Potential Family holiday to West Coast of America

[oldmate]

Can't wait to go back to the states next year..

I would give you advice as to what we did, but as we don't have to allow for children in our plans, it is totally different to what your needs would be. 

I loved LA though, most people I know that have been, or people that talk about it, don't like it?, but we loved it. Did a city day tour, so much history to learn about there, loved walking around Hollywood day and night, we stayed on sunset Blvd., loved Santa Monica pier, and Venice beach. Went up to Malibu.  We also did universal studios which was good. 

Have fun.

Edit,

Agree with previous comments, SeaWorld in San Diego is the same as Gold Coast, only they have a whale there.  We also loved San Diego, spent a few nights there, looking over navy ships, great food in the gas lamp quarter, and went over the border also, ( wouldn't bother doing that again). Can't comment on San Fran, as that is part of our next trip, hopefully.

[MDS69]

Agree with buying a toaster and plastic plates etc for breakfast on the cheap. Our kids won't eat a cooked breakfast so I wasn't paying big dollars for them to eat toast or cereal. We went to 7/11 and bought milk, cereal, plastic bowls etc as well as a slab of water as far as the comparison of SD sea world with the GC I thought SD sea world was miles better, fantastic rides and shows, remember everything is bigger and better in the US.

3 days at Disneyland and California Adventure land is easy to do.

[jw2170]

Yes to Disneyland and Universal, both awesome! A big yes to Vegas as well. Went there didn't gamble at all but had a great time. We were there when the annual Elvis convention was on - hilarious. Casinos are much more than gambling. Take the kids to a live show like Cirque Du Soleil or Wayne Newton.

Pretty much agree with Brett...

In 2012 wife and I did a road trip from NY to LA, via Niagara Falls, Detroit, Nashville, Memphis, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon...Just to mention the major stops......Stayed in Anaheim to visit Disneyland...I did not find driving through LA to be a problem ( I was more frightened in Detroit...LOL).

In 2013 we visited LA again to visit  Universal Studios... Stayed in West Hollywood...that was a mistake...Although travel on the rail/bus system was clean and painless....(and cheap)...

2015, back again to visit Las Vegas.....Back via Hawaii. There is so much entertainment happening ....

Disneyland, Universal Studio and Las Vegas all well worth the trip and would go to all those places again.

Your children will have a ball and so will you...

Oh, and tell the wife to book to bring back 2 cases......she will need it.....VBG.

[gronk]

. Our kids won't eat a cooked breakfast so I wasn't paying big dollars for them to eat toast or cereal.

Don't have to......we found hotels that had free breakfast for the same price as ones without..

I've never met a kid that won't have a cooked breakfast

[oldmate]

Hey jim, that road trip sounds awesome. Something I would love to do.  How long was the time allowed for that?

Sorry op, bit off track

[MDS69]

Don't have to......we found hotels that had free breakfast for the same price as ones without..

I've never met a kid that won't have a cooked breakfast

Wait until you meet my kids. Seriously think of every item in a cooked breakfast and I can gaurentee the only item they will eat is toast.
My wife and I don't necessarily want a cooked breakfast either as we don't have tyem at home and don't want to end up piling on the kg's.
The hotel in our last package breakfast was extra and I guess we could have requested the travel agent to find one that included it for the same price but as above we didn't want it.
We are staying in Disney World this time and the breakfast package, hot or cold, was extra.

[gronk]

Fair enough.....we booked everything on a budget, from home before we left, which took the missus weeks of searching for the best deals, and me a bit of time on google earth checking all the places out, and for the places we didn't book, we had a list of motels in the general area that would suit ( all with breakfast included, as it was one less thing to worry about for the day ).

We found the easiest way to get around was hiring a car ( Dodge Caravan ), which took more time finding the best deal .

We did 4 weeks on the east coast this year and 1 week on a Caribbean cruise for a total of $12,000 ( 2 adults )

[MDS69]

We did 4 weeks on the east coast this year and 1 week on a Caribbean cruise for a total of $12,000 ( 2 adults )

Nice effort.

[jw2170]

Hey jim, that road trip sounds awesome. Something I would love to do.  How long was the time allowed for that?

Sorry op, bit off track

Left Sydney 15/05/2012
6 nights in New York then on road trip.

Did 5105 miles...on the wrong side of the road.....VBG.

Total trip, (including flight days) was 34 days.

[gronk]

Left Sydney 15/05/2012
6 nights in New York then on road trip.

Did 5105 miles...on the wrong side of the road.....VBG.

Total trip, (including flight days) was 34 days.

We left Sydney 18/3/2015

6 nights in New York ( Harlem )

Did approx 4,000 miles..north to Lake Placid, then down the east coast, across to New Orleans then back to Miami.

Total trip ( including a cruise ) was 35 days !

[xcvator]

Is there any possibility that the thread sticks to the original op's question or is that just too much to ask 

[Beachman]

Hi All,

Thanks for everyone feedback and while I personally don't like LA, this trip is all about the kids and theme parks. So for example Disneyland we want to stay within walking distance so we can come and go during the day.

With the Australian dollar going pear shaped booking a USA holiday probably isn't the wisest financial decision, but seeing this will be the kids first plane trip and the fact if we put it off any longer my eldest will be at the age Disneyland isn't cool. So it's either now or never.

In regards to the cruise idea I personally like that idea, but my Wife hates the idea of being stuck on a boat so I will probably never experience a cruise.

Also great tip in regards to buying a toaster/plastic plates as having to buy 3 meals per day quickly adds up.

Thanks

[gronk]

Is there any possibility that the thread sticks to the original op's question or is that just too much to ask 

If someone is going to delete posts, delete all the offending posts.....which means this one as well, even though it has been cleaned up from the rubbish it had in before !!

If this person thinks he has the right to throw in an offensive post, maybe he can apply to be a moderator ??