Just wanted to thank everyone for their imput to our itinerary.
We have booked our flights.
We decided to land in San Fran and spend a couple of days there. We then make our way down to Los Angeles taking the coast road.

Spend 4 days in L.A. area including Disneyland and OC area.

We are driving out to Las Vegas and then onto the Grand CAnyon. We have allowed a day to drive out to LV, 2 days in LV 1/2day drive to Grand Canyon stay the night to see sunset and sunrise, then back to LV to catch a flight to New York the following day.
We have 6 days in New York then fly to Quebec city for Christmas.

I decided to leave NY on the 23rd Dec so we have extra time to get to QC if we encounter bad weather.We have 4 full days in QC (Husband would like to ski one day)

Travel by train to Toronto and visit Niagra Falls. Overnight At Falls then back to Torono to catch flight to Hawaii. One week in Hawaii then home.

Thanks again to all who helped. Now we start looking for accommodation!!!!!!!!
(Also now 6 people in our group as my sister and her husband have decided to join us)

Sounds like a good plan. Just be sure to get your plane tickets in plenty of tim and allow for airport delays. This and Thanksgiving are the busiest airport weekends of the year.

Dec 23rd will be a hugely busy day with tens of thousands of people flying (including kids flying home from school) for Christmas vacation

It all sounds lovely ...especially Quebec City for a white Christmas and a week in Hawaii to follow... seriously it sounds wonderful. I hope the weather cooperates fully and you enjoy the trip.

Do you have the budget for Chateaux Frontenac in QC? Which island in Hawaii?

Thanks for the replies.
We are looking at staying at Hotel Dominion in Quebec,as it has great reviews. In Hawaii we land in Honolulu.We are hoping to visit at least another island. I am thinking the Big Island to see the Volcano national park, but nothing is really planned yet.

I am looking at mixing the accommodation up with some budget places and some more expensive places, as we are away for 5 weeks, it all adds up. Hoping to get some good deals along the way. New York is our biggest problem at the moment, trying to decide what area to stay in and what type of accommodation.

If you want some help on a NYC hotel, how many are you and what are the exact NYC dates? In the past few years, prices dropped pretty dramatically around Dec. 18 but I'm not seeing that right now looking at some pricing. That could change as time passes.

On quikbook.com there's a special for the Affinia Dumont which is an apt/hotel (kitchenettes and some extra space) that gets quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com. For 2 people in a studio, all one big room, 6 nights from Dec. 17 are $1296 plus tax (15%). The catch is it's requires prepayment and there's no cancellation or change. On the hotel's own website (www.affinia.com) it's substantially more.

Thanks for the help.
We are in New York 16th Dec - 23rd Dec.
There are 6 people, with the combinations of a family of three, a family of two and a single. However there are several combinations that would work.ie.3 people in each room, 6 in a suite, 4 and 2 etc. So options are open.
I am looking at a variety of websites to try and get good deals.

Not sure when the best time to book would be. I have read the prices do come down around the 18th, but also don't want to leave things till the last minute and miss out.

What is the best time frame do you think?
Thanks

If you are looking for reasonable accommodation in San Francisco check out the Columbus Motor Inn. We are from New Zealand and stayed there for four nights a couple of weeks ago. It is only a couple of blocks to Fisherman's wharf where most of the tours originate, and also the Alcatraz cruise leaves from there. There is a bus stop right outside which can get you to Union Square for shopping. Also close to North Beach (which is not a beach) and Chinatown.

Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor, it is a reasonable price also. Breakfast is not included but there are cafes close by.

In New York we stayed at Radio City Apartments. The charge for a studio room was $ 155US per night. It is very popular and is located in the Theatre District. 5-10 minutes walk to most Broadway shows. Really close to Times Square and Rockerfeller Center. Subway stations nearby also.
You need to book now though for December. Again check out the reviews on Trip Advisor.

Hi there
Have just read your first posting and I also was exhausted. I am off next month, LA but only for one night, the west coast then SF for four nights, fly up to Quebec city, was there last year and absolutely loved it, can't wait to see it again, train to Ottawa, then Toronto another favourite city for six nights and I thought I was attempting too much. Then to visit friends in WV with three nights in Washington.
There are a lot of nice B & B's in Quebec City with a charm of their own, if you are mixing it up suggest there or/and Toronto and also if you are going to be in Niagara on the Lake, the best B & B's anywhere are surely there. A huge choice so check out some websites. Have a fabulous trip but I would very seriously take on board what other posters are saying about weather delays for that time of year.
DanB, loved your comment re Las Vegas.
You have a beautiful country.

Best wishes
Kathy

Thanks for the reply Kathy,
Hope your trip goes well. Have made several changes from the fist posting, so hope new itinerary is more managable.
Spent time last night looking at New York accommodation for the six of us.
Just trying to find something reasonably priced. Will look into Columbus Motor Inn.
Have a great trip

We were in Niagara last summer and stay in the heart of everything across from the falls. While the view was nice the area was full of cheap shops and attractions - there was a little artist community about 1/2 hour drive call Niagara on the Lake - we wished we stay there and drove to see the falls - so much more peaceful and romantic!! Just wanted to mention it just in case you hadn't booked your hotel yet.

Also if you visit wine country while in San Fran go to Oakville - our favorites are the Oakville Grocery (great lunch supplies), Cakebreak, Silver Oak, Plumpjack & Mondavi

On the way to LA take Highway 1 - it is several hours longer (maybe 3?) but it is one of the most beautiful drives along the ocean in the US - you could stop halfway and stay overnight (we usually stay someplace on Moonstone Beach in Cambria).

LV is also very crowded - we instead stayed in Sedona - incredible views of red rocks - great sunrises/sunsets - pink jeep rides were better than Disneyland - only a few hours from the Grand Canyon.

Thanks adnil1962. It is always great to hear other people's experiences.

When I said the prices in NYC come down around the 18th Dec., I in no way meant if you book that late. I meant, booking in advance, the prices are usually lower after the 18th !

Radio City apartments is a good idea but many of their larger rooms are already booked for part of your stay. Their website is radiocityapartments.com They do show opening for a studio apt. (like the Nelsonian described) for 2 people, but you'd need 3 of those ($600+/night). Sometimes when you phone, you may get different/more up to date info on availability.

There are some other hotels with 2 bedroom 2 bath apt/suites that would accomodate you all. In the Affinia group (www.affinia.com), 6 of their hotels have space, the cheapest being the Eastgate Tower. This hotel has spacious suites, is reasonably central. It's the least up to date of their group though. You might do the math b/c it may be cheaper to stay in 2 smaller suites than 1 big one.

Some other suite hotels that would have 2 bedrooms or smaller are the Salisbury, the Kimberly and Best Western Hospitality. The San Carlos is a very nice hotel with suites, but I think their largest is 1 bedroom.

Check quikbook.com and compare the Affinia prices. Sometimes it can be cheaper. Good luck!