California and Las Vegas - I need itinerary help!

[Tinkerball]

Hi, I'm planning a California Road trip next September, we did this once in a life time holiday last year and lived it so much it's turned into a twice in a lifetime holiday . I started a thread on it here and loved it, so many good ideas and chat!

Anyway we know roughly what we want ie want to drive Big Sur again but take a bit longer and stop over more. Kids want to do Universal in LA again. We also never made it as far as San Diego so thinking of hiring a villa there with a pool to relax at the end. However DH wants to see the Grand Canyon and we quite fancy a few days in Vegas. I know it's vast. I know driving distances will be huge (driving doesn't bother us and we will stop off at places along the way). I just don't know if it's better doing GC and Vegas at the start or the end? What do you all think?

Also want to stay near GC in Tusayan so we can see Siuth Rim rather than day trip from Vegas to west rim!

South!

good idea - a while back, but I did that and Tusayan is a good base for the south rim. Use the shuttle bus and do a bit of walking, although not too far down unless you are incredibly fit.

I don't think the order matters too much, although after the canyon Vegas will seem very, meh. If you are gamblers you'll obviously be fine, if you aren't one day will be enough before you are bored.

Thanks special. Nope we aren't gamblers, and certainly wasn't planning on spending more than 2 nights there, just seems to be something we would like to see and then we have done done it!" Kids have seen a hotel where there is a rollercoaster inside and fancy that!

That's the NYNY. What are your plans in Vegas?

We stayed two nights in Vegas and it was two nights too many, we took our 5 teens with us and we all thought it was awful. Pimps every 100 yards or so handing out flyers for prostitutes.

It was too hot, too crowded and every other person we passed was from Yorkshire

We did stop to see the Hoover Dam though en route which was amazing.

How old are your kids? The GC is breath taking, you'll never forget it.

Yes to a slower trip down the Big Sur.

Have fun :)

GC from the south rim is great, but stay on site overnight - don't bother with anywhere special. watch the sun go down over the canyon, then up at 5am, walk to the rim in darkness, only you and the deer. Watch the sun come up and the change in the colours is incredible.

NYNY as a hotel is a bit grim; the rollercoaster is good but it does not have much going for it otherwise. Would suggest looking at other hotels.
September in LV can be 81 degrees F so not boiling hot, it starts to cool down at that time of year.

How old are your children?.

I think Mandalay bay used to be the best one for kids. It has a 'beach' pool and mini zoo.

I don't how people get bored in Vegas too. I go every summer for a minimum of two weeks and love it.

I think that there is way more to do in LA and San Diego. I would do GC and LV on a separate visit. Why rush it all? The coastal area is great in September and spending time on the beaches may be more fun.

Just looked the hotel up in LV, its called Circus Circus. My boys are 6 and 12 just now. Its more to say we have been, rather than do anything specifically, just soak up the experience kind of thing. Seeing the Grand Canyon would be amazing.

milly we spent 4 nights in LA last year and did all we wanted really, although the boys do want to go back to Universal. We might never visit again so thought it would be a good opportunity to see the GC at least. It was pretty hectic the last time (although we loved every minute) but yes I do want to spend more time on the Big Sur and the beaches.

We are also planning on renewing our wedding vows on a beach - my dream! Currently I cant decide about what beach though, Im stuck between something when we go down the Big Sur like Moonstone Beach in Cambria or wait until we go further down in Laguna Beach area e.g Crystal Cove State Park beach. I loved that beach

Thanks everyone for all tips so far!

Circus Circus is one of the older Las Vegas hotels on the Strip and the accommodation is not at all good. Visit the rollercoaster there by all means but do stay somewhere else. Also that part of the Strip is not actually all that nice.

Avoid the Circus Circus! Horrible place to stay at and too far away. Do you have a budget?

Oops looks like I will think again regarding that hotel, thanks everyone!

Not really got a budget german, travel agent has a rough itinerary but obviously flights arent released yet. Hopefully around the £6000 figure - for the overall holiday, not just the hotel in Vegas obviously

Ahem, cough cough, what are you going to do about the kids who are supposed to be in school in September? How far are you going for?

I've done some of your itinerary only a few months ago. I'm impressed that 6000 could cover it all. I spent 4k in pounds + $4000 + my dad spent another $4000 on us.

New York New York was probably my favourite hotel before I turned 21. Plenty to do at the MGM across the road too.

niger the GC and Vegas are new, last year we had 2 nights in New York, and then 4 San Francisco,1 in Monterey, 1 in Santa Barbara, 4 in LA and lastly 4 inLaguna Beach, 10 days car hire plus Alcatraz tickets and 72 hour SF bus tickets, worked out at just over £6000 for the 4 of us, that was with Trailfinders.

We will take the kids out of school, not ideal but a lot cheaper than July! Oldest won't have exams otherwise we wouldn't, it's not such a big deal here in West Scotland as it seems to be in England eg fines don't exist, you just write a letter oh the head.

Probably go for just over 2 weeks again.

Thanks cola, will check that one out to!

We stayed at Carmel which has easy access to Big Sur. Monterey is pleasant and so is Santa Barbara so that section of highway 1 is great for a few days. No idea about renewing vows on beaches though. Big Sur has the Post Ranch Inn which is fabulous. Have a great time.

Thanks Milly, definitely going to spend more time in Big Sur!

I did a road trip years back. SF-LA staying overnight end route at the stupendous kitsch Madonna Inn. Hearst castle really worth visiting. Then stayed in Anaheim a few nights doing Disney, Universal etc. Then flew to Phoenix, hired a car and stayed in Sedona which is lovely. Drove on to GC and then finished trip in LV. Great trip.

Alternatively Palm Springs is a great stopover en route to LV from LA if you skip GC. We took in Joshua Tree driving from Palm Springs to LV. We stayed at the Wynn in LV which was fab.