Chancellor Hotel

We are looking to stay at the Chancellor Hotel next January 12th -15th. I have booked our flights through Expedia and have been looking to book the hotel with them as well. Reading through this forum I understand that its best to ask for a room thats on the upper floors, however i%26#39;ve also read (I%26#39;ve done a lot of reading)! that the reason they are able to offer such good prices is that in some cases the rooms are on the lower floors. Is this true and if so where is the best place to try that I guarantee rooms on the higher floors.

I know its probably best to book direct with the hotel its self but I am trying to keep the price down as we are on holiday for nearly 4 weeks, travelling around the USA.

Any comments please.

Dee

Chancellor Hotel

That is not true. At the Chancellor Hotel, if someone makes a request, regardless of the rate they are paying, we try to honor it. A very small number of guests actually make a special request for room location. In the cases where no request is made, it is just random room assignments based on availability.

Not all hotels operate like that. Some will assign the less popular rooms to the guests paying the lower rates. The guests paying higher rates get better rooms.

Both systems have reasons that make sense in my opinion.

Chancellor Hotel

Most hotels will not promise anything until you actually check in. If you book through Expedia, contact the hotel directly as soon as your reservation through Expedia is confirmed. Let them know your specific requests. Then contact the hotel again closer to your travel date and get everything confirmed.

My other advice is to contact the hotel directly and see what rates they can offer you and compare it with Expedia as well. Sometimes the hotel may be able to beat or match the travel site, or they may not. Either way, doing your research will pay off in the long run.

I have done both --booked through hotels and I use Expedia on ocassion and I have been very happy with both.

**Note, this advice is coming from a person who is really anal retentive when it comes to travel plans and confirming things several times!**

Thankyou Wes and Saks for your replies. Wes, if you are around on the 12th-15th January we shall be seeing you then.

Dee

We requested a room on a higher floor and had no problems getting it on the 11th floor . We had a room with a view of Union Square . It was at the side of the building . We booked directly with the hotel and when Expedia had it at a lower rate than I received I called and The Chancellor matched it . No questions asked . Great value and service in my opinion .

Can the hotel accomodate a party of 3 adults in one room?

Hearing such wonderful things about this hotel combined with it%26#39;s location makes me really want to stay there for a brief weekend trip scheduled for this Fall. And, it%26#39;s next to the restaurant we always hit upon arriving for those great thin pancackes!!!

Thanks.

I am sure they can accomodate you with a cot upon request .BTW the rooms are on the small side .

The Chancellor%26#39;s rooms have either 1 queen or 2 twin beds. A third person can be accomodated by a rollaway bed, however, the rooms are small and there will not be a lot of room with the cot in there. If you are okay with that, the hotel will not have a problem working with you on it. If extra room is a priority for you however, you should probably look into a different hotel.

We are staying at the Chancellor for a week in July and after looking online, called the hotel directly. Very pleased with our rate...we are staying in a suite there since we are staying a week and I tend to overpack and shop when vacationing! We can%26#39;t wait for our trip.

I am sure you will love the Chancellor Hotel, we stayed there for 6 days mid April and loved it, not only for value but location is outstanding! I spoke directly to the GM, Wes Tyler and he handled our requests and then some. Not only did we have a view, but the large closet/safe and tub with a rubber ducky as well~Superb! You have the cable car line right outside your door and you can walk to Chinatown in 15 mins, have the charge card ready as walking thru Macy%26#39;s and the other stores you are sure to find something! If you get the growlies late at night hit Lorie%26#39;s Diner for a burger and the best milkshake I have had it years! Enjoy your trip!

Thanks everyone for answering my query.

I can%26#39;t wait, I know its ages away and we are only staying a few days but we have never been to San Francisco before. I have to admit we weren%26#39;t even to going to stay but just fly in then go straight to Las Vegas. ButI found it was cheaper flying in from London to San Francisco then onto Las Vegas, rather then a direct flight to LV from London. Then I thought we might as well stay a night and see what SF is like. Then after reading this forum, one night turned into two which has now turned into three!

Dee

Huntley Santa Monica Beach - still renovating?

Does anyone know how long the renovations will be going on at the Huntley?

On their website it looks very modern so its not clear what they are actually renovating!

I am planning to go to Santa Monica in September and as this hotel looks nice I would like to stay there or somewhere similar if anyone has any suggestions?

Huntley Santa Monica Beach - still renovating?

It looks finished to me... where did you read it was still being renovated?

Huntley Santa Monica Beach - still renovating?

Sorry, just read the reviews - it looks finished because now the construction is confined to the top floor.

Also read in those same reviews that the construction will be complete in July of 06

Chinese Music

Will be in San Francisco in June for a few days. Looking for a few Traditional Chinese music CD %26#39;s. Ant thoughts?

Chinese Music

You%26#39;ll find stuff for sale all over Chinatown. There are a lot of little hold-in-the-wall places that aren%26#39;t traditional music stores, sometimes books and music, sometimes this-and-that and CDs. Most of what is available is contemporary, like the 12 Girls Band from China, playing traditional instruments, but you may find some classics.

Eastwind Bookstore, on the corner of Stockton Street and Columbus Avenue may be worthwhile looking into.

Chinese Music

I know there%26#39;s a few stores on Grant Street. One (or two) is between Broadway and Pacific Street, while I think the other one is between Clay and Washington Street. If I remember correctly, one of the two between Broadway and Pacific Street is a bootleg music store. There also is one on Broadway between Powell and Stockton Street. I%26#39;m not sure if these stores sell traditional Chinese music, but I know for sure they sell current Chinese music, but you can check it out to see if they sell traditional music. And it%26#39;s been awhile since I%26#39;ve tagged along with my friends when they go and buy Chinese CDs, so I can%26#39;t say for certain if those stores are still there.

The previous poster jogged some memories.

Grant Avenue will likely have some. As I recall, when I was searching for an ink box for brush painting one time, there is a store upstairs that also has CDs. You have to go into the stores that carry ';traditional'; kinds of art or for that matter, any art. Sometimes they are playing music and you can ask about it. I think the last time I was there, I really liked something I heard, but I can%26#39;t remember why I didn%26#39;t buy it right then.

Eastwind, I forgot to mention, was started by a Chinese American in the years after Nixon ';opened'; China in 1972. The idea was to provide information for those trying to learn more about China, so that included language books and, of course communist magazines and the People%26#39;s Daily. That was the late 70s and 80s. It also carried more traditional stuff that bridged what people here knew with contemporary China. Things have changed quite a bit since then, and Eastwind%26#39;s founder died recently, I understand, but I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;s kept up with the times.

Is this feasible?

Hi! I posted last week about our planned trip to the states and got some great advice. This is what we%26#39;re now planning on doing - do you think it%26#39;s feasible?

Flying from Scotland to San Francisco and driving round for 10 days visitng LA and Las Vegas - don%26#39;t have any particualr sites yet that I really want to see, just know those are the places I want to go! We would then fly from Las Vegas to New York, staying there for f ew days then flying back to Scotland.

We%26#39;ve only just started saving so will prob be a couple of years til we can afford to go. What time of year is best to visit weather wise? Not too bothered about the weather in NY as we%26#39;ll only be there a couple of days but would like hot weather so i can go to the beach in LA!

I know we%26#39;re probably cramming a lot in to 2 weeks but it will probably be the only chance we get to go the states so i want to see as much as i can!

Is this feasible?

Best time to visit here is anytime! Wether is almost always good.

I never been to Europe. What happen if my itenery is to fly to Paris, then go to Venice and Florance, then stay at Londo for couple of days, then back to the US? Will it be too much for me to handle?

I always think quality of the trip is better than quantity. It%26#39;s impossible to see them all.

Is this feasible?

Hi Ally

I would spend a couple of days in SF - visit Alcatraz, Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf then take the scenic coast road via Monterey, Big Sur down to San Simeon. Stay overnight and visit Heart Castle. Follow coat road to LA - do you want to do Disney or other theme park? If you want to go to th beach in LA, Huntington Beach is fabulous! Drive from LA to through Mohavje desert to Las Vegas.

10 days is not long and as the flights are the most expensive, would consider a bit longer if I were you or do your NY trip at another time e.g. short 4 night break autumn time. get best deal for your holiday by not booking from a brochure. !

We have done the California trip many times and end of August/September is great. USA was always the cheapest option for us and three children. better deal than Europe package hols. Arrange flights and car yourself and book motels separately. Happy to advise; and enjoy!

Agree with Llangirl - Late Aug or better yet Sept. after kids are back in school.

Another option to coast route would be SF to Tahoe, Yosemite, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon and then down to LA. Depends on if you prefer ocean or mountain scenery - both are spectacular. San Diego is also beautiful, but you may not have time to get down here if you go to Las Vegas and NY. Vegas will be hot in Sept. but better than mid-summer. Good time for NY though - much less humid.

Thanks for all the replies!

Don%26#39;t really want to miss New York out as it%26#39;s probably the only chance i%26#39;ll get to go to the states, i could maybe try and stretch the holiday out to 2 and a half weeks i suppose!

I%26#39;d rather see the ocean scenery, not really that fussed about Yosemite, that type of thing! Maybe i%26#39;m mad but i%26#39;m not really an outdoors type of girl - would be happier shopping and sunbathing! Not too bothered about going to Disney, been to the one in Paris and i know the one in CA will be much bigger etc but i%26#39;m not really into rollercoasters so would be a waste of money and i think one trip to disney is enough!

sttsou - in response to your message, i think 10 days would be enough for a quick tour of main cities in europe, people go to florence etc for weekend breaks so it must be feasible to see the cities in a couple of days! I went to Paris last year and one day in the city was enough to see what we wanted to see!

As far as weather is concerned, it depends on what you are used to. Keep in mind that the daytime temperature in southern California is between 65 and 75 degree F (18 and 24 degrees F) most of the year (with higher temperatures in the summer and early fall as high as 100 degrees F or 38 C).

I grew up in New York and I swim all year (in a pool) except Winter (Dec/Jan/Feb). Of course, if you want to lie on the Beach in March or April, it will be breezy and a little bit cool. So, it depends on what you are expecting. Compared to Scotland, Southern Caliufornia is paradise!

September and October can be excessively hot. Beware! Bring sunscreen and a hat. Since there is little humidity here, one does not feel the effects of the excessive heat until it%26#39;s too late. Drink plenty of water and be aware of the surface temperature of your head. (Touch it from time to time). When I first arrived in L.A. in September, I found myself exhausted from the heat until I got adjusted to it.

Oops! That%26#39;s 18 and 24 degrees C not F

database

Hotel advice needed please

Hi all

Could someone please give me some advice on the Argonaut Hotel situated at Fisherman鈥檚 wharf, I%26#39; m thinking of staying there for 4 nights in August this year.

Is the location ok?

Does it have a pool, if not would you suggest somewhere else?

Thanks in Advance

Trevor

Hotel advice needed please

No, it doesn%26#39;t not have a pool, however it is a great hotel, probably the best at the Wharf and the one I reguarly recommend.

Pools are really not a common thing in San Francisco as it rarely is hot enough to actually use one.

If you are insistant on a pool, see the following hotels:

The Four Seasons

The Palace

The Hotel Nikko

The Handlery

Hotel advice needed please

Hi Trevor

The Argonaut Hotel is beautifully situated. And I can heartily recommend their customer service. Prior to my recent(ish) trip to SF I had extensive dealings with one of the Argonaut booking clerks. She tried very hard to accommodate my party of three (all of whom required their own bed), but as our trip overlapped with a Dermatology conference a lot of rooms in the city were booked up, and it just wasn%26#39;t possible. I was disappointed, but there was no solution. The hotel gets rave review though ...

san francisco to san diego

hi there, this question has probably been asked on numerous occassions but i%26#39;m going to ask again!

Travelling to San Francisco - San Diego in September on our honeymoon.

We%26#39;re staying for four nights in both SF %26amp; SD, wondering if anyone has any recommendations for stop-offs on route between SF %26amp; SD?

Appreciate any views on locations as well as hotel recommendations.

Thanks

san francisco to san diego

The most romantic place between SF %26amp; SD in my opinion is Cambria.

San Simeon Pines offer real comfortable room at 1/2 of what other B%26amp;B charges (around $100). Try stay at an ocean front room with private balcony at San Pebbles Inn if budget is not concern. It has the best ocean front view and elevation for privacy.

4 days along in Cambria will be a heavenly retreat.

san francisco to san diego

Start with a dinner and overnight in Carmel; the BW Monterey Bay View Inn and the Carriage House Inn are quite nice. For a splurge, the Highlands Inn is very, very nice; the restaurant and some of the rooms have fine views over the ocean. Another splurge would be lstaying in the Big Sur.

Next, spend the next night in Cambria--take a tour of the Hearst Castle if you can get reservations. It%26#39;s well worth the time.

You could also go straight from Carmel to Santa Barbara, where there are a number of good hotels and charming B%26amp;Bs.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

makeup stores

HELP! Looking for great budget accommodations in San Diego...

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced but still decent accommodation for San Diego? (La Jolla would be great but I know it must be hard to find a deal there.)

Also, we love cute bed and breakfasts so it does not have to be a hotel per se.

THANKS!!

HELP! Looking for great budget accommodations in San Diego...

If by ';deal'; you mean getting something fabulous at a really low price than I would say no deals during the summer in La Jolla. Unless at the last minute there is aplace that is not completely full.

There is a B%26amp;B inour Little Italy area that has come up recently(I hadn%26#39;t heard o f it until someone else mentioned it) . I t is simply the Little Italy Inn. It is centrally located in an area of good restaurants .

In that same neighborhood is LaPensione.

I think these are both very low priced. If you want to go higher let me know.

HELP! Looking for great budget accommodations in San Diego...

YOu might also look at the reviews of the La Jolla Inn and the Hotel La Jolla at the Shores. They are less expensive than some of the other La Jolla hotels but you are NOT getting MORE than what you pay for.

The only others I can think of around La Jolla are Holiday Inn Express or La Jolla Travelodge both are on the south end of La Jolla in the $100 a night range. May also try vrbo there is quite a varity of accomdations.

Thanks, mom and Hula!

I found some availability at La Jolla Cove Suites...ocean view at a decent price.

Any thoughts?

--Betty

Jump on it.

DITTO TAKE it QUICK!!! but make sur eit is ocean view!!!

Deal on Ventana Big Sur?

Does anyone know how to get a deal on the Ventana Inn and Spa at Big Sur in August ? --

Just hopin%26#39; !

Deal on Ventana Big Sur?

Dream on, StrandFan......(but if you find one, let me know ;=)

Deal on Ventana Big Sur?

Yes Puter, I know it%26#39;s a longshot ! FYI - I did just hear about a website called www.luxurylink.com in which you can bid for packages. Ventana is listed, but no bids are being taken at this time !

Also, you might be interested to know that Expedia and Travelocity are actually MORE expensive on certain days than the Ventana home website. I%26#39;m still looking !

Thanks for the luxury link. I don%26#39;t use Expedia, etc. because I don%26#39;t like the upfront charges with no cancellation. Anyway, good luck.

Disneyland

Hi

I know this will sound like a trick question, but is there any time to visit Disneyland when the crowds may be thinner? We are visiting the last week in December and I don%26#39;t know quite what to expect for that time of year. After reading some of the reviews we are prepared for hectic days. My daughter is 11 and I am . . . . . . a bigger kid. Thanks from 2ofusdownunder.

Disneyland

unfortunately, that time is not very good. Kids are off for winter break and some adults get the time between xmas and new years off as well. It will be very crowded. New Years eve is amazingly packed so stay away that day. My only suggestion would be to go on a weekday--Mon-Thursday --since at least some of the adults will stil be working and that should lighten the crowds a little.

Disneyland

We too went to disney in dec 2005. Go with an open mind, enjoy the whole experience. We could not go any other time and truly had a holiday of a lifetime, that is what we wanted for our family. the decorations and the atmosphere is breathtaking. we had an awesome time 30/12 - 4/1/06. We stayed at the fairfiled inn and used ridemax. both were fantastic. remember to see all the parades, fantasmic %26amp; use fastpass. We got lots of info from this thread, research and read all comments. have a great holiday. it truly is a magical place.

Hi Deb123

Thanks so much for your assurance. We are very excited and have started counting the sleeps! We will just go for it, no matter how hectic it is.

All the best.

From 2ofusdownunder

I second the going with an open mind, and taking full advantage of the Fastpass system. It will get you into a lot more rides that you%26#39;d do with standby.

Also, that time of year is a lot of fun to just walk around DL %26amp; DCA to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the decorations!

The parks are absolutly gorgeous that time of year. That is a horribly busy week, though. If you are prepared for it, and use the fastpasses, and remain in the spirit of things, you%26#39;ll be fine. As an annual passholder I would never go there then, but if it%26#39;s your only shot it%26#39;s better then no Disneyland at all!!

Also remember-- it can be cold in Anaheim in December, mainly at night. Be prepared to layer your clothing. We always get a locker for our jackets and our blanket (to sit on while waiting for parades/Fantasmic).

Hi Norcalgal67

Thanks so much for the tips. These are the little things that will mean quite a lot to ';green skins'; like the two of us. I have started a notebook to jot down the helpful hints which will make our visit run smoother. I know once we get there it will be fun unleashed and you know what that can be like - running in circles. I really appreciate your help.

From the 2ofusdownunder

Hi

You%26#39;ve got good advice. It%26#39;s going to be busy - just go with the flow - don%26#39;t stress - and everything will work out fine. It%26#39;s magical.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it. We will be fine.

Do you know how to use fastpasses? (They are free and really save time waiting in line!)

Also, are you getting a hotel near disneyland? Try to get into the park when it opens, it%26#39;s the least crowded time. Then it starts to get quite crowded with long lines after lunch. Between noon and 3:00 pm is probably the most crowded time. (A good time to take a break in your hotel if you have one or to use your fastpasses that you have collected in the morning.) Sometimes it%26#39;s less crowded again in the evening, except for Friday night, when a crowd of locals seems to pour in (I think they have annual passes.)

You want to do Splash mountain, Indiana Jones, and Space Mountain in the morning, or else collect fast passes for some of those as soon as you can. (They have some of the longest lines otherwise.)

Have fun!

Melissa5 - hi. Thanks very much for your information. I have now booked a hotel close to Disneyland, with a shuttle service. We could also walk but depends on the day I guess. So that takes care of the transport. I did check out Fastpass on the Disneyland site so now I understand. We will certainly take advantage of this. Yes we could go back to the hotel for a break and then return, that is a good idea. Thanks for the tips on the rides. In fact these are the rides that my daughter found out about (somehow) and she had those high on her list. So we are really getting very organised now and will only have to wait for the time to come. The only thing I don%26#39;t have sorted out is the entrance tickets. But I did email the hotel and they said the tickets can be purchased from them when we arrive, so that%26#39;s good.

All the best. I appreciate your thoughts.

From

2ofusdownunder

ittwit

Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

I%26#39;m planning on driving from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz in 2 days. I then have 3 days in the Santa Cruz/Monterrey Bay area (visiting friends). I was thinking of spending the morning of the first day at the beach in Santa Monica, visiting Santa Barbara for a couple of hours and ending up in SLO. Second day driving to Santa Cruz, basically taking in sights - not interested in Hearst Castle. (This trip also includes a couple days in SF, Yosemite, and LA). How long, mostly along the PCH, will this drive take (excluding the stops)? Any thoughts on this plan? Thanks!

Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

Sorry, your post is a bit confusing, you%26#39;ll have 2 days to drive from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz then 3 days around Monterey Bay but this includes visits to SF, Yosemite and LA? Or are the visits to SF, Yosemite and LA outside of these 5 days?

Well, whichever, 2 days from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz is doable, but it%26#39;s a ';keep moving'; kind of thing, not a stop and smell the roses deal. OK, it%26#39;s not so bad if you don%26#39;t want to do anything besides stop for five minutes now and then to admire the view.

Santa Monica to Santa Cruz

Hi Summertripper

It%26#39;s 200 miles from Santa Monica to San Luis Obispo 5 hours traffic allows and taking parts of PCH.

It%26#39;s 190miles SLO to Santa Cruz, 5 hours along PCH.

Tet

Sorry for the confusion. I have a limited amount of time in CA, and some people to visit, which informs this itinerary:

Day 1 Land at LAX late, stay in Santa Monica

Day 2 Spend morning in SM, stop in Santa Barbara, drive to SLO

Day 3 Drive from SLO to Santa Cruz (not sure what I%26#39;m doing along the way -- my next piece of planning.

Day 4 Santa Cruz/Mont Bay area (visiting friends)

Day 5 ditto

Day 6 up to SF, spend the night in SF

Day 7 SF (see some friends)

Day 8 drive from SF to Yosemite Village

Day 9 Yosemite

Day 10 Drive from Yosemite to LA -- stay in Beverly Hills

Day 11 LA (friends here too)

Day 12 LA

Day 13 LA fly out from LAS this night on red eye

I might have planned a 3-day trip along the PCH, but want to spend the time in other destinations to see west coast friends.

So my question was, is the 2-day trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz reasonable? We understand it may be long days, but we%26#39;ll have plenty of downtime afterward.

By the way, we are a family of 4, and the airfare was SO cheap RT to LAX, that my original plan of flying into LA and out of SF went by the wayside.

Any suggestions for what to do along the 2 day drive welcome as well.

Thanks all!

IF you have time...that is quite an itinerary- stop off at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The kids%26#39;ll love it and so will you. Best I%26#39;ve ever been to. And do not miss the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz for old school fun.

Hi Summer

Glad to hear you%26#39;ve got a lot of friends! Maybe saves you $$$$$ in this expensive part of the world.

Your worries are about a 2 days trip from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz.

Drive the coastal hw 1 through Malibu, Ventura to Santa Barbara. Make some stops along the way and have coffee and cake in SB. Short visit and take scenic ca 154 to Solvang, Danish Delight and have lunch.

From Solvang to Santa Maria, Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo-Morro Bay to Cambria for the night. Next morning, visit Hearst Castle( not interested? Skip it and visit Monterey Aquarium instead as Lulu mentioned) and up north ca 1 to Carmel. Short visit to Point Lobos SR and Carmel. Then Monterey and on to Santa Cruz.

Early rise both days and you%26#39;ll have a wonderful trip.

Have fun.

Tet

Thanks Lulu and Tet -- we%26#39;re looking forward to our trip!

You%26#39;re welcome. Try to make a tripreport after your return.

San Francisco Lounges with a View

I%26#39;ll be visitjng in a few weeks. Have been to the City many times but never to a lounge with a view. Won%26#39;t eat dinner there but don%26#39;t mind if there%26#39;s a restaurant on site.

I know of the Cityscape Bar and Restaurant, I think in the Hilton on O%26#39;Farrell. It could be a place like this or something more local and not a chain type operation. Probably will just have a drink around happy hour so I don%26#39;t care about a ';scene';--just a good view and nice place. Thanks.

San Francisco Lounges with a View

Plenty of places. Here%26#39;s a few to get you started, in my order of preference, though it just depends on where you%26#39;re going to be:

The Mark Hopkins Hotel: Top of the Mark

Sir Francis Drake: Stardust Lounge

Marriott ';downtown'; (4th and Market): bar at the top

Bank of America building (or whatever it%26#39;s called now -- prolly 555 California): Carnelian Room ; carnelianroom.com/page/o9ly/Home_Page.html

Hyatt Regency Embarcadero: Equinox Lounge; …hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

San Francisco Lounges with a View

Top of the Mark (great martini bar as well as great views)

The Starlight Room

Those are the two I always recommend. Very classic, ';old'; San Francisco.

As others have said Top of the MArk. Keep in mind that after the music begins there is a cover charge of like $10 per person and this even applies if you got there before the band begins. They will add the charge to your bill.

Good information. I see where the Starlight Room has bands and a cover ($10) after 8:30 on weekends. Do you know if that%26#39;s the same as Top of the Mark where they would charge the cover even if you were there before 8:30?

If not, maybe I could see going to Top of the Mark for a drink and dancing at the Starlight Room after. Sounds like a good night.

Maybe we were posting at teh same time. Yes at Top of the Mark they will charge you even if you are already seated when the music begins.

Correction on Stardust Room. Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake. Doh.

Have not been in Cityscape for ages. Killer views from there, but not much soul.

West Hollywood vs. Santa Monica in Aug. with teen daughters

Planning a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, spending the last three nights (Aug. 4-7) in Los Angeles. I%26#39;ve spent a great deal of time reviewing notes on TripAdvisor, esp. those from Yogachik and HopSkipJump (invaluable!). We want to see the typical touristy things, like Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, and some sites from shows like Laguna Beach and The O.C. We love the beach scene. I%26#39;ve been searching for a hotel that offers a kitchenette and pool, is near enough to Santa Monica, and is under $250. Free parking would be ideal. I%26#39;m down to Le Montrose Suites in West Hollywood, or Shangri-La or Cal Mar Suites in Santa Monica. Also considering the Ambrose. The reservations person at Le Montrose said teenagers would love West Hollywood, and that rooftop pool looks very cool. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Nancy from Wayne, PA

West Hollywood vs. Santa Monica in Aug. with teen daughters

West Hollywood is way better .... I%26#39;m in my 20%26#39;s %26amp; find Santa Monica pretty bland - Unless being beside the ocean is important to you? ... Though Santa Monica is closer to where I live, I always drive by it %26amp; head to West Hollywood - it just has way more to offer ...

West Hollywood vs. Santa Monica in Aug. with teen daughters

I think we%26#39;ll have plenty of beach opportunities on our way down to L.A., so we%26#39;ll be ready for West Hollywood. Thanks -

The Montrose would be great with the teenagers, and there%26#39;s more of chance to spot celebs along Sunset Blvd (especially at the Coffee Bean). It is much closer to the touristy things that you want to do...

However, they would also love the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, which is a block from Shangri-La (and which overlooks the beach). August is extremely warm, don%26#39;t forget.

I think both locations have plenty to recommend them. Basically, Santa Monica has the beach and West Hollywood is more urban and central. If you had to, flip a coin. I doubt you%26#39;ll be disappointed with either location.

I%26#39;d only add a couple of other comments.

1) Just to be clear, West Hollywood is a very openly gay neighborhood. I%26#39;d argue this is part of its vitality. You may disagree.

2) The Shangri-La is an architecturally interesting building in the Art Deco style. The location adjacent to Palisades Park and a couple of blocks from the Third Street Promenade is great. However, I%26#39;ve stayed there and had relatives stay there. There is something cold about the place. It lacks some basic ammenities like a place to have breakfast.

HTH.

Thank you all!

Le Montrose is a small boutique hotel and lovely. I%26#39;ve used it many times, but it%26#39;s not exactly the kind of place teens would get into. It%26#39;s restful and small and adult. If your kids are a little more sophisticated they might enjoy it.

West Hollywood itself doesn%26#39;t have any big attractions for teens. Yes, Sunset Boulevard is to the north, but it%26#39;s mostly has clubs they can%26#39;t get into and the Hustler store. To the south is Santa Monica Boulevard, and the center of the gay community. Not much for teens there. It is closer to the typical Hollywood attractions, however.

Santa Monica is nice for its proximity to the beach and the promenade, which has a lot of hustle and bustle, but most of the stores could be found in any mall. Santa Monica is a bit of a drive from the typical LA attractions.

My advice--you%26#39;re going to drive no matter where you stay, so just decide what%26#39;s important to you--beach or sites. If I had teens I would stay at the Renaissance at Hollywood-Highland. It%26#39;s attached to a mall, the Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre, the Walk of Fame, and a very cool bowling alley. It%26#39;s also a block from two Hollywood history museums and the Hollywood Wax Museum. You%26#39;re also one subway stop from Universal and down the street (walkable) from the Hollywood Bowl. From that same subway stop, you can get downtown to Disney Hall, Olveira Street and the Music Center.

The Roosevelt is another option, or the Magic Hotel. This hotel is run by the Magic Castle, a private magician%26#39;s club. They allow guests into the club (for kids that would be Sunday brunch) and have kitchenettes.

:)

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Calistoga Ranch or Auberge du Soliel

We are planning a trip to the ';wine country'; this summer with another couple. We have stayed at Auberge (10 years ago) and loved it but have also heard great things about Calistoga Ranch. Which property would you recommend?

Calistoga Ranch or Auberge du Soliel

southerngirl-

These are *both* Auberge properties. If you liked one, chances are you will love the other!

Lots and lots of TA reviews here:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32997-d111930-… Rutherford_Napa_Valley_California.html

and here:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32143-d278021-… -Calistoga_Napa_Valley_California.html

Enjoy! :)

-The Innkeepers

Napa Old World Inn

Is there a water ski shop in Anaheim

My hubby loves his water ski toys which mainly come from USA

Is there any shops in Anaheim

thanks

Is there a water ski shop in Anaheim

The water ski shops that are close to Anaheim are:

1. ENDOS WATER SKI %26amp; WAKEBOARD WERKS

5612 E Second St

Long Beach, CA 90803-3904

(714) 740-1525

2. ADR

982 N Batavia St Bldg A

Orange, CA 92867

(714) 538-8104

3. Wakesports Unlimited

309 E Katella Ave

Orange, CA 92867

(714) 363-9253

4. Watersports Warehouse

3133 Yorba Linda Blvd

Fullerton, CA 92831

(714) 524-8297

There is nothing in the Anaheim city limits.

Is there a water ski shop in Anaheim

WOW, Thanks for that mallard

Aussiesue:

It%26#39;s me Richard again. Not too worried about spammers. I ignore them. Anyway I can verify that Wakesports Unlimited here in Orange is a fairly large shop. I%26#39;ve walked past it many times on my way to the hobby store next door and noticed they have a big inventory.

I have found 2 websites for Wakesports and Endo%26#39;s:

4 miles from Disneyland

http://www.wakesports.com/

15 miles from Disneyland

http://www.endoswaterskiwerks.com/

If you do a Mapquest.com search closer to beach cities such as Newport Beach or Huntington Beach you might find more.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

Thanks bgactor.

Is there easy public transport to these places as we wont have a car

Yes use OCTA Bus Route 50 from the resort area to go down Katella to Wakesports. Click to:

www.octa.net

Click on BUS/TRIP PLANNER and then enter your addresses. Very easy to use.

bgactor,

Thanks for the bus link. It is very useful.

The shop is only 1/4 mile away so we could probably walk

You%26#39;re staying 1/4 mile away from Wakesports in Orange? For some reason I thought you were staying in Anaheim which is a little further away.

If you need any help with the bus system let me know.

bgactor,

I%26#39;m a dumb bum (not allowed the other word)

The site said 5mins on the bus wlking time 1/4 mile.

I didn%26#39;t realise it was bus trip and walk.

Also how far is it to Beuno Park (Medieval Castle) There site says 10 mins from Disneyland. but somewhere it saw 45 mins

Thanks

Sue:

';I%26#39;m a dumb bum (not allowed the other word)';

Hey me too sometimes....lol!

';The site said 5mins on the bus wlking time 1/4 mile.';

I%26#39;ve never used the Trip Planner function on that site because I know the routes so well anyway. The shop you are going to is across the street from the bus stop on Katella just past Glassell. Basically you exit the bus, turn right, and go to the crosswalk about 50 feet away. From there you%26#39;ll see the Chevron fuel station and McDonalds ahead of you. Behind that is a Pep Boys, Hobby City, Quizno%26#39;s Sandwich shop, and Wakesports over in the far corner of the strip mall.

If you were quick about it with a green light the moment you arrived at the crosswalk you could get there in 4-5 minutes tops.

On the way back to Anaheim you will probably find a bus stop on Katella west of Glassell. Head back towards the Chevron and look across the street towards the AutoZone auto parts store and your stop will be next to that.

I will verify this the next time I drive down that way.

';What the planner didn%26#39;t show you is that you must cross the street';

Same for Google Maps and others. Just shows the spot where it is in that block.

';Also how far is it to Beuno Park (Medieval Castle) There site says 10 mins from Disneyland. but somewhere it saw 45 mins';

Yes that is correct on the timeline. You hop on Route 50 at Harbor/Katella and travel 20 minutes to Beach Boulevard. Wait about 10 minutes for a transfer to Route 29 Bus. Hop on and ride 15 minutes to Medieval Times in Buena Park.

When calculating your route click the tab for SHORTEST WALKING DISTANCE on the page with the calendar and time selection.

I%26#39;m sure this will help you immensely. Any questions I%26#39;m right here.

Here%26#39;s a link to a sat map I found for the area.

terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx…

Wakesports is in the upper right corner where the ';L'; shaped building is. Glassell is on your far left running up/down and Katella is along the bottom running side to side.

wow thanks richard

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no children

This is a serious question that is not meant to offend anyone. I have been to several resorts that are adult only resorts. No they did not cater to the erotic side of adults...I was wondering if there were any hotels in the States that were exclusively for adults? I am looking all over the US...if anyone can help it would be appreciated.

no children

There are many B%26amp;Bs and small inns that are only for adults. There are also destination spas that are only for adults. There are also clothing optional resorts that are only for adults. Take your pick.

HELP! Hotel La Jolla at the Shores or La Jolla Cove...

I%26#39;m trying to book one of these hotels for next week.

Is La Jolla Cove Suites better because it is right on the beach?

Thanks!

HELP! Hotel La Jolla at the Shores or La Jolla Cove...

La JOll acove Suites is at La joll acove which is a series of small cliff enclosed(cove ) beaches near the shops and art galleries of the neighborhood we call downtown La Jolla. Hotel La JOlla at the shores is nearby (about 8min. by car) in another area we call La Jolla shores . It is walking distance to a flat white sandy beach with some restaurants in the neighborhood called La JOlla shores.

HELP! Hotel La Jolla at the Shores or La Jolla Cove...

Mom,

Which would you pick?

P.S. Happy Mother%26#39;s Day!

I fthe price is right and if you have an ocean view room I would take the Cove Suites. Remember these are both mid priced hotels 3*** at the most.

Lodging With View of Napa Valley

Seeking recommendations for an inn or separate cottage that will offer a view over the Napa Valley--but w/o the statospheric prices of Auberge and w/o the ';extreme Victorian'; decor of Castle in the Clouds. Looking for something more rustic and it doesn%26#39;t need to have lots of amenities. The separate cottages I%26#39;ve checked all seem to be tucked back amongst the trees, which is very nice, but that%26#39;s exactly the environment I live in, so a getaway demands something different.

Lodging With View of Napa Valley

Forestvillian-

It%26#39;s next to impossible to get a hilltop view overlooking the Napa Valley without going into some serious credit card debt. All of the places we know of start at $400 per night, and run to well over $1,000 per night. If you stay in early December or anytime in January, the rates run about 40% less.

Did you see our post re the Christian Brother%26#39;s retreat and conference center? They have rustic accommodations (few amenities), but a wonderful, relaxing location.

Suite 202 has a gorgeous view of vineyards and their tiny lake, but does not have a view of the entire valley. It%26#39;s walking distance to Hess Collection Winery.

Hope this helps! :)

-The Innkeepers

Napa Old World Inn

Lodging With View of Napa Valley

Thanks Russ and Sharon--I will check out the Christian Bros. Retreat. Which accommodations are in the $400 range? Maybe I can snag a special rate if one ever exists! :)

Giovanni's Restaurant ???

Next week we will be visiting the Thousand Oaks/ Camarillo area after many years and I would love to find this Italian restaurant we used to go ... I think it was called Giovanni%26#39;s ...the seating was booths that looked liked big shells ...the food and service were excellent ...can%26#39;t remeber where it was ...I think somewhere near Camarillo ...does anyone out there know this place?

Giovanni's Restaurant ???

did you see the answer to that other thread you started? There%26#39;s even a phone number:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32147-i3125-k5538…

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Hyatt Regency Monterey: A dump?

I read many reviews here on this website about the Hyatt Regency in Monterey and many people have the same complaints. Has anyone here stayed at the Hyatt Regency?

I went to biddingfortravel.com and they also had a Monterey forum that discussed hotels.

Hyatt Regency Monterey: A dump?

Well, I dunno. AAA gives it a three diamond rating. It has all of the amenities. If you want to have a three-diamond experience, in Monterey, then I suggest you get a copy of the AAA Northern California Guide and look at the reviews for all of the three-diamond ratings in Monterey...there are LOTS of them. Good luck.

Hyatt Regency Monterey: A dump?

Here is the story on the Hyatt. People stay there more for the amenities - golf course, tennis courts, restaurant, cafe, sports bar, etc.. The rooms are fairly basic for a 3-star hotel. People are the most upset when they compare this Hyatt to some of the other Hyatt%26#39;s they have stayed in at resort locations around the country.

The rooms are not bad. Just not a room you would take a picture of to show your friends how great it was. One word of advice - when you book make sure you follow up with a phone call directly to the hotel and request that you have a room near the lobby in buildings 1-9. Most of the complaints come from people staying in the ';garden section'; -- a section of the hotel originally constructed in 1955. It has been updated over the years but the exterior looks very motelish and the rooms are quite close to the highway.

Thanks so much for your input. I just booked the Hyatt through priceline for $95/night.

That is, I booked the last 2 nights via priceline for $95/night but for the first few nights i booked the Lighthouse Lodge in Pacific Grove for $97/night. May 27th was the most difficult to book as all the rooms are sold out everywhere. Someone told me to try the strip of hotels in Seaside.

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Hotel recommendation for May 27, 2006?

I%26#39;m having trouble booking a hotel for May 27, 2006. It seems that most hotels are booked solid or the 1 star hotels are selling for $150. which is too much of a ripoff.

Does anyone know why the price is so high at this time? Is there a special convention or some festival in Monterey?

I don%26#39;e need to be near the Aquarium (i%26#39;d be willing to drive there) but I need something reasonable. I would like a 3-star hotel but i think that costs over $200/night.

How is the weather during this memorial day weekend?

Hotel recommendation for May 27, 2006?

Sorry. there are practically no one-star hotels on the Monterey Peninsula and you will be lucky to get a hotel at any price on your date, because it is Memorial Day Weekend. That is a weekend when many people go to the Monterey Peninsula.

Hotel recommendation for May 27, 2006?

Check the motels listed on this website: http://www.monterey.com/mc4/mc4b.html

They are all clean and comfortable but not 3-star for the mostpart. It%26#39;s hard to find anything around here that is under about $150, especially this time of year. As for the weather, today was the first sunny, warm day (meaning mid- to upper-60s) we%26#39;ve had in a long time. At the end of May you might get lucky with the weather, but come prepared for fog and temps in the low 60s--layers!

A Saturday night only stay on a three day weekend will be hard to find. However, try a few places that sometimes offer one night stay that are moderate 3-star hotels like the Bay Park Hotel and the Casa Munras Hotel. In Carmel, there is a 3-star inn called the Crystal Terrace Inn.

Some of the better 2-star rated places are the Lone Oak Lodge in Monterey and the Steinbeck Lodge in Monterey. Call them directly (the hotel, not central reservations or their web site) and see what you can do. You can also enlist the services of a free hotel reservations service like Monterey Peninsula Reservations at www.montereyvisitorsguide.com.

Thanks all for your help. I am familiar with Monterey weather as I live in the ';avenues'; of San Francisco.

I will post a separate question about Seaside. Thanks all!

Staybridge suites

Hi all. Does any one know if the Staybridge Suites is actually walking distance to DisneyLand? While we%26#39;re on the subject, has anyone stayed at hat Staybridge Suites? (Anaheim) I have never been disapointed at one of their hotels, so I am hoping this one is just as nice as the others.

Staybridge suites

Using Mapquest it says that DL is a little over 1 mile away. Staybridge is on Manchester along the I-5 between Katella and Orangewood in a mostly industrial area.

I%26#39;ve never stayed there and there might be ART bus service from that hotel to DL. I will have to check that out.

Staybridge suites

Yup there is ART service to this hotel. It is on Route H. View more info at:

http://www.rideart.org/

Fares and maps available. Need Adobe Acrobat to view the route maps.

Pricing

ADULT

One-Day $3.00 Unlimited Use Pass(10 years and older)

Two-Day $6.00 Unlimited Use Pass(10 years and older)

Five-Day $12.00 Unlimited Use Pass(10 years and older)

ART Passes may be purchase from your hotel or from other convenient public sales outlets. Drivers do not sell passes. In addition, ART passes can be purchased at kiosk locations around the greater Anaheim Resort™.

staying at Westin 4/10 to 4/14

having read reviews everywhere I can find them I am truly stumped. Some say ';heavenly'; and others say ';horrible';, I don%26#39;t get it well I%26#39;ll be there and I will take mucho pics and leave a lenghty review. As there are 4 of us going I will use everyones input to hopefully give a more well rounded opinion. Hopefully help the next person going there. Golfinfool.

staying at Westin 4/10 to 4/14

the beds really are ';heavenly';...

staying at Westin 4/10 to 4/14

Very curious?? How was your stay? Would love

to see pics if you have them.

My boyfriend and I are seriously considering staing at the Westin Rancho Mirage Villas. Do you have any pictures from your stay - especially of the pool?

Thanks!

recommendation for a sunny June/July beach vacation?

We%26#39;re looking into a California beach vacation in June or July. We were thinking of the LA area (Santa Monica or maybe Hermosa Beach), but the beachfront hotels in our price range are sold out in July and we%26#39;re a little leery of the June gloom. We%26#39;re spoiled by the Boulder sunshine.

Any recommendations for a sunny beach vacation? We%26#39;re looking for someplace with a beachfront hotel in the $200-250/night range, and with casual restaurants within walking distance. We%26#39;re not too worried about an active nightlife scene. We stayed in Coronado last year and had a great time, but I don%26#39;t think we%26#39;re quite ready to go back yet.

If not in California, any other ideas? Florida seems a bit too hot during the summer. Yes, I know I sound like Goldilocks here.

Thanks for any advice!

recommendation for a sunny June/July beach vacation?

Boulder Boy, You%26#39;re right about June being a risky month. Even July can be foggy and it%26#39;s a big risk when you%26#39;re talking about your expensive vacation.

Check out Manhattan Beach. It%26#39;s my favorite So. Cal. beach area and has more of the kind a vibe a Boulder Boy might like. Great restaurants in the area too.

recommendation for a sunny June/July beach vacation?

I love California BUT why don%26#39;t you guys go to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines has a sale on thru June.

Thanks for the advice. Hawaii would be perfect, but we%26#39;re saving that trip for next year (25th anniversay). I%26#39;ll look into Manhattan Beach. Google maps doesn%26#39;t show many/any beachfront hotels, but there are probably condos for rent.

July might be overcast as well - it%26#39;s not just June. But, it%26#39;s too early to tell.

Malibu tends to be clear when Santa Monica is not. Also, look into staying in Ventura or Santa Barbara.

Try the Salton Sea. Well,not. But maybe the Sea of Cortez down in Mexico. San Felipe, birthplace of the fish taco. I arrived in California in June at San Diego and was really surprised at how chilly it got at night.

second half of August- how's the weather? how busy is CA...

We%26#39;ll be in CA 2nd half of August. First a self-drive trip San Francisco to SaN Diego. Planning on the coastal route to SD, stopping at the usual sights, overnighting possibly in San Simeon. What%26#39;s the speed limit on this route? (in SA our highways are 120km/hr) HOw congested is it likely to be? I%26#39;m trying to get an idea of how long it will take getting from place to place. What%26#39;s the usual temperature along this route, and is it likely to rain?Then a few days in SD

Coming back, once again taking two days SD to SF. Not sure whether to do the same route back but stopping at different sights, or to go inland, vis Sequioa forest etc. Not keen on dying of the heat! but would like to see as much as possible, with routes as scenic as possible. Same questions- weather, speed,congestion.

The second week no car- we%26#39;ll take tours. We%26#39;ve already booked a day trip from SF to wine country (package with hotel). Would like to see SF%26#39;s best- trolley hop tour or should we just walk? Also Yosemite- should we just do a one day tour or more?. Maybe a tour inland to Grand Canyon for a few days, but once again, we%26#39;re not keen on desert-internsity heat, so not much time there. Is Sacramento worth visiting? Any other interesting towns/ natural areas up SF way or northwards? Due to scarcity of air tickets between SA and USA at that particular time, and unlikelihood of being able to change our flight, we have to return to SF at end of holiday, to fly out from there. We%26#39;ve heard SF fog makes weather dicey, but we%26#39;re not planning on beach time there.

second half of August- how's the weather? how busy is CA...

The speed limit will be 65 mph. If you are on Highway 101 it will be direct. Highway #1 goes along the coast, is beautiful, but much slower. If you are along the coast, you shouldn%26#39;t have to worry about the heat. In San Francisco, in particular, 70%26#39;s would be the warmest. It is a different story inland - in the valleys it is often in the 100%26#39;s. I would skip Sacramento. Lake Tahoe is beautiful, but out of your way. Enjoy Monterey/ Carmel area.

second half of August- how's the weather? how busy is CA...

ncisco) is where they fly near SanFrancisco and they go out of SanDiego to places like Las Vegas from which you could easily get to the Grand Canyon.

I am sorry something happened to my previous post. I had written that the time to go to Yosemite would be onyour inland route back to SanFrancisco not a separate tour. Also there is an internal US airine called Southwest Airlines. You will not find it on other flight search engines. You have to go to their own web site. They have inexpensive flights to US cities like fromSanDiego to Las Vegas.

It will be quite hot when you%26#39;re here - the climate is very similar to yours. It%26#39;s, peak summer weather - but it actually gets warmer here as the summer continues into autumn. No rain.

Note that there is no coastal route from Los Angeles to San Diego. So, you%26#39;ll drive along the coast until Santa Monica and be forced onto the freeway (the 10), which will take you to the 405, which takes you directly to San Diego. This is because of the ports, the marinas, etc.

You can zigzag in and out of beach towns, but you will continually be led back to the 405 freeway - and in August, expect it to be about 30 minutes from the 405 into each beach town, at the very least, because of beach traffic.

So, I would recommend taking the coast route from SF to LA, and the 5 freeway back to SF, directly out of SD. You%26#39;ll have a prettier drive when you head south, and probably should just drive directly back to SF in one shot (7-8 hours) -- because I recommend not visiting the desert or any inland cities in August - you won%26#39;t want to leave your air conditioned car. You don%26#39;t have time for the Grand Canyon, that%26#39;s a two day drive each way.

It will be quite cool along the coast expect highs of around 20 C. 2 days to get from San Francisco to San Diego is a bit of a rush. Speed limits are around 60 km/h, at least between Monterey and San Simeon, but you can skip this bit by taking 101 rather than 1. 101 is freeway speed, but a bit inland. It runs through the Salinas Valley, nowhere near sequoias, but once you are in any of the interior valleys, things will warm up considerably, highs of 35 to 40.

You won%26#39;t have time to visit the Sequoias or Yosemite on the way back if you only give it two days. You%26#39;d need at least three and preferably four or five to do that.

I would think you would want to take the coast route US 1 from SF to Morro Bay and pick up 101 there. There are big redwoods along the coast thru Big Sur. Hearst Castle is definitely worth a stop - you may want to look at Cambria to spend the night - a little more to choose from than San Simeon. Take a swing thru Santa Barbara and continue on to LA. Get back on US 1 at Oxnard and follow coast to Santa Monica via Malibu.

There is no fast coast route thru LA but you may want to stay on Pacific Coast Hwy (US1) from Santa Monica and stop by Venice, Manhattan, Huntington, etc. If you don%26#39;t stay on 1 and take 405, I%26#39;d recommend that you don%26#39;t miss Laguna Beach (you can get there from Hwy 133 off 405). Get on 5 South at Dana Point and continue on in to San Diego. You can save the San Diego coast/beaches for your stay there or exit at Oceanside and follow coast from there. I think you%26#39;ll probably just want to get there by this time though!

Don%26#39;t let the heat scare you off from visiting Sequoia on the way back - exit Hwy 99 at Tulare, swing thru the park and exit via Fresno and on up to SF. If you have time, try to stay the night in the Lodgepole area in the park. There are cabins there and temps are nice in the mountains. You%26#39;ll need to book early tough. Save Yosemite for your SF tours and skip Sacramento. If you have time for two days in Yosemite then do it - 1 day in the Valley and one day by Tuolumne Meadows/Tenaya Lake in the high country - both areas are awesome!

You don%26#39;t need to do a special tour in SF - easy to walk, cable car, BART, or Taxi to the sights.

An alternative to Napa Valley would be Santa Barabra wine country on your way down - Exit Hwy 101 toward Los Olivos - you can take Hwy 154 in to Santa Barbara from there. Many good wineries, cooler, and less crowded. You%26#39;ve already booked but you may want to swing thru if you have time anyway.

maybelline makeup

client time

Just got back ...any ????

I will be posting a review shortly .

We stayed at The Chancellor and loved S.F.

We also had the oppurtunity to eat at Gary Dankos . Expensive but outstanding .

Any questions please feel free to ask .

Just got back ...any ????

Thank you for your contributions to the Forum and I am glad you enjoyed the hotel.

I am curious if anything surprised you. What did you learn on your visit? Was there something that surprised you that was never discussed in the Forum or the research in your trip? Or that was discussed but you found to be the complete oposite when you visited?

Just got back ...any ????

What would you say is a ';must see'; for people traveling to the City if they only have a limited time? I know we locals have our own opinions, but it would be great to hear from a tourist instead.

envy4u,

Did you buy a muni pass? If so, did you find you really used it or did more walking? I%26#39;m not sure how long you were in San Francisco. Anxious to read your trip report, as we leave in 3 weeks.

envy4u ~ glad you enjoyed your stay at the Chancellor, its very welcoming and quaint didn%26#39;t you find? We did! Did you see the wild parrots? Did you eat in Chinatown and if so, where? See the bush man? Can%26#39;t wait to read your trip report.

I will get to my trip report shorlty .

S.F. is very ';welcoming and quaint';.

We saw more homeless people than I thought I would see but that is what you get in cities throughout the world .

We did buy a Muni pass and more than got our monies worth . We also did a lot of walking . I prepared for our trip by climbing up and down 20 flights of stairs daily for a month . Hills were not a problem . I expect heavier people would have some difficulties . The day we left we met another Canadian couple in the lobby of The Chancellor and gave them our unused day of our 3 day pass . We always like to ';pass it on '; whenever we can . It is just good karma.

A ';must see'; is Alcatraz . I also think just exporing the city as we did made it so enjoyable for us . We did have perfect weather which did not hurt .

Only thing I can say for sure . Would I go back ? Yup, in a heart beat !

I have submitted my review of The Chancellor Hotel and Gary Danko%26#39;s Restaurant . They should be dispalyed shortly . I will also be detailing our 2 days in S.F. on this forum in the next day or two . So much catching up to do and so little time on the weekends....

Hi Envy4u, My husband and I leave for SF in one week and are wondering if we should mess w/ a rental car. Our hotel provides free valet parking and we want to head to Napa but I%26#39;ve heard that driving in SF is miserable. Any advice?

Did you have to have reservations at Gary Danko way in advance? Did you dine anywhere fabulous in Chinatown?

Thanks for the help!

We walked through Chinatown but did not eat there.

My advice is to not rent a car and take a bus tour to the Muir Woods.

I had to make reservations to Gary Dank%26#39;s 2 months in advance and they called me at least 4 times to confirm . I guess they don%26#39;t want an empty table . The restaurant is not that large with 2 small rooms and about 28 staff and 2 sommeliers.

I meant to say Napa and not Muir Woods . Sorry .

BTW This city is very easy to get around with public transit and taxis.

aswanfan....

You can rent a car for just the day that you want to go to Napa. There are plenty of rental car places in both the Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf area and Union Square, so renting a car for one day is not a problem. The rest of the time you can enjoy our public transit system.

Oceanfront restaurant, child-friendly

I am looking for a restaurant with a view of the ocean that a child would enjoy. Not so much a price issue as an atmosphere issue. Looking for places north of Santa Monica. We will be there in late May. Thanks in advance for any help.

Oceanfront restaurant, child-friendly

I would recommend Gladstones, it%26#39;s very child friendly.

http://www.gladstones.com/

Oceanfront restaurant, child-friendly

Keep in mind that Galdstone%26#39;s in the evening (especially on the weekends) can get very crowded. Waits of an hour or more are not uncommon.

Or drive up the coast a bit to Duke%26#39;s, 21150 PCH/Malibu. There is also a Mexican restaurant at the end of the Santa Monica Pier

Room for rent?

Anyone know how I could go about finding a room to rent in Santa Monica? Looking to stay from June-November.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Room for rent?

That is not an easy thing to do around here with all the schools that have students doing the same thing. Try Craigslist.com. Good Luck

Room for rent?

Same answer for Santa Monica:

tripadvisor.com/…3622585

Flea Market?

Just hours away from our departure now, thanks to all the locals for your great advice, I will be sure to post a report when we return with my feedback, but you all have been terrific!

One final question, I read online about a flea market downtown, on Thursdays I believe, anyone ever been to this? Is it mostly new items or a mix of old and new?

Again, thanks to the local experts.

Flea Market?

There%26#39;s no flea market downtown that I know of. There is a Farmer%26#39;s Market downtown in Ferry Building, and they%26#39;ve just begun their Thursday night market nights. But it%26#39;s not a flea market.

There%26#39;s also a farmer%26#39;s market at the Civic Center (take the Muni or BART to the Civic Center stop). Again, it%26#39;s not a flea market.

Best flea market I can think of that is easily accessible is the weekend flea market in Berkeley. Take BART to the Ashby station.

Drive from Sequoia to Death Valley

Is it possible to get to Death Valley from Sequoia/Kings Canyon area without going down to Bakersfield? What is the shortest route. Is there such a road as j41 thru the sierra below Sequoia park? I would love to get to both sites but it seems like quite a drive if there is no way across the sierra.

Drive from Sequoia to Death Valley

There is no road through the sierra from Sequoia/Kings Canyon.

Drive from Sequoia to Death Valley

Sure you can. J41 is a wonderful route.

You can go up into the mountains heading east from Porterville or Visalia around the north side of the Tule Indian Reservation until you get to Johnsondale, and continue east. Technically, J41 is an Inoyo county road so you don%26#39;t pick up the signs until you get out of Kern country. Its a summer only route, so you might want to check locally if you are going before June 1.

Whoops, technically, this is a route from Sequoia National Forest east, not Sequoia National Park.

Thank you Dufore27 for your information. Its appreaciated and will help greatly. It sounds like you have taken this road thru Sequoia forest. How long does it take to get to 14 thru by this route? This route is never discussed, I figure its because it may be a tourtuous route taking just as long as going to Bakersfield. What do you think, will it save me time or should I save my trip to Death Valley for the next time im in California??? (I dont mind coming back next year, I love CA).

Raul Duke

Its been about five years since I did it, so I can%26#39;t remember how long it took - my guess is a couple of hours from Johnsondale to 395. The route is pretty obvious even on the Rand McNally road map book I have here at home.

Its not so much a short cut as a scenic route, though. Also, it depends on what kind of vehicle you are driving - a giant motorhome, maybe not so much fun. This is a two lane paved road going through the mountains - a sports car would be the most fun!

I was assuming you would be in the vicinity of the parks more like in the area of Three Rivers not south of the parks in the forest area that is east of Delano.

Sequoia National Park to Johnsondale is 3 hours. You switch to J24 when you reach the intersection of 198 %26amp; J24. Johnsondale to 395 would still be quite a drive though. If you are trying to conserve time then you might want to take the route through Bakersfield. If that is not your consideration then take the scenic route. It does depend on which part of Death Valley you are headed.

Thanks so much for your information guys. From your info and insight I have decided to put off death valley until my next trip to CA.

I wish I had the time for this road though. It sounds like alot of fun.

I love the internet. Years ago I would have wondered what I would have been missing or might have taken that road and found out the hard way what a grueling trip it was. I try to avoid 6 or 7 hour hauls. Thats a whole day if you figure in recovery time.

Hey have any of you been to the ghost town of Bodie? Next vacation will include Death Valley and maybe a stop in Bodie.

Raul Duke

Been to Bodie. The eastern Sierra is a beautifull yet undervisited area. We spend our vacation in Mammoth Lakes every summer. Bodie is north of Lee Vining and very close to Bridgeport. Then it%26#39;s like 13 miles east on a dirt road. The road is hardpacked but really bumpy. No need for 4 wheel drive or anything. Once there, it is one fascinating building after another. You can take a whole day but since we go in the summer it%26#39;s really hot, so get an early start if the day is forcast to be hot. Monon Lake is really intersting too.

the J24 route is no shortcut, it would be much faster to take the 99 freeway to Bakersfield and double back to Death Valley. But if you want an adventure and haven%26#39;t had enough of the sequoias you could do it.

Look at %26#39;im growlin%26#39;, look at %26#39;im growlin%26#39;!!!

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Seaside, Ca: Motel for 5/27- Is Seaside a rough area?

Someone told me to reserve a room at the strip of motels in Seaside Ca but I%26#39;m wondering if this is a busy industrial blue collar area that may be a little rough and dangerous??

Seaside, Ca: Motel for 5/27- Is Seaside a rough area?

Do you have the name of a specific motel? I wouldn%26#39;t say that Seaside is unsafe as a rule, but I%26#39;d be more comfortable staying in Monterey. Try doing a we search for ';Monterey motel row.'; Look at the motels on Munras Avenue. They are all clean and comfortable, and the area is safe and within a short drive of all the attractions.

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LA at Christmas with kids

We may be coming fover from the UK for a five day break over Christmas 2006 with our 2 kids aged 11 and 5. Any recommendations for activities and family friendly hotels/apartments would be appreciated. If staying in LA, is access to Disneyland/Anaheim easy? Is the city basically closed for Xmas or is there lots on? Thanks.

LA at Christmas with kids

Nothing closes at Christmas in LA - nothing.

First, find the neighborhood you want to be in - consult our FAQs page, then feel free to ask any questions. It%26#39;s at the top of the LA forums.

Here%26#39;s an exerpt

WHAT TO DO by Neighborhood: A brief description of the neighborhoods of L.A. to help you decide where you want to stay and where you want to visit. Neighborhoods include: Downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, Santa Monica. A more detailed description of things to do in L.A. appears in L.A. FAQs Itinerary Ideas

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k300337…

by_Neighborhood-Los_Angeles_California.html

ITINERARY IDEAS: Detailed lists of things to do including sample 1-day, 2-day and 3-day itineraries

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k483618…

AMUSEMENT PARKS: Info, directions (by car and by public transportation) and website info for Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios, Knotts, and Six Flags Magic Mountain

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k483620…

LA at Christmas with kids

Definitely check out the outdoor skating rink at Pershing Square in downtown. This rink is put up from early November through mid-January. It is a lot of fun in a very simple way, particulary with kids. Sessions are an hour long. Sessions tend to be very busy in the evenings. Don%26#39;t worry if you don%26#39;t know how to skate. Most of the other skaters don%26#39;t either.

Pershing Square is located at 6th %26amp; Hill. There is a subway station across the street.

Check out The Grove at Farmers Market. They have a giant christmas tree and every hour they simulate snow. Also, if your kids are girls, the American Girl Place store that just opened there is amazing. Check out their website. The Renaissance Hollywood is a good family-friendly hotel. Disneyland is about an hour away by car. Christmas day, things close (except movie theatres) but leading up to Christmas day, nothing will be closed. Shopping and spending money are highly-encouraged pasttimes here during the Christmas season :-)

christmas is great in LA. especially when it%26#39;s snowing all over the country and we are enjoying lovely weather. Rent a car. It%26#39;s easy to get around this city, just avoid rush hour and you should be fine. Disneyland obviously is a must, as is Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills. Stay by the water in like Santa Monica, or Marina del Ray. Avoid Disneyland around Christmas Day, they have broken attendance records around that time and it%26#39;s pretty insane.

Griffith Park also does a wonderful light display as do many residentail neighborhoods. Some of the best shopping is available the day after Christams - everything goes on sale.

Disneyland is crazy that time of year - but if you can handle the crowds it is great - everything is decorated including Small World and Haunted Mansion (transformed each year into the Nightmare Before Christmas),

There are also perfomances of the Nutcracker at many of the theaters in town.

Griffith Park also does a wonderful light display as do many residentail neighborhoods. Some of the best shopping is available the day after Christams - everything goes on sale.

Disneyland is crazy that time of year - but if you can handle the crowds it is great - everything is decorated including Small World and Haunted Mansion (transformed each year into the Nightmare Before Christmas),

There are also perfomances of the Nutcracker at many of the theaters in town.

There%26#39;s a Christmas Celebration Program at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in downtown LA. It%26#39;s hosted every year, free admission and free parking to the public on Christmas Day.

http://www.lacountyarts.org/holiday.html

Remember, Disneyland is not in LA, but in Anaheim, Orange County- I am guessing (since I live south rather than north of DL) that depending where in LA you stay you could have up to a two-hour drive to the Disneyland Resorts, esp. with holiday traffic! Access is easy, right off highway 5, but research where in LA you will be to estimate drive time to the parks.

I agree Disneyland is not in LA. Although, LA and Anaheim isn%26#39;t too far from each other . I work near LAX and one of our company parties was at Downtown Disney. We went after work on a Friday night. Taking the 91(exit Artesia Blvd) all the way to the 5 ( taking the carpool lane) only took about a 25-30 minute drive. But as the previous poster mentioned, it depends where in LA you%26#39;ll be staying.

dinner cruise attire

What is the recommended dress code for a dinner cruise? We have a cruise scheduled for July 4th and want to fit in. Thanks!

dinner cruise attire

This is a very informal city. Where whatever you want to be comfortable out on the water.

dinner cruise attire

How fun, 4th of July! That is great -- should be a big fireworks show over the Big Bay. Casual wear is fine.

Just remember to bring a sweater to wear since it%26#39;ll be a bit breezy on the bay. Have a good time!

Hey Riffsmom,The unsung expert...San Diego is so comfortable..We are going to Cancun in a couple of weeks,and the Rest%26#39;s require long pants...I was spoiled in the near Decade I spent in San Diego...Casual is King.......

Where to stay?

Hi everyone,

I am in LA for one night only on 5/6 June and I have been trying to come up with th best place to stay. I am on limited budget and I have narrowed it down to 3 places.

1/ SANTA MONICA (SEA SHORE HOTEL)- How far is this from LAX and what is the public transportation like? Also is it easy enough to get around from SM?

2/ REDONDO BEACH (BW Sunrise hotel)- Same questions as above

3/ LONG BEACH staying on THE QUEEN MARY

What do you think would be th best option for me? I arrive in LA at 2pm on 5th and flight out is not until 11pm on 6th.

Gerry

Where to stay?

1 and 2 are your best options. They are both close to LAX, both in areas where you can eat and shop on foot - Redondo is closer to LAX. Public transportation to both motels is easy - just map it at mta.net

Where to stay?

If you have only one night, stay in Santa Monica. There is plenty of SoCal ambience you can easily soak up here: Palisades Park overlooking the Pacific, Third Street Promenade, the Pier, Main Street. Venice Beach is about a mile south.

If you can, I%26#39;d also advise you to take a few hours to visit The Getty Museum which is in Brentwood and accessible via public transit. Even if you%26#39;re not interested in the exhibits (I%26#39;m not), this will give you a great sense of place. The view is excellent. Admission is free.

HTH.

I vote for Santa Monica. It%26#39;s pretty close (in LA terms) to LAX, public transport is good, and as HitchKennedy mentioned, there%26#39;s lots to see.

The Big Blue Bus #3 runs from LAX to 4th street in Santa Monica every 15 minutes or so. The trip takes about 40 minutes.

You can use the Blue Bus to get around Santa Monica.

www.bigbluebus.com

Enjoy your trip!

I agree with yoga. Either 1 or 2. I like the Redondo Beach location because it%26#39;s just right next to Hermosa Beach/Manhattan Beach and I enjoy these beaches. They%26#39;re smaller and less touristy than Santa Monica, but Hermosa and Manhattan Beach is very popular with the local crowds. Hermosa attracts a lot of the local twenty something crowds.

Thanks all for your info, will decide soon.

Gerry

San Francisco and Beaches

Hi... my wife and I, plus our 5 yr old son are planning to visit San Francisco at the end of July. We are going to do all of the touristy things in and around San Francisco, however we also want to spend the last 5 days of our holiday on the beach..... and that%26#39;s the problem, we aren%26#39;t sure which beach?????

Has anyone any views on child friendly beach resorts which are drivable from San Francisco?

San Francisco and Beaches

The closest thing that comes to mind is Santa Cruz and The Coast Santa Cruz Hotel, which I still can%26#39;t stop calling by its old name, the Dream Inn.

It%26#39;s close enough, warm enough for a proper beach vacation, and there%26#39;s plenty to do within close reach:

tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33048-d1150…

I%26#39;m sure others will have some opinions to share, as well.

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Glacier Piont opening date targetted for.....

just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. I had the opportunity to attend a meeting today at Yosemite with representatives from the surrounding regions and Mike Tollefson, the Park Superintendent, said this is their goal and agreed to be quoted. Tioga Pass on the other hand has no opening date set yet.

That first bit should cheer up some travelers for early June! I can%26#39;t wait to get back up there myself!

Glacier Piont opening date targetted for.....

Yeah!!

Now if I can only figure out how to get a few days off...

Glacier Piont opening date targetted for.....

Like I said in another posting, the park always tries to open up the Glacier Point Road to take the traffic pressure off the Valley, since they know they can%26#39;t get Tioga Road opened in time for Memorial Day weekend. Now, keep in mind it is a goal. The Glacier Point road progress today reports slow progress with rotary due to snow depth and high water content. The snow depth is 7 feet. But the road crew works hard and they will keep on pressing.

You need to find the time to get up here and see it. It is so impressive. I drove slow through yesterday evening like a tourist to remiind myself what an awesome place this is. Water is cascading lots of places and all the falls are pumping!

Thanks for this good news HotelChalrlotte!

This means that we might really have a chance for Glacier Point after all. We%26#39;ll be in Yosemite 6/9 through 6/18!

Thank you very much for the update. We will surely enjoy our trip from May 26 to May 29. We are looking forward in going to the Glacier Point. Thanks again.

Well, looks like we%26#39;re OK for getting there 6/11! Thanx to HotelCharlotte %26amp; YoseGal for the encouraging update.

Does this means that by Memorial day trails like panorama or other around glacier point will be possible/usable for hiking by foot as well?

What about the shuttle/bus to galcier point?

Not sure about the trails. Check with the Visitor Center when you arrive. As far as shuttle buses, the Glacier Point tour usually starts late June. The Glacier Point Snack Bar will most likely be closed until later in June as well. The National Park Service tries to get the road open for individual cars for Memorial Day holiday due to increased visitation and if Tioga Road can%26#39;t be open in time. The concessionaire, DNC, doesn%26#39;t automatically open up the tours and snack bar at the same time. There will most likely be a lot of snow around the end of May at Glacier Point..

Thanks, YOSEgal.

Any place you know where i can see updated pics of Glacier Point or nearby trails to get a daily feeling of how it looks like (e.g. snow conditions) as the time goes by? (I know about the conditions update official page, i am looking for something with more pictures for poeple like me who come from abroad and do not really know what to expect).

There are a series of webcams posted on the Yosemite Association website. The one tracking Tioga Pass is down until they can access it, and it seems something has happened to the sentinal dome camera in the last few days as it too is dark. The sentinal dome camera is the one that will give you some visual guidance on Glacier Point %26amp; snow levels.

http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/index.htm

We like watch as the snow builds up and after a great storm checking out how much snow is in the valley.

Have a great trip!

Oh bother! Just in time for us to miss it and be on the flight home!!! Didn%26#39;t realise when I booked two weeks in May that Tioga AND Glacier would be shut. Wanted to show my man how fantastic Yosemite is. Never mind; great excuse to have to come back again and the waterfall will be spectacular?

This forum is fantastice btw; I%26#39;ve not made many posts but have spent hours browsing. Most questions I%26#39;ve had are on here already. Big thanks to everyone but especially HotelCharlotte and Mackjack

Fleet Museum

Looks kinda like the Exploratorium in SF...anyone been to both? How do they compare?

Fleet Museum

I am sure there will be many opinions here about this but I was actually disappointed when I took a class of 5th graders to the science museum in Balboa Park. I thought that there were not enough activities. I think it is like the Exploratorium but maybe not as good.

I DO like the I-Max theaters which require a separate admission fee.

Depending on which movie is playing I think it is a wonderful experience.

Fleet Museum

Riffsmom and I totally agree. Looks the same, tastes different. The IMAX bit is good though, nice theatre and usually two shows in rotation.

My two kids (5 and 8) loved the Fleet - it has a lot of hands-on activities, and they were able to do several experiments with staff members. They learned an awful lot while having fun, a real bonus for us!

We have not been to the Exploratorium, so I can%26#39;t provide a comparison.

Our Go San Diego cards were our passes to the museum, and the cards also provided us with entrance to an IMAX movie. We thoroughly enjoyed both.

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Brockton Villa

I%26#39;ve read that Brockton Villa (in La Jolla) has some of the best views in the San Diego area for dining. I%26#39;m planning on having a lunch there on my trip to San Diego but I%26#39;m trying to find out the best place to request a table for reservations - there seem to be two decks and an indoor dining area? What would provide the best view?

Brockton Villa

The decks face the ocean. Indoors at a window would be fine but not inside in the back. Just tell them you want a good view and they will know where to put you.

Car rental near Greyhound bus station in W Broadway San...

Hi everyone out there,

We will be arriving in San Diego in September. We are taking the Greyhound bus from LA to greyhound bus station in 120 W broadway (SD). Need to rent a car for 4 days. Does any one know where i can rent a car at reasonably price near the bus station in SD? If yes, can we return the car at the SD airport 4 days later??

By the way, are the Lajolla seal beach and Torrey Pine park located on the way to the San Diego wild animal park from downtown? If yes, can we complete this 3 spots in a single day??

Thanks in advance......and hope to hear from u soon!!

Car rental near Greyhound bus station in W Broadway San...

There is an Avis rental office at Cedar between Pacific Highway and Kettner. This is probably an eight block walk (or so). I can%26#39;t think of anything closer. They may not be the most reasoably priced option.

May I inquire, why the Greyhound? Did you compare with Amtrak? The train trip would be the same time or faster and better scenery.

Finally, yes you could do La Jolla Seal Beach + Torrey Pines + Wild Animal Park in one day. It will be a very full day. The Wild Animal Park is best early (at opening) or late (depending on when in September you may be able to catch the end of extended summer hours). You could easily add the seals in the morning although after dark it would be nothing interesting. Torrey Pines works as well if it is just a quick visit. If you want to hike or spend any time on the beach, then it is hard to see how they all fit into one day.

Car rental near Greyhound bus station in W Broadway San...

Enterprise Rental Car at 900 F street also. Youcan compare prices on www.sidestep.com

9 Days for chill and road trip return to LA

Hi guys, I arrive in LA for 9 days on 21st June and I want to spend about five days in one place, gong out from there (I was thinking San Diego) with a few days travelling. I was thinking of going to the Joshua Tree en route, any other cool places I can check out. I know San Diego isn%26#39;t far but I thought it would be nice to have a car there anyway for beaches etc.

Either this or I could go up Highway 1.

Will it be easy to get accommodation on the spot rather than booking ahead?

also, I%26#39;m coming with loads of luggage as I%26#39;m moving to NZ. does anyone know if it%26#39;s easy to leave luggage at LAX for my whole holiday (9 days).

I presume my car won%26#39;t be big enough for two big suitcases.

Thanks so much.

9 Days for chill and road trip return to LA

First of all I do not know why your car will not be able to hold 2 suitcases. I wouldn%26#39;t leave my suitcases ANYWHERE while I am traveling . Joshua Tree is not en route to SanDiego. It is due east of LA an dSanDiego is due south. Along the coast it would probably be better to have a reservation somewhere(you don%26#39;t have to pay for it until you arrive)because it will be the beginning of prime tourist season. If you go inland towards the desert and Joshua Tree that shouldn%26#39;t be a problem because it is off season there as the temps can be up to 110 plus fahrenheit.

9 Days for chill and road trip return to LA

I agree with Mom. American cars are huge. What you blokes call a intermediate size, we call compact. So, you%26#39;ll have no problem fitting your luggage in the trunk. Also, you can no longer store luggage at LAX. You must call a service which will meet you at the airport, take you luggage from you and charge by the day as well as for ';pickup'; and ';drop off';. It%26#39;s less expensive and more convenient to take your suitacases with you.

Regarding your itinerary, I%26#39;d check out mapquest.com. There you can put in starting and ending points (look for the red and green print) and it will draw a map for you, suggest a route and estimate the driving time. (Add about 10-25% more time depending on the time of day. The slowest times are between 6:00 and 9:00 and 15:00-19:00.

You do not need to put in a complete address. You can simply put in the city and state for the starting and ending points or you can put in the name of a FAMOUS PLACE (on the TOP LINE of the starting and ending locations). FAMOUS PLACES can include:

LAX

JOSHUA TREE

DISNEYLAND

GRAND CANYON

YOSEMITE, etc

Occasionally, when you enter a FAMOUS PLACE, Mapquest will give you a list of places that have such a name. You must click on one of those choices in order for the system to continue making your map and directions.

Good luck!

There is no way to store luggage at LAX because of security/terrorism issues. You have to keep it with you.

I%26#39;m confused - you are in LA for 9 days, but want to spend 5 days in San Diego? Or did you want to spend the whole 9 days in San Diego? The best place for you to use as a base is LA, not San Diego, but you should definitely stay in San Diego for a few days.

Regardless, you must book your hotels ahead of coming here - especially in June! That%26#39;s the busy season!

Thanks everyone for you%26#39;re help. I%26#39;m from the UK and here a compact car (which is probably what I%26#39;ll hire) would no way fit two cases in the trunk - and I want them in there so that I can stop en route to places withough them being in sight. I%26#39;m taking the maximum luggage - two 32 kg suitcases, plus I%26#39;ll have a laptop bag and a small daypack. But if you think it will be OK that%26#39;s really useful to know.

If I take the cases with me it%26#39;s even more important to have a base as I don%26#39;t want to leave one in the car really overnight.

I see what you mean about using LA as a base, I didn%26#39;t think of that, mainly cos it%26#39;s so big and I don%26#39;t want to have city driving plus I%26#39;m more interested in scenery and smaller towns than big city sights on this trip.

Crikey that%26#39;s really hot in the desert. Should I just avoid it then - thought it would be good to see. Is it far from LA? Could I go there, spend one night, then go down to San Diego for the next night?

Thank you

Many people from the UK come here in the summer and want to experience the desert. YOu could easily do a triangle from LA to JOshua Tree(or stay in Palm Springs and take a day tour fromthere to Joshua Tree)and then to SanDiego and back to LA. The trip from LA to Palm Springs is about 4hrs. and from Palm Springs to SanDiego is also about 4 hrs. Palm Springs would have lots of choices for lodging as it is off season.

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