Western Usa Tour

[Zacs-Master]

Mrs Zacs hawaii birthday next year (5-0) so we're wanting to do the west coast / Yosemite trip. I'd like to do a bit of driving (highway 1) but not too much. Must sees are:
San Fran for 2/3 days
Napa valley
LA - only one day/night
Las Vegas - one day/night
Grand Canyon
Yosemite - want to stop in a lodge/ cabin for 3/4 days
Yellowstone national park - 2/3 days.
Is it best to book all things individually myself (hard work!) or let a tour company book everything (high cost!)?
We'd be going for approx 18 nights.

[TWR]

By doing it yourself Zac you may be saving money, but you might slip up with a minor detail that could spoil your hol, by doing it through a Travel A. you have come back ABTA. Just a thought.

[bhg481]

What happens if you book it yourself and the outward flight is delayed, so you are one day out with the entire trip? I agree with TWR, going via ABTA is insurance.

[Garador]

We've been on 3 Grand Adventures all booke throgh Trailfinders, found them extremely helpful, our adventures were trouble free and quite reasonably priced for what we wanted.

Yes, could have saved mone by doing it ourselves, but going through a travel agent takes ALL the worry and hassle out of the planning.

Try to take in San Diego too. Enjoy your holiday.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. Best get talking to a travel agent. I'm a bit of a control freak so don't like the thought of handing over the reins to someone, but....
Garador, do trail finders tailor your holiday?

[Garador]

Yes Zac, they will tailor your trip to you specific requirements. We couldn't fault their attention to detail. They even got us a transfer to JAL after our BA flight was cancelled due to strike action.

Furthermore Zac, they will continue to tweet your plans for you right up until the time you have to pay. Good luck.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks again garador. Very helpful.

[zebo]

We've never used a travel agent for these trips and we've done quite a few. Once you have your flights, decide on dates for Yosemite and Yellowstone and book those, they get booked up very early. Yellowstone is quite a way north from your route, maybe look to fly in or out of Salt Lake City and use another airport for the return.
Personally, I would fly into San Francisco, then Napa Valley, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and fly out of Las Vegas. This would miss Yellowstone but in 18 days it would be a tight schedule, and it leaves something to look forward to returning for.
The Rand McNally website allows you to plan a trip with mileage etc, we use it all of the time.
Enjoy yourselves, if you need a bag carrier.........!

[Hymie]

Personally for such a trip I would select (book) the hotels online, together with the flights (and car hire booked through a UK agent [carhire3000]).
I have done that many times visiting the USA.

You could then set yourself an average budget for the hotel per night (say £50-60), and find the price of flights & car hire on-line and compare this with an all in quote from a travel agent.
My only observation on your proposed itinerary is that Yellowstone is quite a away (a very long days drive) from any other destination. Although very worthwhile visiting – it might be best to save it for another time.

Although I don’t know the timing of your trip – bear in mind that Yellowstone National Park roads are closed from Nov to May (check their website for precise timings).
My other observation is that a Yosemite lodge/cabin might be in short supply depending on the time of visit.

[Zacs-Master]

Wow. Thanks again. We did realise that Yellowstone is a flight away. Will have a look at the Rand website.

[Hymie]

If you scrap Yellowstone from your itinerary – this will give you extra time at other locations.

Worth a visit (driving down Highway 1 from SF to LA) is Hearst Castle – for the ridiculousness of the whole thing (give 17 mile drive a miss).

[janbee]

I did this journey a few years ago and got it all organised for me by a travel company. It was excellent. You'll be staggered by the Grand Canyon. You see it on telly and films and pics etc but when you actually see the real thing...wow!! Hawaii was a huge dissy. Wasn't at all impressed by anything there. If you get the chance, take a helicopter trip over the SF bay , visit Alcatraz and do another heli trip over the Grand Canyon, weather and finances permitting. I'm so envious Zacs. I loved every minute of it, even Hawaii, and would love to do it all again but for longer next time. I wish you both a FANTASTIC time. xx

[Hymie]

I don’t think Hawaii is on the holiday itinerary (something to do with a 50th birthday).

My other tip if you are going to drive the entire route (or a significant proportion) is to buy a satnav with USA maps loaded (which might be a bit difficult to find this side of the pond – but someone on ebay will oblige); or buy one from Walmart as soon as you arrive (it will be cheaper that the hire company will want, unless it is standard on the car).

[Zacs-Master]

And again, many thanks. Jan, Hawaii was just reference to Mrs Z's 50th.

[jno]

did a tour round the Rockies and Yellowstone last year - we booked the flights and a car and that was about it, except for Yellowstone itself - book that as far in advance as you can as there's not that much accommodation in the park and if you stay outside it's maybe a 50-mile drive each way. Even six months in advance may be too late.

For the rest though we just went where we wanted when we wanted. Stayed mostly at Comfort Inns, booking one night when were still at the previous one; and we accumulated enough loyalty points to get a free night about once every 10 days. (Other chains probably do the same.)

But it's a lot of driving (especially to Las Vegas) and if you don't want to do that, people like Titan offer coach tours. (I'm not sure many of them offer both Yosemite and Yellowstone, though.) Don't underestimate distances.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks jno. Just getting to grips with distances. 280 miles between Las V and the Grand Canyon! I thought you could virtually see it from there ;-)

[Maydup]

.....and while you're there it would be a shame not to see Monument Valley, or Bryce Canyon or even Arches National Park!

[whiskeryron]

The amount of driving is vast & very tiresome . We did The Golden West with Cosmos Coach Tours. California, Nevada (Las Vegas,) Arizona Etc. Wonderful & well worth the money. Check it out.