibar138]

Zanzibar, we have friends who tented their way across the US. They were amazed that none of the camping shops seemed to have the basic tent camping necessities. Apparently camping over there is only done in a Winnebago!!!

 

[LeanneDownUnder]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned, looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[Melbourne5]

So it's been a little while but with just under 3 weeks to go now the final touches to our holiday are taking shape.

So here is the full program;

Arrive LA 26 June
2 nights at Santa Monica at Huntley hotel ( near 3rd st shopping precinct / mall) and less than a km to SM pier
1 day at universal studios to knock over all the favorites ( Jurassic, mummy, but also the new transformers and despicable me rides)
Fly to San Fran 28 June and pick up mini van and drive to Yosemite for 2 nights.
Staying at Yosemite view lodge hotel just outside the park entrance ( can't believe it costs so much to stay in the bush!)
Have a 2hr 'valley floor tour booked' . Apparently this takes you to the big sites and time for pics etc. it's run by the national parks service and they drive you round in something that loos like the studio tour buses ( roofless) at US.
Drive back to SFO on 30 June for 3 nights and drop off minivan. Staying at hotel 2620 in fishermans wharf area.
Planned a baseball game at candlestick park, Alcatraz tour & a fire engine ride over the Golden Gate Bridge !
Fly to Las Vegas on the 3rd and stay at tropicana doubletree. Booked to see mamma mia and will wing it the rest of the time.
Lux bus on the 6th to Anaheim then 4 nights at the doubletree Anaheim with a 4 day pass to DLR
Dinner reservations at goofys kitchen, woodys ranch round up & Ariel's grotto ( for world of color VIP passes)
Hopefully broke and exhausted fly back to Sydney on 10 July . Arrive July 12 for a quick trip home to Newcastle.

Just booked the transfers today and it's all paid ( well not the spending money.....) woo hoo.

17 sleeps to go......

 

[PrincessInOz]

Enjoy the countdown.


Seems like you've got everything sorted out for this trip. Have fun!

 

[zanzibar138]

3 weeks to go! How exciting