My wife and I are planning to visit Los Angeles in the second half of October en route from London to New Zealand to visit our son.
We are thinking of stopping in Hollywood for two nights and after that renting a car on a one-way hire and driving to Las Vegas and stopping there for two nights. We thought we'd then drive the hire car to Las Vegas airport, hand the car back, and get a flight back to LA in time for our 9.30pm flight to Auckland.
We can't spare any more than about 4 nights in USA. Does this sound a reasonable plan? Or would we be better staying longer in LA, or perhaps flying to LV?
Would it be better to go on a day trip by coach from LA to LV?
Should we hire a car straight-away in LA, or are there enough local tours/buses to get around?
What would it be like driving from LA to LV - for a Brit who is used to driving on the left hand side of the road!?
Any advice appreciated.

Since everyone on here is looking for Travel Advice, to get the best help I'd suggest you repost with a more meaningful title.

Hello Oldjetter,

As someone who grew up and lived in southern California for 30 years, I would highly recommend spending your short 4 days somewhere else!

How about San Francisco and Yosemite, or SF and the wine country? You should also be able to get the connecting flight through SF.

Good luck!

I agree, repost this with another title maybe something like 'Is it possible to vsit Las Vagas, NV and Hollywood, CA during 4 days stop on the way from London to New Zealand?>

Thanks earlxx. Sounds good advice! I'll try that.

1. You want a car in LA. Sites are spread out and public transportation is not the most efficient (they do exist).

2. The drive from LA to LV is about 5 hours, depending on where you start and traffic. It's all freeway, so the left/right thing is not a major issue. First part is heavy traffic through the LA basin, then over the Cajon pass onto the high dessert. It's visually interesting but boring at the same time. If you're going like on Friday afternoon, then you may see bumper-to-bumper traffic for 200 miles.

Putting aside the jetlag issue, it is doable but you might have more fun doing one or the other. LA should be nice in October and there is enough in the environs to keep you entertained.

On the other hand people do go to LV for the weekend all the time which is basically what you're suggesting.

I am all for getting a taste of multiple places if you don't know when you'll be back, so I say do it!

I would rent a car for your whole time in LA and drop it at the LV airport when you get there. Your flight connection back to LA (and the jetlag upon arrival) is your biggest issue IMHO.

Go for it!

Hello oldjetter. Is visiting Las Vegas a primary goal in life? If not, is it possible to arrange your flight to NZ through San Francisco? There is so much to do in northern California and many parts are so beautiful. (Of course that is just my rather biased opinion!). My opinion, also, is that Hollywood sounds glamorous, but in reality is not. Do you have specific things you are interested in seeing? If not, I'd opt for another destination.

There are also some lovely drives along the coastline in southern California.

Just so you are aware, the traffic congestion in the Los Angeles area is terrible. Once you make it out of the huge metropolitan area, however, you should be fine if you don't mind a lot of traffic. The advantage of the freeway is that everyone is going in the same direction (less confusing for a left side of the road driver). The drive to Las Vegas is not particulary scenic, although the terrain might be interesting to you as it is so different than England. Have you considered flying to Las Vegas, then taking a shuttle or hiring a car to take you to your hotel. I would think that would be far less stressful than trying to drive.

I'll keep my eye on this post for a day or two, and if you are interested in changing your itinerary, I'll offer suggestions if you choose places I know anything about (central and northern California).

Safe travels.

There are only five possible connections from London to New Zealand (SF is not one of them): LA, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

It sounds lke oldjetter wants to see LV and is asking about the bst way to get tere and ack in a short period or if LV is even feasible.

My advise would be to quickly see LV first - either by tour bus or a budget flight. Stay one or two nights in LV and THEN spend a few days seeing some tourist hot spots in LA so you are well positioned to catch the second leg of your flight to New Zealand.

FWIW, I also cannot fathom why so many wnat to see Vegas when they first visit the US (it would be like #67 on my list top USA attractions) but I respect the OP's decision.

Please list the other 66 cities in the USA that are more unique than Las Vegas?

happytrails,

I suggest you start a new thread with a title "66 more desirable places to visit than LV" or something like that. You're not likely to get many responses to your request buried at the bottom of this thread.

Also, bardo never said it was #67 on the most unique list, but rather #67 on his/her list of places to visit. I can name many very unique places myself, but it doesn't mean I have any interest in going there.

ipod,

Thanks for the unsolicited advice. However, I am offended by bardo and his/her ilk who use this site as an opportunity to put down others and to assert the superiority of their taste and preferences. It is repugnant.

HTTY

I wonder how many of those 66 are truly "like no where else in the world" destinations, as Vegas is.

Even New York and the Grand Canyon share similarities with places in other countries. But Vegas? Love it or hate it, it is truly one of a kind!

I hope the OP has a great time there!

Chill out, youse guys.

I would not take a long flight from London on the way to New Zealand and stay in Hollywood for two nights then drive to Las Vegas for two nights. Not my cup of tea. I would immediately take a cheap roundtrip flight to San Francisco and spend all of the time there. My choice.

But then I am not OP. Their choice.

The questions were clear and the advice should be given in the same spirit. They want to know about how best to get to Las Vegas and back.

My advice would be to get a cheap roundtrip Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas. With the price of car rental and gasoline I think you (now I am speaking to oldjetter) would come out way ahead, both in money and hassle.

How you get around LA for two days I don't know cause I don't live there, but my instincts say a car is not a good idea because of the traffic.

OK...Angelinos....help us with this..straight talk, OK?

I live in LA and my cousing lives in Vegas. We routinely do $39 Southwest air trips to Vegas (or from Vegas to her) to visit. The flights run every hour from LAX, numerous carriers, but Southwest seems to be cheapest most often. www.southwest.com

The plane ride is only an hour, but allow 2 hours to get through security at both LAX and again coming back from Vegas.

Have fun!

Lets try this again.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...rchText=Hawaii

Please ignore the last link I posted. I am still getting used to this. It has to do with Hawaii, unless you want to go there and go snorkling. Sorry, I posted on the wrong subject.

Whether or not to get a car, or take a cab, will depend on where you want to stay in LA and what you want to see while you are here. PS - The road from LA to Vegas is highway the entire way, speed limit 70-75, but everyone drives much faster trying not to get a speeding ticket. It is pretty dangerous, although I admit to doing the drive at least every other month (when I can't get cheap airfare to visit or there is more than 2 of us going - then it is cheaper to drive us all in the van). But when we do drive, the drive is rarely accident-free. Nearly every time, we see a pretty horrific accident. Plus, you have the getaway traffic going to Vegas and the Colorado River and Lake Mead on Fridays and that means tons of traffic. And coming back again on Sunday. And, driving IN Las Vegas is very, very hard due to all the pedestrian traffic and people who have had a few drinks too many. My cousin lives there and won't even drive near the strip anymore, but to each his own. BUt my advise would be don't drive to Vegas. Take the flight (with time for security = 3 hours verses the 5 hour drive) and then take an airport shuttle to the strip or maybe a cab. I think you will have more time and less stress.

old:

wow the trip from London should wear you out completely by the time you end up in LA. I'd opt for just one city not two. Like some others I'd opt for Las Vegas. LA is the hub city for most flights to the USA from the Pacific so you can visit it more readily in the future.