US help.

[bjory]

I'm also interested to know where is a good and safe area to stay in SF. Any recommendation of a hotel? Looking at around $300 per night.

I hear that Union square area might be slightly not as safe as Financial District to stay in?

 

[koohansen]

I'm also interested to know where is a good and safe area to stay in SF. Any recommendation of a hotel? Looking at around $300 per night.

I hear that Union square area might be slightly not as safe as Financial District to stay in?

Just avoid Tenderloin District

 

[Shiny Things]

We are planning a family road trip in California next March with 2 Adult & 2 teenage.

13 Mar - LA - GCNP South Rim
14 Mar - GCNP to LV (Return Car)
15-16 Mar - LV
16 Mar - LV - NYC (night flight)
17-21 Mar - NYC (Rest n Relax)

Is the above route plan doable? Do we give a miss to Death Valley if Tioga pass way is not open during March, it will be a long journey.

I'd fiddle with this a bit:
* Draw it out on a map. The Los Angeles-Grand Canyon day you're proposing is going to be a nightmare; that's eight solid hours driving, and you're going to be doubling back all the way to Las Vegas.

* Skip Los Angeles. Beverly Hills isn't that great, and if that's all you're doing, you'd probably enjoy it a bit more if you went from Yosemite to Death Valley. Even if Tioga Pass is closed, which it will be in March, you can drive from Mariposa (near the entrance to Yosemite) to Furnace Creek in about six hours.

Which domestic carrier is recommendable and able to book from Singapore?

United, American, Delta, Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines are all fine. Spirit blows, avoid them.

Any other hotel website beside priceline that we can look into more option, like service apartment etc as generally US hotel is pretty ex.

AirBnB is a thing, though personally I'd just book through the hotel websites for your chain of choice; most of the time the hotel websites will match or beat any rates advertised on Priceline or anywhere.

Just need another help, any area to avoid for staying in SF & NY?

SF: avoid the Tenderloin because it sucks; avoid SoMa west of about 5th because it sucks (the exception is the Hampton Inn on Mission between 5th and 6th, this is fine); avoid anything west of about Van Ness because it's a long way from anywhere.

NY: Anywhere south of the 80s in Manhattan, you can't go too far wrong.

I'm also interested to know where is a good and safe area to stay in SF. Any recommendation of a hotel? Looking at around $300 per night.

I hear that Union square area might be slightly not as safe as Financial District to stay in?

Union Square is fine; if anything it's more interesting than the FiDi.

What dates are you looking at? At that price, assuming you're not colliding with Oracle Openworld or something that sends prices into the stratosphere, I'd be looking at maybe the Park Central Hotel or even the Westin St Francis, if you're a Starriott loyalist.

 

[bjory]

I'd fiddle with this a bit:
* Draw it out on a map. The Los Angeles-Grand Canyon day you're proposing is going to be a nightmare; that's eight solid hours driving, and you're going to be doubling back all the way to Las Vegas.

* Skip Los Angeles. Beverly Hills isn't that great, and if that's all you're doing, you'd probably enjoy it a bit more if you went from Yosemite to Death Valley. Even if Tioga Pass is closed, which it will be in March, you can drive from Mariposa (near the entrance to Yosemite) to Furnace Creek in about six hours.



United, American, Delta, Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines are all fine. Spirit blows, avoid them.



AirBnB is a thing, though personally I'd just book through the hotel websites for your chain of choice; most of the time the hotel websites will match or beat any rates advertised on Priceline or anywhere.



SF: avoid the Tenderloin because it sucks; avoid SoMa west of about 5th because it sucks (the exception is the Hampton Inn on Mission between 5th and 6th, this is fine); avoid anything west of about Van Ness because it's a long way from anywhere.

NY: Anywhere south of the 80s in Manhattan, you can't go too far wrong.



Union Square is fine; if anything it's more interesting than the FiDi.

What dates are you looking at? At that price, assuming you're not colliding with Oracle Openworld or something that sends prices into the stratosphere, I'd be looking at maybe the Park Central Hotel or even the Westin St Francis, if you're a Starriott loyalist.

I'm looking at Orchard Garden Hotel or The Orchard Hotel. Any one has any review on these 2? Seems like both are relatively close to each other and near to Chinatown.

I will be there 1st Sept - 6 Sept, so probably won't hit much of any big convention in SF.

 

[Shiny Things]

I'm looking at Orchard Garden Hotel or The Orchard Hotel. Any one has any review on these 2? Seems like both are relatively close to each other and near to Chinatown.

I will be there 1st Sept - 6 Sept, so probably won't hit much of any big convention in SF.

The Hotel Triton, just across the street from the Orchard Garden, is pretty good and a lot cheaper on those dates (about $50/nt cheaper). Booking directly through the hotel website is weirdly expensive, so check Expedia.

Also, the Park Central San Francisco is even cheaper - if I search for it on those dates through Tripadvisor, it comes up as $195/nt. That's a Starwood hotel, used to be a Westin, so it's going to be quality.

 

[ralphlauren]

Thank you for all the constructive feedbacks, I have revised my itinerary to cut down driving, included outlets and ditched Yosemite (uncertainties on how long the fire will last and also not sure Tioga Pass will be closed or not).

Does this itinerary looks more realistic now?

 

[bjory]

The Hotel Triton, just across the street from the Orchard Garden, is pretty good and a lot cheaper on those dates (about $50/nt cheaper). Booking directly through the hotel website is weirdly expensive, so check Expedia.

Also, the Park Central San Francisco is even cheaper - if I search for it on those dates through Tripadvisor, it comes up as $195/nt. That's a Starwood hotel, used to be a Westin, so it's going to be quality.

Thanks!!

Yah I had a look at Triton and it’s like few hundreds cheaper. But of course hotel class is lower than Orchard Garden.

 

[Shiny Things]

Thanks!!

Yah I had a look at Triton and it’s like few hundreds cheaper. But of course hotel class is lower than Orchard Garden.

Really? The Orchard Garden's not that fancy. And I guarantee you the Park Central's going to be nicer than either of them.

 

[Shiny Things]

Thank you for all the constructive feedbacks, I have revised my itinerary to cut down driving, included outlets and ditched Yosemite (uncertainties on how long the fire will last and also not sure Tioga Pass will be closed or not).

Does this itinerary looks more realistic now?

The second half of the trip is pretty wonky:

• Four nights in Vegas is A LOT. I know you mentioned you have to stay there for a few nights, but is there any way you can leave a day earlier?
• The "Vegas to Zion to Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon" is not doable in a day, no way, no how. That's at least a three-day itinerary, because you'll want a half day in Zion, a few hours at Antelope Canyon, and a half-day at Grand Canyon Village at least; plus there's seven solid hours' driving between those points. If you can leave Vegas a day early and spend a night in Springdale (at Zion Canyon), do that; otherwise toss Zion and Antelope Canyon and just do the Grand Canyon Village.
• GCV to Los Angeles is another eight hours' solid driving, and Camarillo Premium is another hour-and-a-half past Los Angeles. If you really insist on driving from GCV to LA, drive in via Palm Springs instead, along Interstate 10, and stop at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, which is right on the way to Los Angeles.
• I'd even say that you should split the GCV-to-LA drive into two parts: spend a day driving from GCV to Palm Springs, which takes you through Joshua Tree National Park (plus Palm Springs is really nice!). The next day, get a late-ish start, maybe take a tour of Palm Springs; drive up to the Desert Hills Outlets, spend a few hours there, then in the afternoon, drive the rest of the way into LA. That way, you'll be going the opposite direction to the afternoon rush in LA.

 

[bjory]

Really? The Orchard Garden's not that fancy. And I guarantee you the Park Central's going to be nicer than either of them.

Is Park Central slightly away from the key shopping stretch and Chinatown?

 

[Shiny Things]

Is Park Central slightly away from the key shopping stretch and Chinatown?

It's a couple of blocks from the Union Square shopping district; a 10-minute walk from Chinatown; and a 10-minute Lyft ride from the cool little shopping strips in Hayes Valley (Hayes Street) and the Mission (Valencia Street). So it's close to all of them.

 

[bjory]

It's a couple of blocks from the Union Square shopping district; a 10-minute walk from Chinatown; and a 10-minute Lyft ride from the cool little shopping strips in Hayes Valley (Hayes Street) and the Mission (Valencia Street). So it's close to all of them.

Thanks! And another question is that the surrounding around Park Central hotel is it ok? Anywhere nearing to the infamous Tenderloin?

 

[Shiny Things]

Thanks! And another question is that the surrounding around Park Central hotel is it ok? Anywhere nearing to the infamous Tenderloin?

You're a long way from the Tenderloin. It's totally fine; I work a few blocks from there. (There's even some quite nice museums on that stretch - it's close to SFMoMa, the MOAD, and the CJM, all worth a visit.)

 

[bjory]

You're a long way from the Tenderloin. It's totally fine; I work a few blocks from there. (There's even some quite nice museums on that stretch - it's close to SFMoMa, the MOAD, and the CJM, all worth a visit.)

I last checked Orchard Garden Hotel and Park Central is almost the same price. So you reckon I should go with Park Central?

 

[helloworld321]

Will be in Canada for 6 months starting in jan. Hence my December will be free. Thinking of traveling to US roughly 20+ of December. But worried about Christmas. Would store be closed during Christmas period?

Also should I land in SFO or lax? Traveling alone with quite a few luggage.

 

[Shiny Things]

I last checked Orchard Garden Hotel and Park Central is almost the same price. So you reckon I should go with Park Central?

Yeah. If you can, you'll want to book directly through the hotel's website; and sign up for the Starwood Preferred Guest program if you're not already a member, because it gets you free wifi.

Will be in Canada for 6 months starting in jan. Hence my December will be free. Thinking of traveling to US roughly 20+ of December. But worried about Christmas. Would store be closed during Christmas period?

Also should I land in SFO or lax? Traveling alone with quite a few luggage.

LAX sucks. SFO is way nicer, and the immigration officials are nicer as well.

Stores will usually be closed on Christmas Day, but otherwise everything's going to be wide open.

 

[bjory]

Any recommendation where to go for premium outlet in SF?
I see that premium outlets are quite far from downtown.

Wanna get cheap Coach wristlet and stuffs to give back home.

 

[mubz96]

Any recommendation where to go for premium outlet in SF?
I see that premium outlets are quite far from downtown.

Wanna get cheap Coach wristlet and stuffs to give back home.

The nearest one at Livermore outlet.

 

[Shiny Things]

Any recommendation where to go for premium outlet in SF?
I see that premium outlets are quite far from downtown.

Wanna get cheap Coach wristlet and stuffs to give back home.

In Union Square, check out Nordstrom Rack and Saks Fifth Off Fifth; they might have some of what you’re after.

Also, one I didn’t know existed: there’s an outlet mall over in Milpitas called Great Mall, which is a few minutes in an Uber from Warm Springs BART station. That might be worth a shot.

If none of those work for you, and if you’re really hellbent on the outlet experience, try:

• If you’re heading to wine country: there are outlet malls in Napa and Petaluma;
• If you’re heading east, toward Tahoe or Yosemite, then Livermore or Vacaville would be the pick;
• If you’re heading south, toward Monterey, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, or Los Angeles, then Gilroy is on the way.

 

[ralphlauren]

Wow.. the hotel prices @ SF are very expensive for my dates (20-24 Oct). Might be considering Airbnb for now. Any areas to recommend? Preferably close to BART, cafes and not too far from shopping.