Cecile23

My hubby, 6 year old daughter and I are planning a California trip in the next couple of weeks. We arrive in San Francisco August 2nd and will spend 5 nights before heading on a road trip down the coast to LA. We are alloting 5 days for the trip down to LA. Taking our time especially as we have our kid in tow. Having read up a bit it sounds like the more interesting towns to overnight in are Monterey/Carmel and Santa Barbara. I am thinking 2 nights in Monterey/Carmel as there seems to be no shortage of interesting sights and things to do in the area what with the Aquarium. Does that make sense? Should we also allow 2 nights in Santa Barbara as well or does anyone have ideas for where we should overnight as we head further south? We are foodies, we are into wine, we love the outdoors, the beach. It is worth visiting a couple of wineries in Santa Barbara?

I haven't firmly decided if we will stay in LA or go further south to San Diego as we will have about 3 days before we fly to New York once we arrive in LA. The idea of the LA traffic and congestion is so off putting. Again with a kid in tow it sounds like San Diego may be a better bet for the last 3 days of the trip. I would be grateful for thoughts on this. I would welcome any other suggestions as I am not rooted to LA or San Diego but I would like to fly out of LAX so wouldn't want to stray too far.

Finally I would really appreciate tips on how to go about getting a proper deal on a one way car rental for our road trip. I am planning to rent from San Francisco on the morning of the start of our road trip. I usually use Avis. I read about autoeurope and priced a few options on th website all of which seemed pretty expensive to me. Over $1,000 for 5/6 days. I should mention that we are non US residents. I don't know if that makes a difference.

One last question - advice on the tour to wine country from San Francisco. We spent some time
in healdsburg way back in 2006 so a repeat visit is long overdue. We would like to do a wine tour at some point during our 4 days in San Francisco. Bearing in mind we have our daughter with us can we find a wine tour that would be appealing to kid and us adults? we won't make her taste of course. I read of one tour that does a combined visit to Muir Woods and then a few wineries in Napa or Sonoma. Would that be worth it? Or are we better off getting a car for a day and doing a self tour? Thank you very much in advance for suggestions and advice.

DebbieDoesDulles

No, you don't have time for San Diego, there is plenty to keep you busy in Los Angeles and you don't want more time on the road.

It's the busy summer travel season, you may have to stop and stay wherever the heck you can still find availability. You should not waste another minute booking rooms.

Yes I would allow 2 nights for Santa Barbara since you have a long drive getting there with lots of nice places to stop and see, so you should expect to arrive Santa Barbara around sunset. You'll want a full day there next day.

Watch your drive times into the Los Angeles area, what day of the week will this be?

$350 a week for a one-way rental car is about right at this time of year, as long as liability insurance and collision waiver are included, which they should be if you noted that you are a non U.S. citizen. 7 day car rental prices out the same as a 5 day rental, usually, so you may want to book the car early and drive your Napa tour. Check the parking rate at your hotel however as some are $60 per night.

Los Angeles traffic is very manageable if your visit is over a Sat & Sun. On weekdays you'll want to stay off the roads from 7 to 9:30am and from 4pm to 7:15pm. Where you stay will depend on what you want to see & do, with a 6 year old you will want to visit La Brea Tar Pits, The Zoo, The Observatory, The Science Center, The Natural History Museum, The Grove, Santa Monica Pier.

California is in the middle of a summer full of fire danger so you do have to check the fire maps daily before road-tripping, and pay attention to advice given on the early morning tv newscasts. There is a fire map at fire.ca.gov
Places like Santa Barbara have basically one-road-in and one-road-out so you have to be fire-aware when traveling as things can get complicated. Hopefully not, but best to be aware.

Cecile23

Thank you so much Debbie. I really appreciate your helpful response. I already have hotel booked in
San Francisco (grand hyatt) as well as in Carmel (Carmel Mission Inn). I will settle on Santa Barbara for the second stop before LA. Was looking at hotels there last night. There is still availability. Thanks for clueing us in on the fire dangers. I hadn't appreciated that. Where would we find the most up to date road and weather info online or otherwise for the area?

It would be my first time in LA. Based on the attractions you listed, where would be the best area/neighbourhood to stay? Any recommendations for hotels? Moderate budget. We will aim
To arrive in LA on Friday 11 August and stay until Monday. You mention that the traffic isn't usually too bad on the weekend. I certainly hope you are right with that. Regardless really looking forward to our trip! Hopefully the road and weather Gods will be smiling on us the whole time!

jamie99

There is a fire off Highway 154 near Santa Barbara but it is 48% contained and should be a non issue by the time of your trip.
Debbie has had some good suggestions, if you visit the Grove you might want to take your daughter to the American Girl doll store there (or maybe not if on a tight budget). She can also have tea there and borrow a doll for the tea party.
In August I would want to stay near the ocean, maybe Santa Monica although most hotels there are pretty pricey. If you can define "moderate" in USD per night that might help. Otherwise look at Sea View Inn in Manhattan Beach or someplace in Marina del Rey.
Folks from overseas used to get the one way rental fee waived often using a third party broker, but they did away with that several years ago for popular summer months, so I am afraid you will just have to factor that as a cost of vacation.

DebbieDoesDulles

I too would usually recommend Oceanside for August and September, but since your visit it short and you're coming off ocean stays on your previous nights....and because Santa Monica is pricey and very crowded on the weekends, I would probably look at something else. The Sofitel, The Elan, The Farmer's Daughter are well located mid-city, the FD is just across the street from the Grove & Farmers Market and walking distance to La Brea Tar Pits and LacMa. I think I would suggest staying in this mid-city area over the weekend. This little guest house in a residential neighborhood would be a hit with your daughter, is air conditioned & has a liberal cancellation policy, it's always nice to have a local nearby for advice/directions: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16490494

Santa Barbara looks pricey with limited availability, Marina Beach Motel shows availability and is a classic American motor court walking distance to the beach.

As for traffic, you'll want to leave Santa Barbara between 9am and 1pm to avoid the traffic hours into Los Angeles. Or, if you're loving Santa Barbara and need the day there, don't leave until 7pm or so and plan on a 9pm arrival into Los Angeles.
The other traffic concern, minor, is getting to the airport on Monday for your departure, what time is the flight?

Cecile23

You are a gem! I booked the Marina Beach Motel for our Santa Barbara stay getting 2 nights for just over $400. A good deal I think considering all the pricey options around. And it gets great reviews on TripAdvisor. I take your suggestion to stay "midtown" in LA rather than in Santa Monica even though SM just seems idyllic I have to say. We will of course spend time at the Santa Monica pier. I reserved the Orlando Hotel. A suggestion I found on TripAdvisor. I will however price the options you suggested. Reality is we won't be spending much time in the hotel so we it just isn't worth paying $500 a night plus for a room per night that keeps coming up with a lot of the places I have looked at. We are flying out of LA at 12:30 on Monday 8/14. I purposely picked that early afternoon time so we hopefully have enough time to make it to the airport. If we are in mid LA we will probably have to set out for the airport by what 9 o'clock? I will return my rental at LAX on the Monday although I am wondering whether we shouldn't return it the evening before at one of the locations in the city (it will be an avis rental) and Uber to the airport? Would that make more sense?


I think we will plan for a late arrival into LA on the Friday because I do think we will find much to do in the Santa Barbara area and would have been on the road much the day before. So would want to just chill and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in the area. Maybe have an early dinner and then set out for LA. It sounds like it is only about an hour and some to LA from Santa Barbara so not a long haul.
The American Girl store at the Grove is noted. My daughter would love the experience of having tea there. She has three American Girl dolls. We'll see. Thanks all!