US help.

liemsc

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June - how many days?
You driving?

Shopping what kind? Outlet? They are every where.

USA is big, u can go Grand Canyon go Vegas; go NYC or DC and venture to niagara or Acadia up on Maine etc

Hi Patryn33.. would you mind giving your valuable comment for my planned itinerary above? The more I think about it, I probably will eliminate Lake Tahoe (not sure if it's worth the extra miles to see the lake). And replace it with Monterey-Carmel as suggested by Hisashiburi.
 

patryn33

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I'd like to get some feasibility sensing on my west coast plan for June'2016. Group member: 3 adult + 2 child (age 8 & 4). Planning to drive car almost the whole time (except during in SF). Only 1 car driver in group.

Day #1 (Thursday) Arrival LAX 2pm, enroute to Anaheim
2 (Friday) Disneyland
3 (Saturday) Enroute to San Diego - USS Midway Museum
4 (Sunday) SD Zoo
5 (Monday) SD Sea World + Enroute to LA
6 (Tuesday) LA - California Science Center, Hollywood, etc
7 (Wednesday) LA - Santa Monica, etc
8 (Thursday) Enroute from LA to Grand Canyon -> is this realistically feasible? Should break the day in between?
9 (Friday) Grand Canyon whole day
10 (Saturday) Afternoon enroute to Las Vegas
11 (Sunday) Las Vegas
12 (Monday) Las Vegas
13 (Tuesday) Enroute to Yosemite via White Mountain & Tioga Pass -> is this realistically feasible? Should break the day in between?
14 (Wednesday) Yosemite whole day
15 (Thursday) Enroute to Lake Tahoe (stay overnight)
16 (Friday) Enroute to SF, visit Silicon Valley area
17 (Saturday) SF - Golden Gate Bridge + Park + California Academy of Sciences
18 (Sunday) Exploratorium + Fisherman Wharf + Pier-39, etc
19 (Monday) Spare buffer - undecided what to slot in
20 (Tuesday) Depart SFO back to SG

Any inputs to my draft plan above, please? Thanks in advance!

1st of all party of 3 adults and 2 kids..
8 yr old need booster seat and 4 yr old need child seat please note that.
install them the middle seat is very cramp on Rav4 or Altima.
U must consider a minivan

Day 8 from LA to Grand Canyon is a long 7-8hr drive. if U don't mind the trouble of checking in at out of hotel I would.
Day 8 from LA to Vegas. (4hr drive gives U more than half a day there)
Day 9 go Vegas to Page to check out Antelope Canyon (4hr drive) and then head to Grand Canyon (2hr) stay over nite enjoy sun set or sun rise of Grand Canyon
Day 10 spend morning to noon at Grand Canyon and head back to vegas.
Day 11 and 12 stay in vegas ( I would kill off a day in vegas)
day 13 that is possible but its a crazy 8hr drive. even if U want to break it up, its hard going that route. bishop there nothing but a hotspring if kids are cranky after 5hr drive. maybe best if U leave late say 10-11am after big breakfast/brunch.

kill Lake Tahoe!
Can visit sonoma valley (not all about the winery and cheese places but there are Olive farm), I would also spend 2 days in Yosemite.
experience something U wouldn't find in SG.. the kids may enjoy the goats/cow and some cheese, while U carry some hard to find wine home.
http://crushed.com/best-family-frie...y.com/articles/guide-sonoma-county-family-fun

into Brandy or spirits try Germain-Robin (made in CA) loved by Reagan and Clinton
http://www.klwines.com/

North San Fran has more to offer outside the touristy norm.
Giant tree? Or less travel coast?
http://www.northcoastca.com
 
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crunsik

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Why don't you consider my draft itinerary above as starting point for your research? I'm also planning for June, and still trying to read around too... :)
Shopping is not a high priority for me, though... And I realize that my plan above will involve quite a lot of driving (maybe about 3,000 km in all) :eek:

yup i saw ur draft and was thinking of covering selected states in the eastern and western parts. from the looks of it, it might be kinda tight even if i would travel from 3-3.5weeks

June - how many days?
You driving?

Shopping what kind? Outlet? They are every where.

USA is big, u can go Grand Canyon go Vegas; go NYC or DC and venture to niagara or Acadia up on Maine etc

i read a few reviews and decided on visiting the Woodbury outlet, Yosemite and Disneyland. being my first time to the states i am wondering if selfdrive would be easy??
 

patryn33

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yup i saw ur draft and was thinking of covering selected states in the eastern and western parts. from the looks of it, it might be kinda tight even if i would travel from 3-3.5weeks

i read a few reviews and decided on visiting the Woodbury outlet, Yosemite and Disneyland. being my first time to the states i am wondering if selfdrive would be easy??

Why Woodbury? All premium outlet not much difference.
20+ days covering east and west, you just burning time on flight... Air ticket leaving from different city you have to ensure cost is ok.

Don't see the value of hitting east and west and doing half A** job and still miss out places here and there. I rather focus on 1 area return next time cover another area. Else u need a break for your vacation as it's an amazing race no different from reading or watching it over YouTube. What u remembered is crazy travel not the experience the country is giving u

Compare do you see diff? American brands worth getting, eu brands go eu buy
http://m.premiumoutlets.com/Outlet/Woodbury/brandcategories
Vs
http://m.premiumoutlets.com/Outlet/Desert/brandcategories

Self drive - depends on comfort. Do you dive freq in sg? Or are you used to driving outside sg? With navi getting around not hard if u are ok driving.
 
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liemsc

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Thanks much for help, as usual!

1st of all party of 3 adults and 2 kids..
8 yr old need booster seat and 4 yr old need child seat please note that.
I wonder if there's a clear rule about the transition between "child seat" and "booster seat" in USA ? Because I notice some booster seat spec is for weight 40 pounds onwards, which even my 4 yr-old should be able to meet.

Day 8 from LA to Grand Canyon is a long 7-8hr drive. if U don't mind the trouble of checking in at out of hotel I would.
Day 8 from LA to Vegas. (4hr drive gives U more than half a day there)
Day 9 go Vegas to Page to check out Antelope Canyon (4hr drive) and then head to Grand Canyon (2hr) stay over nite enjoy sun set or sun rise of Grand Canyon
Day 10 spend morning to noon at Grand Canyon and head back to vegas.
With your suggestion above, isn't it even more xiong in terms of the driving?
:) (Day 8,9,10 every day need to drive quite a lot)
I think I will probably do this:
Day 8: per my original plan (LA to GC direct)
Day 9: whole day in GC (for recovery from long driving)
Day 10: if I feel able to do it, will drive back to Vegas via the longer route (Antelope Canyon - Page). If I don't think can do it, I'll drive back to Vegas via the shorter route.

day 13 that is possible but its a crazy 8hr drive. even if U want to break it up, its hard going that route. bishop there nothing but a hotspring if kids are cranky after 5hr drive. maybe best if U leave late say 10-11am after big breakfast/brunch.
I wonder, for this route (Vegas to Yosemite), what kind of road would it ostly be? (i.e. mountainous road, or straight highway, etc). Frankly I have no idea how much I am able to drive in one day. So far, only proven to drive about 300km in a day (Melbourne to Port Campbell via Great Ocean Road) and return the next day. It felt quite tiring but still okay.

North San Fran has more to offer outside the touristy norm.
Giant tree? Or less travel coast?
http://www.northcoastca.com
Not aware about this yet, will read about it first. Thanks!
 

crunsik

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Why Woodbury? All premium outlet not much difference.
20+ days covering east and west, you just burning time on flight... Air ticket leaving from different city you have to ensure cost is ok.

Don't see the value of hitting east and west and doing half A** job and still miss out places here and there. I rather focus on 1 area return next time cover another area. Else u need a break for your vacation as it's an amazing race no different from reading or watching it over YouTube. What u remembered is crazy travel not the experience the country is giving u

Compare do you see diff? American brands worth getting, eu brands go eu buy
http://m.premiumoutlets.com/Outlet/Woodbury/brandcategories
Vs
http://m.premiumoutlets.com/Outlet/Desert/brandcategories

Self drive - depends on comfort. Do you dive freq in sg? Or are you used to driving outside sg? With navi getting around not hard if u are ok driving.

thanks for the detailed explanation! i concur that flying ard burns alot of time. perhaps shopping shldnt be restricted to solely in Woodbury since there are so many outlets in the US.

hav u been to disneyland? i am quite keen on going there but i am wondering if its worth the visit

i guess ill proba rent a car there but any recommendation for car rental agencies? would hertz be good enough?
 

critical888

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Usually i use budget car rental or alamo, the trick here is usually i will get a costco membership card to rent car cheap... u may wanna look into it..

i am going LA again end nov, i would probably use one of this 2 again..



may wanna try out vietnam pho in usa, its a different type of taste
 
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patryn33

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I wonder if there's a clear rule about the transition between "child seat" and "booster seat" in USA ? Because I notice some booster seat spec is for weight 40 pounds onwards, which even my 4 yr-old should be able to meet.

there is a weight and height req on those seats. there is no clear rule just have to make sure they are sitting on the proper car seat.

With your suggestion above, isn't it even more xiong in terms of the driving?
:) (Day 8,9,10 every day need to drive quite a lot)
I think I will probably do this:
Day 8: per my original plan (LA to GC direct)
Day 9: whole day in GC (for recovery from long driving)
Day 10: if I feel able to do it, will drive back to Vegas via the longer route (Antelope Canyon - Page). If I don't think can do it, I'll drive back to Vegas via the shorter route.

More Xiong really depends. driving daily for 4hrs, rest 2hrs then 2 more hours vs 7-8 hours and rest next day. it really depends on you how much rest is needed for U to go again.


I wonder, for this route (Vegas to Yosemite), what kind of road would it ostly be? (i.e. mountainous road, or straight highway, etc). Frankly I have no idea how much I am able to drive in one day. So far, only proven to drive about 300km in a day (Melbourne to Port Campbell via Great Ocean Road) and return the next day. It felt quite tiring but still okay.

if U want to go thru Tonga Pass alot of Mt road. 300km is like 190 miles.. 190 miles is quiet excusing then drive from LA to Grand Canyon is 500 miles! To Vegas is 270 miles.
Vegas to Yosemite is 480 miles.

your OZ trip 300 km is like 5.5hr drive. not sure how much U rested b4 returning. if your max is 5hr then don't kill yourself driving longer. the speed limit in OZ and US similar. Be safe and try to enjoy the trip don't remember it as I drive and drive!
 

patryn33

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thanks for the detailed explanation! i concur that flying ard burns alot of time. perhaps shopping shldnt be restricted to solely in Woodbury since there are so many outlets in the US.

hav u been to disneyland? i am quite keen on going there but i am wondering if its worth the visit

i guess ill proba rent a car there but any recommendation for car rental agencies? would hertz be good enough?

if U buying Polo or Gap Woodbury vs some other outlet no difference.

What do want to get out from Disneyland? there is Disneyworld down in Florida.
if U into crazy rides then Disney not the place cause U can get it in Asia!
if U into crazy rides then six flags. so what is worth?

Hertz cost more, National cheaper. I don't have a tip you have to check with the team.
 

tomicaguy

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Sorry guys, how is Air China? Thinking of buying it to Washington DC.

Transit at Beijing.
 

Neways

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Los Angeles

Hey peeps, am planning to head to LA next May. First time to US, what am I to expect? Traveling in a group of 4. Self drive or use Uber is better? I saw from rentalcars.com, they require driver's CC. Really cannot use other pple's CC? Help pls....
 

patryn33

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You spend entire time in LA?
Uber vs self drive
The pros for uber is much like taxi

why would you use other ppl CC?
 

Neways

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You spend entire time in LA?
Uber vs self drive
The pros for uber is much like taxi

why would you use other ppl CC?

Yup entire time in LA. my husband will be driving but he doesn't have a CC, gotta use mine. But of cos I'll be traveling with him.
 

Hisashiburi

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U can get hubby a CC supplementary card if required.

Self drive is probably better as LA is very car-centric.
U can go where and when u want.

Yup entire time in LA. my husband will be driving but he doesn't have a CC, gotta use mine. But of cos I'll be traveling with him.
 

critical888

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Do you have a driving license too? Maybe u can put yourself as the main driver and husband as the sub driver
 

Neways

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U can get hubby a CC supplementary card if required.

Self drive is probably better as LA is very car-centric.
U can go where and when u want.

Thx for the heads up.
1.Which is a cheap & reliable car rental? Which insurance should I buy? How much does the rental of GPS cost?
2. I'm looking @ Airbnb. Wat is a good area to stay? DTLA? Anaheim? I'm not gonna be spending too much time on theme parks though. Shopping @ Premium Outlets is a must. Is there a premium outlet that I must go?
3. Say if I'm not gonna rent a car, I heard I need to buy coach tix to go premium outlets?
 
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