US help.

[bjory]

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.

Thanks!! This is really helpful. I might consider Livermore since there is Grayline day tour for it.

 

[Shiny Things]

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.

Ahh, welcome to the San Francisco convention lottery. Oracle Openworld runs from October 22nd to 25th, and you're going to be fighting with sixty thousand convention-goers for hotel rooms. Everything's going to be stupid expensive, even AirBNB.

If there's any way to arrive a couple of days earlier, and leave a couple of days earlier, you should absolutely do it. Otherwise, try booking a hotel in the city for the 20th and 21st, then moving further out for the 22nd and 23rd.

If you decide to AirBNB it, look in the Castro or Duboce Triangle, so that you're close to Muni. It might even be worth looking south, especially if you want to do some tech tourism to the Google and Apple campuses: there are Starriott hotels down near the airport going for USD 160-180/nt for your dates (check out the AC Hotel Oyster Point or the Marriott Courtyard SF Airport).

 

[aromilk]

Hi experts,

We (me, wifey and son) will be visting LA and SF in the last 2 weeks of Nov.

Is the below itinerary doable?

I would like to ask which area should my accommodation be in LA. Thanks!

Day 1 - Arriving SFO at 7 am
Check in to hotel
Free and easy around Union Square
Explore Fisherman's wharf
Day 2 - Morning - Alcatraz / Coit Tower
Afternoon - Goldengate Bridge and Park
Day 3 - Chinatown for breakfast
Visit Lombard Street
Day 4 - nothing planned
Day 5 - Pick up rented car after breakfast
Drive along Highway 1 to Monterey
Day 6 - Whale watching in the morning
Day 7 - Visit Gilroy Premium Outlets
Day 8 - Depart for Morro Bay via Big Sur
Day 9 - Depart for LA
Day 10 - Hollywood boulevard, Chinese Theatre (handprints), Walk of fame, Griffith Observatory
Day 11 - Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Steet Promenade
Day 12 - Disneyland
Day 13 - nothing planned
Day 14 - Flying back to SG

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi experts,

We (me, wifey and son) will be visting LA and SF in the last 2 weeks of Nov.

Is the below itinerary doable?

Yep, totally doable. I'd maybe switch up LA a bit, though...

1) Do Disneyland first, on day 10. That way, you can easily spend the night before Disneyland (the night of day 9) at a hotel in Anaheim (that way you can get into the park as early as possible). The Disney hotels are absolutely the pick here, but the Sheraton next to the park is great if you're a Starriott loyalist.

2) After Disney, you should probably stay in West Hollywood; it's very nice, and central to all of the things you want to see (Santa Monica, Hollywood itself). Hollywood proper is a bit of a hole, to be honest. And West Hollywood is a lot closer to LAX airport than Anaheim is, so it'll make your trip to the airport a bit easier.

 

[aromilk]

Yep, totally doable. I'd maybe switch up LA a bit, though...

1) Do Disneyland first, on day 10. That way, you can easily spend the night before Disneyland (the night of day 9) at a hotel in Anaheim (that way you can get into the park as early as possible). The Disney hotels are absolutely the pick here, but the Sheraton next to the park is great if you're a Starriott loyalist.

2) After Disney, you should probably stay in West Hollywood; it's very nice, and central to all of the things you want to see (Santa Monica, Hollywood itself). Hollywood proper is a bit of a hole, to be honest. And West Hollywood is a lot closer to LAX airport than Anaheim is, so it'll make your trip to the airport a bit easier.

Cheers! Shall move disney up.

 

[helloworld321]

HI guys,

I'm landing @ JFK on 4Jan 11am.

My next flight is at LGA on 5jan 6am, delta .

Do you think it's possible for me to catch a bus from JFK to LGA, check in my luggage or store my luggage (so i don't have to carry around) and travel around new york for a bit?

 

[Shiny Things]

HI guys,

I'm landing @ JFK on 4Jan 11am.

My next flight is at LGA on 5jan 6am, delta .

Do you think it's possible for me to catch a bus from JFK to LGA, check in my luggage or store my luggage (so i don't have to carry around) and travel around new york for a bit?

You're going to want to get a hotel near LGA so you can crash on the night of the fourth. Just catch a Lyft to the hotel (it's like ten miles, not too far) and dump your luggage there.

 

[helloworld321]

You're going to want to get a hotel near LGA so you can crash on the night of the fourth. Just catch a Lyft to the hotel (it's like ten miles, not too far) and dump your luggage there.

i might not be able to wake up. so i thought of getting from JFK to LGA. dump luggage and travel around till around midnight. get back to the airport, check in and head to the lounge.


Then i realize LGA doesn't provide luggage storage service....

 

[bunbun9090]

Hi, anyone can help me on Disneyland?

Roughly how many days pass I need to purchase?

I won't b Q-ing up for all the rides in Disneyland. Maybe just a few rides.

I read up in net, u need at least 2 to 4 days to complete the whole of Disneyland. That is they took all the rides.

 

[KKH2017]

This is really subjective and depends on many factors. i.e which month are you going? Weekday or weekend? How many pax ? Which rides are you going for ? Too many unknown to even suggest anything. suggest you get the fast pass and finish what you intend to ride on that day. If it’s not enough; just purchase another ticket for second day at the counter

Hi, anyone can help me on Disneyland?

Roughly how many days pass I need to purchase?

I won't b Q-ing up for all the rides in Disneyland. Maybe just a few rides.

I read up in net, u need at least 2 to 4 days to complete the whole of Disneyland. That is they took all the rides.

 

[bunbun9090]

We r planning at next year April, 3rd week. Looking at Monday to avoid the crowds.

About 3 pax.

As for rides, I'm also not sure which we will b taking.

 

[KKH2017]

Month of April is relatively busy at Disneyland resort due to spring break and with Easter and Good Friday on 3rd week. I would suggest you take a fast pass on Disneyland resort.
Do you also intend to go for Disney California Adventure Park ? Additional day is needed if you intend to.

We r planning at next year April, 3rd week. Looking at Monday to avoid the crowds.

About 3 pax.

As for rides, I'm also not sure which we will b taking.

 

[Shiny Things]

i might not be able to wake up. so i thought of getting from JFK to LGA. dump luggage and travel around till around midnight. get back to the airport, check in and head to the lounge.

Then i realize LGA doesn't provide luggage storage service....

You really should get a hotel. That solves your luggage problem; and you can get as many wakeup calls as you need to make sure you don't miss your flight.

And SleepingInAirports.net (which is the bible for this sort of thing) points out that LGA's facilities are awful and they have a major problem with homeless people sleeping in the terminal. They recommend not sleeping there.

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi, anyone can help me on Disneyland?

Roughly how many days pass I need to purchase?

I won't b Q-ing up for all the rides in Disneyland. Maybe just a few rides.

I read up in net, u need at least 2 to 4 days to complete the whole of Disneyland. That is they took all the rides.

You can do both parks in one day if you're thoughtful about it (I've done this!), especially if you're not doing too many rides. Stay in or near the park so you can get there first thing; use fastpasses to optimise the time you spend there; and stick around for the World of Color show at night.

 

[bunbun9090]

Thanks everyone, that's very helpful

 

[bongnino]

Hi all, need some valuable inputs or suggestions on my trip around Eastern US mid September, thanks in advance!

I'll be renting a car from Newark Airport, there's only my gf and I, renting a small car. I'll be arriving in Newark early morning from LA on an overnight flight.

day 1 (Sun)
Newark [2 hrs drive] Atlantic City (drive around, chill, beaches)
Plan: As I'll be arriving on an overnight flight, don't really to drive long hours straightafter, hence planning to settle down in Atlantic City for the day.

day 2 (Mon)
Atlantic City [50 mins drive] Cape May [1 hr ferry] Lewes [2 hrs drive] Washington DC
Plan: took in some of your inputs from this thread, decided to drive along the coast around Cape May Lewes area, hopefully it will be scenic?

day 3
Full day in Washington DC
Plan: visit some good musuems, monuments

day 4
Washington DC [2 hrs drive] Hershey [2 hrs drive] Shickshinny Lake
Plan: leave DC early to hershey for short sightseeing, then planning to experience staying at a lake house in Shickshinny to chill and relax, do some kayaking, fishing etc and wind down.

day 5
Shickshinny Lake [3 hrs drive] Seneca Lake [2 hrs drive] Niagara Falls
Plan: transit day to niagara falls, stop over at seneca lake for meal. rest of the day sightsee in falls.

day 6
Niagara Falls [5 hrs drive] Troy
plan: to visit wineries in morning, then head towards eastern new england, transit and stayover in Troy

day 7
Troy [3 hrs drive] Boston [2 hrs drive] New Haven
alt: [2 hrs drive] six flags new england [1 hr drive] New Haven
plan: sightsee in boston

day 8
New Haven [1.5 hrs drive] Woodbury Premium Outlets

day 9 - 12
Return car, sightsee in New York City

We're open to suggestions to improve this plan.. we understand day 6 to 8 are quite badly planned.. a lot of driving..

but the rationale is.. other than New England (boston) area, we don't know where else is meaningful to go and visit...

And we would wanna do one full day shopping in woodbury...

let me know of ways to improve this!

 

[bongnino]

suggestions and advice anyone pleasee. !

 

[ceecookie]

suggestions and advice anyone pleasee. !

Too much driving - what I recommend is starting the trip at NY first (day 1), then taking Amtrak to D.C to enjoy museums (2 days), then a domestic flight to Niagara Falls via Buffalo.

Route suggestion:

Day 1-4 : NY
Day 5-6 : Amtrak to D.C
Day 7-8 : Fly to Buffalo and drive to Niagara Falls.
Day 9-11: Return to Buffalo and fly to Boston.
Day 12: domestic flight to NY for ur flight home

 

[dilphinus]

Hi all, need some valuable inputs or suggestions on my trip around Eastern US mid September, thanks in advance!

I'll be renting a car from Newark Airport, there's only my gf and I, renting a small car. I'll be arriving in Newark early morning from LA on an overnight flight.

day 1 (Sun)
Newark [2 hrs drive] Atlantic City (drive around, chill, beaches)
Plan: As I'll be arriving on an overnight flight, don't really to drive long hours straightafter, hence planning to settle down in Atlantic City for the day.

day 2 (Mon)
Atlantic City [50 mins drive] Cape May [1 hr ferry] Lewes [2 hrs drive] Washington DC
Plan: took in some of your inputs from this thread, decided to drive along the coast around Cape May Lewes area, hopefully it will be scenic?

day 3
Full day in Washington DC
Plan: visit some good musuems, monuments

day 4
Washington DC [2 hrs drive] Hershey [2 hrs drive] Shickshinny Lake
Plan: leave DC early to hershey for short sightseeing, then planning to experience staying at a lake house in Shickshinny to chill and relax, do some kayaking, fishing etc and wind down.

day 5
Shickshinny Lake [3 hrs drive] Seneca Lake [2 hrs drive] Niagara Falls
Plan: transit day to niagara falls, stop over at seneca lake for meal. rest of the day sightsee in falls.

day 6
Niagara Falls [5 hrs drive] Troy
plan: to visit wineries in morning, then head towards eastern new england, transit and stayover in Troy

day 7
Troy [3 hrs drive] Boston [2 hrs drive] New Haven
alt: [2 hrs drive] six flags new england [1 hr drive] New Haven
plan: sightsee in boston

day 8
New Haven [1.5 hrs drive] Woodbury Premium Outlets

day 9 - 12
Return car, sightsee in New York City

We're open to suggestions to improve this plan.. we understand day 6 to 8 are quite badly planned.. a lot of driving..

but the rationale is.. other than New England (boston) area, we don't know where else is meaningful to go and visit...

And we would wanna do one full day shopping in woodbury...

let me know of ways to improve this!

Maine! Wiscasset is nice!

 

[aromilk]

Hi Shiny,

Thanks for the earlier advice above. One more qns. I will be driving from LV to LA in the last week of Nov. How is the weather like? Will it be icy and snowing? That will determine what kind of car I will renting. Cheers