tinalpool

Hey everyone
Bit last minute but me and my husband have managed to get 2 weeks off together starting 22nd May 2010.
We would really like to travel around California a bit with a trip up to Vegas.
We don't want to be driving too much so San Francisco and Arizona are out.
Some places we would like to go to are: universal studios, santa monica, big bear lake, vegas.
We would like to see Hollywood in a day but have been before and it's not the best place to stay a long time.

My idea was something like this:
LA - arrive - 1 night (as late flight, stay at airport hotel)
Santa Monica - 3 nights
Big bear lake - 3 nights
Las Vgeas - 5 nights
LA - 2 nights
Home

Anyone got any ideas - i.e better itinery that mine, hotels options, having a base rather than moving hotels. I know big bear is more of a winter place but I have been before and it was so nice.

Any help appreciated

Christina

spirobulldog

This would require a little bit of driving, but since you are driving to Vegas anyway. What about a couple of days in a National Park along the way. Yosemite, Sequoia, or Zion.

RBCal

5 nights in Vegas is 3 nights too many.

nanabee

I agree RBCal, I would also think about Lake Arrowhead in lieu of Big Bear. I think Lake Arrowhead is much nicer in the summer. I would stay at a resort or hotel that has access to the lake. If you are going to stay in Las Vegas for 5 nights I agree with spirobulldog to spend a couple days in Zion or Brice or maybe the Grand Canyon.

stumpworks73

Santa Monica is only a 30 minute drive from LAX. I would not change hotels for a 15 minute drive. Stay at Santa Monica starting the first night.

I agree that 5 nights in Vegas is too many. If you are doing the Hoover Dam trip and are spending one day away from the casinos then maybe 3 days at most.

Placename

I would exchange Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead for Laguna Beach or Newport Beach.

Too many nights in Las Vegas. Ugh.

sf7307

Have you been to Vegas before and KNOW you want to spend 5 nights there? If not, I have to agree with all the other posters -- 2 nights would be my limit (1 is actually more than enough for me).

RBCal

Laguna Beach and Newport Beach aren't much different from Santa Monica. I'd vote for Santa Barbara over them, at least they have the wine country.

tinalpool

Hi everyone
Thanks for all your replies, please keep them coming.
We go to Vegas quite a lot and have been known to spend 10 days before so 5 is great for us. It really is one of those places you either love it or you hate it.

Christina

janisj

OK - you know you want 5 nights in Vegas -- we'll quit harping on that one

But staying at LAX the first night really doesn't make much sense IMO. Santa Monica is very close to LAX and at night there wouldn't be much traffic to worry about. So I'd stay in Santa Monica instead.

I also think Lake Arrowhead would be better than Big Bear.

tinalpool

Hi everyone
Many thanks for all your help.
I think we will now start straight in Santa Monica and make that a base for most of the first week.
I too a look at Lake Arrowhead and it looks great so will have the weekend there, then onto Vegas.

Can anyone help with accomodation for 2 adults in Santa Monica and Lake Arrowhead???

Thanks

Christina

fairygemgirl

The place that place that is most often chosen for local conferences in Lake Arrowhead is the Lake Arrowhead Resort laresort.com It is on the lake and very close to the little shopping village. Lake Arrowhead also has a variety of bed and breakfasts that have interesting character, including a couple "haunted" places. One was reputedly Al Capone's mountain speakeasy and house of ill-repute. http://lakearrowheadbedandbreakfast.com/ I've heard good things about both Bracken Fern and Fleur de Lac.
Apples Bed and Breakfast and Northwoods Resort in Big Bear are both excellent if you change your mind and choose Big Bear over Lake Arrowhead. Big Bear is a bigger place, with more choices and more people (the plus and minus that it means.) You can check it out at http://www.bigbear.com/ Both places have a nice lake, fishing and a tour boat. Big Bear's boat (assuming it is still running) is a pirate ship. Have a good time.

dbdurand

Just one comment on Lake Arrowhead. As opposed to Big Bear, it's a private lake. So if you think you might want to go boating on the lake, make sure that wherever you stay includes lake privileges and, I suppose, availability of a rental boat.

Jean

If I'm understanding your plan, you'll be driving to Las Vegas on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. As long as you know Vegas is going to be a zoo....

easytraveler

What is your budget for hotels?

For Santa Monica where the hotels are more on the expensive side, I'd suggest staying just slightly south in Culver City. There's a Courtyard and a Sheraton Four Points, both have better prices and the parking fees are lower too.

FrankS

Ive just skimmed the replies, so excuse me if I repeat anything. Just some ideas.
1) For us flying to LV is much less than LAX. Since you are making that drive, make your 1st stop LV and that way you avoid the dreaded LAX airport hotel
2) If you go to LAX and its 'late' the drive to Santa Monica wont be bad if you feel up to it
3) 3 days in Big Bear? I dunno, I like Lake Arrowhead better too but since you are going to LV, why not consider Mammoth Lakes in between?
4) If you do Arrowhead or Big Bear, 2 nights will be plenty

My revision would be something like
1) 3 days Vegas
2) 3 days Mammoth Lakes
3) 6 Days Santa Monica(with option to split w/OC or San Diego)
4) 2 days Vegas

fairygemgirl

"We don't want to be driving too much"
Vegas to Mammoth is 5 1/2 hours driving.
Vegas to Big Bear (and Lake Arrowhead is closer) is 3 1/2 hours. And by the way, Big Bear is home to Kobe, Shirley Jones, Mark Harmon, Oscar de la Hoya and many other people who spend weeks/months there. Celebrities in Lake Arrowhead hide better or do fewer charitable community events.

nanabee

http://www.lacc.ucla.edu/

I would suggest you check out this resort. They are closed beginning the last week of June for the entire summer to the general public. But before and after they are open. They have boating privileges. I believe the arrange all meals.

nanabee

opps, the above link is for Lake Arrowhead.
We've been going there for 24 years and highly recommend it.

tinalpool

Thanks again for the other suggestions.
We are not too bothered being near the beach and as the hotels are a lot more expensive we are thinking of staying more west hollywood area as hotels look a lot nicer for the money.
We have a budget for around $100 a night!

Christina