Affordable Beach Hotel?

My wife and I are coming to San Diego next month and are wondering about affordable hotels near the beach. We would like to stay below $150/night as we will be spending several nights there. Thanks!

Affordable Beach Hotel?

Just a little info first -February will be much milder than what you are used to but for us SanDiegans it is too cold to swim in the ocean.

There are a few possible hotels an ddepending on your dates there may be more-

YOu can check out the OceanBeach Hotel-neighborhood is surfy/hippy small townish yet in the city. restauratns nearby to walk to.

The Ocean Park Inn which is at Pacific Beach which has a cement path to walk or bike on along the beach and more hotels nearby.I talso has bkfst and free parking.

By the way you will need a rental car to get easily to other tourist sites.

There are other inexpensive hotels but they are not necessarily at the beach.

Perhaps youwould consider staying away from the beach and being able to drive to one as you probably willnot be spending all you rdays on the sand inFeb.

Affordable Beach Hotel?

Check the rates (and the reviews) for some of these places:

www.danainn.com

www.shelterpointe.com

www.surferbeachhotel.com

www.bayclubhotel.com

Up in Del Mar, about 20 min north of San Diego, they somehow seem to escape the rain more than any other place around. All the hotels there are quite close to the beach, maybe check the Best Western Stratford. In Carlsbad, also north of San Diego, check TamarackResort.

Joe you have given som egood ideas for hotels but the shelter pointe and the bayclub are not at the beach. They are on Shelter Island which has great views of the SanDiego Bay but not a beach.

I agree that they might be good choices if the folks want to change their minds an dnot be right on a beach. Especially inFeb!!

Thanks for the posts they are very helpfull. Hope you don%26#39;t get tired of me I have more questions.

Ken

You can%26#39;t get more on the beach than the ';Del Mar Motel on the Beach'; It is possible that you could get a rate of $100 depending upon availability. see www.delmarmotelonthebeach.com

This is a one star motel, see the TA reviews for others%26#39; opinions:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60750-d76747-R鈥?/a>

We enjoyed Shelter Pointe and it is near the beach as the original poster requested but not ON the beach. However, it is now called Kona Kai resort and I think the rates have gone up.

How's the temperature in San Francisco at the moment?

Am being nagged by my shopping buddy as to whether or not she needs to use valuable space in her suitcase for a warm jacket!!! Wondering what the weather is like there at the moment? :o)

How's the temperature in San Francisco at the moment?

At the moment it%26#39;s freezing cold. It%26#39;s 1:30AM in mid-January and it%26#39;s the coldest it%26#39;s ever been in ten years.

But during the day it warms up to a balmy 50 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 Celcius.

How's the temperature in San Francisco at the moment?

At the moment, 05:02, it%26#39;s 38°F. On the road home from Monterey around 02:30, it was 23°F a bit North of Prunedale.

The ';Don%26#39;t-miss SIGHTS in San Francisco'; page geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/Sights.html has enough to keep you busy for nine twelve-hour days. It includes links to your best source of advice on WHERE TO EAT here, the UseNet Group ba.food, and the quite-good sfSurvey. It also has a WEATHER CHART with a link to current conditions.

It%26#39;s supposed to be warming up slowly over the next several days. Perhaps your mother could bring layers for maximum flexibility and then buy a jacket if she needs one when she gets here. You%26#39;re going to be shopping anyway, right? Save that suitcase space for the stuff you%26#39;ll need!

you better bring jackets. Daytime highs for the next 10 days average 14 degrees Celsius

Brrr! Jackets it is - very squishy ones that don%26#39;t take up much space! Thanks for that! :o)

5 hours in San Diego and nice late lunch recommendations

We have 5 hours to kill before we are supposed to meet someone for a late lunch at 3 p.m. on a Saturday.

What should we do for 5 hours? Does anyone have a of where to have lunch. By the water would be nice, good food with a relaxed atmosphere would be great!

Thanks!

5 hours in San Diego and nice late lunch recommendations

wakegirl, Where are you going to be? Will you have a car?Where are you meeting this person? Have you been to SanDiego before? SanDiego county is very large!!

acne

5 hours in San Diego and nice late lunch recommendations

We have 5 hours to kill before we are supposed to meet someone for a late lunch at 3 p.m. on a Saturday.

What should we do for 5 hours? Does anyone have a of where to have lunch. By the water would be nice, good food with a relaxed atmosphere would be great!

Thanks!

5 hours in San Diego and nice late lunch recommendations

What part of town? For five hours, I would recommend the Old Town Trolley (bus) tour - it lasts only a couple hours, but takes you to all kinds of great locations - Old Town, Balboa Park, downtown, Coronado - and you can get off at various locations, then explore more and get on again.

For lunch, Fish Market right on the water downtown is great - fun atmosphere, very casual. If you have a car, then Point Loma Seafood near Shelter Island is also great. There are many others, that%26#39;s one of my favorites, but if you have a specific type of food in mind, let us know and we can give you more ideas.

5 hours in San Diego and nice late lunch recommendations

You may want to consider the Sheerwater Restaurant at the Hotel Del Coronado if you do decide to go to Coronado. It%26#39;s a lovely are of San Diego, the drive over the bridge is scenic and the town is quaint and charming. We dined outside at the Sheerwater the first week of Dec and enjoy our lunch very much. I have a review of our meal with some photos if you%26#39;re interested.

After lunch you could explore the Del, there are shops there and nice little museum store where you can read about the history of the hotel. Also in Coronado is a Historical Museum that is free of charge that we enjoyed. Of course, donations are accepted after visiting the museum.

In La Jolla, we enjoyed a nice snack before dinner at the Crab Catcher, you will have views of the water here and the clam chowder is very good. Enjoy your trip! :)

Family wants on Beach in San Diego

We are planning a family vacation in June and we are looking for something on the beach. We will be in San Diego from Wednesday June 20 - Monday or Tuesday June 25 or 26. We are very interested in something wtih a kitchen. We are a family of five, Kids are 8, 2, 1. Do you know of any nightly rentals and not just Saturday to Saturday?

Family wants on Beach in San Diego

I am not sure what you mean by ';nightly rentals';?

There are houses and condos that usually rent for a week but you can get hotels with kitchens as well that will rent for however many nights you want.

The La Jollabeach and Tennis club has family cottages at La Jolla shores Beach.

TheBeach Cottages are on Pacific Beach as is th eCapri by theSea which is a condo that rents like a hotel. The Catamaran Hotel has what they call studio rooms with a full kitchen as well. It is across the street from th eocean at PacificBeach an dbacking up onto MissionBay Park.

What type of quilt do you like

Hollywood to Santa Monica

On public transportation, from Hollywood/Highland corner, can Santa Monica be reached by public bus? approximately how long to get there? and the fare for adults

Thank you

Hollywood to Santa Monica

On mta.net you can map out any bus route that you need before your trip. Print out a few routes and have them with you, they%26#39;ll come in handy.

One way to Santa Monica is to walk one block south on Highland until you get to Sunset Blvd, take the #2 bus (make sure it says UCLA or Westwood on the front) to Westwood Blvd. In Westwood (a neat neighborhood to browse around in for awhile) you then catch a Blue Santa Monica bus to SM.

The first bus is $1.25, or $3 for a day pass if you are going to be riding any other metro that day. The Blue bus is separate charge.

The #2 bus goes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills neighborhoods, so the day pass is a good idea (just ask the bus driver and have $3 correct change)....you can hop on and hop off wherever you want, either on the way to Santa Monica or at night on the way back.

Hollywood to Santa Monica

The ride is about an hour and requires taking 2 buses (one after another). There are a number of routes that drop you in a number of different places in Santa Monica.

If you plan on taking at least 3 METRO BUS or METRO RAIL rides in one day (at $1.25 per ride) then buy a $3 DAY PASS which is good on METRO BUS OR METRO RAIL.

If you don%26#39;t have a street address in Santa Monica that you are going to, you can use landmarks like SANTA MONICA PIER as a destination while plotting your trip on MTA.NET (See the upper right corner of their home page for instructions on how to do this).

Good luck!

thanks for all the great info. If I took a cab, lets say to the Santa Monica Pier, from the HOllywood/Highland area, how much would it cost?

Depends on time of day and traffic delays , but I would say a taxi would be $45 - $60?

Tradewinds Airport Hotel

Has anyone stayed at this hotel? I couldn%26#39;t find anything on trip advisor about it.

Thanks

Claire.

Tradewinds Airport Hotel

Hi There,

I stayed at the Hotel and enjoyed it. It has a unique enviroment to it. The rooms were suites and were nice. Hope this helps.

Michael

Tradewinds Airport Hotel

I%26#39;m guessing you won%26#39;t find much about this hotel because Inglewood is not a popular tourist location.

I stayed there during Sept 11th 2001, only due to my travel overseas being disrupted.

I had been stuck in The East coast for a week, and had a wonderufl caring experience with the staff at a hotel.

I was unable to get to Europe in time for my appointment, so I managed to fly back to LAX. I booked four nights at the Tradewinds (then called the Adventurer inn) and as I was short of funds, booked into the hostel. I stayed one night in the hostel, and then the next day was kicked out of there, even though I had paid. They said I was elderly (I was 39 at the time) and could not stay there.

I told them to find me somewhere else, but they told me I had to pay extra for a hotel room.

I refused and was kicked out. I should have stood my ground, as they had accepted my payment and they had formed a contract. But at that time, I was emotionally drained, and left.

This was not a friendly caring hotel, and they did not worry at all about how they treated me.

They did not kick me out for any other reason than my age. I am a quiet person, and travel extensively and have never had a problem at a hotel before.

I have heard more nightmare stories about this place than any other. The fact that they go under 3 or 4 different names (Tradewinds, LA Adventurer, Backpackers Paradise)...should tell you something...not proud of their reputation I guess. There are also weird statements posted online about former employees there being what sounds like enslaved. Avoid at all costs.

What is worth seeing and doing in Carmel/Monteray

We are staying 4 nights in Carmel from 2June/6th June. Will it be cold do you think or any chance of getting some sunshire? Also what would you suggest for things to see and do. We love walking, shopping, nice food, bit of culture. Are there any must sees and can someone just explain the Big Sur?

Thanks

What is worth seeing and doing in Carmel/Monteray

First, the weather: by early June the foggy weather has often started, but it%26#39;s really unpredictable. It%26#39;s also possible that you%26#39;ll have sunshine. Even if it%26#39;s sunny, the temps won%26#39;t be much about the mid- to upper-60s--but don%26#39;t quote me on that! Your best bet is to pack layers so that you%26#39;ll be prepared for anything.

There is plenty of shopping and walking to be done in downtown Carmel. You can wander for hours both the main street (Ocean Avenue) and all the little side streets. Visit Carmel Plaza, and if you%26#39;d like to see some cool California-style jewelry, visit Elements in th Doud Arcade on San Carlos St.

There are many excellent restaurants in Carmel: Grasings, Flying Fish Grill (Japanese), Little Napoli (Italian), Patisserie Boisiere (for coffee and pastries--I don%26#39;t recommend dining there).

Visit the Carmel Mission for a bit of California history. See www.sunsetcenter.org to find out if there is a musical performance or play on while you%26#39;re there. If you%26#39;re there on a Sunday, you might enjoy the jazz brunch at Mission Ranch.

You didn%26#39;t say if you%26#39;d have a car. If so, then drive 10 minutes south of Carmel on Highway 1 to Point Lobos State Reserve. There are easy hiking trails with spectacular views. Also, consider a drive into Carmel Valley. You can wine taste at Chateau Julien Winery and then have dinner at Cafe Rustica in Carmel Valley Village (which is a 20-minute from Carmel)

Big Sur is amazing. See www.bigsurcalifornia.org for information. It%26#39;s a one-hour drive south of Monterey. Some people find the road a bit scary because it winds around in places and you%26#39;re up high above the Pacific. If you%26#39;re comfortable with driving, it%26#39;s worth a visit: Pfeiffer State Beach; Nepenthe for lunch.

What is worth seeing and doing in Carmel/Monteray

PGDenizen thanks so much for all your advice and taking the time to come back to me. Many thanks to you. Janet

Don%26#39;t forget Pacific Grove! This is a very quaint, scenic little town almost adjacent to Cannery Row in Monterey. Go to Lover%26#39;s Point Park and walk down to the beach there. We like to stretch out on a blanket, relax, read and people-watch here. Since you%26#39;re coming in June, if you%26#39;re there on the weekend, you may see a wedding or two going on. There is also a very nice walking/bike riding path that is scenic and fun to walk or bike ride. Have dinner at Robert%26#39;s White House in PG.

You may also want to consider Monterey, go to the aquarium, Cannery Row and Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. We recently enjoyed a nice meal at the Duck Club at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. The Sardine Factory is also very good. Tarpey%26#39;s Roadhouse for dinner, you can wine taste next door before dinner at Ventana, they make some really great Sauv Blanc. The tasting is complimentary at Ventana.

I would also suggest you schedule some time for 17 Mile Drive, have a meal at Roy%26#39;s at sunset and listen to the bagpiper play. Your entrance fee to the drive will be re-embursed with your meal here. Have fun! :)

Thanks Syrah Girl for all your recommendations and they sound great. It is really hard to buy guidebooks in UK for Carmel/Mont area - they tend to have small chapter in the California Guides only.

Not that my opinion is worth anything, but...

I%26#39;m seriously impressed with PG and Syrah. I spend a lot of time on the Vegas forum, and there%26#39;s tons of sarcasm and sometimes rudeness, without offering good advice.

Both of you offer such great information in and around the Monterey Bay. I hope TA knows how great both of you are!

what to do in Palm Springs??...HELP!!

my friends and i (4 30something Scotsmen)are staying in the area for 3 nts on March 19th as part of a West Coast tour,we visited for 2 days in 2005 but did nothing but relax..however this time we would really like to explore the place and see and do whatever P.S. has to offer..please help! any tips on sightseeing, bars,clubs, and eateries would be most welcome..thanks.

what to do in Palm Springs??...HELP!!

Palm Springs is a small city and there isn%26#39;t a great deal of nightlife. Best clubs for 30 somethings would be Red 74 on El Paseo in Palm Desert and the Key Club at Casino Morongo in Cabazon (you have to drive to these). There%26#39;s also the Spa casino in downtown Palm Springs if you like to gamble.

Sightseeing

Palm Springs Tram for outstanding views over the desert valley.

Restaurants

Search on www.chowhound.com in the California board

Calendar for concerts etc

search the calendar section of www.thedesertsun.com

what to do in Palm Springs??...HELP!!

Check out the post just below ';HELP! travelling to palm springs from LA'; or something like that.

There are some good sightseeing suggestions there.

In terms of eateries, what kind of food do you like?

Are you staying in Palm Springs or one of the other desert cities?

Great golf here. World class courses. Check out the Red jeep tours at www.red-jeep.com. Always fun and you get to see a bit of the desert.

Beautiful view from the Palm Springs Tramway. (Athough I always get a bit bored after too long) Check out the Polo matches in Indio.

Taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a great idea! Make sure to take along warm clothes to wear when you reach to top. It%26#39;s a lot colder up there.

Here are some links with good information to help you out. The first one is a list of restaurants with pictures.

http://www.palmsprings.com/dine.html

palmspringslife.com/media/鈥?/a>

http://www.palm-springs.org/

http://www.10best.com/Palm_Springs/

http://www.celebrity-tours.com/tour_b.aspx

鈥iator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp鈥?/a>

I would suggest going to this restaurant. Frank Sinatra and Elvis loved the food.

palmsprings.com/dine/lotzamozza/index.html

Here is a restaurant with lots of celebrity history. Celebrity photos are on walls.

calendarlive.com/dining/94173,0,7272316.venue

www.palmsprings.com/dine/melvyns/index.html

And here is information on another Sinatra favorite:

Sorrentino%26#39;s Sea Food House, a favorite of the late Frank Sinatra, offers exquisite seafood in Palm Springs with an Italian flair. The Sorrentino family is in their 54th year of business serving seafood. Their restaurant has been a favorite in Palm Springs since the family moved here 36 years ago. Bill Sorrentino recommends the seafood special, an assortment of crustaceans on a bed of linguini with a white creamy garlic sauce. Entr茅es are $10-$35. Reservations are recommended. Open daily 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. 1032 N. Palm Canyon Drive. (760) 325-2944.

RedlandsRedhead.

LotzaMozza has been open for less than 2 years, so Sinatra and Elvis obviously never ate there. The Gattusos sold the business and there is nothing even remotely the same as it was when they owned it, including the food or the ambience.

Oh, boy, I feel for the hype they put out! Thanks for setting me straight. Is Melyvn%26#39;s as good as it sounds? The review that I read made me want to visit. It said that there are celebrity sittings there and, of course, the food is supposedly to be fabulous. Thanks.

I need to correct my post. It should read celebrity sightings!

Also, I have always liked Los Camponeros (don%26#39;t know if I spelled that correctly) on Palm Canyon Drive. Is that restaurant still there and do they still have mariachis playing at times? I think I would like to plan a visit!

Sorry Ive never heard of that ?? Do you mean Las Casuelas Terraza?

As for Melvyns there is a recent post today on here that talks about Melvyns. Its not really a fun hip place anymore, and any celebrities you%26#39;d see there would be the older crowd.

Usually if you set out to see a celeb you will be disppointed- we see them at Trader Joes or some small store on El Paseo but locals leave them alone as they are also part time residents here.

Yes, that is the Mexican restaurant I meant! Thanks for figuring it out. Is it still there and still nice? Last time I ate there was over 10 years ago. I really liked their margaritas and the little patio on the street.

Who would be celebs in the older crowd? I like old movies and TV and also some of the popular singers of yesteryear, so that would be good. I%26#39;m not a very hip person! Today%26#39;s celebrities don%26#39;t appeal much to me. Although most people might want to see them. From the photos of Melvyn%26#39;s I have the impression it is classy and somewhat sophisicated. Is that true?

Yeah, I know what you mean about seeing celebrities - they are just regular people after all. I once saw a play in Hollywood that was a benefit and saw a well known actress in the rest room and a couple of well known actors in the lobby during intermission. Everyone left them alone. Of course, it was a little disconcerting to check my make up in the mirror next to a movie actress!

acne

Palm Canyon

We are renting a car from the airport. Could someone give me the exact directions to Palm Canyon if we are heading down Palm Canyon Drive? Is Palm Canyon enough or are the other canyons worth the drive? Looks like they collect toll. How much? Thanks so much.

Palm Canyon

Palm Canyon is at the Southernmost end of Palm Canyon Drive, so just head south as far as you can go. To get to Palm Canyon Drive from PSP just go straight out of the airport onto Tahquitz ( you can only go west ) and go about 3 miles and turn left on Palm Canyon, you really can%26#39;t miss it or get lost.

Toll? You mean admission? yes there is a small fee that you pay at the entrance. I dont think you%26#39;d need to see more than one canyon . But the drive is the same as they are all in the same area.

Palm Canyon

$8 adults

$4 children

If you only have 1 day Palm Canyon is enough. take the Seven Sister%26#39;s trail, you will not be dissapointed. the website (indian-canyons.com) seems to be down today, but has more information on all of the trails etc... Also, if you only have the time energy for one hike do the 7 sister%26#39;s and then go to the entrance of Palm Canyon, the entrance is probably on of the best views of this canyon.

how to cope with infidelity

Short Term Furnished Apartments

I will be going up to SF later this year for about 1-2 months and would like to find a furnished apartment to rent. I have done some research on the web and found a few like CitiSuites, but they are way too luxurious and expensive (2500 and up)

I%26#39;m just looking for a studio w/a kitchenette. It doesn%26#39;t have to be fancy, but must be clean and in a decent part of town. Would not like to spend more than 2000/month. Is this unrealistic.

I did fine one w/in my price range called the Trinity Apts, but reviews have not been very good. Has anyone stayed there recently? How was it? Also heard they were gonna tear it down...does anyone know when?

Thanks in advance

Short Term Furnished Apartments

have you checked www.craigslist.com?

Short Term Furnished Apartments

I have, but for some reason, I just don%26#39;t feel comfortable with craigslist. I have heard about lots of scams.

I just want to deal with an actually company where I can book on line and get confirmation # etc. Guess it all boils down to peace of mine :)

nyla818, check out http://yelp.com/ Go to thier SF talk boards and post your question there. I%26#39;m sure you will get some good responses.

I agree that I wouldn%26#39;t send money in advance to a private individual. or an unknown company. When we needed temp housing in another city, we checked craigslist just before leaving (many of the listings are for immediate vacancies anyway). Booked a motel for a few nights while we checked out the most promising listings. You are taking a big chance booking an apartment sight unseen, even if you think the company is realiable.

You may want to check this place out:

http://www.amsires.com/

Crazy4Cali--thanks for the yelp link.

FromDelMar--thanks for your suggestion. That%26#39;s a good idea about getting a motel for a few days while checking out the apartments in person. Never even crossed my mind to do that.

Trinity%26#39;s teardown might be slowed down a bit. Hard to say what is going to happen just yet but there%26#39;s some political wrangling going on:

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi鈥?/a>

Is Oakwood apartments an option, do not know the cost, they have a website.

Oakwood Geary Courtyard (I think that%26#39;s the name.)

The Nob Hill Chateau (I think these are more than you may want to spend though. )

Check out

www.VRBO.com

You rent from the owner and when I was looking for our vacation rental I noticed lots of Monthly only rentals

location matters

I have 2 girls, 7 %26amp; 5 years old.

The end of the days, they are really tired of walking....

I want to stay somewhere very close from the gate, walking deistance so that any time during the day, we can stop by the room to rest.

I also want to have dinner at Mimi%26#39;s or Millie%26#39;s and get the thicker jackets for night time show.

Any recommendations? Please.

I don%26#39;t like the Park Vue Inn.

location matters

Mimi%26#39;s and Millie%26#39;s are next to the Howard Johnson%26#39;s.

And it is on the ART shuttle system

I would stay at HoJo%26#39;s!

location matters

You know, you can rent lockers at the park for those jackets etc for the evening. I think it%26#39;s 6.00 for the day. They%26#39;re large enough to fit jackets/stuff for our family of 5

The monerail goes to the Disnyland Hotel and Paradise Pier hotels...I believe.If the price is affordable to you maybe you should check into them. Just a thought.

Suika, I have a 4 %26amp; 7 year old, and by the end of a full day in the parks, the walk to HoJo%26#39;s was just a bit much for the little one (I ended up carrying him the last bit - not what I really wanted!) As we walked, we were saying ';next time, maybe Fairfield Inn or Carousel';. We chose the HoJo because we always eat at Mimi%26#39;s, but Mimi%26#39;s is just as close to the Fairfield. If you%26#39;re looking to go back to your room mid-day, I%26#39;d consider one of the places close to the crosswalk (Carousel, BW Park Place Inn...) - you can always walk up to Mimi%26#39;s for dinner, but your room will be a lot closer for those afternoon breaks!

viceroy or shutters on the beach?

Hi, my husband and I are ending our California trip with 3/4 nights in Santa Monica for my birthday. We are looking for somewhere boutique-y and trendy but not more than $500 a night preferably with a nice pool, close to restaurants/bars. Are the Viceroy and Shutters worth the money? Is one better than the other?

viceroy or shutters on the beach?

Here%26#39;s a vote for Shutters. The restaurant inside (think it%26#39;s called One Pico) is to die for and one of the most romantic restaurants in the area.

viceroy or shutters on the beach?

If you want ';boutique-y %26amp; trendy'; then it has to be the Viceroy ... Shutters is a beautiful hotel but it%26#39;s neither ... Whist restaurant at the Viceroy is pretty good, still relatively %26#39;hip%26#39; ... considering how quickly places go out of style in this city ...

Do you want uber-hip with hot, happening bar? Then, book Viceroy. Note that Viceroy has one of the best restaurants in LA, but that it%26#39;s not on the beach, it%26#39;s a block away.

Do you want the most romantic hotel you can imagine, with cozy rooms, right on the beach? Then, book Shutters.

There%26#39;s also Casa del Mar, an old fashioned, stately, gorgeous hotel, next door to Shutters, and also on the beach.

These hotels are steps from each other.

The Dana at Mission Bay

We are in the process of planning a trip to San Diego in October. One of the hotel options is The Dana. Would it be ok to bring kids there (boys 10 and 15)? Is it hard to drive from their to the Zoo or Sea world, or USS Midway?

Any other hotel suggestions?

The Dana at Mission Bay

Definitely a good choice, definitely a nice hotel for kids. It is a very quick drive to Seaworld from the Dana, in fact you could even walk if you are walkers. To the USS Midway downtown it%26#39;s about 8 miles - 15-20 minutes. To the Zoo, it%26#39;s about 10 miles - again 15-20 minues. Other hotel suggestions would depend on what you%26#39;re looking for, price range, what amenities you want, if you want to be near the beach or bay (as the Dana) or closer to downtown or to the zoo..... lots of choices.

The Dana at Mission Bay

We are in the process of planning a trip to San Diego in October. One of the hotel options is The Dana. Would it be ok to bring kids there (boys 10 and 15)? Is it hard to drive from their to the Zoo or Sea world, or USS Midway?

Any other hotel suggestions?

The Dana at Mission Bay

It is a perfectly fine hotel for a family. there will be no problem driving form there to any of the tourist sites. It is about 5min from SeaWorld and about15min to downtown and the Midway and perhaps 18 to the zoo.

October is along way off for planning a trip. What are you looking for in a hotel and how much do you want to s pend?

The higher priced (I think) ';sister'; to the Dana is Th eCatamaran.

These hotels are located in thearea we call missionBay and the Catamaran is across the street from theocean as well.

Coronado is a city across the bay from downtown SanDiego ,reached by a short bridge just south of downtown. It has a small town feel with a Mariott there as well as the GloriettaBay Inn%26amp;suites and the historic Hotle Del Coronado. All different prices.

The Dana at Mission Bay

Hey Mom, the sister hotel to the Cat is the Bahia...just so you know.

Thanks for giving me a few more options to look at.

I know I am kind of early, but I like to just have things booked, then sit and wait. I wonder if I would be smarter waiting a bit though for better rates? I don%26#39;t think its that bad now since I am looking so far out. I would just hate to wait and everything get higher.

What is the Hotel cirlce I have been hearing about? Is that just like a bunch of hotels all on one road?

I have not totally set a price limit yet, I just know if at all possible, I would like to stay away from Days Inn, Comfort Inn, etc. because we stay at enough of those with my sons baseball teams for tournaments!

Hotel Circle is just as you suspect - a bunch of hotels around Interstate 8 - a relatively congested area traffic-wise. You would probably enjoy the beach areas, downtown, Old Town, or Balboa Park areas more.

YIkes !!!pb mea culpa you are right ! Oh well sister or no sister it is still a nice hotel.

I don%26#39;t believe rates will go up because October is not our busiest season. If you book something directly with thehotel you won%26#39;t pay for anything until you actually get here and then you can keep looking.

You still hav e lots of time as people now are booking for the summer.

acne

appreciate your dog

Coronado Restaurants

We%26#39;ll be staying on Coronado Island early February with two other couples. Any recommendations for restaurants (breakfast, lunch, dinner)? We all like seafood, casual, and not too pricey. We%26#39;re staying at La Avenida Inn and will have a car.

Thanks for assistance as always.

Coronado Restaurants

Clayton%26#39;s coffee Shop is great for breakfast, with an old-fashioned diner feel. My favorite dinner restaurant in Coronado is the Rhinocerous right on Orange Avenue (main street of Coronado). I love the Coronado Brewing Company for great salads and burgers and a fun atmosphere. Peohe%26#39;s has a great view of the bay and downtown San Diego, I like going there for drinks at sunset.

Coronado Restaurants

Also for breakfast the Surf n Diner. There%26#39;s an Irish Pub that%26#39;s fun,McPs and a Greek cafe overlooking the bay at the Ferry Landing -Spiro%26#39;s Gyros.

I second Peohes for the view and the Coronado Brewing Compnany for beer and a relaxed dinner.

We enjoyed Miguel%26#39;s Cocina for Mexican food, the Rhinoceros Cafe was also good for lunch. They make some really good soups, sandwiches and salads there.

The restaurants at the Hotel Del are very good, the Sheerwater is less expensive than 1500 Ocean. They have a buffet for breakfast that is really good, we enjoyed sitting outside with views of the grounds and ocean. Have fun! :)

Thank you all for your input...we now have a nice selection for our visitors from the East coast.

Just a correction- Iwoke up this morning realizing the name of the diner is the BEACH nDiner. Very retro look. Sorry I try to be accurate.

Thanks Riffsmom, we%26#39;ll give it a try.

Here%26#39;s a few suggestions from a Native Nado person - who eats out in town 3-4 times a week - in no particular order

1. Brigatine - eat in the BAR and eat during Happy Hour for the specials! Great blackened swordfish tacos, not on the menu. Fish tacos, chowder, etc

2. Sushi Bar area at Peohe%26#39;s (don%26#39;t bother with the main restaurant) - they have a bar menu. (Not to be confused with the ';bar bar';)

3. Il Fornaio - for coffee and pastry in the morning

4. The Fish Company - great plate lunches, seafood %26amp; sushi. Recommend for lunch - dinner more pricey. Very casual

5. Mexican at Miguel%26#39;s Cocina - try anything with the jalapeno white sauce

5. Crown City Bistro for breakfast - on Orange Ave\near 5th\6th

(hidden gem)

6. Burgers - local dive bar - Danny%26#39;s Palm Bar %26amp; Grill

7. Local dive grill Nite %26amp; Day Cafe - open 24 hrs a day

8. Swadee Thai - if you want something ethnic

9. Tartine - nice for lunch and dessert

10. Tent City - can be hit and miss

11. Villa Nueva Bakery Cafe - very casual bakery, great omletes, low prices, big portions

12. The Clubhouse Bar %26amp; Grill at the golf course for lunch

Places to avoid:

Yummy Sushi

Village Pizzeria

Tomaso%26#39;s - bad service

Island Pasta - always busy - really marginal

Marie Callender%26#39;s - chain

Bay Beach Cafe -good location, marginal food

Beach %26amp; Diner

Coronado Boathouse 1887 - overpriced

Primavera Ristorante - no windows

Marginal places to eat - tho%26#39;some like them - not my 1st choice

Coronado Brewing Company

Costa Azul

MCP%26#39;S Irish Pub %26amp; Grill - go for drinks, not to eat

Rhinoceros Cafe and Grill

Spyro%26#39;s Gyros Greek Cafe

Unknowns

Chance Bistro - somewhat new, interesting menu, always busy, but not very comfortable location

Thanks for great list, Nadocat.

HI nadocat, what did you not like about the Rhinoceros Cafe? We had a quick lunch there and enjoyed the place. Just curious! :)

HI nadocat, what did you not like about the Rhinoceros Cafe? We had a quick lunch there and enjoyed the place. Just curious! :)

I didn%26#39;t say I didn%26#39;t like R.C. - just that is somewhat marginal - in my opinion. Not that many locals eat there on a regular basis. It%26#39;s ';fine'; - as is the Coronado Brewery or Azul%26#39;s - just for the price - I think one can do better.

Slanted Door ??

Hello all,

I%26#39;ve currently got 7:45pm reservations at the Slanted Door for a party of 8 in celebration of an upcoming birthday. I%26#39;m getting a bit nervous. The reviews seem very mixed! Anyone been there lately? We%26#39;re going on a Thursday night.

Slanted Door ??

Haven%26#39;t been there, but my daughter and friend were there for her birthday on Dec. 9 and she loved it. Please report back, if you eat there, so that i will have TWO reviews %26lt;grin.

Slanted Door ??

Most here say it is wonderful...after I read the reviews on Sanfrancisco.citysearch.com I wondered why??

I have always enjoyed it when I%26#39;ve been there. It gets loud, but that isn%26#39;t something that bothers me. I have always had good experiences there. I know other people have experienced poor service, but I have been fortunate enough not to.

An update.

We had a marvelous night at the Slanted Door. Exceeded my expectations. Our table was ready when we arrived - the service was good and our group of 8 sat at a large round table which made it possible to talk to each other - even thought the restaurant is very loud.

The food - it was outstanding and like many of the reviews in Tripadvisor, the spring rolls and shaking beef were fab.

Other highlights of our trip - waking from Coit Tower to Union Square, the SF Museum of Modern Art, Beach Blanket Babylon, the cable cars and stumbling on various small restaurants and deli%26#39;s

that had great food and an authentic atmosphere.

Cheers

Spring Break in Anaheim

Thanks for the info regarding Disneylands schedule, but that still does not tell me WHEN Spring Break is for the local schools in the Anaheim area. Does anybody know the answer to this??

Thanks,

MJ

Spring Break in Anaheim

There are HUNDREDS of different school districts within a one day drive of Disneyland, and it seems that each school district has changed and modified its schedules.

Many College and Universities in the area are getting a week in March off, many Kindergarden thru 12th grade students will have either the 1st or 2nd week of April off, but some of these districts are switching to taking a week in March off. Then many Southern California schools have year-round schedules, which will give many kids either the month of March or April off.

So there is no real answer, except that Disney expects LARGE crowds from March 9th thru April 15th, with the last 2 weeks being a bit busier than the first 3.

Spring Break in Anaheim

For example, there are EIGHT different school districts that serve just the City of Anaheim.

http://www.anaheim.net/article.asp?id=1152

And even if EVERY school in Anaheim had the same week off, it wouldn%26#39;t have a big impact as compared to the LA Unified School District getting a week off at a different time.

I wish there was an easy way to predict, and so does Disney.

I am a frequent visitor (I go at least twice a week to cover construction progress) and know many folks at the Management level who work for Disney (or other theme parks). I caught a major mistake they made in their January 2006 schedule. But I found the mistake after they booked a major party after hours, which caused an 8 PM close on a very busy weekday, where they would have kept the park open until 11 PM or Midnight. They failed to catch the fact the Rose Bowl was moved to a later date due to the National Championship, and the fact that many school districts have added the first week of January off to prevent unexcused absences They did add extra hours for the rest of the week, but they signed a contract to close at 8 PM the one day, which cost Disney a lot of extra revenue that day.

Thank you very much for the descriptive reply. That was very helpful. Being from Canada, I really didn%26#39;t know how the system worked down there. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it.

Cheers,

MJ

Darkbeer - will the crowds be significantly lighter the third week in April? Disney has reduced the hours that week but I%26#39;m not convinced. We can go either the 12th or 13th or anytime the following week - 16th through the 20th. What do you think will result in the least amount of waiting in line?

Thanks so much for all of your great input!

hotel diva?

I%26#39;m thinking of staying at the Hotel Diva for 3 nights in May. My husband and I would like to be in a central location near good restaurants/bars/shops and within easy access of all the attractions. I%26#39;m torn between Diva and staying somewhere like Hotel Drisco or The Orchard. Anyone stayed in either?

hotel diva?

Well if you want something central, cross the Drisco off your list. It is out of the way in the residential neighborhood of Pacific Heights. Fabulous area and very much ';real'; San Francisco, but probably not ideal if it%26#39;s your first visit to San Francisco in my opinion.

Out of those you list, I would probably stay at the Orchard. More luxuries and still has a good location.

The Diva seems to be one that people do enjoy, but it is very minimalist!

hotel diva?

Agree. Diva was renovated in a, to me, weird style.

The Del vs. Coronado Marriott - Help

Coming to San Diego for 3 nights in mid-May, will have a car. I can%26#39;t decide where to stay. We like walking around to restaurants %26amp; bars(but not clubs), beach %26amp; pools, shopping, etc. We can%26#39;t decide on a hotel area %26amp; hotel. I%26#39;m deciding between Coronado Island Marriott or Hotel Del, or possibly the Glorietta Bay Inn - or a resort type place in Mission Beach area or Gaslamp Quarter - like Hotel Salomar? Any help would be truly appreciated!

The Del vs. Coronado Marriott - Help

Boy, it really depends on if you want to be in a beach area or a city area. I would take the best of both worlds and stay in Coronado. A great beach, lots of restaurant choices, nice area to walk, and just a short drive, bus ride, or ferry across the bay to downtown and all the restaurants, shops, and sites there. Hotel Del is right at the beach and a gorgeous historic property, but there is some downside as they%26#39;re currently building condos on the grounds and there%26#39;s construction noise. Coronado Marriott is great, but on the other side of Coronado from the beach, so about a mile walk if you do want to go to the beach. Great views across the bay, but if I were staying on the bay, I%26#39;d choose Marriott Marina downtown because they have a great pool area, very resort-ish while still being conveniently located for lots of restaurants and bars. Glorietta Bay Inn is another great choice, right across the street from the Hotel Del, so a quick walk to the beach.

If you do want to stay right in the city, then Hotel Solomar is a great choice, and I%26#39;d also look at the brand new Keating in the Gaslamp as well. Mission Beach is nice, but I%26#39;m more of a city person, and like to be in the middle of it all. But it%26#39;s what you want, not me - Hope that helps?

The Del vs. Coronado Marriott - Help

I don%26#39;t think you will find really interesting restaurants at MissionBeach.

It%26#39;s a surfy beach bar type area.

Coronado will be quieter with a small town feel and a main street with restaurants etc. Whether at the bayside (Coronado Marriott resorty feel) or the ocean side(HotelDelhistoric resort) you%26#39;ll be easily able to get to the beach,especially with a car.

The gaslamp is city with wall to wall restaurants and bars or clubs.

The Marriott %26amp;Marina is on the edge of this area but with a great pool and views of the bay.

I can%26#39;t pick for you but have fun choosing.

Go to the California, Coronado forum and this topic is discussed in great detail

Staying at the Solamar right now, and it%26#39;s overall great. Very polite help, well maintained, well decorated rooms, fast valet parking, close to several good restaurants(more so than in Coronado). The Del is historic but only partly renovated, so a lot of the rooms are run down. My only warning about the Solamar is DON%26#39;T get a room on the 4th floor(where the pool deck is located), and NOT facing the pool if possible. There is an active bar scene at the pool lounge on weekends that can definitely interfere with a good night%26#39;s sleep.

Hi ccjersey, we loved our stay at the Hotel Del Coronado last month. It is a historic property with much history behind it. I loved the beach/pool area here and the restaurants at the hotel were very good, you are also walking distance to some restaurants in Coronado, we liked the Rhinoceros Cafe and Miguel%26#39;s Cocina.

The service at the Del was outstanding, the concierge was very helpful, there also lots of nice shops at the hotel and a spa. We didn%26#39;t want to leave! The construction noise did not bother us at all, actually we never heard it at all during our 3 night stay. I hope you have a good trip to San Diego, it%26#39;s a beautiful city! :)

Just wanted to also mention that our room was in the Victiorian Section and was was very nice, it had a flat screen TV that seemed new and worked very well.

Thank you everyone for your helpful information. After great debate, my husband and I decided on the Marriott Marina, thanks to your great suggestions! I wouldn%26#39;t have looked into this place, but it really has everything we want and the location is perfect. Thank you again, can%26#39;t wait!

Have a great time, you%26#39;re sure to enjoy Coronado! :)

brown hair

Chancellor v. Handlery

Hello all,

Been reading the posts but still have a couple of questions. 3 other girlfriends and I are going out on a Girls long w/e trip and doing all the usual SF area tourist things + Napa wine tour. Will be there from May 4-May 8, 07.

#1 Hotel: We are doing the flight + hotel thing, but can%26#39;t decide between Chancellor and Handlery b/c both seem comparable. Are they pretty much in the same area, Union Square? We are looking at getting a room with 2 double beds, doesn%26#39;t look like Chancellor has them, they appear to have only twin beds. Are they both in safe areas? We were initially looking at Ramada downtown but got discouraged by the safety comments. I was almost set on Chancellor, but got swayed by the Handlery recc%26#39;s. What%26#39;s the best bet for us girls. Oh, we are looking at booking 2 rooms.

#2 Things to do: Since we have such a limited time, is the Union Square the best home base to do Alcatraz, China Town, Japan Town, Little Italy, activities, or are we better off in the Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf area?

#3 Napa: Are there any outfits that take people on a tour from SF to Napa? We are trying to decide if we should do that vs. driving. We are not planning on getting drunk on the tour, but if we don%26#39;t have to worry about driving, would rather do that.

#4 Restaurant: We would like to have one ';splurge'; meal, either in SF, or the Napa area. Any recommendations? If we get in on Friday afternoon, would it be wise to head up to Napa right away, do the tour and then have dinner there? or should we save it toward the end of the stay, say on Monday where we can spend the whole day?

#5 Weather: What %26#39;s it like in May?

Thanks so much for any thoughts. Can%26#39;t wait!

V.

Chancellor v. Handlery

Given how many people are in your party, unless you want to pay for two rooms, my opinion is that you should stay at the Handlery. The rooms are larger. If you don%26#39;t mind paying for the two rooms, then yes, you will have 2 twin beds at the Chancellor.

In my opinion, Union Square is your best ';home base';.

Chancellor v. Handlery

re your last question: If you arrive in SF on a Friday afternoon, I think it best to remain in the city and do Napa on Monday. The weather in Napa in the month of May should be sunny and warm (70%26#39;s, 80%26#39;s), however, prepare for cooler days in SF (low 60%26#39;s but breezy). Dress in layers.

The Chancellor and the Handlery are about 2 blocks from each other, walking distance. No problems with the area. Just decide on which gives you the kind of space you want. Since you are on a fly + hotel do you have a choice of rooms in either hotel, or are they just ';picked'; for you? Are you allowed to contact the hotel(s) to request certain types of rooms?

We do have a choice to some extent. You can choose to upgrade for extra $, as little as $4/night to as much as $100+ a night.

acne

Alone in SF for this weekend

Hi all,

I%26#39;ll be in SF this weekend from Sat. night till Sun. afternoon, alone. What can I do in SF alone? I%26#39;ve never been to SF, will not have a car, will stay in union square area. I don%26#39;t have to go on a typical %26#39;tour%26#39; around the city, but at the same time I wanna feel enough of SF in a short period time.

I%26#39;d like to know a nice bar that I wouldn%26#39;t feel weird or insecure to be alone (i%26#39;m a female in late 20%26#39;s), pretty area to take a walk in the morning, a nice restaurant for lunch and some artistic attraction to visit in the afternoon before heading to the airport.

Thanks for your reply in advance!

Alone in SF for this weekend

North Beach, Columbus Ave, Grant Ave, take the 30 Stockton or pony up $5 for a cable car ride (take the Mason line for North Beach), ask the conductor for Columbus and walk about two blocks slightly uphill. Artistic attraction would be MOMA.

Alone in SF for this weekend

LAnonamegirl asked «What can I do in SF alone?»

Anything you like. This single women whither I go. I%26#39;ve never been to SF, will not have a car,

The best on-line MAP of San Francisco is an inter-active PDF created for the San Francisco Municipal Railway: geocities.com/iconoc/Grafix/CityWide.pdf. I recommend 150% or greater magnification. There%26#39;s also a link that will tell you HOW TO GET THERE FROM HERE. Other links on the page, geocities.com/iconoc/Grafix/FlagMaps.html are a map of our CABLE CAR ROUTES and a superb map of GOLDEN GATE PARK.

«union square . . . I%26#39;d like to know a nice bar . . .»

Your best bets are the Gold Dust on Powell Street, and Lefty O%26#39;Doul%26#39;s on Geary where you can join the singers at the piano bar.

«. . . that I wouldn%26#39;t feel weird or insecure»

Not knowing what would give you those feelings, I don%26#39;t know whether my suggestions would suit your taste.

«a pretty area to take a walk in the morning»

You%26#39;re unlikely to find yourself where it isn%26#39;t pretty for a nice walk.

«some artistic attraction to visit in the afternoon»

You%26#39;ll be where there are many galleries featuring well-and-little-known artists, primarily painters and sculptors.

«the airport.» has many objects d%26#39;art to view; changing displays.

What else to see and do? Only you can decide. Here%26#39;s help:

The ';Don%26#39;t-miss SIGHTS in San Francisco'; page geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/Sights.html has enough to keep you busy for nine twelve-hour days. It includes links to your best source of advice on WHERE TO EAT here, the UseNet Group ba.food, and the quite-good sfSurvey. It also has a WEATHER CHART with a link to current conditions.

The frequently-updated SPECIAL EVENTS page has irregularly-scheduled music and dances as well as links to seven calendars of regularly-scheduled dances, a composite of five of them, and one of dance cruises and events around the world: http://geocities.com/dancefest/Specials.html

tennis - acura classic

does anyone know anything about the acura classic tennis tourney that is held in san diego each summer? my family and i might be interested in going. thanks for the help.

tennis - acura classic

Here is a link to info fo ryou.

www.acuraclassic.com/InfoBooth/faq.html

I have not been to this event. It is held at the La Costa Resort which is about 40min north of the SanDiego airport and downtown.

You will need a rental car and other hotels nearby will be in the town of Carlsbad.

tennis - acura classic

My husband and I went to the Acura last summer. It%26#39;s a terrific women%26#39;s tournament. The stadium court is relatively small so that you get a close up view of the players. Over 2 days, we were able to see Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, Kim Clisters and Mary Pierce play. Better still, the pros practice on the outer courts and we had front row seats as Martina Hingis warmed up with her hitting partner and her mom. We stayed at the Four Seasons which was about 5 minutes away and are considering returning this summer with our kids. Unfortunatly, we won%26#39;t be able to come during the tournament this year, but hope to get back some other time.

wow, thanks for the input. i really hope we will be able to go.

Exploratorium

My husband is an engineer and science nut. I thought it would be fun to check out the Exploatorium. Would it be fun for adults? We%26#39;ll only have a couple hours there before heading to alcatraz, so is it worth the $26 it will cost us to get in?

Thanks!

Exploratorium

Your husband (and you!) will LOVE the Exploratorium! The only problem you may have is not enough time there-you can literally spend several hours there to see everything. Before I visited I thought it would appeal more to kids, but I (40-something!) LOVED it. There are tons of fun experiments and things to see and do-highly recommended. Check out the gift shop too. Maybe you could revise your schedule so you could spend more time there? Have fun!

Exploratorium

dbsk8dance - I highly agree with the last poster. Spend as much time there as you can. Plus the Marina area around the Exploratorium is beautiful, both with the nature (the bay and the recently restored wetlands) and the incredible mansions.

dbsk8dance thought 芦it would be fun to check out the Exploatorium.禄

So far, so good.

芦Would it be fun for adults?禄

Oh, yes! But yer a-headin%26#39; for trubbl.

芦We%26#39;ll only have a couple hours there禄

And that%26#39;s it!

芦is it worth the $26 it will cost us禄

Probably not.

My standard advice is to be there when the doors open and plan nothing else for the day as, although it%26#39;s easy to enter, it%26#39;s extremely difficult to leave.

You are forewarned!

The exploratorium is great!

However, another idea if you have more time (and since I am not sure about your schedule here) is go to the Lawrance Hall of Science in Berkeley. I have always loved that place and not as noisy as the Exploratorium can get.

If you are going to the Exploratorium, you%26#39;ll want to spend more time there than a couple hours...think you are pushing it with the Alcatraz tour.

I don%26#39;t love the Exploratorium. Sorry!

We have a smaller version on one in Boise and I don%26#39;t care for that, either. It%26#39;s interesting, but it%26#39;s hands on and I just don%26#39;t know where those hands have BEEN! And if you happen to hit there when there are several busloads of kids, ... there you are, swimming against the tide to stand in line to learn something new about gravity. :-)

Jannel43 said 芦I don%26#39;t love the Exploratorium. Sorry!禄

Dif%26#39;rent strokes . . .

San diego - J1

Me and my friend are going to san diego on J1 for the summer from start of june to september. We are hoping to stay in an area close to the beach. Looking for jobs, cheap accommodation (willing to share with many people), So basically looking for advice on the best spot.. or any advice out there... san diego is pretty big and im fairly clueless! :) Lisa

San diego - J1

You can try sandiego.craigslist.org which is an on line bulletin board listing roomates etc.

There are also some hostels in town. The Banana Bungalow is at the beach. There is also a YMCA downtown that has turned into an inexpensive hotel called 500West See www.500westhotel.com

It is not at the beach but it is near lots of restaurants andhotels where you might find a job and also near public transportation.

San diego - J1

Just remember - you are earning dollars - which are not much compared to the Euro today. Housing in San Diego is expensive - though not as expensive as Co Dublin.

What sort of summer jobs are you looking for? Low- tech - like working at a hotel or restaurant or a more high-tech - doing an Internship, etc.

Also - what is your age group %26amp; interests- that would help with recommendations.

Hi Lisa,

Another good website for your job search and roommate search is www.SDReader.com. Go to the Classifieds section.

If you don%26#39;t have a car and want to be close to the beach, try to find roommates in Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, or Mission Beach. Those are fun areas with a lot of students. You may be able to move in with somebody whose roommate is away for the summer. But definitely you%26#39;ll need a job, because the closer you get to the beach, the more expensive the rentals are.

Good luck!

database

Romantic Dinner for Boyfriend's Birthday =)

We will be staying at the Candlelight Inn for one night and I need recommendations on GREAT restaurants. Something very romantic and fancy that maybe requires formal attire....or something near it. I was looking at Auberge and it seems great, but I am looking for other suggestions just in case I can%26#39;t get reservations, and Auberge seems a bit pricey...just a little...so anything a little under its price range would be perfect

I will be arriving the end of Jan...and I don%26#39;t care much about the scenery or outdoor seating...since it%26#39;s going to be around 30 degrees outside, i think...but if anyone has any suggestions let me know!!!

Romantic Dinner for Boyfriend's Birthday =)

La Toque is supposed to be very good, also in Rutherford. In St. Helena Terra is very nice and Domaine Chandon in Yountville is also very good. Have fun! :)

Romantic Dinner for Boyfriend's Birthday =)

CookieMonsterSF-

Napa Valley is a very casual, down-to-earth place, so we really don%26#39;t have much formality when it comes to dress codes.

There are only two restaurants in the entire valley that enforce a ';jackets'; policy for men: The French Laundry, and La Toque. Etoile (at Domaine Chandon) now only asks for ';casual business attire';.

You could literally show up in jeans at every other place, and be welcomed warmly.

That being said, there are *plenty* of visitors that will be ';dressed up'; at many of Napa%26#39;s restaurants-- but you%26#39;ll also see some pretty casual stuff, too, in these same spots (hawaiian shirts, golf shirts, shorts, flip flops, etc.).

Our recommendation: Read the restaurant reviews on the Napa Valley forums, then check out a few of the restuarant websites for ambiance, and give your first choice a call.

Or better yet, give the Candlelight Inn a call and have them do this for you-- Napa Innkeepers are famous for their expertise and friendliness in these matters-- and this service is included in the cost of your stay!

We hope you have a wonderful time. :)

-The Innkeepers

Napa Old World Inn

Oops-- forgot to add: Terra (St Helena) used to also ask for jackets for the guys, but now also requests ';business casual'; attire. You will see lots of folks there dressed up, though.

Priceline question

Hello,

I think I am going to do priceline for my stay in april, Can anyone recommend an area that I should bid on? I really do not want to pay extra for parking and and am fine with 3 stars, I really do not need anyting very fancy.

Thanks!

felicia

Priceline question

I just went to biddinfortravel to see what hotels have come up in what areas. Here is the prob-ALL of th e3* hotels in every area except for th eold town Shelter island area charge for parking with a couple of exceptions. so if you bid on any of those other areas you may very well get a 3*** but you will have topay extra for parking. the Sorrento Mesa area hotels ar elisted as 2** but many families have enjoyed staying there. The only drawback is that it is alittle far away and requires a littlemore driving but NOT a terrible amount. YO:u may have to take ';rush hour'; into consideration but otherwise it would be about 20min. to the zoo(maybe 30) it is a perfectly fine suburban area.

The other thought is that if you get a really good deal somewhere else then paying for parking won%26#39;t be a terrible thing.

Priceline question

Thank you!!! You make a good point, if I get something cheap enough parking should not be a big deal! Wish me luck on my bidding!

acne

Accomodation for four adults

I%26#39;m looking for a nice b%26amp;b / hotel for four adults (hubby, myself, my aunt and a friend) from May 15th - 2 nights.

We don%26#39;t mind staying in the same room (2 double beds is perfect), so we can splurge on meals and wineries. We are very flxible with location and we are willing to drive 20 minutes. I spent hour surfing trying to find somethins, but everything is way over our budget ($ 200).

I%26#39;ll appreciate any help.

Thanks.

Accomodation for four adults

The month of May is considered ';high season'; for most Sonoma Valley lodging so it will be very difficult to find inns or hotels with rooms priced at $200 which accommodate 4 people. Since it sounds like you have to stick to that budget, a nicer motel would be the place to look. In the town of Sonoma the El Pueblo (www.elpuebloinn.com) has gotten pretty good reviews and it%26#39;s located relatively close to the Plaza area.

Accomodation for four adults

Check out the Sonoma Valley Inn, right off of the plaza and walking distance to all the great restaurants on the square there. It is a Best Western property, very comfortable and clean with a nice pool and gazebo jacuzzi. Cheers! :)

I am a fan of El Pueblo. Inn..nice gardens, a pool, do-it-yourself waffle breakfasts. I have also stayed at the Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn and I don%26#39;t think the extra cost is worth it. Continental breakfasts are unimaginative and skimpy, they have a strictly enforced three-day cancellation fee. My AAA Guide Book shows Sonoma Valley Inn rates $60/night higher than El Pueblo.

(I am a native of Sonoma, so I have stayed at these two several times.)

Another thought is the Hotel El Dorado, right on the plaza. The hotel is right across the street from the girl and the fig. We had a very nice lunch at the El Dorado Kitchen there last spring, I know they have recently remodeled, the lobby and the dining room of the restaurant there is very nice. This is a moderately-priced hotel, also. Good luck and I hope you find the right place for you! :)

If you%26#39;d consider a separate cottage rather than an inn or hotel--and could pay $225 per nite, consider Cuneo Cottage (www.cuneocottage.com) which is loc%26#39;d on E. Spain St., just a few blks from the Plaza and across from Sebastiani Winery. The cottage has 2 bedrms, each with a queen bed. You%26#39;ll also have a full kitchen and a living room, so you%26#39;d have plenty of space to relax.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for your replies. I%26#39;m checking all sites and it looks like I%26#39;ll be able to find something afordable.

I enjoy very much reading all postings and I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll keep checking Tripadvisor for more helpful advices.

Thanks again.

Need Palm Springs information from locals

Hi,

We will be renting a house in Palm Springs sometime in November and we would like to have some peace and quiet. We know it will be the high season. We need someone local to answer the following three questions:

1- We plan to rent a house in North Palm Springs that is under the flight pass of PS airport. Does anyone know if this will be a very noisy proposition?

2-Is the week of Thanksgiving very crowded in the area as far as partaking of activities, IE: shows, restaurants, museums? Should wego before or after?

3- Will the weather be too cold to have an unheated pool anytime during the month of November?.

Thanks for your help.

Need Palm Springs information from locals

#1 The flight path is not as much to worry about as the fact that its in North PS. Where??? Please get an address.

It%26#39;s not really an issue with airport noise. We don%26#39;t have huge jets flying in and out. It%26#39;s brief and tends to be off to the southeast anyway. In 2 years living just blocks PSP the worst airport noise was when Bush came to town.

#2 Thanksgiving is really the BEGINNING of the season, not high season. As far as crowds, there will be some but the traffic to and from LA would be what I%26#39;d plan my trip around. Assuming you%26#39;re driving.

#3 The weather in November is mild and cooler at night, Dec and Jan are normally the coldest months. If you are renting a house, it should have a heated pool. They should give you an allowance towards the Gas bill.

Need Palm Springs information from locals

How far ';north';? Who are you renting it from, ask them for the cross streets. If they wont provide the address, go elsewhere.

Crowds are obviously going to be heavier the week of the holiday but November is a calmer time to come than say, January - when most Snowbirds arrive.

The wind is more of an issue than airport noise in north Palm Springs. You say the pool is unheated? It will be too cold to use without heating it. It will also likely not stay clean from sand blowing into it in the windier part of town.

If possible rent in South Palm Springs (below Vista Chino or even better Tahquitz Canyon).

Thanks to all for the earlier answers. We were looking at 3 houses.

One is in Desert Hot Srings. The pool is not heated so I guess that one is out and thus we are down to the last two houses.

The second one is the one by the airport on Amelia Way. It is between Paseo de Anza and Shannon Way. It has everything we want.

The third one is on Ortega in south Palm Springs, just north of East Palm Canyon Drive between Via Entrada and Via Salida. This last house costs more and I think it is on a busier general are, even though we have been told the house itself is quiet and secluded..

Why the concern about the north Palm Springs area?

Are the all the above mentioned areas safe?.

How bad are the sand storms? Are they provoked by the Santa Ana winds? My husband has respiratory problems. Should we stay away during that time? How is December?.

I think Amelia Way is fine as we have stayed on Racquet Club an dthat was OK too. I think NORTH Palm springs is sometimes used to mean houses north of I-10which is NOT palm Springs ,(or not really)

North of the I-10 is not Palm SPrings at all.

North Palm Springs is considered north of Racquet Club and there are some not great areas around there. Again, its spotty, some parts are ok, safety wise. But ALL are windy.

Desert Hot Springs should not even be considered.

The house on Ortega is in the best neighborhood and thats why its the most $$. You could walk to several restaurants ans shops from there

We Rented a GREAT house in Palm Desert that is just a few blocks from El Paseo. It has its own beautiful, private pool and spa, 3br inside plus a poolside casita bedroom. I Highly reccomend it and it is not too expensive. The rental agency is Palm Springs Rental Agency.

The house we loved is Key 0525 Casita Parosella

I think the link is

鈥nstantsoftwareonline.com/stayusa/鈥?/a>

You just have to scroll down pretty far on the properties list

';why all the concern about North Palm Springs';

North Palm Springs is the low income area as this is the least desireable area in P.S. proper. It is further away from the action and often gets blasted by sandstorms and a stream of heavily concentrated smog coming in from LA. The south area is more of the classic P.S. -- hardly ever any smog and the blowing sand doesn%26#39;t get into this area (unless you go further down the 111 as far as Indian Wells). Desert Hot Springs has even worse sand and smog problems. It isn%26#39;t all that uncommon for the tempurature to be in the 80%26#39;s in November in P.S. I wouldn%26#39;t worry much about noise, P.S. is just a ghost town of what it once was. For things to do, the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons are the best P.S. has to offer (thats where P.S. gets its name from). More ';to do%26#39;s'; can be found in the ';P.S. attractions'; tab to your left --or -- check www.virtualtourist.com/palmsprings ';things to do'; section (also has pictures) --or-- check www.whatsonwhen.com

Didn%26#39;t notice the original post date ( 9/06 ). They%26#39;ve already come and gone. No more responses needed. Just the same, this info may be of interest to others.

50th Anniv Party- Restaurant, Accomodation & Activities

We will be a party of 16, primarily native Californians traveling from outside the area and state. We will arrive mid-June and will stay for a long weekend, approximately 5 days.

We are looking at staying around Monte Vista %26amp; Ocean due to easy walking distance of many restaurants and sites. We would like suggestions on restaurants that could acccomodate a party of 16 for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also, we are looking into dining at Il Fornaio for 50th Party, would appreciate any feedback or alternative suggestions?

We are also looking for any recomendations on sites and activities in the area. Not really looking for privacy %26amp; romance, but definately looking for group fun!

Any information on accomodations and air travel deals would also be appreicated!

50th Anniv Party- Restaurant, Accomodation %26amp; Activities

II Fornaio is located in the Pine Inn in Carmel. I haven%26#39;t dined here but have heard very good things about it. It was one of the recommendations from the concierge at the Highland%26#39;s Inn where we stayed last Dec.

For breakfast, we really like Katy%26#39;s Place, right in downtown Carmel. It is rather small with a small outdoor area, I would definitely make reservations. You may also want to consider Mission Ranch for one of your meals. We enjoyed the Jazz Brunch here one Sun. The outdoor patio area is spacious with pretty views of the green pastures and a little peek of the ocean.

Pt. Lobos State Reserve would be a fun way to spend some time your group. It is a very pretty area of the coastline with some easy walking trails. Bring binoculars to view the marine life around the cove areas here. This would be a nice spot for a picnic, also. You could pick up supplies at at one of the delis in Carmel.

For one of your dinners, consider Casanova in Carmel. They also have a pretty large patio that can accomodate groups. Each time we have had lunch here, there have groups about the size of your party. Have a great time in Carmel! :)

50th Anniv Party- Restaurant, Accomodation %26amp; Activities

All of Syrah%26#39;s suggestions are very good. A few other thoughts. Since you have so many people, you might consider staying at La Playa Hotel. It%26#39;s a walk to the beach and downtown and is quite nice. I%26#39;ve eaten at Il Fornaio--it%26#39;s good but, in my opinion, not great. I prefer Grasings and Casanova. If it%26#39;s not too big a hassle to drive to dinner, I%26#39;d also recommend Tarpy%26#39;s Roadhouse. The food is very good, and they can accommodate large parties--ask them about their private rooms and alcoves. As Syrah said, Point Lobos is not to be missed--absolutely gorgeous and the trails are not difficult. If you haven%26#39;t been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, your group might enjoy that. Check their website for info on group reservations. There are also plenty of nice spas in the area if some of you want to take a break for a massage or facial: Spanish Bay Resort in Pebble Beach has a nice spa; Spa on the Plaza near the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey; in Carmel, A Signature Day Spa. For wine tasting, try Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley.

I was going to suggest La Playa also, but forgot to mention it in my previous post. We stayed there in May of 2005 and I really loved the property. It is a Historic Hotel and the grounds and gardens add so much to the charm and ambiance of the property. We had a rather small room but it was very nice with a view of the ocean and gardens. There is also a pretty good restaurant there, the Terrace Grill where we enjoyed breakfast.

If you are looking for a spa experience, there is a very nice one at the Monterey Plaza, it is up on the rooftop with gorgeous panoramic views of Monterey Bay. The bromine jacuzzis are very relaxing and there is an outdoor fireplace where you can relax after your treatments.

I also agree with PG on Tarpey%26#39;s Roadhouse for dinner. It is a very spacious restaurant with beautiful grounds, next door to the Ventana Tasting Room where you can wine taste for no charge. I also have a review with some photos of both La Playa and Tarpey%26#39;s Roadhouse if these places sound interesting to you.

Hope this helps with your decision making for your trip, there are so many great things to do/see in this area. :)

Syrahgirl %26amp; PGdenizen, thank you very much for your suggestions! We are checking into each one. So far Katy%26#39;s and Tarpy%26#39;s look like we will definately add to our list of dining places for our stay. Also, we are exploring other options for the 50th Anniversary dinner.

Thanks again taking the time to provide recommendations!

php web hosting

Soak City Chula Vista or Buena Park???

I am making a trip to Southern California beginning July 4th. I will be spending a few days in San Diego (2 nights, Omni) and a few days in the Anaheim area (3 nights, TBD). I will be traveling with my 4 year old daughter (will be 5 in August). I want to take her to a water park but I would like know which of the Soak City parks would be the best pick for us. From what I can tell on the Knotts.com site it seems as though the Chula Vista location has more 4-year old appropriate attractions. While my daughter is already over 42';, she is not the ';at least 5 years of age'; stipulation added to most ride descriptions in Buena Park. Any input would be appreciated!

Soak City Chula Vista or Buena Park???

I have heard nothing but glowing things about the Soak CIty Chula Vista park. You do not have to be a great swimmer, and that even the adults would enjoy it. I really know nothing about the BUena Park soak city though so I can%26#39;t really compare them. There is another park called ';the Wave'; in Vista which is still in SD county but in the northern reaches. I think it%26#39;s on a much smaller scale than SOak City though. You may want to keep your eyes open for discount coupons for Soak City when you get here in the summer. They seem to have them every year.

Soak City Chula Vista or Buena Park???

I prefer the little kid area at Wild Rivers in Irvine. They have several scaled down slides that are still exciting enough to keep a 4 year old interested all day. Last summer I had season passes and my 4 year old wanted to go back over and over and over.

rides closer in Disneyland ,CA

does anyone know how to check to see if rides will be closed when we go April 29-May5th thanks for your help

rides closer in Disneyland ,CA

Have a look at the website www.disneyland.disney.go.com. Click on their section for the calender and you can see what attractions are not operating for repairs or new construction.

It,also gives you a complete schedule for operating hours,parades and special events.

Enjoy!!

rides closer in Disneyland ,CA

Remember to keep checking right up until you go, as rides can be closed at short notice for maintanence, and better to know before you go than face BIG disappointment once you%26#39;re in the gate!

You can also call Disneyland Resort Guest Relations. Write down all your questions about rides, entertainment, and whatever you want to know and when you get the rep just go down your list and ask away. They will stay on the line with you and check into as many things as you need.

714-781-7290

Sundays in Carmel/Monteray

Can someone just let me know whether shops/restaurants etc are open on a Sunday. Living in London you get so used to things being open that it has just occurred to me things there might be shut. We are driving up from LA on the Saturday and staying in Carmel for 4 nights before heading back to LA. Many thanks

Sundays in Carmel/Monteray

No problem on Sunday--pretty much everything is open.

Sundays in Carmel/Monteray

Thanks for reponding back PGD - you are a mine of information. If you ever come to London, I can always give you some handy tips/advice. Thanks Janet

How late are the stores open? We were there in 2002, and I seem to remember everything closing fairly early. Am I remembering correctly?

Shops probably close around 5:00 on Sunday at the Plaza and downtown Carmel. Most of the restaurants are open and several do very nice Sunday brunches, such as the Mission Ranch. They also have a jazz band there on Sunday. Katy%26#39;s Place also is very good for breakfast, I know they are open on Sunday. I hope you have a nice time in Carmel, and please report back here with us after your trip! :)

Jbillin is right--shops in Carmel do close down early--5:00 on Sunday, generally speaking. Starbuck, I made my first visit to London in December 2005 and loved it--what a beautiful city. I hope to get there again and will take you up on your offer for advice. Thanks!

Once again thank to you all for your help. Messages for jbillin - in London the main shops big shops and dept stores open 12-6. This might not sound great to you, but there was time in London that almost nothing opened on a Sunday. The law was changed and now shops can stay open for six hours only - they tend to chooose 12-6 but the supermarket do 11-5. Restaurants/pub etc. normally are open all day as they are not restricted by the same shop hours. Syragirl - I will definitely let you know who our trip goes. We are counting down the weeks and I am busy getting fit and saving! PGd - glad you liked London. It gets better all the time and unfortunately more expensive too!

acne

Campsites for April trip

My husband and I are taking our first trip to Yosemite and I was looking for some advice on campsites. I would rather make a reservation than ';first come first served'; and we will be entering the park from the South entrance and would like to stay somewhere down there. As a few others have mentioned, I%26#39;d rather avoid driving in the snow if possible. We are moderately skilled campers, and I%26#39;d rather tent it somewhere where I don%26#39;t wake up with ice on my feet. Thanks in advance for the advice!

Patty

Campsites for April trip

Yosemite valley is about 3000 feet - so camping will most likely not ibe in the snow. Coming into the park can be different however as the elevation coming into the park is higher; check the weather forecast in advance to see what the weather is like. April can still bring some snow....so its hard to tell till you get there.

The best thing to do is to get on-line this week and see if you can book a spot in Yosemite Park. The web site is:

www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm

There are some drive in/park your car as well as short walk in campgrounds for tenters. The ones in the valley are great this time of year.

April is perfect to visit as the falls in April/May are the best for Yosemite - which can be amazing when the falls are full.

As such, you will find ';camping'; availability as well as lodging availability difficult to come by as its one of the peak seasons - especially on the week-ends. its also spring vacation time.

As such, if you%26#39;re interested, I%26#39;d try to reserve this week and choose one of the valley campgrounds. (Higher up Tioga Pass area etc. will be closed so you can%26#39;t camp along there ....Tioga Pass usually opens around May/June time frame.)

have fun!

Hollywood Orchid Suites

My Wife and I are thinking of staying here. Is it a good choice?

Thanks Ken

Hollywood Orchid Suites

Use the search box on the upper left of this page. Plug in ORCHID SUITES and then go down to the trip advisor forum posts that come up about this hotel. Good reviews for a budget place but all depends on what kind of area you like to stay when on vacation and what your expectations are.

Photo of the place here:

鈥ravelnow.com/hotelimages/鈥?20352A.jpg

Hollywood Orchid Suites

It%26#39;s central, clean, no frills, all-suites (includes kitchenette). Gets good reviews here, and is very affordable.

Mileage from Las Vegas to Bishop via Death Valley

Hi

I wonder if anyone can tell me the mileage from Las Vegas to Bishop via Death Valley. I am trying to work out if this drive is too long to undertake in one go.

Thanks

Mileage from Las Vegas to Bishop via Death Valley

Here is a link to a map with directions and mileage for your route. I used www.mapquest.com

http://www.mapquest.com/maps-directions/

Mileage from Las Vegas to Bishop via Death Valley

This information was taken from a previous post. It stated Las Vegas to Bishop (going through Death Valley) was 266 miles, and takes 6 hours and 30 minutes. Hope this helps.

riffsmom, your link isn%26#39;t going to help him (other than get him to MapQuest).

Personally, I favor Google Maps.

Here%26#39;s the link (you might have to cut-and-paste):

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d%26amp;hl=en%26amp;saddr=

Las+Vegas,+NV%26amp;daddr=Furnace+Creek+Blvd,+Death+Valley,+CA+92328+to:Bishop,+CA%26amp;sll=

36.2253,-116.001537%26amp;sspn=1.666174,2.345581%26amp;ie=UTF8%26amp;z=8%26amp;om=1

You%26#39;ll want to go via Shoshone and Badwater Road, or you%26#39;ll miss a lot. That makes your drive 326 miles.

Note:

The link I gave you was for the shortest route.

To get the correct route, go to Google Maps and follow these directions:

Start with Las Vegas, NV to Bishop, CA.

Then click on ';add destinations'; on the right. In order, you%26#39;ll want it to be:

Las Vegas, NV

Shoshone, CA

Badwater Road, Shoshone, CA

Furnace Creek Blvd, Death Valley, CA

Bishop, CA

You can order them by dragging and dropping them into place. This new feature of Google Maps rocks!!!

Try cutting-and-pasting this link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=

d%26amp;hl=en%26amp;saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV%26amp;daddr=shoshone,+ca+to:badwater+road,+death+valley,+ca+

to:Furnace+Creek+Blvd,+Death+Valley,+CA+92328+to:Bishop,+CA%26amp;sll=

36.66744,-116.76595%26amp;sspn=3.313177,4.691162%26amp;ie=UTF8%26amp;z=8%26amp;ll=36.633162,-116.768188%26amp;spn=3.314693,4.691162%26amp;om=1

I have trouble using google maps but I got his route and cut and pasted it to show him but you are right it doesn%26#39;t work hmmmm?

riffsmom, your link in completely inadequate. Look at the URL. There%26#39;s no way it could hold all the information it would need to get someone from LV to Bishop.

I went to Mapquest and its route between those two points doesn%26#39;t even put you in DVNP.

Here%26#39;s the link:

www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp…

1%26amp;un=m%26amp;cl=EN%26amp;qq=1ADqpk24ofAUyphGG72KboyCPjyK6S0GpE%252fMjRd%252be3wiwu9b%252faJkMj6SnG5c

MaxFBIkyct%252bT4E%252fk2Kq84u33XBGdQ0pinrDgA0%252fL4tQD%252bQL%252fOn6D8VrqGA%253d%253d%26amp;ct=

NA%26amp;r=f%26amp;rsres=1%26amp;1y=US%26amp;1ffi=%26amp;1l=%26amp;1g=%26amp;1pl=%26amp;1v=%26amp;1n=%26amp;1pn=%26amp;1a=%26amp;1c=Las+Vegas%26amp;1s=NV%26amp;1z=%26amp;panelbtn=1%26amp;2y=US%26amp;2ffi

=%26amp;2l=%26amp;2g=%26amp;2pl=%26amp;2v=%26amp;2n=%26amp;2pn=%26amp;2a=%26amp;2c=bishop%26amp;2s=ca%26amp;2z=

Again, cutting and pasting is required. Don%26#39;t add in spaces or returns!

channel

Snow Chains Rental in Los Angeles

Hello,

does anybody know a place in Los Angeles where I can rent snow chains for a period of 3 weeks.

My girlfriend and I are making a trip around California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah in March and we want to be prepared.

We have made a car reservation (2WD) already and we%26#39;re searching for a place in Los Angeles where we can rent these chains because LA will be our start and end point of our trip.

I%26#39;ve been trying to find a chain rental service in LA on the internet, but that doesn%26#39;t seem that easy as I though it would be.

The only thing that we want to make sure is the following:

we will be arriving in LAX in the evening and drive to the

Rosemead area near highway 60 to avoid heavy traffice in the morning (we want to start our trip in the morning, going first to joshua tree). So we%26#39;re searching a car shop not to far away from our motel where we can rent snowchains.

any help is appreciated a LOT!

greetings,

Ben

Snow Chains Rental in Los Angeles

Don%26#39;t know where you can rent them, but I have a suggestion. Our family buys them at Pep Boys for a decent price. Once when my husband went on a ski trip with the guys, they didn%26#39;t have chains on the drivers car, and needed them, so they just bought a pair Pep Boys. Locations are everywhere.

Many car rental agencies do not allow chains to be put on their cars, so they could not leave them in the trunk of the car when they were through using them. They left them on the side of the road where you remove the chains, for someone else.

Here is a link to 102 PBs listings. You can scroll through the locations to see what town is on the way to Josha Tree.

Eg: City of Upland. Call to make sure they have them in stock for your reserved car.

insiderpages.com/store_finder/鈥A

Snow Chains Rental in Los Angeles

thanks a LOT for this usefull reply!!

acne

Las Vegas to San Francisco with an overnight stay

Have posted previously but this topic header makes more sense now. My orginal plan was to drive from LV to Yosemite and then to SF in March, which i now know is completely impractical due to distance and weather. Can anyone advise me on an alternative plan? We leave Las vegas early in the morning and dont have to be in SF until the evening of the following day allowing for an overnight stop somewhere. I have been reading that the coastal route may be a good option. I dont mind doing up to around 7 (8 at a push) hours driving a day. I would like to see death valley along the way and then stop overnight. Can anyone suggest a good route and an idea on where is roughly halfway. Any suggestions on places to stop overnight would be greatly appreciated. Yep you are right us Brits have no idea on the grand scale of distance over there. Any help would b really appreciated.

Las Vegas to San Francisco with an overnight stay

Its been a long time since I%26#39;ve done this but I think it is doable. Get up early in LV and then to Death Valley. Leave Death Valley for Lone Pine on route 395, where you can spend the night. Then Lone Pine to SF. The problem is that route 120, the Tioga Pass road thru Yosemite, and the shorter route, won%26#39;t be open because of snow. So you%26#39;ll have to go further north to connect with route 50 which takes you over the Sierras to I80. If you can spring an extra day you can stop in Tahoe and pick up 50 there. Definitely worth the time- and it has casinos too! The other problem is that if it snows, 50 can be shut down or you may need chains. Then it will take a lot longer. If you follow the weather in LV, you can see if snow is forcast. If so, then you can take the interstate thru the desert and do it in a long day.

Las Vegas to San Francisco with an overnight stay

Suggest you go from La Vegas to Baker and then via 127 through Death Valley around to Ridgecrest/China Lake. Stop over night here. Then next day drive through to Fresno - and if you can stop over night even better - because from here you can go see the giant redwood (sequoia%26#39;s) - awesome sight and Christmas Card scenes. You can drive from Fresno next day to Yosemite national Park - again awesome views.....and then onto San Francisco.

We did the trip in reverse last Easter - never to be forgotten - we saw 25 miles of orange groves (tastiest ones we%26#39;ve ever eaten too!!).

Better to take your time and enjoy it all rather than rush the trip to get to SFO.

Ash