Family Holiday on the West Coast

Irish Gunner

Ok some big birthdays this year and one of them wants to go to Vegas to celebrate. However we have Junior (1+) and don't want to spend a week in Vegas and want to make a holiday out of it and fly home from Vegas.

Was looking at flying to San Fran and then fly internally to Vegas for last few days meet some of the party there and fly home from there.

I have done both San Fran and Vegas and no interest in going to LA. Was thinking of flying to San Fran hire a car and then take a drive but never driven stateside and I want to enjoy the break rather than drive all the time

Its going to be peak season July/Aug (not my choice) so I know Vegas will be as hot as hell but is it better to fly midweek to the states and same for Vegas.

Not done any research yet just looking for opinions, tips etc

Cheers

él statutorio

Fly to SFO, do a day or two there.

Rent a car and do part of the PCH for a few days and then cut across over to Vegas. How much you see depends on if you're going for a week or more.

Vegas with small kids gets old fast. Was there last year with a 6 and 2 year old.

Irish Gunner

Thanks

Hopefully fly to SF and spend a few days there maybe Hire a car and do few trips and then possible drive to Vegas and drop off the car and fly home from there. Will use public transport in SF and was there before and good but then try to get out for a few days

Plan is to go for 14 days max so hopefully see as much as we can depending on $$ we can afford One suggestion

San Francisco > Santa Cruz (redwoods) > San Luis Obispo > back to Monterey via Big Sur > YNP > Tioga Pass > Death Valley > Las Vegas.

Never driven on the wrong side of the road but we can share the drive. Just wonder if they can provide baby seats?

tricky D

You might also be interested in:

Santa Cruz has whale watching which I recommend. Also has the Mystery Spot which we didn't bother with as we hadn't booked.

Hearst Castle on way to SLO - book in advance. Actually book every thing you can in advance.

You need to book Yosemite as far in advance as possible, the best bookings get snapped up, up to a year in advance.

East beyond Tioga Pass are Bodie Ghost Town, Panmum Crater (active a few hundred years ago), Mono and June Lakes.

It is bloody expensive, but a helicopter tour over the Canyon in amazing.

Consider hiring the car for one or two days in SF. Public transport is good but still a car is better for getting around some places.


Check out the loads of threads here and in the travel forum and you'll find shedloads of ideas, tips, etc.

él statutorio

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Thanks

Hopefully fly to SF and spend a few days there maybe Hire a car and do few trips and then possible drive to Vegas and drop off the car and fly home from there. Will use public transport in SF and was there before and good but then try to get out for a few days

Plan is to go for 14 days max so hopefully see as much as we can depending on $$ we can afford One suggestion

San Francisco > Santa Cruz (redwoods) > San Luis Obispo > back to Monterey via Big Sur > YNP > Tioga Pass > Death Valley > Las Vegas.

Never driven on the wrong side of the road but we can share the drive. Just wonder if they can provide baby seats?

They can but they charge for them.

If you bring your own the airline can't charge you for it, but it's a pain in the hoop to haul it around.

What we've done in the past, particularly if we have a few carless days, is pick up a used seat locally (2nd hand kids stuff shop) for about $50, use it and just leave it in the car when we leave. Works out cheaper than renting one.

Fathom

Cisco sights include Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, and wine tasting with summer concerts:

Napa Valley is a renowned Californian wine-producing region north of San Francisco, with hundreds of vineyards set amid rolling hills. Its wineries range from small, family-run estates to landmarks such as Robert Mondavi Winery, offering summertime concerts and year-round tastings.

Irish Gunner

Thanks for the suggestions

Just pricing flights to SF and wow they are not cheap and the best is with Virgin via London and that's direct. Then I need to get the bags over with Ryanair and their charges, but still working cheaper. Others are one stop and with Junior easier I think to do direct

One thing what is the story with taxi's in the US and infants. We will be getting taxi from airport(if not hiring a car) and wondering is it law that taxi must have child seat? Same goes if we are travelling around the city?

Might pick one up over there as suggested but just wondering if we don't? Don't want to be carrying car seat with us walking around the city

tricky D

Be careful using Ryanair for connecting. You have little/no comeback if delayed so it could possibly end up being a very expensive saving. I wouldn't touch anything not on a single ticket for this.

Irish Gunner

tricky D wrote: »

Be careful using Ryanair for connecting. You have little/no comeback if delayed so it could possibly end up being a very expensive saving. I wouldn't touch anything not on a single ticket for this.

Have family in London so staying overnight would not do connection on the same day with them. Same coming back staying over in London

tricky D

Grand then so all you need is to squeeze in a home game.

Irish Gunner

tricky D wrote: »

Grand then so all you need is to squeeze in a home game.

Not in August I wont With Junior don't get to go to much these days

What's it like bringing a infant to Vegas? Reading about it and seems ok as long as we don't gamble or drink while he is with us, that apply to say in the hotel ?

Won't be spending much time in Vegas so during the day do trips its more at night time how restaurants are with babies. Also reading that hotels charge for Baby cots and fridges for rooms?

él statutorio

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Not in August I wont With Junior don't get to go to much these days

What's it like bringing a infant to Vegas? Reading about it and seems ok as long as we don't gamble or drink while he is with us, that apply to say in the hotel ?

Won't be spending much time in Vegas so during the day do trips its more at night time how restaurants are with babies. Also reading that hotels charge for Baby cots and fridges for rooms?

You can cart him around where ever really, the Casino floor can be smoky so be aware of that. Also, in July / Aug it'll be hot as balls there. So you won't be doing too much outside with him either. A lot depends how old he is.

Restaurants are fine with babies, in fairness most of the restaurants in the US are very baby friendly. I never had an issue.

Most rooms should have a fridge, but, in Vegas it may be the kind of mini fridge that triggers a charge if you open the door. Worth checking that at reception.

I don't recall us ever being charged for a cot, but we had a small fold up cot for our kids when they were small (under six months) that we usually brought everywhere so my memory might be hazy.

ceadaoin.

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Not in August I wont With Junior don't get to go to much these days

What's it like bringing a infant to Vegas? Reading about it and seems ok as long as we don't gamble or drink while he is with us, that apply to say in the hotel ?

Won't be spending much time in Vegas so during the day do trips its more at night time how restaurants are with babies. Also reading that hotels charge for Baby cots and fridges for rooms?

We were charged something like 60$ per night for a camp bed for our daughter so they probably will charge for a cot. It's probably worth buying a cheap one in target or whatever, it will work out cheaper . We bring our own in the car now and bring it up after check in.

Another thing to bear in mind is that most hotels on the strip now charge for parking, usually around $20 per day. That's on top of the resort fee so can add a fair bit to your room rate compared to what's advertised. If you have a hire car anyway, and aren't too bothered about actually staying on the strip then maybe consider an offer strip hotel? Red Rock hotel and casino is nice, lots of restaurants and shopping in the area, free parking and about 20-30 mins drive from the strip. Plus they have a drop in kids play area/babysitting service that's very reasonable, clean and secure if the adults want to have a couple of drinks and a gamble :P

The fridges will be stocked with minibar stuff so not much room for storing things. Unless you book an apartment style room with a small kitchenette or similar then you will be charged for an extra small fridge.

Most restaurants are very child and baby friendly. Obviously, no kids allowed at the bar but it's no probs having a drink with dinner or even walking around the casinos with a drink as well as a child, once you aren't hammered or anything. Many people buy those pull along wagons to easily transport their kids. I've seen kids asleep in those at 1am with pillows and blankets while their parents walk around!

No stopping for a look on the casino floor with a child though, you'll be moved on fairly quickly.

él statutorio

I stayed at the end of the strip here last year.

No Casino, very kid friendly, pool gym etc and nice suites, not very expensive when I stayed there either. Free parking too.

We had both kids with us (I was there for work) and we'd drive up to the strip and pay to park for the day.

Third_Echelon

All the rental car companies will hire you a child seat for the car no problem. Costs something like 10 to 15 per day. Some do a set fee for the duration of the rental. You'll need to check out the various hire car websites.

If you are flying into SFO, there is a good uber-like service just for airport pickups and drop-offs called 'Wingz'. Smartphone app available in the app store. It's a purple and green icon - also online https://www.wingz.me/

Wingz operate in quite a few other cities too! Anyway, they have cars available with child seats. Costs an additional $10 for the trip and you need to pre-book it so they know to have a driver available that has a child seat. I've used them for longer trips back to Ireland from SFO (live in San Jose), where the cost of the wingz fare is less than airport parking (which is outrageous at SFO). Drivers are excellent, on time and even hang around if your flight is delayed etc.

Fathom

Third_Echelon wrote: »

If you are flying into SFO, there is a good uber-like service just for airport pickups and drop-offs called 'Wingz'.

Be very careful to ID any car or van service. I almost got hoodwinked by a van at LAX that didn't belong to any agency.

Third_Echelon

Fathom wrote: »

Be very careful to ID any car or van service. I almost got hoodwinked by a van at LAX that didn't belong to any agency.

Wingz is good. Only bookable via app or website and they send you a pic of the driver. They cannot pick up someone just flagging them down etc.

Fathom

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Wingz is good. Only bookable via app or website and they send you a pic of the driver. They cannot pick up someone just flagging them down etc.

At LAX a uniformed attendant called the unmarked van. I declined unmarked. There have been horror stories of out-of-towners getting "taken for a ride" from this international airport. Always be cautious! Even if an attendant in uniform offers help. Especially if traveling by yourself.

Third_Echelon

Fathom wrote: »

At LAX a uniformed attendant called the unmarked van. I declined unmarked. There have been horror stories of out-of-towners getting "taken for a ride" from this international airport. Always be cautious! Even if an attendant in uniform offers help. Especially if traveling by yourself.

Yeah I never use those guys. Can be dodgy alright.

poisonated

Just my opinion but Death Valley wasn’t my cup of tea. It promotes itself as being somewhere that is very hot. Something I wouldn’t travel out of my way for. But I’ve heard other people say that they enjoyed it.