We are a family of 6 adults and 6 children rangeing form 11,8( ,2) - 6yrs, 4 & 3.
We have just booked airfares and are coming over in May, 2013 and would like help with our trip. We are looking at going to L.A. (universal studio etc,) then to Anaheim( Disneyland) , San Diego & then to Las Vegas hoping to go by GCray. We have between allow 18 - 19 days.

What exactly do you wish to receive assistance about?

Have you done any research yourself? I hear there's a good guidebook, called Fodor's that might help you get started.

If you belong to AAA, they have a ton of info and maps to your delight.

BTW: what the heck is GCray?

I would rent a 12 passenger or larger van. I also would tell your party "one bag each ONLY".

I imagine GCray was meant to be Grand Canyon.

Yes Gcray meant Grand Canyon - (Bad Spelling) sorry.
Just wanted some suggest on what route we should do as we have the six children. Yes I have done some research & was hoping for a little extra help.
Thanks for your replys

Fleeto, I repeat my question -- what EXACTLY do you want advice about? The best route from L.A. to Anaheim to avoid traffic? From Anaheim to San Diego? From San Diego to Las Vegas? From the Grand Canyon back to L.A.?

Or would you like some advice on the order in which to see these, so as to minimize travel time?

What is your criteria for "best?" Fastest? Most scenic? Least likely to have traffic problems? Most likely to have available rest stops?

Our replies will be a LOT more useful if you simply phrase your question in the form of an EXACT question.

fleeto:

I see from your other thread that you are flying in from Australia.

1) Are you flying into and leaving for home from LA?
2) How much time you want to spend in each location?
3) Do you want information on car/van hire?
4) Do you want suggestions on lodging?
5) More information on the route, fastest etc.

I love this site for San Diego http://www.sandieg.org

You will have a fabulous holiday.

Sandy

Try http://www.sandiego.org

What are your interests, beside the amusement parks and the Grand Canyon?

With small kids, I would skip Las Vegas. There is almost nothing for little kids to do there.

You'll need either two vehicles or a 15-passenger van for your group. I like Rastaguytoday's recommendation that each of you take only one suitcase. Just plan on doing laundry while you're here.

Lee Ann

Thanks for your replies.

Yes I was looking for some advice - which would be the best route we were thingking when we fly into L.A. have a few days there in LA (universal Studios, Rodeo Rd etc) where is the Best place to stay - then to Anaheim for the Kids
say 6 - 7days would love to go to a baseball match - then the best route to San Diego (Seaworld & zoo) The parents may take a bus tour to Mexcio - then on to the Grand canyon, then to Las Vergas for the Big Kids(adults). We are flying out of Las Vegas to go to Hawaii for a rest.

Would like some help with Lodging, should we get one car (15 people} or 2 8 seaters.

I will go on the site for San Diego.

Thanks again

> would love to go to a baseball match

You are in luck -- there are three baseball teams in the areas you will visiting: Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (yes, that's their name -- doesn't make a lot of sense to me, either). If you go to each team's URL (easily found with an internet search), you'll find their respective schedule, as well as which tickets are available. May should be a perfect time to see a ball game in Southern California.

Anaheim to San Diego doesn't offer a lot of choices -- you'll have to take I-5 south.

> The parents may take a bus tour to Mexcio

There is NOTHING in Tijuana that is worth the danger of violence when you cross the border. Here the official U.S. State Department communique: "Turf battles between criminal groups proliferated and resulted in numerous assassinations in areas of Tijuana frequented by U.S. citizens."
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...w/tw_5665.html
Safety conditions may well improve there in the next year but, even if they do, there's still a kazillion places I'd recommend for California visitors over Tijuana.

There's no way to drive to the Grand Canyon from the California coast without going through a LOT of dry, dull, hot desert -- including LONG stretches without ANY places to stop. I just CAN'T recommend trying to do so in one day with three young children in a car, as such a trip would be barely do-able with a couple of adults. Problem is, there's really no city I can recommend for a stop between the coast and the GC. Just accept that it's going to be an unpleasant drive, and then give thanks if it isn't.

The route I would recommend from San Diego (and others may have better ideas) would be north on Interstate 15, which goes from SD to Barstow, then east on I-40 into Arizona. NOTE that the drive between Barstow and Needles will be EXCEEDINGLY devoid of services, so prepare well! Continue east on I-40 to Williams, then north on Highway 64 to the GC. When heading to Vegas, back-track west on I-40 to Kingman, then northwest on US Highway 93 into Vegas.

You want to see some highlights. What other things are you interested. You'll be able to read about the highlights in any guidebook.

Do you have a particular interest? There are interesting things to see in California and the desert that are just weird or wonderful.

Why anyone wants to go to Tijuana is beyond me. I've lived in San Diego most of my life and even before it came with warnings it's been a rat trap. Don't go there.

About the cars. You'll almost certainly need to rent 2 SUVs. You'll be limited in what you can rent for 8 passengers, 16 person van might not be possible.

Remember that each passenger will need selt belt. Each child under 8 will need a car or booster seat. It's the law.

fleeto:

Lodging:

Tell us your budget. Will the adults and children be sharing? If so you may want to look at suite hotels. Often great value when the breakfast etc. is included. Do you want a pool etc. You get the idea. It won't take long for people to make suggestions.

Also post hotels you may be considering for opinions.

Hotel reviews at htpp://www.tripadvisor.com

Sandy

www.mlb.com for baseball teams. 2013 schedules won't be available for a few months, though.

Don't go to Tijuana for all the reasons mentioned so far.

Lee Ann

Sandy,

Re Lodging: 3stars, 2 adults and 2 children or six to a room where possible incl. breakfast would be great, with adjoing rooms - pool in all would be great also.

We won't being going to Tijuana now will take everyones advice.
Lynne

Lynne:

Places we have stayed in San Diego, CA each with their own perks.

Homewood Suites by Hilton, located at 2576 Laning Road htpp://www.homewoodsuites.hilton.com - this hotel is close to San Diego airport but that never bothered us. Free parking, small kitchen, full breakfast each day, light meal in the evening M-T, laundry facilities on premises, swimming pool. Nice park, playground within walking distance. Grocery store and restaurants all close by.

Ocean Park Inn, 710 Grand Avenue htpp://www.oceanparkinn.com this hotel is directly across from the beach, complimentary continental breakfast, underground parking. Quite a lively area.

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs 1370 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard htpp://www.innatsunsetcliffs.com Free parking, no direct access to the beach but you can easily walk along the cliffs into Ocean Beach. You would want to go for a unit with kitchen. I got the best rates by phone rather than internet.

With your large group you may also want to look at renting a house if you are staying for a week in one place. Good places to look on htpp://www.homeaway.com and htpp://www.vrbo.com

You have a lot of planning to do and where to stay is a big part of your holiday. You may want to start another thread: Aussie family needs help with lodging LA, Anaheim, San Diego, Las Vegas - you can list the details in your post. size of family etc.

Sandy