First visit to the West Coast - flying into SFO where do I start?
Sep 23rd, 2019, 07:30 AM
#61
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There are 3 levels of chain controls and if you can rent a 4WD/AWD, you're exempt from R1 and R2 https://dot.ca.gov/travel/winter-driving-tips/chain-controls Often the road will be closed if it gets worse than R2.
I'd be happy to take a look. Pacific Grove passed Measure M last year and short term rentals in residential zones will sunset in 2020. Going forward, they'll only be allowed in coastal and commercial zones. While the sunset date is in May, some owners may choose not to renew their license before that date. Here's a map showing where the coastal (blue) and commercial (yellow) zones are Map Pacific Grove Neighbors United - Short Term Rentals Initiative
To get the Big Little Lies view, you'd have to be in Carmel Highlands (though much of it was actually filmed in southern CA) where houses are along the cliff in unincorporated Monterey County. County still hasn't come up with a short term rental ordinance despite working on it for 5 years. Tickle Pink Inn and Hyatt Carmel Highlands will put you in the neighborhood.
I'd be happy to take a look. Pacific Grove passed Measure M last year and short term rentals in residential zones will sunset in 2020. Going forward, they'll only be allowed in coastal and commercial zones. While the sunset date is in May, some owners may choose not to renew their license before that date. Here's a map showing where the coastal (blue) and commercial (yellow) zones are Map Pacific Grove Neighbors United - Short Term Rentals Initiative
To get the Big Little Lies view, you'd have to be in Carmel Highlands (though much of it was actually filmed in southern CA) where houses are along the cliff in unincorporated Monterey County. County still hasn't come up with a short term rental ordinance despite working on it for 5 years. Tickle Pink Inn and Hyatt Carmel Highlands will put you in the neighborhood.
Sep 23rd, 2019, 08:36 AM
#62
There are properly permitted B&Bs in Pacific Grove, leaving aside the Airbnb ones. I've only ever stayed at Asilomar since I don't need to fit so many people and like the historic dorm rooms.
EG Andril Cottages
Andril Cottages Pacific Grove
For Yosemite, difficult to find anything for 4 people at all, other than the overpriced Ahwahnee. Camp Curry tent cabins require using the shared toilet blocks, which are often unpleasant. If you get lucky there is the "Stoneman Cottage" which is a motel at Camp Curry. Might have to call them and see if they can find anything on your days. I think it's worthwhile to stay in the Valley if for no other reason than you get parking with your lodging.
I found the Ahwahnee breakfast tremendously disappointing. The service wasn't much better. I think just have a drink.
EG Andril Cottages
Andril Cottages Pacific Grove
For Yosemite, difficult to find anything for 4 people at all, other than the overpriced Ahwahnee. Camp Curry tent cabins require using the shared toilet blocks, which are often unpleasant. If you get lucky there is the "Stoneman Cottage" which is a motel at Camp Curry. Might have to call them and see if they can find anything on your days. I think it's worthwhile to stay in the Valley if for no other reason than you get parking with your lodging.
I found the Ahwahnee breakfast tremendously disappointing. The service wasn't much better. I think just have a drink.
Last edited by mlgb; Sep 23rd, 2019 at 08:59 AM.
Sep 23rd, 2019, 09:19 AM
#63
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Asilomar also has 4 cottages available. I believe you need to call to book these https://www.visitasilomar.com/lodgin...g-at-asilomar/
That reminds me, there's one stand alone cabin with a fireplace at Camp Curry. It's 819 behind the Stoneman building https://www.travelyosemite.com/media/524862/half-dome-village_property-map_web.jpg I don't think it's bookable online either. They don't even mention it on their website. Friends lucked into it by calling.
That reminds me, there's one stand alone cabin with a fireplace at Camp Curry. It's 819 behind the Stoneman building https://www.travelyosemite.com/media/524862/half-dome-village_property-map_web.jpg I don't think it's bookable online either. They don't even mention it on their website. Friends lucked into it by calling.
Sep 23rd, 2019, 10:05 AM
#64
Yes it would be amazing to get one of those Asilomar Cottages. I hesitate to recommend the modern larger hotel rooms at Asilomar, without having stayed in them. There have been many reports of them being in poor repair. A shame because the midcentury modern ones by Warnecke should be designated in their own right.
Here's an article on them. We visited them shortly after they were built since my father had worked with Warnecke elsewhere.
https://tefarch.wordpress.com/2018/0...bridget-maley/
Here's an article on them. We visited them shortly after they were built since my father had worked with Warnecke elsewhere.
https://tefarch.wordpress.com/2018/0...bridget-maley/
Sep 23rd, 2019, 07:53 PM
#65
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The kid would likely enjoy the indoor, San Francisco themed miniature golf place Urban Putt. Has a bar, serves food, you may need to wrestle that Apple device away so they don’t insist on taking selfies for Instagram. More cool young adult than teenybopper.
https://www.urbanputt.com/
Golden Gate Park is a must see. Not overrated at all.
Alcatraz isn’t overrated, exactly. In some respects it is. But if you have a genuine interest, it more than lives up to expectations. I just wouldn’t say it’s a “must see”, because it might take time away from something else.
I like the Wharf okay—not enough to rave about it—but one of the highlights is an antique arcade/ mechanical musical instrument “museum”. One of the largest privately owned collections in the world. Life before Apple, come prepared to spend quarters. It’s very enjoyable.
Musée Mécanique - San Francisco's Antique Penny Arcade
one of my favorite breakfast/pastry spots was Craftsman and wolves. I have tried to recreate their egg muffin to no avail.
https://www.craftsman-wolves.com/
If you like japanese confectionary:
https://www.kitchoan.com/
Big sur. If you like unique lodging:
Treebones Resort ? Glamping in Big Sur
also, hostelling international has two lighthouse hostels along near SF.
Big Sur Lodge isn’t “unique”, but the location makes it so.
Yosemite: stay in the valley. I’d choose the Ahwahnee. It’s overpriced, to be sure, but you’re paying for the location. ALL of the Yosemite lodging is overpriced.
I love Carmel. If you’re into golf, go for one of the fabulous courses. I wish I had. Monterey is the sort of underwhelming touristy town you’ll want to avoid, though. Except that the aquarium is fantastic and a must see.
To be frank, I enjoyed gold rush country A LOT more than Yosemite. Yosemite is great, and the scenery is awe inspiring, but honestly, the crowds get to me. However, I’ve never been as early as April.
I love LA. Hate most of the tourist stuff, but it’s a really cool city. SD is fun too. I think SoCal is worth a few days since you’ve got a teen. Completely different experience than SF.
In the the opposite direction, for more nature, the Redwoods are hands down one of my favorite NP areas. Have no lodging recommendations, though, as I’ve always camped. The “kitschy” stops are completely worth it. Old time road trip feel.
https://www.urbanputt.com/
Golden Gate Park is a must see. Not overrated at all.
Alcatraz isn’t overrated, exactly. In some respects it is. But if you have a genuine interest, it more than lives up to expectations. I just wouldn’t say it’s a “must see”, because it might take time away from something else.
I like the Wharf okay—not enough to rave about it—but one of the highlights is an antique arcade/ mechanical musical instrument “museum”. One of the largest privately owned collections in the world. Life before Apple, come prepared to spend quarters. It’s very enjoyable.
Musée Mécanique - San Francisco's Antique Penny Arcade
one of my favorite breakfast/pastry spots was Craftsman and wolves. I have tried to recreate their egg muffin to no avail.
https://www.craftsman-wolves.com/
If you like japanese confectionary:
https://www.kitchoan.com/
Big sur. If you like unique lodging:
Treebones Resort ? Glamping in Big Sur
also, hostelling international has two lighthouse hostels along near SF.
Big Sur Lodge isn’t “unique”, but the location makes it so.
Yosemite: stay in the valley. I’d choose the Ahwahnee. It’s overpriced, to be sure, but you’re paying for the location. ALL of the Yosemite lodging is overpriced.
I love Carmel. If you’re into golf, go for one of the fabulous courses. I wish I had. Monterey is the sort of underwhelming touristy town you’ll want to avoid, though. Except that the aquarium is fantastic and a must see.
To be frank, I enjoyed gold rush country A LOT more than Yosemite. Yosemite is great, and the scenery is awe inspiring, but honestly, the crowds get to me. However, I’ve never been as early as April.
I love LA. Hate most of the tourist stuff, but it’s a really cool city. SD is fun too. I think SoCal is worth a few days since you’ve got a teen. Completely different experience than SF.
In the the opposite direction, for more nature, the Redwoods are hands down one of my favorite NP areas. Have no lodging recommendations, though, as I’ve always camped. The “kitschy” stops are completely worth it. Old time road trip feel.
Sep 23rd, 2019, 08:41 PM
#66
>> Yosemite is great, and the scenery is awe inspiring, but honestly, the crowds get to me. However, I’ve never been as early as April.
Honestly, the only time crowds are a problem are between Memorial day and late August/Labor Day - and they can be horrible then. I have been to Yosemite in every month of the year except July and January. Several times each in December, Feb, and May. I avoid summer entirely if possible. My favorites are December, May and October, with April close behind.
Honestly, the only time crowds are a problem are between Memorial day and late August/Labor Day - and they can be horrible then. I have been to Yosemite in every month of the year except July and January. Several times each in December, Feb, and May. I avoid summer entirely if possible. My favorites are December, May and October, with April close behind.
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Sep 30th, 2019, 11:21 PM
#67
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The story so far
Sun 5th April Land SFO 15:35 stay city centre booked Hotel Kabuki
Monday 6th SF do very little in city centre
Tuesday 7th SF open to ideas for city centre
Wednesday 8th SF drive to Monterey house rental not booked
Thursdays 9th Monterey area
Friday 10th Monterey area
Saturday 11th Monterey area
Sunday 12th drive to Yosemite stay in the Stoneman Lodge Curry Village , arrive late this is booked
Monday 13th Yosemite all day
Tuesday 14th Yosemite all day leave late stay somewhere on the way to Bodgea Bay not booked
Wednesday 15th Finish drive to Bodega Bay have rented a house there : booked
Thursday 16th Bodega Bay
Friday 17th Boedgea Bay
Saturday drive back up to SFO flight back at 17:30.
We decided to stay in the centre of Yosemite, I don’t want to look a the accommodation again because the more I look, the worst it gets. Paid $320 a night and there are very few rooms left, this is approaching the costs of the luxury lodge we had on a game reserve in South Africa.
After initial burst of enthusiasm around the sites/sights of Northern California we are getting dragged down by the accommodation. We knew the pound is currently worthless, we knew that the SF property market is inflated but translate the two and we are struggling to find anything for less than $500 a night which compared to France and Italy is a huge amount.
It doesn’t help that some of the towns have controlled short term rentals. They seem to have beeneither banned or severely restricted. Which leaves the units that have a licence for stays of less than a month, for more than two people to be inflated. If you then discount the units that haven’t even heard of Ikea and last had a lick of paint in the 1970s then it’s hard work.
We we really don’t like the look of the hotels in Monterey and find their quoting policy laughable. One started at $300 a night, by the time you add resort fees (no idea what they are), local taxes, extra beds, breakfast, state taxes .....and the rest, the cost was $650. In the U.K. if you see and advert for a family room at £300 a night , you pay that.
That leaves us with house rentals and we are struggling to find anything for less than $600 a night which is adequate. There are ones in Seaside but we have looked on google maps and we really don’t like the look of that area.
Falling out of love with Monterey before we have even arrived in the place.
Sun 5th April Land SFO 15:35 stay city centre booked Hotel Kabuki
Monday 6th SF do very little in city centre
Tuesday 7th SF open to ideas for city centre
Wednesday 8th SF drive to Monterey house rental not booked
Thursdays 9th Monterey area
Friday 10th Monterey area
Saturday 11th Monterey area
Sunday 12th drive to Yosemite stay in the Stoneman Lodge Curry Village , arrive late this is booked
Monday 13th Yosemite all day
Tuesday 14th Yosemite all day leave late stay somewhere on the way to Bodgea Bay not booked
Wednesday 15th Finish drive to Bodega Bay have rented a house there : booked
Thursday 16th Bodega Bay
Friday 17th Boedgea Bay
Saturday drive back up to SFO flight back at 17:30.
We decided to stay in the centre of Yosemite, I don’t want to look a the accommodation again because the more I look, the worst it gets. Paid $320 a night and there are very few rooms left, this is approaching the costs of the luxury lodge we had on a game reserve in South Africa.
After initial burst of enthusiasm around the sites/sights of Northern California we are getting dragged down by the accommodation. We knew the pound is currently worthless, we knew that the SF property market is inflated but translate the two and we are struggling to find anything for less than $500 a night which compared to France and Italy is a huge amount.
It doesn’t help that some of the towns have controlled short term rentals. They seem to have beeneither banned or severely restricted. Which leaves the units that have a licence for stays of less than a month, for more than two people to be inflated. If you then discount the units that haven’t even heard of Ikea and last had a lick of paint in the 1970s then it’s hard work.
We we really don’t like the look of the hotels in Monterey and find their quoting policy laughable. One started at $300 a night, by the time you add resort fees (no idea what they are), local taxes, extra beds, breakfast, state taxes .....and the rest, the cost was $650. In the U.K. if you see and advert for a family room at £300 a night , you pay that.
That leaves us with house rentals and we are struggling to find anything for less than $600 a night which is adequate. There are ones in Seaside but we have looked on google maps and we really don’t like the look of that area.
Falling out of love with Monterey before we have even arrived in the place.
Last edited by BritishCaicos; Sep 30th, 2019 at 11:32 PM.
Oct 1st, 2019, 01:59 AM
#68
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Sorry , I actually forgot the question.
We have a floating spare day.
This could be Saturday night, we could spend either just outside Yosemite prior to spending a full day in the park on Sunday and then staying in the valley on Sunday / Monday night. This lets us have two full days in the valley (Sunday/Monday) and then leave very early Tuesday to spend a night in say Napa then onto BB.
or
We spend Saturday night in Monterey arrive Yosemite Valley mid afternoon on Sunday, spend all day Monday / Tuesday there and then head off to Bodega Bay late afternoon to arrive Bodega Bay very late Tuesday and then spend three full days there.
I’m edging towards option 1 as if we do 2, then we will probably want to back track to Napa for a day from B.B. which is a 80 mile round trip wasted.
(now given up worrying about cost of accommodation, just paying it)
We have a floating spare day.
This could be Saturday night, we could spend either just outside Yosemite prior to spending a full day in the park on Sunday and then staying in the valley on Sunday / Monday night. This lets us have two full days in the valley (Sunday/Monday) and then leave very early Tuesday to spend a night in say Napa then onto BB.
or
We spend Saturday night in Monterey arrive Yosemite Valley mid afternoon on Sunday, spend all day Monday / Tuesday there and then head off to Bodega Bay late afternoon to arrive Bodega Bay very late Tuesday and then spend three full days there.
I’m edging towards option 1 as if we do 2, then we will probably want to back track to Napa for a day from B.B. which is a 80 mile round trip wasted.
(now given up worrying about cost of accommodation, just paying it)
Oct 1st, 2019, 05:37 AM
#69
Murphys. Want history? Done. Wine? You betcha. Big trees? Short ride up SR4. Stop in Columbia CA on the way to/from Yosemite. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/ksQjyG1AKhWf6x7AA
https://www.gocalaveras.com/travel-d...reet-wineries/
(Not my pictures)
Murphys -
Columbia
Calaveras Big Trees SP
https://www.gocalaveras.com/travel-d...reet-wineries/
(Not my pictures)
Murphys -
Columbia
Calaveras Big Trees SP
Oct 1st, 2019, 06:24 AM
#70
Those prices are insane and the resort fee is scam B.S. that a lot of people hate.
On our trip two years ago we stayed in Murphys based on recommendations received here, and enjoyed it a lot. Good luck.
On our trip two years ago we stayed in Murphys based on recommendations received here, and enjoyed it a lot. Good luck.
Oct 1st, 2019, 09:09 AM
#71
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I like the idea of staying in the foothills. You could visit Calaveras Big Trees from Murphys.
Pinnacles NP is beautiful in spring but there's only a campsite inside the park. Closest accommodation to the east entrance would be in the town of Hollister.
If you're noise sensitive, try to get a room facing away from the shuttle stop in front of the Stoneman building. If it's snowing, here's another option to enter Yosemite https://yarts.com/routes-and-schedules/merced-hwy-140/
Unfortunately this is a high cost area. Del Rey Oaks also has legal vacation rentals. It borders Monterey and Seaside. Downtown Carmel has 37 short term rental permits but some owners have opted to rent long term instead. These are mostly (maybe all) second floor apartments above businesses. Some inns in Carmel with multiple room suites - Carmel Country Inn, Ocean View Lodge (has kitchens), Adobe Inn.
Another option might be to stay in Carmel Valley - Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley Ranch, Bernardus Lodge. Carmel Valley Lodge is supposed to be doing some remodeling but I haven't been there. Vacation rentals are legal in the inland zone of unincorporated Monterey County which includes Carmel Valley. Holman Ranch has a two bedroom cottage https://www.holmanranch.com/portfolio-item/guest-rooms/ The property is mostly used for weddings/events. I've stayed there as a wine club member.
Pinnacles NP is beautiful in spring but there's only a campsite inside the park. Closest accommodation to the east entrance would be in the town of Hollister.
If you're noise sensitive, try to get a room facing away from the shuttle stop in front of the Stoneman building. If it's snowing, here's another option to enter Yosemite https://yarts.com/routes-and-schedules/merced-hwy-140/
Unfortunately this is a high cost area. Del Rey Oaks also has legal vacation rentals. It borders Monterey and Seaside. Downtown Carmel has 37 short term rental permits but some owners have opted to rent long term instead. These are mostly (maybe all) second floor apartments above businesses. Some inns in Carmel with multiple room suites - Carmel Country Inn, Ocean View Lodge (has kitchens), Adobe Inn.
Another option might be to stay in Carmel Valley - Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley Ranch, Bernardus Lodge. Carmel Valley Lodge is supposed to be doing some remodeling but I haven't been there. Vacation rentals are legal in the inland zone of unincorporated Monterey County which includes Carmel Valley. Holman Ranch has a two bedroom cottage https://www.holmanranch.com/portfolio-item/guest-rooms/ The property is mostly used for weddings/events. I've stayed there as a wine club member.
Last edited by Patty; Oct 1st, 2019 at 09:26 AM.
Oct 1st, 2019, 10:58 AM
#72
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Nelson
yes, insane. I’m not sure I have encountered this before. In some of the the very high cost places we have visited, land costs aren’t as high. The living costs in Norway, Iceland and Australia were very high but in all three we found really good quality rentals for reasonable prices. I’ve just looked at the tiny, historic houses in Pacific Grove and they do sell for $1m plus.
Patty
thanks, we had looked at Seaside but it didn’t look like an area for us. We are sorted! I hadn’t looked on VRBO , haven’t used it for years but they have a good selection. Much better than AirBnB or HomeAway, We’ve booked a very stylish, old style townhouse in Pacific Grove, two bedroom with a SEA VIEW for an acceptable price. Very relieved and we have been given the licence number.
Others have mentioned Murphy and I’m not sure, thanks for the photos Gardy but it looks a little bit like the John Wayne films and I’m not sure that’s us. We are going to try to find a nice historic B&B in Napa/ Sonoma and the Tuesday night for one night for less than a “suitcase of cash” a night.
yes, insane. I’m not sure I have encountered this before. In some of the the very high cost places we have visited, land costs aren’t as high. The living costs in Norway, Iceland and Australia were very high but in all three we found really good quality rentals for reasonable prices. I’ve just looked at the tiny, historic houses in Pacific Grove and they do sell for $1m plus.
Patty
thanks, we had looked at Seaside but it didn’t look like an area for us. We are sorted! I hadn’t looked on VRBO , haven’t used it for years but they have a good selection. Much better than AirBnB or HomeAway, We’ve booked a very stylish, old style townhouse in Pacific Grove, two bedroom with a SEA VIEW for an acceptable price. Very relieved and we have been given the licence number.
Others have mentioned Murphy and I’m not sure, thanks for the photos Gardy but it looks a little bit like the John Wayne films and I’m not sure that’s us. We are going to try to find a nice historic B&B in Napa/ Sonoma and the Tuesday night for one night for less than a “suitcase of cash” a night.
Oct 1st, 2019, 11:08 AM
#73
>>We are going to try to find a nice historic B&B in Napa/ Sonoma and the Tuesday night for one night for less than a “suitcase of cash” a night.>yes, insane. I’m not sure I have encountered this before . . . .
Oct 1st, 2019, 11:48 AM
#74
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Glad you found something in PG!
Murphys has become more of a wine town and the wineries in this area are very low key https://www.calaveraswines.org/
Murphys has become more of a wine town and the wineries in this area are very low key https://www.calaveraswines.org/
Oct 1st, 2019, 12:05 PM
#75
Glad you found something in PG!
Murphys has become more of a wine town and the wineries in this area are very low key https://www.calaveraswines.org/
Murphys has become more of a wine town and the wineries in this area are very low key https://www.calaveraswines.org/
Yes -- more wineries, vineyards, dining, art shops and redwoods than John Wayne.
Oct 1st, 2019, 01:35 PM
#76
The John Wayne scene is from the museum town of Columbia, not Murphys. The whole gold country in the spring is quite wonderful - rushing rivers, wildflowers, wineries, historic buildings... really not that much tourist kitsch at all, and what there is is quite tasteful for the most part.
But if you can't have kitsch in California, where CAN you have it? Orlando it ain't.
But if you can't have kitsch in California, where CAN you have it? Orlando it ain't.
Nov 19th, 2019, 11:49 AM
#77
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Thanks everyone for your help.
We have booked the following , please don’t pull it apart as I’m feeling very tender as to how much work we have put into this and the hassle we have had on the way.
Land SFO Sunday 5th April
5th Hotel Kabuki - SF
6th same
7th Cottage rental - Monterey Bay
8th same
9th same
10th same
11th pick up RV just outside Yosemite no idea where to park it for the first night
12th unbelievably won the lottery and have an RV site in Yosemite : upper pines
13th nearly same : just a different pitch so have to move RV 200 yards
14th rental cottage Bodega Bay
15th same
16th same
17th fly home
observations :
Yosemite doesn’t seem to offer any easy answers. The hotels are way under standard for what they charge and the tent site (Curry Village) seems dire. That left us with the choice of a posh cottage rental with a long drive in or the option we took which is to rent a nice RV and park it in Yosemite.
The booking process for RV pitches in Yosemite is also dire. They are released like concert tickets ie 7am, 5 Months prior to the arrival date. You have to scrabble for what is out there, coping with a poor system which kicks you out and loses your payment details. We bagged two of the last pitches left for Easter weekend after throwing the iPad round the room in frustration.
Final observation: VRBO have lost the plot and are struggling to operate even their basic systems
Air BnB seem on the ball.
Janis
You were right , the hotel market in SF is more like the roulette wheel in Monte Carlo. We found reasonable room rates for many hotels only to find unbelievable price hikes for different nights within our stay. Some hotels were $300 for nights 1 and 3 but $1000 for night 2 ...etc.
in the end decided to spend more time in Monterey and Bodega Bay (and the wine region) which is far more us.
Now back to binge watching Big Little Lies to understand the social fabric of the areas we are visiting.
ps My wife didn’t like the look of the Bodega Bay Lodge , I have no idea why....we have only been married 25 and a half years!
We have booked the following , please don’t pull it apart as I’m feeling very tender as to how much work we have put into this and the hassle we have had on the way.
Land SFO Sunday 5th April
5th Hotel Kabuki - SF
6th same
7th Cottage rental - Monterey Bay
8th same
9th same
10th same
11th pick up RV just outside Yosemite no idea where to park it for the first night
12th unbelievably won the lottery and have an RV site in Yosemite : upper pines
13th nearly same : just a different pitch so have to move RV 200 yards
14th rental cottage Bodega Bay
15th same
16th same
17th fly home
observations :
Yosemite doesn’t seem to offer any easy answers. The hotels are way under standard for what they charge and the tent site (Curry Village) seems dire. That left us with the choice of a posh cottage rental with a long drive in or the option we took which is to rent a nice RV and park it in Yosemite.
The booking process for RV pitches in Yosemite is also dire. They are released like concert tickets ie 7am, 5 Months prior to the arrival date. You have to scrabble for what is out there, coping with a poor system which kicks you out and loses your payment details. We bagged two of the last pitches left for Easter weekend after throwing the iPad round the room in frustration.
Final observation: VRBO have lost the plot and are struggling to operate even their basic systems
Air BnB seem on the ball.
Janis
You were right , the hotel market in SF is more like the roulette wheel in Monte Carlo. We found reasonable room rates for many hotels only to find unbelievable price hikes for different nights within our stay. Some hotels were $300 for nights 1 and 3 but $1000 for night 2 ...etc.
in the end decided to spend more time in Monterey and Bodega Bay (and the wine region) which is far more us.
Now back to binge watching Big Little Lies to understand the social fabric of the areas we are visiting.
ps My wife didn’t like the look of the Bodega Bay Lodge , I have no idea why....we have only been married 25 and a half years!
Nov 19th, 2019, 01:02 PM
#78
OK -- won't pull it apart . . . but one teensy possible fly in the ointment. You will have to check out of one pitch in the morning and probably won't have access to the 2nd pitch until late afternoon and will have to park somewhere else in the meantime. Unless the RV is non-refundable, I'd really REALLY consider renting a place in Yosemite West. It is about a 20 minute drive from the Valley floor
Nov 19th, 2019, 01:37 PM
#79
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It's likely that you will be able to find a cancellation for your first night after you pick up the RV. Start looking two or three weeks before the date. Also, as long as the people in your next night's site have already left you will be able to move there even if it's before check-in time. Campers often leave well before checkout time.
But, I agree with janis that it would really be better if you stayed in Yosemite West and forgot about the RV. You could get an AirBnb for three nights and not have to worry about stocking the RV, dumping, etc.
Also, I'm sure you were joking about Big Little Lies, but just so you know, it was set in Australia in the book, not Monterey.
But, I agree with janis that it would really be better if you stayed in Yosemite West and forgot about the RV. You could get an AirBnb for three nights and not have to worry about stocking the RV, dumping, etc.
Also, I'm sure you were joking about Big Little Lies, but just so you know, it was set in Australia in the book, not Monterey.
Nov 19th, 2019, 02:32 PM
#80
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,981
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"The hotels are way under standard for what they charge"
Not sure what you are using for comparison, but Yosemite Lodge has 3 things going for it that your comps probably don't.
Location
Location
Location
If you can get rooms you'd avoid a lot of hassles, including needing to find a 1st night RV site, dump your own waste tank, hot showers as long as you want, and peace and quiet that comes with 4 walls.
Be aware that many RV rentals do NOT come with things like linens or dishes so be sure to enquire about a full package for whatever you need.
Not sure what you are using for comparison, but Yosemite Lodge has 3 things going for it that your comps probably don't.
Location
Location
Location
If you can get rooms you'd avoid a lot of hassles, including needing to find a 1st night RV site, dump your own waste tank, hot showers as long as you want, and peace and quiet that comes with 4 walls.
Be aware that many RV rentals do NOT come with things like linens or dishes so be sure to enquire about a full package for whatever you need.
