US help.

[lugia88]

Planning ahead for a 2-week trip next year to the west coast and totally clueless at this point. Aim is to cover SF-LV-LA plus whatever we can squeeze in between. First things first, we have to decide on the air tickets, - which is more recommended: flying into SF and out of LA or the other way round?

i not expert but i have research abt this topic, you have to check which airline you taking. like for example if you take SQ, fly out from SFO is better coz they have direct flights but if you take china southern airlines [budget, i found 830$] they fly out from LA instead.

Hope this helps

 

[lcpteck]

That's gonna be really squeezy. I wouldn't risk it. Spend a day in Dubai instead.

I didn't know that 2 hours is not enough for an international transit, why is that so? Is it specifically for DXB?

Depends. Are you a fan of cutting-edge modern design (the W), or old-school luxury (the Palace)? I've stayed at the Palace; the rooms are very nice but a bit on the small side, but the pool is fantastic.

I'm okay with both. Though I can't swim (I should learn...), I'll try to just dip in the water and relax I guess.

 

[takuyazzz]

i not expert but i have research abt this topic, you have to check which airline you taking. like for example if you take SQ, fly out from SFO is better coz they have direct flights but if you take china southern airlines [budget, i found 830$] they fly out from LA instead.

Hope this helps

thanks for the tip, i looked at the flights (flying sq) and it seems flying into LA and out of SF is the better option.

Just very roughly, is this itinerary doable? we have 15 days.

LA>hollywood>palm springs>desert hills outlet>Disneyland (4 nights in LA, 1 in Palm Springs, 1 in Anaheim)

From LA, drive to vegas >LV outlet south >grand canyon>vegas (3 nights in LV, 1 in GCV)

From Vegas, fly to SF (3 nights in SF)

 

[Shiny Things]

thanks for the tip, i looked at the flights (flying sq) and it seems flying into LA and out of SF is the better option.

Just very roughly, is this itinerary doable? we have 15 days.

LA>hollywood>palm springs>desert hills outlet>Disneyland (4 nights in LA, 1 in Palm Springs, 1 in Anaheim)

From LA, drive to vegas >LV outlet south >grand canyon>vegas (3 nights in LV, 1 in GCV)

From Vegas, fly to SF (3 nights in SF)

Check your map again. LA -> Palm Springs -> Disneyland -> Vegas is doubling back on yourself. Do Disneyland before Palm Springs and you'll be fine.

I didn't know that 2 hours is not enough for an international transit, why is that so? Is it specifically for DXB?

Nah, just in general you'd rather not squeeze these things too tight, and two hours is right at the bottom edge of what you'd want to spend.

I am planning to drive from las Vegas to Zion national park and the western rim of the grand canyon on then 29th and 30th Nov and then fly to Sf and drive to Maripossa and then take the bus to Yosemite on the 1st Dec. I Anybody can advise on how the the road conditions will be like at this time? hope I will not be driving on snowy roads at this early time in Winter!

It's a coin flip. You might get a snowstorm, you might not.

Zion is pretty high up - six thousand feet - so you might well get some snow around there.

 

[takuyazzz]

Check your map again. LA -> Palm Springs -> Disneyland -> Vegas is doubling back on yourself. Do Disneyland before Palm Springs and you'll be fine

Thanks for pointing that out. I came up with the follow (going in mid may) and have some questions:

Day 1- Arrive in LA (rest and relax)
Day 2 - Hollywood, Griffith Obsevatory, Kodak Theatre, Beverley Hills
Day 3 - Collect car, drive to Disneyland, stay around there for the night
Day 4 - Drive to Desert Hills Premium Outlet, then drive to Palm Springs for the night
Day 5 - Spend the day at Palm Springs what to see and do?
Day 6 - Drive to Vegas any place worth stopping by along the way, hoover dam possible?
Day 7 - Vegas
Day 8 - Las Vegas Premium Outlets South any nearby sightseeing places where we can combo with the outlet?
Day 9 - Drive out to Grand Canyon and stay for the night need advise on this. For 2 days and 1 night, which spots should we cover and where should we stay?
Day 10 - back to vegas for the night
Day 11 - Fly to San Francisco
Day 12 to 15 - Golden gate bridge, fisherman's wharf, pier 39, chinatown, union square, alcatraz night cruise do we have time to head out to yosemite for a day trip?


Also, should I cut down 1 night in Vegas or SF and spend another night in LA instead?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shiny Things]

Thanks for pointing that out. I came up with the follow (going in mid may) and have some questions:

Day 1- Arrive in LA (rest and relax)
Day 2 - Hollywood, Griffith Obsevatory, Kodak Theatre, Beverley Hills
Day 3 - Collect car, drive to Disneyland, stay around there for the night

You want to get to Disneyland as soon as possible in the morning - like, when the park opens at 8am - so you'll want to pick up the car on the morning of day 1 (also because you'll need it to get around all those places), and then drive to Anaheim (where Disneyland is) on the evening of day 3.

Day 4 - Drive to Desert Hills Premium Outlet, then drive to Palm Springs for the night
Day 5 - Spend the day at Palm Springs what to see and do?

Drive out to Palm Canyon in the morning, when it's cool, and go for a hike; in the afternoon, catch a tour around the city and see where all the Hollywood stars used to (and sometimes still do) live.

Day 6 - Drive to Vegas any place worth stopping by along the way, hoover dam possible?

Hoover Dam's a bit out of the way, but you'll be driving straight through the Mojave National Preserve, which is stupendously beautiful.

Day 12 to 15 - Golden gate bridge, fisherman's wharf, pier 39, chinatown, union square, alcatraz night cruise do we have time to head out to yosemite for a day trip?

It's a bit squeezy, but you might be able to.

 

[andrewkb]

Thanks for your suggestion.

Price looks good but does the enterprise include the CDW and various insurance? Don't see that in their prices.

Good question... anyone knows?

 

[takuyazzz]

You want to get to Disneyland as soon as possible in the morning - like, when the park opens at 8am - so you'll want to pick up the car on the morning of day 1 (also because you'll need it to get around all those places), and then drive to Anaheim (where Disneyland is) on the evening of day 3.

So you're suggesting we get a car once we reach LA, perhaps from the airport? Will parking be an issue around LA for the places we'll be visiting? Do hotels generally provide complimentary parking?

Also, can you suggest an itinerary for a 2D1N trip out of vegas to the GC and also where to stay?

Thanks again!

 

[fone]

So you're suggesting we get a car once we reach LA, perhaps from the airport? Will parking be an issue around LA for the places we'll be visiting? Do hotels generally provide complimentary parking?

Also, can you suggest an itinerary for a 2D1N trip out of vegas to the GC and also where to stay?

Thanks again!

Hotel parking will depend on where your hotel is. Downtown / Hollywood / Airport area usually will charge for parking. However, if you go to suburbs, then it should be free parking.

GC 2D1N is very rushed, depending on where you are coming from, and going to after that, and which side of GC you going to. I went LV -> South Rim -> LA, 2D1N, stayed at flagstff. Don't think we spent >4 hours inside GC. The rest of the time spent driving. Of course, if you can find accommodation inside GC, will be much much better.

 

[takuyazzz]

Hotel parking will depend on where your hotel is. Downtown / Hollywood / Airport area usually will charge for parking. However, if you go to suburbs, then it should be free parking.

GC 2D1N is very rushed, depending on where you are coming from, and going to after that, and which side of GC you going to. I went LV -> South Rim -> LA, 2D1N, stayed at flagstff. Don't think we spent >4 hours inside GC. The rest of the time spent driving. Of course, if you can find accommodation inside GC, will be much much better.

i'll be going vegas-GC-vegas, wondering if there's any recommended loop/route for this. or will LA-GC-vegas be better?

 

[fone]

What do you intend to do in GC? Hike? Heli? How long do you think you are going to stay there for activities?

The last time I went Vegas - GC - Vegas, only did a day trip to West Rim, since only go there see see, look look only, not hiking or anything.

 

[twinklingstars]

Anyone knows whether Prada prices in US is comparable to Europe?

 

[takuyazzz]

What do you intend to do in GC? Hike? Heli? How long do you think you are going to stay there for activities?

The last time I went Vegas - GC - Vegas, only did a day trip to West Rim, since only go there see see, look look only, not hiking or anything.

Look look see see, take pictures...was thinking is staying overnight out there will enable us to cover further and see more..

Distance wise, is the GC Village reachable for a night's stay? otherwise where else can we stay?

 

[patryn33]

Anyone knows whether Prada prices in US is comparable to Europe?

Comparable as in no price diff or 10-20% more expensive?
When in doubt it's safer to buy American brand, Prada is Italian after all. Buying in Italy will be cheaper than other parts of Europe.

 

[patryn33]

Look look see see, take pictures...was thinking is staying overnight out there will enable us to cover further and see more..

Distance wise, is the GC Village reachable for a night's stay? otherwise where else can we stay?

I always stay in GC village, maybe my 3rd stay there and 4th or 5th time out there this winter.
You don't need overnight stay too see all the things from the rim, if you want to hike all the way down you need to stay overnight on the bottom of the canyon.

 

[lugia88]

I always stay in GC village, maybe my 3rd stay there and 4th or 5th time out there this winter.
You don't need overnight stay too see all the things from the rim, if you want to hike all the way down you need to stay overnight on the bottom of the canyon.

which lodging you stay >.< its so expensive for budget travellers like me

 

[patryn33]

which lodging you stay >.< its so expensive for budget travellers like me

It's best for you to search, you know the dates and budget.
If you looking for usd$40 range, good luck
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

 

[bluetwinkle]

Recently, I read that some USD are considered old series that may not be readily accepted outside of US. Does anyone know what is considered as an old series notes?

 

[ceecookie]

Recently, I read that some USD are considered old series that may not be readily accepted outside of US. Does anyone know what is considered as an old series notes?

2003 series and older USD

 

[bluetwinkle]

2003 series and older USD

So any notes that was produced in 2003 or earlier will be considered an old series notes?

I wonder if our local money changer will still take the notes.