over-excited about SF/CA
 

Hi there

My first post, so please forgive any mistakes. I'm planning my first trip to CA (my first to the US, in fact) and am absolutely wetting myself with anticipation :-) Arrive in SF on 5 November for 6 nights, thereafter looking to travel down for Highway 1 before taking a sharp left towards Bakersfield and Death Valley, eventually flying back from LV. We're on a relatively modest budget (about $100 per night for accommodation), and I was wondering about US motels. Are they generally OK? Are some chains better than others? Of course, any other recommendations about where to say in that prince range (e.g. B&Bs) would be very welcome. Thanks for helping out! Sam

Me again. Just to make things clearer, we have about 8 days to go down the coast and from LV back up to SF. I wouldn't mind spending a day or two in the Gold Country too, but only if we can squeeze it in.

I hate it when I wet myself.

Do you have any idea of the things that you want to see or what interests you? There is plenty to see and do between S.F. and the south on #1.

Carmel? Big Sur? Hearst Castle? Wine Country? Palm Springs?

Are you wanting to spend some time in Death Valley?

How many days do you want to stay in Vegas.

Are you interested in seeing Yosemite?

Are you flying from Vegas back to S.F.?

I could make some motel reccomedations if I knew where you were going to be staying.

Sounds like the bones to a great trip though.

-Bill

Hi there. I was thinking one night in Monterey, one night in Cambria - to take in Hearst Castle. I'm very keen to see the coast and the famous redwoods, but all from the comfort of a decent bolt-hole. Yosemite would be amazing but I'm hesitating on account of the weather (rain and snow doesn't appeal - I get enough of that here :-) ), which is why I was thinking of desert. I don't think we want to spend long on Las Vegas - maybe just one night. We're both about 35 and looking forward to experiencing some extreme American culture! But really, any advice would be invaluable.

Yes, we're flying back from Vegas to Oakland.

If the weather is nice, go to the Valley of Fire out of Las Vegas.

This might change our mind about Yosemite in the winter:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34614008

See the redwoods at Big Basin, biggest trees within 100 miles of SF, and on your way south. Tent cabins available there (with wood burning stoves) or stay about 10 miles south at the Brookdale Lodge. funky old resort with a creek running through the dining room.

Hampton Inns are very consistant in my experience. Moderate hotel rooms with a nice continental breakfast. They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and I've always been very satisfied with cleanliness, etc.

If you choose from the Holiday Inn group, the Holiday Inn Express or Select hotels are usually newer and offer a continental breakfast as well.

www.hamptoninn.com
www.ichotelgroup.com

Thanks for all your help so far - much appreciated. In your experience, can we realy on just turning up at motels, or do they also require booking ahead? Since we're travelling in November, I was sort of hoping that we wouldn't have to tie ourselves down to fixed dates, but I have a hunch that there's a public holiday around the 11th. Is that right?

Yosemite does look wonderful (-sigh-), but we'd have to get snow chains on the hire car, and I'd have to twist Partner's arm (he comes from sunny Sardinia and doesn't cope well with the cold. Poor thing).

Are there good places within Death Valley? I'm guessing not much within our price range ($100 ish).

Thanks once again for helping out.

Somehow the "y" drop out of "your" in my original message.

Hi SamInLondon,
I'm excited for you, this is a great trip. I took my family on this trip 2 years ago. Everyone here on this post has given you great advice. Hotel shopping is the greatest hurdle. I would probably reserve ahead of time while in San Fran, due to driving around in the city, there are good areas and not so good. The rest of your trip you will probably be good to drop in when you find a place you want to stay. November is not high season, (Veterans Day is Nov. 11th not a big deal for travel) except for Death Valley area, due to cooler temps, most places around 50-60 dollars. You might have to pay more(closer to your limit in SanFran and along coast). Average temps in Calif. 40,s low and 60's high, 70's in death valley. My advice is to get a good travel book, such as Fodor's or Frommer's for California, to help plan your itinerary,(as well as web sites like this). Lots of things to do in SanFran (and culture),Golden Gate Bridge, The Japanese tea garden in Golden Gate Park,Twin Peaks, Height-Ashbury area, and Fisherman's Wharf for the more touristy stuff and good seafood, also in Las Vegas, interesting hotel/casino decors, the fountains at the Bellagio, shows, Valley of Fire for a quick trip just outside the city, The Fremont street experience downtown. There are redwoods just over the golden gate bridge in Muir woods, but bigger ones in Big Basin. The highway 1 is awesome. Hearst castle is nice, San Louis Obisbo nearby has a great farmer's market on Thursday nites, (great eats). Nice hotel in Cambria, Castle Inn by the Sea, Call for off season rates 1-805-927-8605. The Grand Canyon is spectacular if you have a chance while in Las Vegas, temps a little cooler, 25 low-50's high. Yosemite is gorgeous but better for warmer weather if that is what you like. Death Valley is warmer, but not as scenic, it's a long drive through the desert and the starkness gets to be a bit much for me anyway, but a must drive through, some good hikes if that is what you like. OK I guess I've rambled on enough, have a great time.
Carrie

Hi Sam,
I second (third) the idea of "Valley of Fire". It's about a one hour drive just outside Vegas. It's breathtaking, almost a spiritual experience. No matter how much stress you have in your life, you will lose it all here. I highly recommend it. I took many photos when I was there and yet, they don't live up to actually seeing it in person.

Have a great trip!
Andiamo

Sam,

Your general plan looks great don't go for less than 6 nights in SF.

Expect accomodations in SF to cost about double what they will will be for the rest of your trip.

Reservations for SF they are essential, but outside of SF you can just get something when you arrive which will give you some flexibility.

The Cow Hollow Motor Inn gets recommended on lot on this board and is within your budget - http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com

Some other budget SF places you can research:

Alisa Hotel

Hotel Beresford Arms

The Andrews Hotel

The Cornell Hotel de France

King George Hotel

Grant Plaza Hotel

The Sheehan Hotel

The San Remo Hotel

The Hotel Majestic

The Willows Inn

The Castillo Inn

Beck's Motor Lodge

The Marina Inn

Hostelling International San Francisco

Edward II Inn & Suites

The Cartwright Hotel

York Hotel

Halcyon Hotel

Hotel Bijou

24 Henry

The Golden Gate Hotel

The Savoy Hotel

The Fitzgerald

Hotel Beresford

Thanks for your positive and enthusiastic responses. I'm so excited I had trouble sleeping last night (time to lock the guide books away, I suspect).

I've booked 6 nights at the San Remo in San Francisco, which looks ideal (fingers crossed). It's encouraging to know that accommodation elsewhere will be affordable - I had a look at some places along the coast and was slgihtly shocked both by the prices and the two nights minimum that some of them impose at the weekends.

Perhaps I'm being a real tourist, but I kind of feel that if I'm coming all this way, I'd want to see the hottest, lowest, most famous desert. Is it just the bleakness that puts people off, or is the size, or a combination of both?

Also, would you recommend spending a night in Santa Cruz on the way down so that we can take in Big Basin? Sounds like a typically Californian place, and I'd try and organize things so that we can hit the Big Dipper before lunch ... or maybe not.

I have to just say that I find this forum amazing. Strangers taking time to help someone they will probably never even meet! But I guess everyone here finds travel absolutely intoxicating. We may be tapping away at our PCs at home or in the office, but our minds are obviously fixed on the great blue yonder.

If you want to safe some money along the way try Motel 6. Nice clean rooms.When you're touring you only need a clean room with decent bathroom, most of them have a swimming pool.Will only cost you between 40 and 6O $. If I were you I would prefer to go to Yosemite from SF for a couple of days and then cross the Tioga pass and drive to Stovepipe Wells( Death valley). And from there to LV.When you're in SF dont forget to see Muir woods not far over the Golden gate bridge. Beautiful redwoods.And visit Alcatraz.Paul

Hi again,
As you can see, it's a very individual thing: traveling. Everyone has different tastes. The desert area of California is huge, and remember you won't be there during the "hot" time. The vastness of the landscape is beautiful in it's own way, sparsley populated, mostly by poorer folk in trashy trailers, no green here, just lots of dirt and scattered cacti and tumbleweeds, if just traveling through. So depending on what you want out of the desert, it would be easier to guide you. Remember Las Vegas is in a desert and the Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon both nearby offer beautiful desert scenery vs. the bleakness of the drive through the Mojave. If Death Valley is your route then you will see great sunsets and sunrises, salt flats and sand dunes. This is all a great contrast to the coastline. Use your books and decide what you like to do, you have alot of ground to cover in your trip and whatever you decide you should not be disappointed, except that you will have to come back to see the rest.
Carrie

Sam,
You've received some great advice. Wishing you a wonderful trip! You have some great plans, so I'm sure you will enjoy it.

With 6 days in SF, you will be able to see so much in the City! Even squeeze in a day to the wine country, if that a desire. Hope you enjoy SF, it's my home!

You mentioned how nice Fodorites are. I fully agree. They have helped me on my trip plans, and I try to offer help with others. My best experience was this spring, when I met some Fodorites in person. They, too, were from the UK, and were looking to get a birthday cake delivered to their hotel as a surprise for their Mum. I wound up picking up the cake (they pre-ordered) and delivered it myself. They invited me to stay and join them in the celebration. That was in May. I have been in touch with them via email ever since, and have been invited to their wedding next year! I know I have made friends for life.

Glad you are enjoying the posts and advice you have been given. It's true, everyone has their own travel ideas....so read what everyone has written, read your travel books, and plan your fun itineary! I know you will have a fabulous time!

Best wishes to you!
Andiamo

Sam,
Forgot to mention, please post back with your travel tips/experience when you return. We enjoy reading it, and you will also provide others with an idea of things to see and do!

Andiamo

consider Angel Island instead of Alcatraz, depending on your love of nature vs. historic prisons.
I may be throwing you off, but having seen both many times, for a first time trip I would much prefer the Grand Canyon to Death Valley. That might not be doable. Maybe I lived in the desert to long. Check out this thread from someone's similar trip:
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=69063