More time in SF, less in Las Vegas. Mexico, both coasts? Why not Cabo s
San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta?
Otherwisw, looks good! Welcome!

My next door neighbors (early 30's) went to Las Vegas last year for New Year's Eve. When they got back, they told me that it was super jam-packed and not much fun at all. If you are intent on going to Las Vegas (and, personally, I don't see why you'd take kids/teens there), you might want to research whether this is actually a good place to go for NYE.

Thanks Happytrvlr am I correct in thing stay away from driving into and around LA...

Hello Jason and TrishOZ. I think you are going too fast in the first half of your trip. Don't forget about jet lag. 2 nights in San Francisco and 1 night in Napa Valley is way too short to see much. I live in California and even without jet lag, that wouldn't be long enough for me to settle in and enjoy San Francisco and Napa Valley.

I'd suggest you cut out half of your destinations, and spend time enjoying the rest. Have a fun and relaxing vacation.

Regarding Las Vegas, it's like one gigantic glitzy and slightly raunchy party. One problem is Las Vegas isn't the best choice when your kids are under 21. They won't even be allowed in the gambling areas. I'd suggest you skip Vegas.

Thanks melissa5 - would you suggest flying or driving ex San Fran to vegas if we keep it in the itinerary? As we planned to get a hire car for Napa ect maybe its better to continue on in the car?

Should you fly or drive to Vegas? Well on a recent driving trip to Vegas my whole family had the unfortunate experience to be stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of the desert on the way to Vegas due to a chemical spill from a truck which caused a massive traffic jam. When you are stuck in a desert traffic jam, there is truly nowhere to go...there are not even any towns where you could exit! People were having to pull off into the desert when they got desperate and there weren't any bathrooms. No place to buy a drink. People were getting frustrated and road rage was getting the best of some drivers. So I'm never driving to Vegas again.

Don't worry that's a rare occurrence I'm sure! But I'll never forget it. Maybe it would be more relaxing for you to fly to Vegas. If you choose a well located hotel right on the strip you don't really need a car. We liked having a car, though, because a lot of the big hotels and casinos offer free valet parking even to non-guests.

I have driven from San Diego to Vegas, but never from San Francisco or from Napa to Vegas.

Good luck with your plans and have a great vacation.

Oi JasonandTrishOZ. From Washington DC to Orlando you will want to fly. Driving would be an option if you wanted to take the time to explore the southeast area of the US. I'm assuming Disney World is the main attraction for your family in Orlando, so fly. Enjoy your visit.

Four days in Vegas is a lot unless you are planning on trips to the Grand Canyon.

I LOVE New York City -- but I don't think you need 8 nights. I'd add more to San Francisco -- and consider driving the Pacific Coast Hwy and taking a couple of days to experience that beautiful scenery and Hearst Castle. PCH is sort of our version of the Great Ocean Road.

I think Las Vegas is a "unique" place. It's not my cup of tea, but I do think that being so close, it would be worth 2 or 3 nights to experience it. If you enjoy wild, crowded, over-the-top party celebrations, then it would be perfect for New Year's Eve.

Unless all you want to do are guided bus tours I think you'll want a car in L.A. Traffic can be terrible if you get bad luck or travel during peak hours. But, while getting around L.A. by public transportation is possible--I don't recommend it.

Sounds like an amazing trip.

Vegas is great for a few days - including takking a tour to the Grand Canyon and also driving 20 minutes to Red Rock Canyon. Also take in a Cirque show, check out the Bellagio fountains, take the ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower or Stratosphere, visit the big dam, go to the Mars chocolate factory/botanical gardens, see the laser show downtown/old Vegas, go to the Bass Pro shop to see their great aquariums, etc.

Also prefer Cabo over Cancun. And do recommend you drive from LA to SF - taking the beautiful drive along the Cal coast

Hey - trim a couple more days for San Diego - and driving from here to Vegas(other than during Friday or Sunday afternoons (The LA traffic does clog up the road) is only 5 hours.

OH yes, the Big Apple - NYC is a trip - but 4 or 5 nights should be plenty for your first visit.

Vegas also has some great Magic shows(some inexpensive if you check around/afternoons or downtown, etc) - and do check the discount ticket outlets for good deals on shows, tours, dining etc.

Actually - I would recommend when you arrive - fly straight away to SF from LA (only an hour and there are many flights) - and rest up in Bagdhad by the Bay and then drive down the Cal Coast to LA and San Diego and then over to Vegas.

Turn the car in at Vegas and then fly to your next destination. Check out www.rentalcars.com - which lists all the car companies and has some great deals.

I don;t think you have taken the weather into account in a couple of ways.

First, although Vegas is in the desert it's cold in winter - and the Grand Canyon often has substantial snow. there is little for teens to do in Vegas in winter (they can;t enter casinos and the pools are closed for the season) and trips to Grand Canyon or other parks can be difficult - never mind the freezing cold. And agree that Vegas at New Years is party central for 20's and 30's - mobbed with drunks and not for teens/families. (The kids will not be allowed in those restaurants with NY parties either.) I would definitely use those days elsewhere.

That time of year you need to allow some time for wether-related delays. Even though LA and SF aren't really cold much of the rest of the country is - and storms in the east, center or mountains can easily delay flights and close airports. Every winter people are stranded for a day or two at many major airports, then all those flights domino into delays around the country - so don;t schedule things so tightly that a delay of 1 or 2 days will ruin your entire schedule.

So - I would stay in LA for a couple of days on arrival, then head to SF, then Mexico and then to the east coast.

Train is fine NY to DC - but you have to fly to Orlando (dirt cheap) - train would be excrutiating - slow - always late - probably cost more than flying.

Definitely fly from northern California to Las Vegas - it's a 10-hour drive with nothing to see or do on the way. OR...

I agree with those who say fly to San Francisco on arrival in LA, spend 3-4 days here, including a day trip to Napa if you're so inclined. Then rent a car and drive down the coast for 2-3 days, ending in LA (stopping in Monterey area, Cambria or Santa Barbara, and LA). Stay in LA 3 days, then drive to San Diego and spend a couple of days. Drive to Las Vegas and stay 2-3 days at most (and that would include side trips if not stymied by weather). Fly from Vegas to Playa del Carmen stay 7 nights, fly to NY, stay 5 nights, train the DC, stay 4 nights, fly to Orlando, stay 5 nights, Bahamas cruise.

Can you go in and out of the United States - no visa issues?

I like sf307's OR. The only other place that it Might make sense to ride a train would be from LA to the SF area. (Check flight prices). If you want a cruise you could sail from LA, SD or a Mexican port. Fly from San Diego, Long Beach or LAX to Las Vegas and rent your car there. Fly from Las Vegas to the east coast.
I couldn't stand being in NYC for more than 2 nights.
Last time I was in NYC was about 6 weeks after 9/11/01. I was in the city for about 2 hours.

"LA to San Francisco (flight?) 2 nights"

Rent a car instead and drive up the coastal highway (Hwy 1). It is very scenic and roughly comparable to the Great Ocean Road.

I would also shorten the New York and Las Vegas days.

There are many, many cruise options from Port Canaveral (about 1½ hours east of Orlando). Of course there are Bahamas cruises but also some to Mexico. Cruise Vacation Outlet in Orlando http://www.CruiseVacationOutlet.com can help you make the arrangements. They planned & booked our South American cruise in February & March.


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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Agree that visa status may be an issue. Don't know the rules for Oz - but you will be entering the US 3 separate times - you need to make sure you have the correct paperwork.

I recommend that you fly from S.F. to L.V. on or after Jan 1 and then fly from L.V. to L.A. on Jan 4. Vegas is goofy on NYE.

If driving to Vegas and leaving a car there, you need to consider the heavy drop off charges when renting in one location and dropping in another. It can be costly. I'd fly to Vegas, rent a car there for your sight seeing, and then fly onward to Mexico or NYC (if you've already done Mexico).

And do check the visa rules since you are coming in, going out, and coming back in again.

If you qualify for entrance to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, you should be able to enter and depart the US mulitple times if you do not turn in your I-94 ticket until your finnal departure.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

Read the regulations. Not everyone qualifies to enter under VWP without a visa. If either of you have criminal convictions, you must apply for a full B1/2 visa.

Check out www.carrentals.com. If you rented a car in SF (btw - there are very rare weather closures in California/Las Vegas - so don't worry about arriving at LAX and flying stright away to SF) - and then down the scenic Coast hiway to LA, SD, then Vegas and if necessary (if there is a big drop off charge - or for an easier flight ticket) - drive the 4 hours back to LA.

No big deal - pretty straight shot usually - again - except for Friday and Sunday afternoons.

And there is plenty for "kids" to do in Vegas for a few days - including the Cirque de Soleil shows, afternoon magic shows, visiting Hoover Dam, driving out to and maybe hiking at Red Rock Canyon http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=631, and either flying from Vegas to/over the Grand Canyon, or taking a day tour, or even driving yourself and maybe spending the night there. The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing sights in the world, period.

BTW Dos: The snowfall at the GC is not uswually that onerous, but if a good sized storm is blowing in while you are there - you can still find other things to do in/around Vegas - such as driving over to Zion which is also beautiful, and the roads are usually open. http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

And btw: As suggested - you could also fly to Vegas from SD or LA - as there are many flights, it's short (1 hour) and not that expensive.

Did a quick check of jetBlue fares to Las Vegas for around that time.
From/To San Francisco: $113
From/To Oakland: $103
From/To Long Beach: $47

and up

Weather could be a real factor at New York, Washinton DC, and The Grand Canyon.

Do you have plans for that many days in New York, Vegas, and that many in LA.

You wouldn't need car in San Francisco, New York, or DC. You will need one everywhere else though.

Frankly, if you could arrange this trip in the summer, I think you all would enjoy it much more.
I love the Grand Canyon, but there are so many other National Parks that I find even better. Yosemite and Yellowstone are tops. I even like Zion and Bryce better than the Grand Canyon. That said, there is nothing like your first sight of the GC. There just isn't that much to do there once you've seen it, unless you want to do some serious hiking or rafting.

If I had 3 or 4 weeks, I would pick a trip for just eastern or just western US.

I wouldn't stay more than 1 night in Vegas(especially with kids). Not sure, buy you might have some good fireworks at New York or DC on new years eve. Might have them at Vegas too.

If I were already in Florida, I might skip the cruise and see The Keyes and Everglades.

On New Year's Eve NYC has more than a million people gather in Times Square to watch the crystal ball drop at midnight. Wonderful to watch - on TV. In person it's hell. But there are also fireworks in Central park - which is much more doable - especially with kids.

I like sf7307's itinerary. If possible I would do the Pacific Coast Highway drive from north to south for the better views.

I think 2-3 days in Las Vegas is also fine with kids. Tomsd has given you some good tips. I just did this on a family trip with my brother, mother, niece (14) and nephew (12). We used Vegas as our gateway to the Grand Canyon and then stayed there again on the way from the Grand Canyon to Yosemite. When we first arrived we stayed on the Strip but when we stayed for one night on the way to Yosemite we stayed off-strip at The Orleans. It was a good choice for a family. It's not luxurious but it's fine and it was cheap. It not only had a 12-screen movie theatre but also a full-sized bowling alley. The kids wanted to bowl after dinner so that's what we did. We had a blast.

I would recommend Playa del Carmen over Cabo if you want things to do. There are lots of historic sites and different activities as day trips from Playa. A warning about the swimming pools, however. Most of them around Playa are not heated so the water might be too cool to swim in in January. I don't know if they are heated in Cabo as we were there in early October and they were still plenty warm.

If you're going to Disney and taking a cruise you might want to look into the DisneyWorld cruise and park package. Some friends did this a couple of years ago and loved it. Their kids were a couple of years younger at the time than your kids but they loved it and found plenty to do and LOTS of kids to make friends with although they went in the summer and not the winter when most kids are in school here.

I'd take Belize over Mexico - less internal strife, the people are nice, the Ambergris Cay area is excellent and safe, the diving and snorkling equals or beats your own GBR (especially considering it's not a 2-hour boat ride away), English is the official language (everyone speaks Spanish but knows some English), and your US dollars are usable because Belizeans would rather have US dollars than the local wampum.

There is no way I'd be caught on a train from DC to Orlando, nor would I drive it. LA is way more convenient for driving to Vegas than SF.

I don't think Playa Del Carmen has received any Narco wars violence - but for sure - Cabo has not.

We also took a 3 night cruise out of Miami a few years ago - and it was fun.

If you do get to Orlando - try to get over to the Astronut's Hall of Fame - by Cape Caneveral/Kennedy, and they also have another big space exhibit over there - close to each other. http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/astronaut-hall-of-fame.aspx

The flight simulator is as good as any fighter jet that I have flown in.