westaustralians

Hello.We are a mature couple (kids off our hands!) planning our first trip to the U.S. and would love some advice.He is a surfer of many years and both love the beach.
We are coming from Bali (where we have business commitments) into Hawaii on May 15th, staying for 2 nights, then heading off to Los Angeles, for 2 nights.
We then plan to get to Las Vegas by either bus or drive, for two nights, then back to Los Angeles for 1 night.
We then plan to drive down to Mexico in a rental car, staying at motels etc.,trying to keep costs down, and seeing a few beaches and maybe get a few waves along the coast.
Then back to Los Angeles around the end of May and head home.
Would love some advice on problems we may incur or hints on what to look out for, or even some places to stay.Would like to know about hiring cars into Mexico and back.
We will probably try to get in a tour to the Grand Canyon while we are in Las Vegas.
Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

cheers

Bruce and Barb

mrwunrfl

I am just about positive that you won't be able to find a car rental that allows you to take the car to Mexico.

Drive or fly to Las Vegas.

Huntington Beach, just south of L.A. is known as Surf City. If you stayed there you could find inexpensive airfare to Vegas from either Orange County (John Wayne) Airport (SNA)(on Southwest or USAir) or from Long Beach (LGB) on jetBlue. Flying from LAX can also be inexpensive.

It is about 4.5 hours driving from L.A. to Las Vegas.

I believe that there is surfing in the south bay of Los Angeles, in the towns of Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

I highly recommend taking the airplane tour from L.V. to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Not the helicopter tours - they don't go to the most scenic parts. looktours.com has a tour that we enjoyed, fly out in the morning to GCY airport and get on a tour bus. Stop at a couple of the best viewpoints then back to the airport and flight back to Sin City.

I know that people fly from LAX to Los Cabos, at the southern tip of Baja California. I don't know if there is surfing there.

mrwunrfl

Am pretty sure that you will need body suits to surf in May.

mrwunrfl

One more thing: what is your budget for lodging? It would be a good idea to make reservations for Las Vegas now and then check prices again in a month or two.

Melissa5

Hello westaustralians, bruce and bob! My husband and I were just talking today about planning a trip to southwestern Australia!

I hope you enjoy your trip. It sounds like you have a lot planned...you might considering cutting one place out.

The water in Hawaii will be warmer for your surfing...if surfing is important I'd consider adding a 3rd night in Hawaii.

I live in San Diego and personally I don't care for Los Angeles, but I understand lots of international visitors land there and like to explore a bit. Expect lots of traffic jams up there. It's a big sprawling mess...But I guess there's lots to do if you like city life.

I love the Grand Canyon! If I were you I'd definitely include that if possible. Las Vegas is flashy and glitzy...the last time I went, I enjoyed wandering around watching everyone else gamble away their money, while we saved ours for the big buffets and a show!

Sorry can't advise about Mexico as I tend to avoid Mexico although I live in San Diego so it's not far for me. I have a sensitive digestive tract and when I go to Mexico I can only eat in super touristy places, otherwise I get sick...what fun is that?

Book ahead if you're going to the Grand Canyon...you need to book your accommodations way in advance.

I hope your first trip to the USA is great!

westaustralians

Thanks for the comments.

I thought that we could rent a car easily...sounds like we have to do a bit more homework..grr

the beaches you mention are all parts of my youthful memory...all famous breaks as a kid I dreamt about.Will definitely go see them but as for surfing them....the crowds would be far too much I think.
I dont know about driving in Los Angeles..far busier than here..and the wrong side of the road also!!!
haha!.

maybe we should look at hiring a car to drive round there..see all the beaches and drive thru to Las Vegas.

We are used to driving long trips here..we would do around 1000kms every week just for work, altho the traffic is far less of course.

Maybe we should fly into Mexico then? The Baja peninsula is where we wanted to go...maybe hire a car from there and return there?

I would like to surf some of the remote spots in Mexico..I hate crowds...bad enough here..

yes...we are looking at doing the air trip...we have organised all costs from here as it would be cheaper I think, except the Mexico part.

Is the water that cold in May?

we will be coming from Bali where the water temp will be around 75 degrees!

have wetsuits if necessary but thought it would be nearly summer by then.

thanks again...

Bruce and Barb

westaustralians

Thanks Melissa..ummm..its Bruce and barb!!..not Bob!!...hahaha!
had me worried there for a moment.

We will go thru all the comments in a while and take them all on board.We arent big city people ourselves but would like to have a look at the place...then get out where we feel comfortable...off the beaten track.

We have been to vietnam, backpacked all thru indonesia, singapore, malaysia, sri lanka, mauritius, maldives,and all round australia..just want to visit all the places we have dreamt about for a long time...your a long time dead!!!..lol (notice they all have surf!)
it is a big trip and we can adjust our timetable a little...we have a container coming in early june so have to be back for that but can extend a little if we wish.

San Diego is a place we will certainly go to if we get time...all these places to see!

Its a big trip for us...we usually go to Bali about 5 or 6 times a year on business (sure!!)..having been some 210 times over 25 years now.(nothing to do with the surf!)

If you are going to come to West Australia. worth looking at a side trip...Bali is the best place!

Anyway..we are smack in the middle of the southwest...any info you want, just ask away anytime..

you would love it here...very laid back...but it can get hot in summer..was 42 degrees the other day and been 35 for a month or so.
but the beaches are among the best in the world, and heaps to see and do.

A cold day in winter is 13 degrees.

cheers and thanks

Bruce and Bob hahaha!..i mean Barab

mrwunrfl

Here is some info about water temps:
www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html

The 61F average in May at the L.A. beaches is about 16 Celsius.

You really could skip L.V.

mrwunrfl

May 25 is Memorial Day, a national holiday, so you probably don't want to be driving back from Vegas that day.

nytraveler

You will not be able to take a rental car into Mexico. And the whole area along the border is VERY unsafe - with huge amounts of drug-related crime, many murders etc.

If you want to spend time in Mexico then fly into one of the major resorts - and then still be very careful (there have been reports of tourist kidnappings outside the major tourist areas).

ksucat

Having been several times to Sydney and Melbourne, you need to come to San Diego vs. LA..surf is great here in La Jolla and up the coast and it is a gorgeous city.
You can fly out of SD airport to Cabo for cheap and takes less than 2 hours..there is surf down in Cabo..zippers is very popular surf spot.some great deals on expedia right now.
Vegas I would go with the Wynn..they are offering for a 5*hotel, rooms for $119.00 a night.

Orlando_Vic

I agree about the crime rate. The border towns such as Tijuana are dirty, sleazy and increasingly dangerous. They are not representative of the interior of Mexico. Just Google "Baja California crime" or "Tijuana crime" and you will see what I mean.

If you want to sample Mexico, it would be much better to fly, as nytraveler suggests.

On an entirely self-serving digression, I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have regarding this <http://tinyurl.com/5mdo52> previous post of mine.

Thanks in advance and Welcome to our country!

westaustralians

hi..thanx everyone for your comments...we are going thru them all and have taken note..

it may be best to fly into Mexico as suggested, and will follow that up today.

will advise what we decide..thanx again.

with regards to Bali :

We import containers into west australia from there monthly and wholesale to the public direct thru most of the big malls here..been doing it for 15 years, and have been there some 210 times.
the bali travel forum, that someone has recommended to you is probaly the best source of info, altho many of the people on it are what we call 'yobbos' and have rose colored glasses about Bali and its people.
It is the best place to go for a holiday.

Most travel agents in australia are fine to deal with..just get a few quotes.
the majors, such as travel land, flight centre, harvey world travel, jetset, even garuda orient holidays are all fine.
prices are very competetive right now and often, you can get a flight plus accommodation for less than the airfare alone from most of the packages offered.
darwin is a little different as it is so close to bali...closer in fact, than to any other capital city in australia, but i am sure you can get great deals.
you can get internet airfares as well, but probably not much better than with a travel company, who deal in volume and get the best deals.
any other info, just get back...pleased to help.(we are off to Bali on feb 4th)

cheers

westaustralians

hello again..question for ksucat...

if we flew into cabo, and it looks great on the net info we have searched,from San Diego, can you recommend a good area to stay in?..close to surf.
i am looking for nice small waves and just to mellow out a bit.
would it be wise to hire a car locally there and drive round, and are there good beaches within driving distance?

cheers

Orlando_Vic

"We then plan to get to Las Vegas by either bus or drive, for two nights, then back to Los Angeles"

An alternative to driving (long and boooring) is the Lux Bus <http://www.luxbusamerica.com/index.php>. $99 RT (return).

ksucat

Cheers!
I have stayed at Palmilla Resort, Marina Fiesta, Pueblo Bonito Resort (pink and white) and many other resorts..
It will be hot and do not surf the Pacific side of Cabo..only the bay where zippers has this speedy wave that has a loyal surf following and that is up more towards San Jose del Cabo.
I usually taxi/cab it but have rented a car but only for the day to go to Todos Santos which is a lovely town about an hour away.
I don't know what your budget is.
Happy to help anyway I can..been to Cabo about 20 times and all leaving from SD with no problems on Alaska Airlines..they have some package deals.

westaustralians

thanx for that info...

why cant you surf the pacific side?

are there many surf spots within driving distance?

we will probly get a hire car and try to get to some places that dont have crowds...if possible.

we arent that tight for money...am going to the travel agent later today to finalise it all...

will probly get a bus down to cabo or a flight..just waiting for a costing.

we want to stay in reasonable accommodation, near the beach.

do you know if it is easy to rent or buy second hand surfboards there?,,i am thinking of leaving mine at home cos of the hassles with it in Los Angeles and Las Vegas...and on buses or airlines..maybe i will buy one and sell it when i leave

thanx again..

ksucat

The tip of Cabo where the Pacific and the Medano bay come together is fierce with many drownings..I am a life long ocean swimmer and only been once and thought I was going to die..
Rent or buy a board..to much hassle taking it all the way from OZ..
Rusty surfboards in La Jolla has some great short and long boards.
Do not take the bus down to Cabo..way too much time.
Flight is less than 2 hours and less than $300 round trip pp.
Pueblo Bonita Rose is on the bay and its gorgeous..Melia Hotel too..
Expedia.com has a good idea on prices from SD to Cabo with flight/hotel/car..

Carrabella

Hi Bruce and Bob,
From a fellow, probably more mature couple of Aussies, don't worry about coping with driving around LA. Sure, the traffic can be a nightmare, but the road system is good, and the freeways are forgiving if you find you have made a directional mistake. You will need good maps - our NSW Auto club has reciprocal agreements, and the AAA maps are great.

I think you may be disappointed with the surf around LA though, compared at least with east coast Australia. I think that it is only worth a surf to say you have done it - our beaches are better, it's hard to find how to get to the beach as houses are right up to the edge of the sand all along, and it's hard to find a parking place.There are far better things ro see in the USA - Yosemite National Park, for example. Have a look at the National Park Website, and the wealth of beauty and action available in California.

As far as accommodation, we used to travel on spec, using the coupons availble from Welcome Centres and McDonalds for discounts, but mostly to find where the motels are - afterall, if you don't know a city, where would you start? But now, in the time of the internet, we prefer to book something better on Priceline, well ahead of time, and make day trips from a central point. For example, we've booked a Marriott Residence Inn at Manhatten Beach in April for about $140US.

We've driven to San Diego, to the Mexican border and walked over to Tijuana, and another time taken a bus tour to Rosarito Beach - which doesn't compare with ours, although it is pretty. Can't say about any others beaches. I like the drive through the desert from LA to Vegas, particularly if you make a detour through the Mojave on the way.

I think if you want to drive in Mexico, then you will need to hire in Mexico. Good luck.

westaustralians

thanx for the info...was a bit concerned about driving in LA...but sounds like its not too bad.

I think we will just get the hotels sorted out this end and worry about car hire when we get there.

yes..the surf thing is only really to satisfy my youth dreams..lol

i agree that the surf on the east coast of Aus is probably the best in the world.

even our local at a place caleld Secret Harbour ( it used to be called surf beach when no one lived there..now they put 3000 houses in and call it Secret harbour...oh..well..thats progress!...is a great little break.

its is, as you say, just to say i have surfed these places and to see what they are like.

thanx again