You don't need to take a bus from LAX to Pasadena... you can take the light rail train or whatever they call it ... I think it's under $30.00 per person. If there are many of you traveling, it will be cheaper to rent a car for the time period you'll be trveling around LA.

I have a three year old.. and he has two older brothers... and I believe it would be EXTREMELY difficult to entertain him on any bus tour... you've mentioned three during your visit. I'd rethink that... for your own sanity as well as for the others on the tour.

I suggest that you spend two or three days in SF... fly to LA and spend three days in Pasadena with your freinds, taking day trips from there ( NOT on a bus... rent car and see what you can see) and then choose to spend your last few days either at the beach, OR Disney, OR in Las Vegas.

Welcome to California!

Thank you canterbury & moneygirl for guiding me on this.I was not aware of this train from LA to Pasedena. Will

check it out. This plan seems reasonable. thanks for advising.
Based on all the above expert advises/tips, now I need to sit down and re-schedule my plan.
I am thinking of skipping sea world. Tentatively, I am thinking of plan as below:

Aug31 night - reach SF and check-in
Sept 1 : SF tour (5 hrs) -- http://www.sanfranshuttletours.com/?...FRUHWAod4TDB7Q
Leave late even to Burbank (flight) to reach Pasedena
Sept 2 : Rest
Sept 3: LA downtown, Hollywood
Sept 4 : Universal Studio
Sept 5 : rest
sept6 : disney
sept7 : rest (and / or LA beach, by car)
Sept 8 : fly to LV by noon
Sept 9 : return to burbank by even
sept 10 : leave back to "sweet home" by early morning flight.

(this way, we can avoid weekend traffic at disney, Universal studio). In case, if it too warm / too tired, we will drop LV

and enjoy LA by car. What do you think of this plan? (having rest alternatively, should charge up my 3yr old to enjoy disney- right?)

cabovacation : link for erie beach. Its very nice :

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/statepar...esqueisle.aspx

bond007: Your new plan is much better. (You are a quick learner )

Having said that -- The 1 day in San Francisco still sticks out like a sore thumb. You fly in and after a looooong flight, you have to get to the Ferry Bldg, sit in a coach for 5 more hours, then the hassle of going back to SFO and sitting around there for 2 hours, then flying down to BUR and getting to Pasadena. This would be a tough day for a fit adult - but for a 3 yo it would be horrible. (BTW what are you doing w/ you luggage while on the tour bus?)

janisj : thank you for comments
I agree. I can think of taking next day morning flight to burbank (stay back in SF on sept1 night).
Reg : Luggage, I was planning to check out and request hotel to put it in lock room (or similar place). What do you think?

oh - oops - I somehow missed the Aug 31 arrival. I Yes you probably can leave your bags at the hotel.

1+ day in SF is OK - but still pretty hectic. I'd still urge you to leave San Francisco for a trip where you can spend at least 3 or 4 days.

I agree, it will be hectic, but anyways, we are taking a full day rest at Pasedena, and hope that, it should be ok for us.
Now, I am aware that, LV will be very warm during that time, how about SF,LA area?

Any suggestion on transport from SFO to hotel (I have not yet finalised on hotel, but any general recommendations), hotel to ferry?

Btw, the rate for Chelsea Motor Inn, for 1 night is USD 125 !. Is this reasonable deal?

Transport SFO to the city: The supershuttle (shared ride van service) is $16.00/pp. I paid $36 plus tip for a taxi from the airport to the city when I was in San Fran in February.

I don't know if there is any less expensive bus service.

San Francisco is a very expensive city. I'd say $125 for a hotel would be a very good deal for a hotel that's been recommended here by others as being a decent hotel in a decent location.

Thanks for the inputs swaymock.

Hi bond007 -

FYI - I was in Vegas last week (June 13 -16), and it was 100 degrees at midnight ones of those nights. During the day it was approx 105. I assume that early Sept will be the same if not warmer. Bring some sunscreen from home b/c I paid $11 for a small bottle (although, well worth it)!

Have a wonderful trip!!!

Thank you very much jcb.
How was you trip? any particular hotel suggestion?

I can see that you're trying to see as much as you possibly can in a short period of time but I'm afraid you're going to end up hot, tired and miserable after your very ambitious schedule.

As far as weather, Las Vegas at that time of year will be in the 100+ range, Pasadena and Los Angeles can both be in the high 90's. Ditto for Disneyland. Your best weather will be in San Francisco, probably in the low 80's.

If you're only going to be in San Francisco for the one day and just to take the bus tour, I'd recommend staying at a hotel/motel that is close to where the tour departs....cabs can be quite costly in San Francisco. Public transportation is available, tho.

Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood will show you a lot of traffic on the freeways and not much else unless you're planning to visit specific destinations.

If you're going to the theme parks, you should plan to get there as soon as they open (or even before they open) as the lines for attractions can be unbearably long. They will probably be quite crowded based on the dates you'll be there.

Since you want to see the fireworks at Disneyland, I'd suggest going early in the morning for the rides, going to the beach for the afternoon and early evening, and then returning to the park.

Like so many others, I really would recommend skipping Las Vegas....not much there to recommend it, especially with a 3-y.o. in tow.

I hope you have a wonderful trip and return home with good memories. I'm a native Californian and have lived half my life in the San Francisco Bay area and the other half in Southern California (currently in the Santa Barbara area). Our state has a tremendous amount of natural beauty and I hope you get a chance to see at least part of it.

marionkp : You just read my mind.
I will plan LV,depending on the energy left for us. If not possible, we will enjoy, as you said.
Thanks a lot for SF hotel tip. I will search, where it starts and look around for the hotel.
Regd : disney, I have to check, whether they have fireworks/laser show, after 3rd sept. I really dont want to miss that.

Bond0007- Also close to the Chelsea Motor Inn, is the Coventry Inn one of their sister hotels. You may want to check their rates also. I've stayed there, and the rooms are nice and clean: http://www.coventrymotorinn.com/

Here's another one of their properties I've seen highly rated: http://www.columbusmotorinn.com/index.htm

If you dump Las Vegas-which I still think you should-then DO come down to San Diego for one night. We have great-beaches and the best zoo in the world and Sea World.

trippinkpj : thanks for the inputs. I queried both these hotels, $135 per night. So, if you experts are saying thats fair deal for this hotel, and if this is convinient from airport / tour, I will go ahead with one. Thanks again.

Thank you Barbara for the invitation . I will try my best, with all these suggestions.

That sounded a little high to me for these hotels, though then I see that it's the Friday of labor day weekend. In that case, those are decent prices. Are you renting a car in San Francisco?

No, not planned.
Planning to take either taxi / bus from airport to hotel.
Next day, taxi/bus from hotel to tour point.
Taxi/bus from hotel back to airport.
Any suggestions !!!!

I will defer to people who have kids about this question, but I would think that going to Universal with a 3 year would not be very much fun. Most of the rides are adult-oriented (i.e. roller coasters and the studio tour) and the children's area is very small. I think you should get some opinions from people who actually have been to Universal with kids but when we were there, we didn't see many kids under the age of 5 or 6. So, I would drop your day in Universal and spend an extra day in San Francisco.