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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Accommodation ideas Vegas/Yosemite/Lake Tahoe/San Francisco

95 replies

kath6144 · 07/01/2017 20:01

We are starting to put together an itinerary for trip to USA in July, myself, DH, DS19 & DD17. We so far are looking at flying into Vegas, doing Grand canyon south rim, then up to Yosemite via Death valley, maybe a trip to Lake Tahoe and onto San Francisco.

Can anyone recommend accommodation in any of these places, hotels/motels/lodges? A friend did something similar last year, so have got some recommendations but she didnt stay in all same places.

Also, any places we should add to the itinerary, and advise on how many nights at each place? We are planning 3 weeks so dont need to rush, but may add somewhere onto the end (DC angling for Hawaii!)

OP posts:
Tequilamockinbird · 07/01/2017 20:37

Vegas is tricky with older teens, as we found out earlier this year! They have to be 21 to go into casinos and bars (other than just walking through).

However, there is still lots to do for them. What sort of budget do you have? I'd advise to stay on strip rather than off strip. Top end hotels are Palazzo/Venetian, Wynn, Bellagio, Caesars. And the better of the lower end hotels would be NYNY or MGM, IMO.

Original poster
kath6144 · 07/01/2017 22:03

Hadn't thought of the age thing, Tequila, but am sure they will get a flavour of the place without gambling! Friends with same age DC went last year and said they wished they'd had 2 nights in Vegas, as they didn't really see much. They weren't impressed with their hotel.

Budget not too limited, within reason, so I think it will be a case of seeing what the whole package comes out at.

Going to get some ball park costs from Trailfinders but want to be able to suggest some hotels rather than them decide.

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Tequilamockinbird · 07/01/2017 22:18

In that case I'd go for The Venetian or The Palazzo. They're in a good location on the strip, opposite Caesars Palace (for shopping), not far from Bellagio (for fountains), bus stop is outside (for Downtown and Stratosphere). If you're thinking of seeing a show, I'd recommend Beatles Love by Cirque de Soleil at Mirage. Your DC will love it too - it's fantastic!

Rudymentary · 07/01/2017 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

80sWaistcoat · 07/01/2017 22:24

Book Yosemite as soon as you can, we left. It too late and had to stay in a motel outside of the valley. It was v good but preferred previous stays actually in the valley at camp curry.

It gets booked up v quickly.

Vegas with under 21s of about the same age was a bit frustrating as they were both used to having a drink in the uk and found the strict under 21 rule annoying. Two nights was plenty.

Hoover dam is v good.

illegitimateMortificadospawn · 07/01/2017 22:30

Washington Square Inn in SF. Fisherman's Wharf, downtown, Chinatown, Lombard Street and Coit Tower are all walkable from Washigton Square. There are good neighbourhood restaurants and bars nearby. You can watch the Chinese pensioners from nearby Chinatown doing tai chi en masse in the square in the morning.

illegitimateMortificadospawn · 07/01/2017 22:35

If you are heading into Yosemite on the Nevada side through the Tioga Pass, I think Bodie is a manageable detour a little further south of the pass. It is a gold rush ghost town, which is (very) conservatively managed as a national park. It's at moderate altitude and the scenery is stark but wonderful - the skies are huuuuge.

wohmum · 07/01/2017 22:39

We did a similar trip a couple of years ago with teens a bit younger than yours but there arena couple of things I'd recommend.

We stayed at the platinum hotel in Vegas - just off strip but lovely and with a view of the strip. It was an absolute bargain , with sepetate lounge and kitchen area . V lovely.
We also did a huge zip line just outside Vegas - flight lines I think. We stayed at Zion canyon too and had booked in for canyoning which looked fantastic
( but got rained off - risk of flooding) . It was a brilliant trip

Autumnchill · 07/01/2017 22:40

Look at Aria for accommodation in Vegas. It's a hotel in the city within the city and not a casino.

Crispbutty · 07/01/2017 22:42

I stayed in bishop when I drove from Vegas to sanfrancisco which was a nice plave

Crispbutty · 07/01/2017 22:42

Bloody phone..
San Francisco, place

wohmum · 07/01/2017 22:44

We had left it too late for the Yosemite valley but stayed in a lovely condo just inside the park over on the west I think. It was a 10 min ( I think) drive into the Valley and a lot more comfortable than a motel

illegitimateMortificadospawn · 07/01/2017 22:44

We stopped for lunch in Kings Beach near Lake Tahoe in our drive across country. The beach and the views across the lake to the mountains were rather lovely. The restaurant was great too, but I can't remember the name.

greathat · 07/01/2017 22:47

We did this trip. hired a motorcaravan. Started in a hotel in San fran for a few nights, then did yosemite, grand canyon, sequioa national park, Vegas, ended up in Las Vegas...

Was brilliant except I was incredibly ill as I had Hyeremesis and spent the whole time clutching sick bags. Threw up in some very scenic spots

Crispbutty · 07/01/2017 22:48

Phone won't let me post a link but have a look at Creekside motel in bishop

Tequilamockinbird · 07/01/2017 22:54

autumn Aria is a casino aswell as a hotel. If you want a hotel without casino, Trump isn't far off strip, or Hilton Grand Vacations.

Autumnchill · 08/01/2017 07:17

Sorry, yes you're right. I'm thinking of the Vdara which is where we stayed and went to the Aria for the fabulous buffet!

Teds77 · 08/01/2017 07:43

Another saying look at Yosemite accommodation ASAP. I'm fairly sure you can cancel the stuff in the national park without much cost so could be worth looking at holding something before other stuff is finalised.

All the names have recently changed last year over some naming dispute but we stayed at Half Dome Village (Curry Camp). They have some cabins with bathrooms and a small number of motel rooms. Pretty basic but it did the job find for us and it's a great location. The Yosemite Valley Lodge is also pretty central and is a bit more expensive. The Magestic Yosemite is the really expensive 'great national park lodge of the West' place and also in the valley. I think the Wawona is now called Big Trees Lodge. This is less central but I think this will be nearer to the road to Glacier Point. Really worth staying in the valley if you can.

Original poster
kath6144 · 08/01/2017 08:33

Thanks for the responses, some great ideas, and yes I had already got the impression that Yosemite needed to be booked quickly.

Am trying to get some hotel ideas then get an itinerary put together by trailfinders.

I had thought of Pacific coast highway, but we not bothered about LA, so maybe we can do part of PCH south of SF?

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OutwardBound2016 · 08/01/2017 08:41

The Ghirardelli Square is excellent in SF, we had a huge double bedded apartment with a kitchen. You also have use of a town car when available. Have heard good things about Aria in Vegas. LA is not worth it better to drive the highway and see 17 mile drive/Pebble Beach/Hurst Castle etc.

BikeRunSki · 08/01/2017 08:43

When we did a similar trip, we stayed at The Canterbury Hotel on Sutter St in SF. Pretty central for everything, and very handy for the fabulous Lori's Diner for breakfast.

We booked through Trailfinders. Even though we booked a year in advance, there was no accommodation left to book in Yosemite itself. We stayed in a motel about 5 mins away - walking distance- a d it was fine for a couple of nights.

I'd really recommend the boat trip to Alcatraz.

80sWaistcoat · 08/01/2017 08:54

The first time I went I booked through trail finders, v good they know their stuff.

Original poster
kath6144 · 08/01/2017 09:07

Yes, we have used Trailfinders before, for a NZ trip before kids and for Canada in 2013. They just make planning and booking easier dont they!

Interesting that Yosemite was booked up a year in advance, guess we will have to stay out of valley too then.

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AlfaMum · 08/01/2017 09:17

DH and I married in SF then drove to LA for our honeymoon. If you want to do only part of PCH near SF, then you should start at Monterey/Carmel (defo worth visits) and do the Big Sur part of the PCH, to Cambria. Most amazing views along that stretch, which you can complete in a day. SF is fairly small so most attractions are walkable from a city centre hotel - have a look at the Scarlett Huntington. Try the Hollywood Cafe in SF for breakfast - it's the best you'll find. There's also a coach tour company almost next door which is worth considering as one or two attractions are not walkable. Have a fab holiday.

specialsubject · 08/01/2017 17:37

Death Valley will be no fun at all in July, I'd leave it for another time. As others mention, you are probably out of luck for in-park accommodation. Yosemite has plenty of gateway towns. Flagstaff worked well for us for the Grand Canyon. It will be very hot to walk into the Canyon, so if you get clear weather one day may well be enough. Rest assured it will meet expectations.

Be aware that the best bits of the Grand Canyon are a LONG way from Las Vegas. In fact, as your kids can't gamble or drink I would suggest one night in Vegas is enough.

what may also work is flying into SF, where you neither need nor want a car. That way you can get over the jetlag safely and still sightsee.

Hawaii is about five hours further on so maybe not this time. Plenty of other wonderful parks: Zion and Bryce to name but two.