dinda

My intended husband and I are planning our first trip to the U.S.in late August/ September - it's our honeymoon.

After five days/six nights in New York we'll fly to California.
We'll have another 12 nights to explore California.
The only thing which is sure is that our plane home (to Austria) starts in San Francisco.

It's so difficult for us to decide on a good trip.

1st suggestion is:

Flight to LA
3 nights LA
3 nights Big Sur
2 nights Sonoma
4 nights San Francisco

2nd suggestion is:

Flight to Las Vegas
1 night Las Vegas
2 nights Yosemite
3 nights Big sur
--> option 1:
6 nights San Francisco -- visits to Sonoma/Napa valley from San F.
--> option 2:
2 nights Sonoma
4 nights San F.

3rd suggestion is:

Flight to San Francisco
3-4 nights north of San F.
3-4 nights south of San F.
4-5 nights San F.

It would be nice to get some feedback or even other route suggestions!

Many thanks in advance!

stumpworks73

One general comment is that rental car companies now charge significant premiums for one ways. You will have to shop extensively to get a reasonable price for your itineraries where you travel in one direction. Hertz and Avis are most likely to be unaffordable. Check Budget, Dollar and Thrifty for better pricing.

The scenery is beautiful at Big Sur and the coast has some great sea side hikes, but 3 nights is a lot in an area with few restaurants and not much else. You can stay in Carmel or Monterey and drive down to Big Sur for lunch and have more to do at your base.

Options 1 and 2 involve a lot of driving.

If you decide to include Yosemite, you need to book hotels as soon as possible. This area books full every night.

This is a great area and you will enjoy your honemoon. Minimize your windshield time and minimize hotel changes.

tovarich

I would suggest the following:
3 nights N.York
2 " L.A.
2 " Santa Barbara following the coast line
1 " Monterrey
4 " S? Francisco

StuDudley

Where is N.York in California??

Here are some ideas for the San Francisco Bay area.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

I agree with stump about the driving in 1 & 2. Also, I think I would spend 2 nights in Carmal & 1 in Big Sur (less than 45 mins apart).

Stay in the town of Healdsburg instead of Sonoma. Healdsburg is more interesting and is better located (IMO). You'll have better access to the coast from Healdsburg also.

Stu Dudley

spirobulldog

Stu,
The OP says they are flying to California after a few days in NY.

joesorce

stump....the one way car rates for foreigners are much lower than for U.S. Citizens.

dinda...I would fly to Los Angeles, stay 3 nights, 4th day I would drive in the evening as far north as Santa Barbara, 2 nights, then drive to Big Sur/Carmel area for 2 nights, then San Francisco for 5 nights with day trips north of San Francisco.

You wouldn't see much of Las Vegas or surroundings with just a one night detour, and Vegas is 105degrees plus at that time of year, not very pleasant for walking/exploring. Los Angeles may also be quite hot then so stay west near the ocean. Note that the first Friday of September begins a holiday weekend (Monday holiday) so you will have to book accomodation in advance, especially near the ocean. Yosemite may already be booked up.

happytrailstoyou

Fodor's California 2011 is an invaluable resource for planning the trip you have in mind. My suggestions for a really great California experience that avoids drop-off fees:

Las Vegas (1)
Los Angeles (2)
Highway 1 to Monterey--Big Sur (3)
San Francisco--Napa and Sonoma Valley (3)
Yosemite NP (1)
Tioga Pass to Death Valley (1)
Las Vegas (1)

HTTY

StuDudley

HTTY

That's a lot of time in the car. Most Europeans don't realize how far apart destinations are in California (we were in Austria last Sept). Why don't you use mapquest (or anything you like) to estimate anticipated driving times between all the locations. Also specify how much time the OP can expect to spend "seeing" the sites in LA, SF, Yosemite, Death Valley, and Las Vegas. Also, the OP has reservations to fly home from San Francisco.

Stu Dudley

tomfuller

3rd suggestion makes the most sense: Fly NY to San Francisco, (or San Jose or Oakland) and rent your car there (downtown cheaper than at the airport). Yosemite is easier to get to from the Bay area than from LA. If you really want to see LA and Las Vegas, fly from SFO to either and rent another car to be returned where you rent it. Then return to SFO for your flight home. It is possible to ride the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Emeryville with a bus into San Francisco if you didn't want to fly back to San Francisco.

happytrailstoyou

Dinda,

I love all the drives I'm suggesting, and I am confident you will enjoy them too (with the possible exception of Yosemite to the coast).

I missed the detail about the return flight from San Francisco.

With that in mind: Las Vegas, Death Valley, Bodie Ghost Town, Tioga Pass, Yosemite NP, Pismo Beach, and then Highway 1 to San Francisco and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

HTTY

Underhill

Recently a big chunk of Highway 1 at Big Sur fell into the ocean after our long month of rain. It could be quite a while before that road is opened; you might want to check the California Highway Patrol roads site between now and your trip.

StuDudley

>> I love all the drives I'm suggesting, and I am confident you will enjoy them too

dinda

Thanks a lot for your responses!!!

Stu Dudley: I hope you enjoyed your stay in Austria

I think we may redesign our trip a little bit.

Maybe we'll even fly from NY to Las Vegas and see Monument Valley and Grand Canyon for a few days --> yes, we know that this is a lot to drive and fly from Las Vegas to LA.

Then we'll take Highway no 1 to San Francisco with a stop at Big Sur and spend the rest of our holiday in San Francisco - maybe with a trip to Napa valley...

For us, it's really difficult to decide... there's too much to see (and too little time...).

StuDudley

>>Stu Dudley: I hope you enjoyed your stay in Austria

tracys2cents

Death Valley in late August? Ugh...not for me, there's a reason they call it Furnace Creek!

spirobulldog

Joesorce,
Does it really cost american citizens more for one way car rentals(renting with the US)? and what is the logic to that if so?

happytrailstoyou

This has become extremely disagreeable.

Goodbye, HTTY

dinda

Thanks to all for your input - as our trip is in August we maybe will post some requests again. But this forum is very helpful.

... htty ... thank you, but in your last statement I really can't follow your thoughts...

... Stu Dudley ... For us, it's like you mentioned: We'd like to see things which are totally different to Europe. And either Grand Canyon or the coast at Big Sur will be so (not speaking of course about NY or San Francisco which I'm sure are exciting cities).

See you!

happytrailstoyou

Thanks, Dinda. I like to drive; some others don’t. Let me take this opportunity to explain the itinerary I suggested. It takes you to places in California we never tire of revisiting.

*Las Vegas is a unique destination, and it was on your list. The Grand Canyon can be visited by helicopter from Las Vegas. (I’ve had it with Las Vegas, but if you’re curious about it, you won’t be disappointed.)

*Death Valley is an unforgettable experience. It is hot in the summer—very hot. I find extreme heat exotic; others find it unbearable.

*The drive from Death Valley to Tioga Pass follows the Eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. It is beautiful.

*Bodie State Historic Park is a 25-mile detour (each way) and it is worth your time if you would like to walk around one of our most extensive ghost towns: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509

*The drive over Tioga Pass is beautiful and possible for only a few months of the year.

*Yosemite is one of our most popular and beautiful National Parks.

*Highway 1 between LA and SF is one of the most scenic drives in the USA.

The other places are on all the itineraries you outlined.

HTTY

joesorce

Spiro....yes it's true, click on my name and see my topic on Car Rentals, from July 22, 2010....