Smeagol

My fiancée and I have flights booked from the UK to San Francisco and out of LA (total 15 nights not including overnight flights) and plan to drive down Hwy 1. We have done this trip before about 9 years ago but fancied revisiting some of the great places we saw before (and adding some new ones), so here is a brief plan of what we think we will do and would love your suggestions on it AND where we could go as a side trip.

Arrive SF – Spend 3 nights here – thinking of Sir Francis Drake hotel. We stayed at the Clift hotel by Union Sq before and loved this location not so much the hotel (ideally looking for boutique style hotel around $290 max per night) any feedback on this hotel or suggestions?
1 night – Carmel - Stayed at The Cypress Inn last time – like this in town location – again any suggestions? Thinking of Rocky point for dinner?

1 night maybe the Post Ranch Inn – I have wanted to stay here for a while but I am not sure I can run to their room prices, this is a maybe – has anyone stayed here, is it really that fabulous. (drinks/lunch at Nepenthe)

Or if we don’t stay at the Post Ranch Inn , any suggestion where we can stay between Carmel and Cambria (last time we pushed on to Cambria and stayed at Moonstone beach – which I do intend doing again)

1 night Moonstone beach – Moonstone landing any good?? – stayed at the Fog catcher last time (dinner at the sea chest – which is the reason we are staying here again – LOVED the oysters rockerfella) Hearst Castle tour the following a.m

1 night Santa Barbara – should we do a wine tour?? FW on the Asia forum has suggested the Canary, We have stayed in SB before but stayed at the SB inn and it was awful!

Next I was thinking of driving to LA in order to stay in maybe Santa Monica or somewhere before flying from LAX to???? Ideally we would like somewhere sunny for 5 days. Looking at maybe Hawaii but flight prices are running at about £1000 but it maybe a long way to go for 5 days. Any suggestions on where we could go for a bit of sun and relaxation?
Other thought is maybe drive to San Diego?? (Is it warm enough in November??)
And then finally 3 nights in LA before flying home. (hotel still to be decided)

Hope that all makes sense; I know we are not exactly blazing a trail here. I guess hotel preferences are smallish boutiques max $250 (cheaper if poss) but for somewhere special we can up the budget considerably. If you have any stop points or restaurant recommendations along the way we would love to hear about them.
Many thanks
S

Smeagol

Want to add i am planning on eating at the Slanted Door whilst in SF (as we couldnt get in last time) is it still good? (or as good as i hear it is?) any other suggestions? - like all sortsof food. Went to Gary Danko last time and thought it was fab but think we will try some new places this time.

sf7307

Chiming in to say you can't really expect "warmth and relaxation" in November except in Hawaii and the deep South. You might be lucky and hit great weather, but you can't plan on it. That said, we've been to Hawaii more than once for 4 or 5 days and from the West Coast it's easy and great!

Smeagol

Thanks SF i guess i am not really expecting it in CA (we had "nice" weather last time- same time of year) so i think that's why we figured we would probably have to fly somewhere. (and of course you can't guarantee weather anywhere, when we went to Australia a few years ago at Christmas - wettest Christmas they have had in 40 years.......)

when you say "the deep south" where do you mean?

Tomsd

As one who has lived in SD for years - I can say Novembers can be beauitful - or if you really want to see something a bit different - jump on a plane and fly over to Hawaii. In November - you should be able to get some great deals for Hawaii - except perhaps during the week of Thanksgiving.

And I would rather stay up at Solvang - above Santa Barbara - to visit the wineries or even the good tasting rooms right on main street in that Danish themed village.

Also - have you seen the funny movie Sideways? It it set in some of the wineries in the area.

Be sure to check the other posts in here under California - as a traveler just posted about some of the restaurants she enjoyed in SF, and there has also quite a bit of discussion about Carmel/Monterrey - and also under Hawaii for more info about that.

see: http://www.solvangusa.com/ and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/

Tomsd

Another fairly warm weather option in Nov would be to drive over to Las Vegas - 4 to 5 hours depending. Plenty of posts under Nevada for that also.

mlgb

I think Palm Springs in November (or Las Vegas) would be perfect. The weather in November can indeed be magnificent in Southern California.

sf7307

That's true - I hadn't thought about Palm Springs - the average high temperature in November is 78 degrees (although we were there one Thanksgiving when it was drizzly and cool, but I guess that just brings the average down!)

Smeagol

Ok Palm Springs was on my radar So would it be feasible to drive from LA to San Diego and Palm Springs and still have a reasonable break? Or would I be best sticking with either PS or SD? Another thing the week we want to do this is the day after Thanksgiving?? Will this be an issue ( and should I prebook the hotels along Hwy 1 as we will be travelling the week leading up to Thanksgiving?) last time we were in LA for Thanksgiving

sf7307

Well, it does get quite a bit cooler in PS the later in November you get. More like 73 rather than 78 average high.

Smeagol

I think I will discount Las Vegas, we have been a coup,e of times and probably not what we want for this trip . I may also check out Hawaii packages rather than flights then hotels. I'll try Hawaiian air.

Tomsd

SD to Palm Springs is 2 hrs - about the same time to drive to LA. And it will be qute toasty there during November - barring a rare rainstorm.

Tomsd

Hawaiian air flies direct from SD - and this travel company usually has some good combo deals. But to get the best deals - you may have to wait until the fall - unless you see a great price for a flight and jump on it.

http://www1.pleasantholidays.com/Ple...FWYZQgoduD8PXw

sf7307

Smeagol, I don't know about the flights from Southern California, but be sure you look for non-stop flights. On such a short trip, it would be best not to have to change planes in Honolulu. (Last time we went to Kauai, we left SFO in the a.m. and were at the hotel, having already had lunch in Lihue, around noon-ish).

Oh, forgot to answer, YES, Slanted Door is still excellent.

Smeagol

Thanks all, I think I am going to look for a direct flight I really don't want to wate anytime of my 5 days.., I will look for flights from SFo too as we could fly from there, fly back to SFO and then continue with our road trip. TomsD I will check out that TA but if we go to Hawaii we won't go as far south as SD ( it's an either/or choice given the time constrates )
My head is spinning with all the options and I haven't even looked at possibilities in Mexico yet

SAB

If you can get a price for Hawaii that is acceptable, why not? I've done long weekends (Thurs to Mon) to Oahu in the past from SF and I agree it's definitely doable. It's about 5 1/2 hour flight, the same amount of time it takes to fly to NYC from SF and I've done that trip for as few a 3 days.

sf7307

SAB, I've done the NY trip for as few as 2 days (fly out Friday, return Sunday). Our shortest trip to Oahu was Thursday-Monday, definitely doable as long as the flight is non-stop (so it could be Oahu, Kauai or Maui from here).

Smeagol

I guess my only hesitation ( well there's 2) is that it will feel that we will loose essentially 2 days of our holiday travelling ( especially on the leg back to LAX) BUT if we want the chance of sunnier climes then maybe I will just have to suck it up ( and the additional flight costs - but looking at some package rates it's actually not that hideous)
My partner hates flying so I really have to make sure it's worth it for him to endure further flying on our trip, but he is used to my holiday schedules now.... I normally have him flying round one SE Asian country or another.....

sf7307

I understand your hesitation (both time and money)....but remember, it's possible to really lose only one day if you leave on an early flight from the West Coast.

Tomsd

Usually - the least expensive flights are into Honolulu - and then it's simple to walk next door - to the Inter-Island terminal (or catch the wiki wiki? shuttle) - and pop on a short flight to another island. If you can fly all the way through directly and it fits your budget - great.

If you want to see two islands - and are energized by seeing new sights - as I am - I would suggest you go into Honolulu - and stay two days - and go snorkel at Hanamua Bay (you can rent gear at Snorkel Bob's etc and even turn it in on another island) - and drive at least around the southern end of the island.

Then get over to Kauai for sheer beauty (a 20 minute flight) - or Maui - (half hour flight) - if you are looking for more night life Since you will be going off-season - November righto? - there should be ample availability - and if headed to Kauai - you could check the weather - and if it was clear -stay 3 days/nights up at Princeville/Hanalei, or else go down to Poipu for the 3 nights.

Actually- you might carve out/add another night if you are going to Hawaii, which I would certainly recommend.

Hey - if you can book on Hawaiian airlines - it's a little bit of stepping into Hawaii when you board and then knock back a few Mai Tais - or Chi Chis - and enjoy the flight/snooze.