JasonandTrishOZ

Hi - wondering if anyone can offer some advice/wisdom/ideas on the following itinerary as we have never been to the states before. Looking at arriving 2 days after christmas 2013/14 coming in from Australia..We will have two kids with us aged 15 and 12.

Fly into LA stay 1 night
LA to San Francisco (flight?) 2 nights
Drive - Napa valley stay overnight (1)
Las vegas (Drive from napa? or fly ex San Fran) stay 4 nights (new years in vegas)
Return Los Angeles (Fly ex vegas or drive?)
Stay Los Angeles 5 nights to include trip to San diego (1 -2 Nights)
LA to mexico (fly) Stay 7 nights (cabo San lucus and Playa del carmen)
Mexico to New York (via LA or direct?)
Stay New York 8 nights
Travel by train to washington stay 3 nights
Travel to Orlando Florida (Fly?) Disney world 5 nights
Cruise 4 days ex orlando to Bahamas
Return to LA for flight home...

Looking at approx 6 weeks - can anyone offer any travel ideas/suggestions for travelling between these places - we definately want to get a hire car for Vegas so we can see the Grand Canyon and are aware that a hire car in LA might not be a good idea due traffic ect.

Thanks

HappyTrvlr

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

longhorn55

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.

JasonandTrishOZ

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

Melissa5

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.

JasonandTrishOZ

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?

Melissa5

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.

Bgale

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.

schmerl

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

Songdoc

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.

Tomsd

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.

Tomsd

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.

Tomsd

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.

nytraveler

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.

sf7307

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?

tomfuller

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.

Orlando_Vic

"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.


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

nytraveler

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.

mrwunrfl

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.

simpsonc510

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.