Family holiday to California next April

[ALSYPOPS]

Hi I’m new to Mumsnet and don’t understand some of the abbreviations so bear with me. We are a family of four two boys aged 12 &13 at time of travel to California next Easter for two weeks. When is the best time to book this trip? Particularly the flights!! Tried Trailfinders and Travel Bag but didn’t come up with what we were expecting. We are looking at starting at San Francisco heading down to LA and finishing off in Vegas. Any recommendations for the trip would be appreciated. Thanks

Don't have any tips for flying but Santa Monica is incredible!!!!! Would also recommend San Diego as it is equally incredible. We did Santa Monica - Santa Barbara - Laguna beach - San Diego - Las Vegas! Malibu isn't far from Santa Monica too! Hope you have the best time!

This is too weird! I'm doing that exact same trip with children age 11, 13 and 14 next April.

We started flying into Vegas, Flagstaff, Grand canyon, Vegas, Bishop, Yosemite, San Francisco, monterey, santa barbara, LA, flying home from San Diego. This was over 3 week though.

I've heard great things about a USA specialist travel agent called Bon Voyage in Southampton.

I've heard great things about a USA specialist travel agent called Bon Voyage in Southampton.

We've done several trips using BA holidays, you can fly there and back from different places, add hotels, cars and so on, always been really good value.

We stayed in Santa Monica - loved it - sooo vibrant & cooool... dc's will love it hopefully

I think this will be a rush in 2 weeks and you won’t see the best of anywhere or relax.

I would stick to California and spend time in SF, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sir, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica and LA. There is so much to see and you won’t be travelling all the time.

I’m not sure what your flight problems are but I would look at the BA site and see what’s available. Driving is easy. We also like bed and breakfast places that can be great value for money with the owners really taking care of you.

I’m not a huge fan of San Diego but I’d spend time there in preference to Vegas. Vegas is more of an adult stag do sort of place and pretty grimy. The ocean towns in California have much more charm!

That's alot of driving for 2 weeks although roads etc super easy to navigate. I agree with Bubbles for itinerary. And I've been to Vegas before and its fun for couple of days but agree coastal California is just stunning.
We did this trip last year over 3 weeks, we went back up to yosemite at the end and flew home from SF

*You must go whale watching in Monterey. We did this last year and we saw a blue whale and tonnes of humpbacks.
*Pre book Alcatraz - bookings open 90 days before you visit
*Cycle across GG bridge and go have lunch in Sausalito - is stunning
*A night at the baseball was super fun, my two loved it.

So jealous, would love to be going again

Flights are tricky to predict when you will get the best price. Last year we were in Canada and the USA for the Easter hols and we flew ba booking through travel republic and we got a steal, but the taxes are pretty horrific (at least for adult tickets, there's some discount for under 16's) so don't expect prices much under £500. We paid £460 to Canada and the taxes came to £402 (meaning the airline only got £58 for a return 9 hour flight!).

Each airport sets its own landing fees plus there's state and federal taxes, it's certainly worth deconstructing the price to see whether it's likely to drop lower

We are going to West Coast in October! Flying in and out of San Francisco and doing a circle of Pacific Coast Highway, Grand can you, Vegas and back to San Francisco.
Just two adults and taking just over 2 weeks. Very excited.

Our tickets were cheap! Flying in and out of SF from Heathrow for about £290 each. Lufthansa/United, we have to change in Munich on the way there but a direct flight back, 15 nights away convenient flight times (overnight flight back) and all in the Easter school holidays. I used skyscanner.

Skyscanner is your friend!