Best place to but citypass online esp Aussie/Kiwis

Hi have been lurking and reading for the past couple of weeks, so much great info. Now have confirmed bookings through Aus travel agent for mid April at the Sheraton Anaheim for 9 nights. Have priced the city pass and it is much cheaper if we buy online at Disney or from Citypass. My question is where have others bought the pass? online or is it readily available from Hotels when we get there. Interested in hearing from other Aussies/Kiwis their experience.

Thanks in advance one very excited mama.

Best place to but citypass online esp Aussie/Kiwis

One big warning.

If you buy Citypass from Disneyland.com or the Universal Studios Hollywood website, you MUST go to that park as your first visit, as they will only issue you a voucher, and then you exchange the voucher for the actual booklet. The benefit, no shipping charge.

If you order from Citypass.com, they will send you the actual booklet, so you can go to any of the parks first. But the drawback is shipping fee.

So if you know your plans, and where you are staying (and it sounds like the Sheraton Anaheim), Disneyland.com will work, as you don%26#39;t have to go to the park the day you redemn the voucher, so you could do it the first day you arrive.

A question re Santa Monica & Venice Beach

I will be in LA in early August (from Australia). I am planning to visit the Santa Monica and Venice Beach area one day. I%26#39;m interested in shopping (chain and independent), arty stuff, photography, people watching etc. I was thinking of going to places like 3rd Street Promenade, Main St, Abbot Kinney Blvd, Bergamot Station and Pacific Park.

My friend has visited LA twice, the last being at least 10 years ago. She has been on bus tours and was ';stuck'; at Venice Beach for several hours as part of one tour. As a result she is not a fan of the area. She has suggested it is rather a dump, including the shops there, implying that spending a day in the area might be wasting my time.

Are her thoughts of SM and VB true or a misconception? Will I have enough to see and do in the area for a day? My friend and I do have different ideas about what to do on our holiday.

A question re Santa Monica %26amp; Venice Beach

Venice Beach is not for everyone ... it is artsy, edgy, gritty, and yes, a bit dumpy. It is perfect for people/performer-watching, shopping, and soaking up the LA vibe. In short, I think it%26#39;s a great place ... but then again, I grew up there.

A question re Santa Monica %26amp; Venice Beach

I prefer Santa Monica over Venice Beach. VB is full of tacky t-shirt and tattoo shops. The third street promenade is much nicer.

Venice and SM are next to one another. Venice is ';artsy'; and a little run down in place. On the other hand, SM is a major metropolitan center with high-rise office buldings, major shopping, etc.

There%26#39;s is no reason to be ';stuck'; in Venice when you can:

1. Take a 5-minute bus ride from Venice to SM.

2. Walk up the boardwalk (20 minutes) from Venice to SM.

You can also walk from the boardwalk to Abbot Kinney Ave with all kinds of artsy shops and restaurants(10 minute walk) In addition, do not miss out on the remaining Venice Canals, just walk the boardwalk to Venice Blvd, go north on Venice and make a right(south) when you see the canals.

It%26#39;s a beautiful, almost surreal and quiet area you can walk around and have some fun with the ducks in the area. Deffinatly worth the walk(10 min from Venice Blvd)

Last but not least, you can walk the boardwalk all the way to Washington Ave, the boardwalk turns into a beautiful residential area. On Washington between the boardwalk and Ocean are plenty of nice restaurants, you can stop for lunch and do a little people watching

There is a lot more to Venice Beach than just the Boardwalk, unfortunatly it is mostly overlooked by tourists

There is a big difference between the Venice Beach boardwalk which your friend is talking about (although it%26#39;s improved a lot with in the last 10 yrs) and hte areas you described that you want to see. Abbot Kinney, Main St, Promenade, and Montave Ave (shopping area in SM you should add to the list) would definitely be exactly what you%26#39;re looking for and they%26#39;re all upscale (unlike the boardwalk). Venice Beach boardwalk is grungy and artsy with a bunch of piercing places, tattoo shops, smoking shops, t-shirt shops, street vendors and performers etc. If you like the independent artsy scene, you%26#39;ll find it interesting regardless.

Montana Ave is not even close to Venice. Why you keep on confusing people?

Question was if you stuck on a tour in Venice Beach/Boardwalk and a previous visitor had a misconception of the area if there is enough to to do and make sure the op knows it is not a ';dump'; area.

So i gave them some excellent(in my opinion at least) alternatives they can walk to from the boardwalk and enjoy the area

No reason to take a taxi to go to Montana Ave when you get the same experience at Abbot Kinney.

Unlike the previous poster, i would like to see you why us locals actually like Venice Beach. You dont have to run to a different area to enjoy he where you actually are.

Let it be

(NOT Let it go! Actually a famous quote from ';The Wire';)

Thanks all. Based on your descriptions, I am interested in briefly visiting Venice Beach for people watching / photography. My only concern would be personal safety. Is it generally safe for a single woman (mid 30s) to walk around the Venice Beach area on her own DURING THE DAY? I don%26#39;t go wandering around at night.

It was my friend who described herself as being ';stuck'; at Venice Beach while she was on a bus tour. I will be making my own way there and will have most of the day to see both areas (if needed).

Perfectly Save, Venice Beach is visited by over 14 million people every year. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in California. You dont need to worry at all

carson daly tickets help

on the 1iota.com website you can get tickets to carson daly, however there are both studio audience tickets and mini-concert tickets for the same day. Does anyone know how this works? The website says if you have studio audience tickets you also see the musical performance, so I%26#39;m wondering if the performer plays more songs for the mini concert (more than the one song that is on the show).

Does anyone know?

carson daly tickets help

If it is the same as Jimmy Kimmel than yes, the group who is performing for one song on the show will play multiple songs for the audience in attendance

Best western west hollywood v beverly hilton

Hi

We have our choice to these hotels,

Will have no car and not doing universal studios.

Would like to eat at various resteraunts steak,mexican etc,check out some live music.Rock,covers original etc.

During the day the usual hollywood tourist stuff.

We will in town for 3 nights in our early 40s.

We are open to other accomodation suggestions.

Cheers,

Pomlea

Best western west hollywood v beverly hilton

Stay at the Hilton if you want to take advantage of their free car service within 3 miles. That means that they can drive you to Sunset Strip where the Best Western Sunset Plaza is, along with a bunch of music venues, restaurants and shops, and to any other restaurant within 3 miles (there are tons). There are restaurants and shops in Beverly Hills as well, but if you want to be able to walk around in the evening in a happening area, then Sunset Strip is better (However, Best Western is not in the same class as the Hilton..you may want to consider the Grafton or Chamberlain West Hollywood instead).

';Hollywood sites'; consist of only a few blocks. It will take you 1-2 hrs to explore. No need to plan a whole day around it. Plan on going to Santa Monica for one of the days instead.

Best western west hollywood v beverly hilton

Nothing beats the Beverly Hilton for tourists visiting - great pool, great services, walk to shops in BH. But the WH BW is the best location for sightseeing, walking to cafes and bars and clubs - especially the live music along Sunset. If you want to see live music, stay at WH Best Western.

For walking, the Best Western on Sunset is the best option. there you have access to the very user-friendly buses that go east and west on Sunset, and you are only a few blocks from Santa Monica Blvd and even Melrose if you want more choices in restaurants and activities.

The Beverly Hilton is very nice but it is near a noisy intersection, and much of BH closes down at night. I would recommend that only if you want to more spend time at the hotel than seeing the city.

If you dont have a car, the Beverly Hilton is basically on an island by itself. Nothing in the area unless you walk about 10 blocks

Although they have a carservice(which looks good on paper but dont expect to have a personal driver at all times driving you to places, you have to request it and obey by there availability)

There are two major buslines outside the hotel(Santa Monica and Wilshire) that are running every couple of minutes

If you are looking for restaurants/touristy places/live music e.t.c. I would stick with the West Hollywood option

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networking

Pacific Grove visit in June

My family is visiting CA in June, spending 4 or 5 days out near Yosemite, and they want to spend a couple days on the central coast. We were looking at Seabright and Pacific Grove. I don%26#39;t know much about the area. We found a house rental we like for a reasonable rate on 7th street in PG. Can anyone advise what there is to do and whether this is a good place to visit? There will be 4 adults and perhaps 2 children (11/14 yrs).

Pacific Grove visit in June

Pacific Grove is a lovely, quiet little town sandwiched between Monterey on one side and Carmel and Pebble Beach on the other. I think it%26#39;s an idea place to stay while visiting the area. Things to do:

1. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-class. You and your children would enjoy it very much.

2. Kayaking on the bay: www.adventuresbythesea.com

3. Hiking at Point Lobos State Reserve: 10 minutes south of Carmel on Hwy 1. Great trails overlooking the ocean and tidepools to explore.

4. More hiking in a very different sort of terrain at Garland Park in Carmel Valley (about 20 minutes from Carmel)

5. Drive half an hour north on Hwy 1 to Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough--lots of wildlife to be seen. See www.elkhornslough.org for info on the slough and www.elkhornslough.com for info on the pontoon boat tour.

6. About 45 minutes north on Hwy 1 is Santa Cruz. Your kids would love the Beach Boardwalk: www.beachboardwalk.com

7. There are beautiful beaches (Carmel beach, Asilomar) to wander. Just keep in mind that June can be cool (60s) and foggy and that the ocean up here is very cold. This is not a place to come to bask in the sun and cool off in the water. For that, you%26#39;d need to go farther south.

This is an area full of beauty. Between here and Santa Cruz, there is more than enough to keep you and your children occupied for a few days.

Pacific Grove visit in June

Thank you, PG!

Outlet malls

Are there any outlet malls around Disneyland? Or close enough to shuttle or cab it?

Outlet malls

Not really, there are a couple of Outlet Stores at the Block of Orange, which is serviced by the ART system. But the vast majority of the stores in the block of Orange are of the normal variety.

www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1236

And then the corner of Harbor and Orangethorpe is a major shopping location, basically strip malls with discount shops as part of the mix. (Located about 3 mile north of the DLR). A major outlet here is the Disney%26#39;s Character Warehouse, where they sell outdated park merchandise. The local bus service the area about every 15 minutes, route 43 goes up and down Harbor, $1.25 each way.

There is also the Anaheim Marketplace, which is an indoor swapmeet/flea market. They offer free shuttles from most hotels.

http://www.anaheimmarketplace.com/

Outlet malls

The closest outlet mall would be the Citadel Outlets, at Commerce. Commerce is an easy 20 minute drive by car on the I-5 from Anaheim, during off-peak hours. It is in between Anaheim and LA.

I don%26#39;t know about cabbing it, but there may be a tour that goes there? Check with GreyLine Tours, they might have a bus that goes there. (Just an idea, I don%26#39;t know for sure that they do.)

Thanks alot, I%26#39;ll definatly be checking these out!

Here%26#39;s a link to the Citadel outlet website:

http://www.citadeloutlets.com/

If you can%26#39;t find info anywhere else, maybe they could give you some info on any tour busses that may go there.

Also, you will love Steve and Barry%26#39;s at the Block at Orange. This is a huge store with clothing for the whole family. Their prices are unbelievable. They also have the largest collection of t-shirts I have ever seen. Some of them are absolutely outrageous. It is very easy to access using public transit.

Disney%26#39;s Character Warehouse gets mixed reviews here, but I think it%26#39;s great. We make a point of going there every time we visit Disney. I always find plenty of bargains there. The selection varies, because it is their clearing centre for last year%26#39;s merchandise. You can expect to find good bargains on things like t-shirts, ball caps, coffee mugs, pens, pins, key chains and things like that.

Personally, if I am looking for a souvenir with, say, Mickey Mouse on it, it doesn%26#39;t matter to me whether it%26#39;s this year%26#39;s merchandise or last year%26#39;s.

Traveling to Target from Disneyland

I wonder if anyone knows how many miles it is from Disneyland to the Target store. Is there a bus that you can catch from Disneyland and how much is the bus and is it just one bus? Thanks you%26#39;all

Traveling to Target from Disneyland

Actually there are 2 Targets near the DLR, one is about 3 miles North of the Resort area, at the Corner of Harbor and Orangethorpe. I prefer this one, since there are many other stores in the area, including a Costco, Disney%26#39;s Character Warehouse which sells outdated Park Merchandise and plenty more shops, plus a Henry%26#39;s Grocery if you want to stock up on some food and drink for your hotel room. Also some great place to eat, including In-n-Out Burger, a classic California eatery.

The other Target is located south of the DLR at Harbor and Chapman. Not much else to shop, but there is Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack, Coco%26#39;s, Outback and Red Robin at the same intersection.

The local bus, OCTA Route 43 goes up and down Harbor about every 15 minutes most of the day. $1.25 each way. The trip to Harbor and Orangethorpe is 3 miles, or about 20 miles by bus.

You can also take the 43 south to Chapman.

Traveling to Target from Disneyland

I%26#39;ve only ever been to the one down by Red Robin. Had no idea about the other one. As usual, thank you Darkbeer!

Thanks so much for the info. That is very helpful!

I think a lot of people miss the north Target, because it isn%26#39;t visible from Harbour. There is a shopping centre on the corner of Harbour and Orangethorpe (actually there is one on both the east and west sides of the intersection). The Target is ';around back';, on the west side of the shopping centre on the west side of Harbour. We found it by accident, when we were driving to Fullerton Harley Davidson.

I also like to drive to the north store, for all the reasons Darkbeer has already mentioned. If you haven%26#39;t tried an In-N-Out burger before, it%26#39;s worth the drive, just for a burger. The In-N-Out is just north of the intersection, on the east side of Harbour.

kids school hols in anaheim

hi can any one tell me when the kids in california/anaheim break up from school for easter hols, we are on holiday in anaheim from the 11th april for 10 days, just wanted an idea if the theme parks would be busy, kids in the uk are on hol then but some are breaking up at easter 23 march .

kids school hols in anaheim

There are 8 different School districts in Anaheim, and each has the right to set their own calendar.

Many school districts in Southern California take either the week before or the week after Easter Sunday off, but Disneyland actually has 7 weeks of extended hours due to the expected Spring Break Crowds.

It starts with the week of March 19th.

Then the most extended Hours from March 14th thru the 30th, but then the first 4 weeks of April also have extended hours. The first 2 weeks of April are expected to busier than the 3rd and 4th weeks, based on the hours of Operation that Disney has planned.

Also, the Spring ticket specials, such as the ';2 days free'; and the Southern Californian 2fer offers require your first day of use happen on or before April 24th. The procrastinators tend to make the last couple of weeks busier as they take advantage of the deals.

kids school hols in anaheim

thanks for your prompt answer, i am hoping we will avoid most of the big crowds, we are visiting most of the major tourist spots, so i guess i am gonna get crowds some where down the line, oh well, its still gonna be a fantastic holiday whatever the weather or crowd situation thanks once again .

Just caught a typo.

The first week of Spring Break is the week of March 10th, which has extended operating hours, but not as extended as the next 2 weeks.

a dream of cheapo lodging

Hello,

My wife and I will be in San Fran for the week beginning Mar. 14th. We%26#39;re looking for a place to stay central to the city near public transportation, for like $100 a night. are we dreaming? We%26#39;re pretty adventurous and don%26#39;t need private bath or too many amenities, but aren%26#39;t looking for a flophouse either.

Does such a place exist?

many thanks, Will

a dream of cheapo lodging

Look into Columbus Motor Inn http://www.columbusmotorinn.com/. We were very happy with it - great price, good location, clean but no amenities.

a dream of cheapo lodging

If you%26#39;re willing to be a little adventurous...check out biddingfortravel.com and you should see that there are some really nice hotels that show up at bidding sites like Priceline at $100 or under. You may have a harder time, as you want a whole week, but you can at least try! Apparently, the Hyatt Regency, which is ideally located for public transportation and activities, often bids around that price- put in Embarcadero or Union Square East and 4* and see what happens.

The Courtyard by Marriott is another one that shows up on priceline- it%26#39;s a 3.5*. Not as ideally located as the Hyatt Regency but not bad, either.

Check out the Mosser.

And yes, I second priceline. I%26#39;d bid $80-90/night for a 4 star hotel in the Union Square area. You honestly can%26#39;t go wrong with that and even the worst room in one of those hotels would likely be better than a budget property IMHO.

Along the same line of questioning ... when you bid on Priceline, do you get a choice of smoking / non-smoking rooms?

When you bid on priceline you don%26#39;t even get a cho8ce of how many beds, let alone smoking or non-smoking. I don%26#39;t use it.

I have used Priceline many, many times and have always been pleasantly surprised. Check out biddingfortravel.com to see what hotels are in what star. Do your research on every hotel in a certain star and if you will be happy with any hotel on that list then bid that star. You do not get a choice of beds or smoking/nonsmoking. Don%26#39;t know about California but once I know the hotel that I won I call that hotel and make my special request. Only once I was told that it was a priceline room and they could not change it. I waited 8 hours (for that employee to go home) and called again and guess what......My request was granted.

Thanks for the Priceline info.

I just put together a last minute SF trip and found a number of %26lt;$100/night hotels. I had luck with hotwire.com and sanfrancisco.com, which offered some local deals.

Also, here%26#39;s a not-too-old article on cheap hotels from the NYTimes that I found useful.

鈥ytimes.com/2006/10/15/travel/15SF.html

Whatever hotels you find on Hotwire will be cheaper if you bid on Pricline. Here in SanDiego we have never been given a lower quality room when bidding on Priceline ,although I know it happens in places like New YorkCity.We always check in early and have always gotten the type of room we request.

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Staybridge Suites vs. Homewood Suites (location & traffic)

Hello All,

I tried searching for an answer to my quaestion I was unable to find a definitive answer. I%26#39;m coming to San Diego in mid March for 4 nights. My group consists 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 4 and 10).

I plan on visiting Seaworld, Wild Animal Park, Legoland and a nice mall or two (any recommendation on nice malls is appreciated)) and I%26#39;m not sure which Hotel is the best option between Staybridge Sorento Mesa, Staybridge Rancho Bernardo, and Homewood Suites Del-Mar (Liberty Station does not have availability for my dates).

I%26#39;m concerned about the distance as I read comments about all 3 of these hotels being somewhat ';out of the way'; and I%26#39;m also concerned about traffic as I will be there Sunday - Thursday and some of the comments talked about traffic issues.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ken

Staybridge Suites vs. Homewood Suites (location %26amp; traffic)

Out of those 3 I%26#39;d take the Homewood suites Del Mar an dmaybe keep checking Liberty Station for cancellations.

Have you also checked Embassy Suites Lajolla

OR Residence Inns throughout the city??

Staybridge Suites vs. Homewood Suites (location %26amp; traffic)

THANK YOU!!

I did take a look at Residence Inn and Embassy but they cost over $100 more per night for comparable accomodations (Ressidence Inn only has 2 bedroom suites available...I%26#39;m looking for a 1 bedroom suite). Also, I see I would have to pay for parking for those places as well.

You%26#39;ll be fine. You%26#39;ll probably leave in the morning after rush hour. It will be OK.

Near Legoland in Carlsbad there%26#39;s an outlet mall if you like.NOt far from your hotel is the University Town Center Mall(UTC)which also has an indoor ice skating rink.

I%26#39;m not from the area, but I have reservations at the new Homewood Suites in Carlsbad for mid-Feb. I think the price for a 1 bdrm suite is around $159 a night. From what I%26#39;ve heard it%26#39;s only a few miles from Legoland, but about 30 miles from SeaWorld. The photos on the Hilton website look nice, and the price is about the same for the standard rooms at the new Hampton across the street. Hope that helps!

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an afternoon of shopping from Downtown

Hi,

I know there are lots of shopping threads here and I%26#39;ve read them all, but I%26#39;m hoping for a bit of help!

I%26#39;m staying at The Standard Downtown on S. Flower Street. My flight doesn%26#39;t leave until late Monday night, and I check out of the hotel at noon, so I have the afternoon to shop before heading back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and get a cab to LAX at around 6:30.

Logistically, what is the best area to hit for some shopping? I%26#39;m not shopping for anything in particular, but am looking for ';regular'; shops (not Rodeo Drive!), and don%26#39;t need ';tourist'; shops as I%26#39;ve done all of my souvenir shopping on previous trips!! Is anything reachable from The Standard on foot / on public transport?

Thanks!

an afternoon of shopping from Downtown

I suggest taking the Metro to Pasadena where you%26#39;ll find everything from chains to boutiques to vintage resale.

an afternoon of shopping from Downtown

I agree, the Metro Gold Line to Old Town Pasadena would be a great idea--there are all different kinds of shops along Colorado Blvd. Does the Gold Line also stop near Paseo Colorado mall?

Another place would be to take the Metro Red Line to Hollywood and Highland shopping center. You can look online for their list of stores.

You could also consider taking your bags with you and leaving them at a hotel bell desk. The Renaissance and the Roosevelt in Hollywood are both very close to the Metro stop. I am not that familiar with the Pasadena metro stops, but I know there is a Westin hotel and I think a Sheraton close to Old Town Pasadena. Then you could just take a cab straight from shopping!

You also might want to consider instead of spending $50/60 for a taxi to get to LAX and use the flyaway bus from Union Station. Basically it takes the same route your taxi would take(Direct Freeway with no stops) and drops you off at your terminal right at the airport but is only $4

Are you looking for a mall with chain stores or more unique boutiques?

I also advise you to consider taking the $4 Flyaway bus from Union Station in Downtown to LAX. It will be much cheaper and still convenient.

Thanks so much for all the tips! Will definitely look in to the Flyaway bus. Right, off to get ready for the Grammys......

Village Fest Question

Hi, I%26#39;ve seen pictures of Village Fest in travel magazines. Is it always so crowded? How is it at the end of March? Thanks

Village Fest Question

It gets crowded later in the evening, especially when it%26#39;s warm and people come out after dinner/sunset when it%26#39;s cooler. But it%26#39;s not so crowded you can%26#39;t enjoy it.

Late March is still high season here.

how does my plan sound?

We will be arriving in SB in early may for 2 nights, staying at the franciscan inn, so far we have planned to arrive on day one around 2ish, go down to the habour to eat at Brophy Bros, check into hotel then have a walk around the shops (where are we best heading for?). That night we would like to eat at Bouchon, is this a good choice? any other reccommendations?

The next day we plan to go on a wine tour with sustainable wine co, then that night eat at Palace Grill, again, good choice? is there anywhere else we should not miss? bars, places to see etc..

Thanks

how does my plan sound?

shopping is on or off state street which runs from the centre of the beach area back into the hills - dont get knocked down by a passing train

we mostly ate in the harbour area to take in the views dont think we had any especially great meals but we enjoyed good food at reasonable prices in a great atmosphere

we dont like %26#39;stuffy%26#39; restaurants

how does my plan sound?

You%26#39;ve picked 3 of our better restaurants in town. Relative to Beeble%26#39;s experience, I guess he/she wasn%26#39;t impressed with Brophy%26#39;s but he/she must have been there as there aren%26#39;t many restaurants in the Harbor proper. Most of us locals will easily recommend Brophy%26#39;s for the view, the fun atmosphere, if not for the food which is good too.

Bouchon might classify as a stuffy restaurant, if stuffy means higher priced French food. I haven%26#39;t eaten there, but I just got a favorable opinion from a co-worker - best meal she%26#39;s had in SB. 2nd time food was great again, but the waiter was a bit pushy on the wine selection.

Palace Grill is also highly recommendable as well.

We had a very nice experience at the Wine Cask, if you enjoy wine this is an excellent choice, they also have a wine bar and casual bistro adjacent to the restaurant called Intermezzo.

For seafood, we love the SB Shellfish Co. on Stearn%26#39;s Wharf, we ended up eating here 3 different times, very good lobster bisque and full lobster dinenrs at great prices. There are tables set up outside, also.

Olie e Limone was wonderful for an Italian meal, we also enjoyed the view from up by the El Encanto hotel, a very pretty place for a photo op. There is also the historic Rivera Theater up in this area, a pretty drive through the residential area in Santa Barbara will take you here. :)

As far as things to do/see in Santa Barbara, my wife and I enjoy (1) the Santa Barbara Mission; (2) walk-around, window shop and eat on lower State Street (between the 400 to 1000 block); (3) on Sunday along Cabrillo Blvd, there is an amazing art fair and its a nice walk along the ocean; (4) Tour our beatiful courthouse (its like none other in the State and has a tower room on top of it for fantastic views of the city); and lastly, I love our zoo (its small and only takes about 3 hours to walk around but due to it location, has beautiful views of the water and our mountains) and our local art museum (also very small - take 2.5 hours to see it all and its right on State St.)

girls weekend in Santa Barbara

I%26#39;m planning a bachelorette weekend in Santa Barbara with a group of girls. This is not the party type - just looking for a relaxing weekend at an upscale place with great amenities like pool, spa and access to wine tasting. Any recommendations?

girls weekend in Santa Barbara

In Montecito, the Four Seasons Biltmore is gogeous, they have a swimming pool and great spa there. If you want to stay by the ocean, the Harbor View Inn is nice, they also have a very pretty pool area and jacuzzi there.

You may want to go to Los Olivos for your wine tasting or check out Intermezzo in Santa Barbara for wine tasting, it is adjacent to the Wine Cask restaurant. Have fun! :)

girls weekend in Santa Barbara

Without a doubt, I would recommend the Bacara. It has the best spa in town, the best pool in town and its VERY upscale. www.bacara.com

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Santa Barbara Live music

Who knows where to hear live music in Santa Barbara or Montecito. Preferably mellow acoustic guitar or piano.

Santa Barbara Live music

As for live music, it really depends on the music you like to listen to:

SoHo, is probably Santa Barbara%26#39;s most famous live music spot. You can see a variety of music there and its a great venue. See SoHo%26#39;s website as there is a different show almost every night. (www.sohosb.com)

The James Joyce, on State Street has live Rock %26amp; Roll on Wednesday night, live Jazz on Friday night, live dixie jazz on saturday and my personal favorite live Irish music on Sunday night. This is a great bar with peanut shells on the floor so no worries about ties and jackets here. (www.thejamesjoyce.com)

The Velvet Jones usually has a broad spectrum of live performances. But its more of the young kids music, everything from heavy metal to rap. (www.velvet-jones.com)

Also just a thought, but 15 minutes drive south on the 101 freeway is Smoking Jacks in Carpenteria (a BBQ resturant) that has live Jazz and Blues on the weekends. (www.smokinjacks.com) Check with them ahead of time because I have shown up just to find that there is no band playing that day.

One thing you must do is pick up an Independent. Its our weekly paper here in Santa Barbara and its free. You can find them in just about any restuarant or newstand in town. The Independent has ALL the live music listings for a particular week.

8 Hours in LA

We are flying from Vancouver to LA on the way back to Australia and have approximately 8 hours in LAX. I was hoping to grab a taxi and go to Santa Monica for a few hours but am concerned it may be too difficult getting out through customs and then getting back in through security and customs.

The idea of spending a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in May walking around Santa Monica is obviously appealing and would add to our trip but I just don%26#39;t know if it is worth the hassle.

Any advice or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

8 Hours in LA

I think you will have to ';play'; it more real time. If for example, you have an easy exit through customs (i.e. an hour) you would have 4 hours to spend in Santa Monica which is enough to enjoy the area and return to LAX. If on the other hand there are flight delays; hard time getting through customs; you can decide. EIther way leave about 3 hours to return from Santa Monica to be on your flight on time.

Getting a taxi will be easy to do...

Luggage I am assuming is checked through?

8 Hours in LA

If your luggage is checked through, I recommend taking a taxi to either Venice or Manhattan Beach. Both are great options.

If you have realistically 4 hours, i would still go with Santa Monica. A taxiride would be 20 minutes, you can stroll along the pier, maybe grab a beer at big deans(which is on the side of the pier on the boardwalk, NOT ON the pier). Grab some food at some of the fine restaurants along ocean ave, even walk down third street promenade for some shopping

You can get a taxi back from any restaurant/bar in the area as they would call them for you

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Hollywood Greyhound Bus Station

I will be taking a late night bus from the Hollywood greyhound station to San Francisco. Since I will be travelling with luggage, I was wondering if anyone knows how far in advance I can check in my suitcase or if there were lockers available for me to put them in so I don%26#39;t have to carry them around all day until my scheduled bus leaves.

Hollywood Greyhound Bus Station

Where is the Greyhound station in Hollywood?

Hollywood Greyhound Bus Station

It%26#39;s on Cahuenga, 1/2 a block north of Hollywood Blvd, across from the Sharky%26#39;s.

I called them and they said they don%26#39;t have lockers, and you can check bags 30 minutes before departure. I%26#39;m thinking you could check your bags at either the Roosevelt hotel or the Renaissance hotel bell desk until closer to your time to leave. I know you can do that in Vegas with no problems.

Whatever you do, have some food at Sharky%26#39;s across the street from the station. Great mexican food at very reasonable prices!

You can leave your bags at a hotel in the area. However, I would strongly recommend you to consider taking the train or the Megabus, or flying instead. I%26#39;ve taken the Greyhound on this route specifically and it%26#39;s not pleasant, with many stops. It takes 11 hours for a route that only takes 6 hrs driving. If you take the train, it goes along the coast, so at least you%26#39;re seeing some great scenery along one of the most scenic routes in the US, in the morning. Megabus is newer and cheaper, and I think a bit faster. And the flight is only $40-50 if you book at least a month ahead (kayak.com, southwest.com, virginamerica.com, etc), which is pretty much same as Greyhound.

If you have an option i would take the train aswell. I took Greyhound the past year from Hollywood to Vegas and i was surprised how pleasent it was(or maybe i was just preparing myself for the worst)

But if there is an option for you to take the train along the coast, i would deffinatly do that instead

Hotel Boheme vs. Chancellor

Any opinion about these 2. I have read the reviews. Just looking for a comparison. Also, North Beach vs. Union Sq. I%26#39;m looking for walking ease, transportation and safety. Boheme is a little less by the way.

Hotel Boheme vs. Chancellor

I think the Chancellor has a better location and most people would think it was more central. I think in terms of quality, they are probably similar.

I think it you want more of a neighborhood feel, the Boheme is the place. I think it just depends on what you%26#39;re looking for. I really haven%26#39;t heard anything bad about either.

Hotel Boheme vs. Chancellor

I believe the Boheme is more of a B%26amp;B style place with the entrance on the second floor of a building in North Beach.

The Chancellor is a historic boutique hotel in Union Square.

Union Square would suit your requirements (transportation - safety etc ) much better and you cant get much closer to Union Square than the Chancellor.

For the little extra I%26#39;m sure you would be much happier at the Chancellor.

Have a great visit.

The consensus in this forum is the Chancellor, a half-block from Union Square.

With Boheme you can still hop on a bus on Columbus or Union and go places. I%26#39;ve walked from Chancellor to the Boheme area in less than ten minutes and I have short legs, I mean a short stride. I stayed at the Washington Square Inn, which is not too far from Boheme, and have walked around that area late at night (for late coffee) and I felt safe by myself. I enjoyed waking up, looking out my window, and seeing people in the park doing their thing. That was one of my best memories of that vacation.

As for the Chancellor, when I stayed there I enjoyed being so close to everything because of it%26#39;s central location. I loved staying in a busy area and being in the hustle and bustle of it all. You can pretty much walk anywhere and be somewhere. I stayed there the first time I went to San Francisco and I was happy with my location. Just walking out the front door I liked the vibe I felt.

When I go back I%26#39;ll probably stay further out like in the Richmond area or on the other side near Haight or maybe Noe Valley/Mission.

Maybe I helped, maybe I didn%26#39;t. I just love reliving the moment.

No you didn%26#39;t help at all. Just kiddin. Thanks. I still think I%26#39;m going for Union Sq location since this is my first visit. Now, I%26#39;m considering Hotel 480 which used to be the Crowne Plaza. If anyone knows anything about this one. I%26#39;ve read the reviews.

Well,your are covering the whole spectrum here from a B%26amp;B type, Boutique Historic type and now a more modern chain type hotel.

Also you have via your other post thrown in the Hotel Union Square.

Before you get too confused and find another, decide on what type of hotel would suit your likes and dislikes and just compare the TA reviews for each one and the winner will become obvious.

Have a great visit.

The former Crowne Plaza is your typical large convention hotel. Location is good, you can%26#39;t go wrong there. I think it just depends on what you want: a boutique/historic hotel or a large convention type hotel. Neither is really bad, just very different from one another.

The former Crowne Plaza, now Hotel 480, or whatever, has been bought (by whom I do not remember) and is undergoing restoration. I wouldn%26#39;t want to stay there under those circumstances.

Just do the Chancellor. You will be SO glad you did. The rooms were refurbished last year, and very tastefully, and it has the best management and staff in the city, in my opinion.

It is also charming, which 480 is not.

Here%26#39;s another vote for Chancellor. If you do stay there, please say hi to Linda at the restaurant. She was our server during 2 breakfasts we had there.

Go for Chancellor. You won%26#39;t regret it.

I booked the Chancellor. Ok, I%26#39;m done. For hotels anyway. Thanks

2 weeks in California; What are the best things to do?

Hi,

I%26#39;m flying with my husband and sister for the first time to Los Angeles this april. We%26#39;ve booked the Anaheim Desert inn%26amp; suites and a car for two weeks. I would love some advice from people who know the area. What is the top 10 things we need to do when we are there.

We love Disney, thrill rides, sun and shopping.

I%26#39;m looking forward to some tips.

Love,

Nadia

2 weeks in California; What are the best things to do?

Two weeks, well, I would look into getting something like an 8 day Disneyland ParkHopper (or a Deluxe AP, but you need to watch the blockout dates).

Thrill Rides, then Six Flags Magic Mountain is at top of the list, alas, the new version of ';X';, called ';X2'; won%26#39;t open until around late May.

Knott%26#39;s Berry Farm also has some great Roller Coasters, and you can find some great discounts if you check the following link just before you go...

http://www.knotts.com/hot/index.asp

And since you are into Disney parks, a day at Universal Studios might also be a fun day for you.

As for the Sun, head down to the ocean, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach/Balboa are close and very nice locations, both have piers with restaurants on the far end.

Shopping, well the Block of Orange is close and big, as is Main Place. A bit farther away, but well known is South Coast Plaza, it is high end, so watch your wallet ;)

I like the corner of Harbor and Orangethorpe (about 3 miles north of the DLR), a lot of discount shops, including the Disney Character Warehouse (closeout park merchandise) and some great places to eat. I am a fan of In-n-Out Burger.

Plan your days, the parks tend to be less busy when it opens, so spend a few hours in the park, then head back to the hotel for a break. Grab a bite to eat and lay out by the pool (and swim if you want), then head back after a couple of hours in the sun.

You have plenty of time, so relax and take your time...

2 weeks in California; What are the best things to do?

Darkbeer covered it pretty well. One place you definitely need to visit, though, is San Diego. San Diego is the hottest tourist city in So. Cal right now, the #1 destination, and just an hour and a half from Anaheim. Visit the San Diego Forum for more detailed info about what to see there. Some people like to split their vacation between Anaheim and San Diego. Some do day trips.

Anyway, here is my top 10. Not in any particular order.

1. Disneyland Resort

2. Knott%26#39;s and Mrs. Knott%26#39;s Chicken Dinner

3. Laguna Beach

4. San Diego - various sights downtown along San Diego Bay

5. San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park

6. Coronado Island - a pennisula just a few minutes away from downtown San Diego, accessible by bridge or ferry, with beautiful beaches and the historic Hotel Del Coronado

7. The Block in Orange

8. LA - The Grove shopping center and the Farmers%26#39; Market, right next to CBS Television City (you can get free tickets to see a taping of a show by writing for them in advace.)

9. Universal Studios in LA

10. Sightseeing in LA

You have to understand that Anaheim/Disneyland is not L.A. or even L.A.County.

8 Days disneyland sounds like to much of a good thing to me. Two days yeah, but seriousely there is more to Southern California than just theme parks

If you are looking for thrills, deffinatly spent a day at Magic Mountain.

Spending 3 days(or 4 including Universal) is at least in my opinion enough out of two weeks at a themepark(as great as they are)

I would also not stay at a hotel in Anaheim for your entire stay. You end up being on the freeway more than actually visiting sights.

You should get a good tourbook or read to FAQ in the Los Angeles Forum and see what peaks your interest.

Maybe spent the first three nights in Anaheim and visit Disneyland and move on from there

Note, Anaheim tends to have the lowest per night hotel rates, and is central to the Southern California area.

Based on your priorities, I don%26#39;t see LA being a major part of your trip, maybe a day or two.

As mentioned above, San Diego is the number 1 tourist location, and that is about a 90 minute to 2 hour drive if you take advantage of the Carpool lanes.

And the cost between a 4 day ParkHopper and a 8 day ParkHopper is not that much, and I am NOT recommending that you spend 8 full days at the Disneyland Resort. I think 3 to 4 full days are great, but if you are in the area, having the opportunity to see the fireworks one evening, or just stop by after a day at the beach and ride one or two attractions in the evening.

I would dissagree but that is what this forum is for, to get different opinions.

Since when is San Diego the # 1 Tourist Attraction? That would be news to me, i thought it was Disneyland with close to 14 million visitors and Venice Beach with something like 13 million right behind it

In any case, i would not spent the entire time in Anaheim. It might be ';central'; if you are talking about places between San Diego and Los Angeles but you would still spent most of the time in your car. Does not sound like a relaxing vacation to me.

Anaheim is great for visiting Disneyland, there is nothing really besides another park(knotts) of interest in the area. Plain and simple

NadiaN will spend 芦2 weeks in California; What are the best things to do?禄

Well, California%26#39;s best things aren%26#39;t in or near Anaheim or Valencia.

Yes, Magic Mountain is good for thrill rides; DisneyLand is very nice; Knott%26#39;s Berry Farm is wonderful.

California%26#39;s best things are the Cabrillo Highway from San Lu铆s Obsipo to San Francisco; the Mendocino Coast; Yosemite; Santa Barbara; the San Diego Zoo; the Nixon Birthplace and Library; Sequoia National Park; Avenue of the Giants; Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park; the de Young Museum; Eureka%26#39;s Carson House; Ferndale; San Francisco%26#39;s Union Square for shopping and O-so-much more.

But what you%26#39;ve planned sounds like fun.

Thanks for all the comments! I like to see all the different opinions so I can read up books about the things you advice!! I%26#39;ve been to San Francisco so that%26#39;s not an option for this year.

X Nadia

Nadia, We like to travel with Loney Planet as our guide book. The books are well laid out so you don%26#39;t need a complicated legend to figure out the recommendations. See if they have one for Southern California. Note: Guide books are date sensitive if you want the information accurate, do not buy a 10 year old used book from Amazon.com. The research, rewrite, update and print-publishing cycle is already at a year, and then whatever the copyright on the book is....You want to get whatever the most current edition is and if a company hasn%26#39;t updated recently, get someone elses book who has.

Have oodles of fun!

Beaches: Santa Monica and it%26#39;s lovely pier, Huntington (nearest to Disneyland), Laguna, and San Diego.

Theme parks: Disney first and foremost...and Knotts, and Magic Mountain, and Sea World in San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo is great too if you%26#39;re spending two or three days in San Diego.

Shopping, the Block at Orange is nice...but my teens, love the quirkly little shops all along the beach cities best.

Hollywood...if you haven%26#39;t seen it, go snoop it out, the Kodak Theater, Mann%26#39;s Chinese Theater, the stars on the sidewalk, the ';Hollywood'; sign in the hills.

I would at least take two nights to explore Los Angeles. The Orchid Hotel in Hollywood gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and is right smack in the middle of Hollywood(where you can walk to all the touristy attractions and great restaurants and bars at night)

From there it is also easy to explore Beverly Hills/Bel Air/Santa Monica/Downtown L.A./Universal Studios/Farmers Market-The Grove and more

What can i say, they call me Los Angeles Expert, so of course i would like you to see my neighbourhood aswell, not just themeparks and trust me, I looooove Magic Mountain(proud season pass holder since 1991,lol)

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Driving from NYC to LA, trip options?

My gf and I will be driving from NYC to LA for my job relocation. I drive a 07 Toyota Corolla and we%26#39;re going pack as much stuff in it as possible. My question is what is the best freeway to take, our goal is to get their in as little time as possible.

I googled my trip and it said to take 80 until we enter Colorado and split off onto the 76, then take 70 at Denver and 15 from Utah to LA.

Has anyone had experience driving this route and/or would you recommend it or to drive another way.

What cities are worth stopping along the way.

How long does a trip like this take?

I am thinking I can drive 9-10 hours a day with breaks. We%26#39;ve drove a 16 foot truck and trailer from San Antonio to NYC last Summer and it took us 5 days, but we could%26#39;ve done it in 4 if we chose not to stop in Allentown, PA since we decided hotels were cheaper than in NJ/NY. This time I will be driving a smaller car that can go a bit faster.

We also want to stop in Chicago, but if anyone can recommend a faster route we are flexible.

We are planning to leave end of Februrary.

Thanks!

Driving from NYC to LA, trip options?

This is our itinerary for the drive so far, please comment.

day 1.

NYC-Toledo,OH

556 mi – about 8 hours 51 mins

day 2.

Toledo-Chicago

245 mi – about 4 hours 3 mins

Chicago-Rockford,IL(visit a friend)

84.1 mi – about 1 hour 39 mins

day 3.

Rockford,IL-Omaha,NB

419 mi – about 6 hours 28 mins

day 4.

Omaha, NB- Denver

541 mi – about 7 hours 28 mins

day 5.

Denver-Las Vegas

749 mi – about 10 hours 47 mins

day6.

Las Vegas-Los Angeles

258 mi – about 4 hours 9 mins

Driving from NYC to LA, trip options?

I%26#39;ve never done a trip like that but I would think that a more southern route would bypas the Rockies and perhaps any other snowy areas.

Highway 77 to Hwy 44 to Hwy 40 perhaps??

Hi, thanks for the 77-44-40 idea. I hadn%26#39;t considered driving through the snow, since it is still winter. I really like the idea because it would give us a chance to visit Grand Canyon. thanks for the tip! keep them coming.

I find the driving times for the distances you%26#39;ve shown to be incredible. I%26#39;m not saying they%26#39;re wrong. What I am saying is that you oughtn%26#39;t rely on them. I%26#39;ve taken many a long distance trip and wouldn%26#39;t budget faster than an average of 50mph. Yes, you might have point-to-point speeds at faster than 60mph but your overall average is likely to be very close to 50mph and I strongly encourage you to budget your time accordingly. Ten hours a day, as you plan, at an average of 50mph is a quite reasonable five hundred miles.

From Chicago (from memory) to Oklahoma City to Denver to Salt Lake City to Las Vegas to Los Angeles is a good route but there are much prettier, and more interesting, ways to go.

Or you could take The Mother Road (66).

You are looking at close to 3000 miles. I think you need to be a bit more conservative on driving times. Driving on the flat lands in the east is nothing like driving through the Colorado Rockies. Add a blizzard anywhere along the route, delays and bad driving.

Your day from Denver to Vegas is way too long. I would drive to somewhere in UT. My sister usually makes it from Denver area to Cedar City or St George UT during her travels home to LA.

If there is snow, then I70 westbound from Denver can be bad, also if you drop to the south, I40 across NM can also be bad if there is a southern storm. I would make a good weather, and stormy weather plan.

Good luck with your relocation.

I%26#39;ve done LA to NYC in four days...though I didn%26#39;t go via Chicago. How fast it can be done is determined how hard you%26#39;re willing to press the accelerator and for how long.

At the time of the year you%26#39;re talking about, you want to avoid the Rocky Mountains. Here%26#39;s your route:

I-10/I-15/I-40/I-44/I-55 to Chicago. Then I-80 to NYC.

If your goal is to get there in as little time as possible, no cities are worth stopping along the way. Serious drivers can do it in just over 32 hours:

wired.com/cars/…ff_cannonballrun

I would really try to avoid Chicago at all costs. I have never found a good time to drive through Chicago.

You could take 80 across PA. In Ohio, 80 jumps to the Ohio Turnpike, but you could just stay on the same road and it turns in to 76. Take 76 until it tends at 71. Go South on 71 to Columbus then take 70 West to Indy and St. Louis and on to Denver from your original route. I have not taken 70 further than St. Louis, but I have to believe you would encounter less congestion this way.

Good luck - something I always wanted to do and wish I would have done when I was much younger. Too many other responsibilities now.

Well, 2800 miles in 32 hours. That%26#39;s an average of 87.5 miles per hour-lol- Hope there are no Jackie Gleasons watching your speed. My vote would be 70/44/40 and if you can reach an average of 60 mph you must be a very fast driver and no delays along the route.

Tet

I have done that trip a couple of times and you might want to think that rather than speed thru the country maybe take some time here and there to take it in.

I know you just want to get from point a to b, but really think when you would have that time again to do a cross country trip again.

Take a day or two, even in Chicago which is a great city and have a fun time doing so. Trust me, there will be enough stressfull times when you arrive in L.A. and dealing with a lot of things, so take this trip as an opportunity to unwind and see what this country is all about

Wow, i think i am watching to much Dr.Phill,lol, i mean it though!

In 1979 I drove from LA to NY in 5 days, by myself, during the summer taking 15 -%26gt; 70 -%26gt; 76 -%26gt; 80. I too would recommend stretching it out, but here%26#39;s where I stopped to do some sightseeing and would recommend the same to others. I didn%26#39;t stop much because I was trying to make time, so this selection is limited.

Las Vegas -- you may want to skip this since you%26#39;ll have ample opportunity to visit after you%26#39;ve relocated. Many, many people in LA visit LV -- flights are cheap, too, and the drive isn%26#39;t all that long.

Salt Lake -- much to my surprise, I loved Salt Lake. I%26#39;d been there for a week a couple of years before and really enjoyed it. The friendliest place I%26#39;d ever been in spite of the fact that I had a full beard and long hair (I assumed that the Mormon population would have a visceral reaction against me base on my appearance, nothing was further from the truth -- I was the one who was prejudiced).

Cheyenne, Wyoming. I spent an afternoon there and got a great taste of the old west. I%26#39;m not exactly sure which museum I went to, but I think it was this http://www.oldwestmuseum.org/info.htm. I%26#39;d be tempted to give it a day if I was to do it again.

I%26#39;d been in Chicago before so I didn%26#39;t stop but it%26#39;s a great town, I would stop there if I were you. In any case, you should stop somewhere to see one of the Great Lakes -- these are awsome. Just seeing a lake that looks like an ocean is wonderful.

If you%26#39;re into it, the Stratetgic Air Command has a big museum in Nebraska that you%26#39;ll go by, it%26#39;s right off 80 http://www.strategicairandspace.com/. The timing was wrong for me but I%26#39;ve always regretted not seeing it.

Bart station near Union Square

I am staying near the airport for a conference and will have a day to play. I am planning to get a shuttle to the airport to catch Bart to SF and would like to hang out at Union Square for the day. What station do I get off at?

thanks

Bart station near Union Square

You get off at Powell then it%26#39;s a short walk to Union Square. Also, at Powell on Market is the Nordstrom shopping center. it%26#39;s worth a visit.

enjoy!!!

Disney in Loas Angeles

Hi, My boyfriend and i went to Orlando Disney last year and had a great, this year we are wanting to spend our time in the LA area, and are wanting to travel round a bit. Im really just wondering seeing as though we only did Disney scene last year is Disney in Orlando to Disney in La any different really in terms of the rides etc in both the parks?

Thanks for the help

Disney in Loas Angeles

Sorry meant to Los not Loas typing too quickly!

Disney in Loas Angeles

rides are very similar but disneyland la is not a patch on disneyworld orlando

id say go to san diego instead of la

or if you like SCARY roller coasters try 6 flags in santa clarita on the outskirts of la

I agree, Disney%26#39;sMagic Kingdom is the same as Orlando here, but not quite as new and not as much stuff. And yes, the thrill rides are at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia (about 20 min north of LA on the 5 freeway).Good times!!!

Thee are other theme parks in LA such as Universal, Knotts Berry and Six flags that are worth considering.

Actually just comparing park to park Disneyland has more rides and attractions than the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. So for a one day, one park visit I prefer Disneyland, but few peopel visit Disneyworld for just one day/ one park.

You are in Southern California, there is sure a lot more to see and do than just amusement parks. Especially considering you already have done disney in florida

If you%26#39;ve just been to Disney World, Disneyland is not that much different. If you want to travel around, there%26#39;s plenty of stuff to see in LA without spending you%26#39;re whole time waiting in line at an amusement park.

Just wondering as well is it worth while going to Orange County while my boyfriend and i are travelling around or is it quite a similar to somewhere such as Santa Monica? If it is not worth while doing could anyone possibly recommend any other areas we could go to on our travels?

Thankyou very much for the help.

Think i%26#39;ll leave Disney by the way!

Every part of Southern California is different from every other part - Santa Monica and Orange County (Newport, Huntington, Laguna, etc) are nothing alike.

It%26#39;s well worth visiting Laguna Beach, San Diego, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara...

...and San Clamente i might add.

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AP rates on hotels???

Just visited DL for first time in Oct. Had a great time, but with 2 families that included 6 young children, the Homewood Suites was too far away for us. We plan to visit again in Oct %26#39;08 and need advice on discounts. I heard through a friend who has AP for WDW that rates for hotels are MUCH better with the AP, even if you%26#39;re only visiting once/year. Can you buy one AP and book two hotel rooms? We%26#39;re considering staying at DL Hotel or at a Good Neighbor hotel that%26#39;s within walking distance. Our family has 2 adults, 3 kids (3, 5,7) and our friends are 2 adults and 2 kids (5, 8).

TIA!

Ginny

AP rates on hotels???

The only hotels I know of that offer AP rates are the three Disney owned hotels, and the Howard Johnson%26#39;s on Harbor.

Some other Hotels/Motels might offer them, and if so, hopefully someone here at TA will let us know.

MouseSavers.com is a great place to find about all the AP discounts, including the HoJo one.

Not sure about getting 2 rooms with one AP, I would check the MouseSavers website and/or call the Disneyland Hotels directly and ask.

AP rates on hotels???

Thanks, Darkbeer, for all the info!

nice pool, spacious rooms, child friendly hotel needed

Hi

Can anyone suggest a place to stay in either Santa Monica or West LA? I haven%26#39;t lived in LA for 25 years so I expect my memory of things have changed. I have a reunion to attend and it is being held at the Sheraton Delfina in SM. The room rate they are offering is $359 a night. If there is a better place you could recommend I would be most appreciative (preferably less costly as well). I will be travelling with my husband and five year old and we will have a car. Key requirements: child friendly,spacious(clean) and hopefully a nice pool.

Thanks in advance!

nice pool, spacious rooms, child friendly hotel needed

Delfina is always offered on priceline.com at about $135. You could try that, or else look into Loews (same price though), which is very child friendly. Santa Monica is the priciest area for hotels. You could look into Holiday Inn, too. Search here for Hotels in Santa Monica.

nice pool, spacious rooms, child friendly hotel needed

Thanks yogachick. I was wondering about Le Merigot? Is it hoity toity (sp?) or would it be an option?

Also, there was a place I stayed at on the east side of Sepulveda Blvd (just south of the train tracks)and Pico Blvd. You wouldn%26#39;t happen to know what it%26#39;s name is?

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Need name of hotel at Sepulveda and Pico Blvd in WLA

Hi

Can anyone help with the name of hotel that is on the east side of Sepulveda and Pico Blvd?(just south of the train tracks) If I recall correctly it was about half a block from Pico and Sepulveda intersection.

Thanks

Need name of hotel at Sepulveda and Pico Blvd in WLA

I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s a hotel there?

Almost all train tracks are gone from the city now.

Help! Best place around $200 near Union for family of 3?

We (me, DH and 11 yr old son) are planning a week in SF in July and initially wanted to stay at the Chancellor Hotel but they only accommodate 2 ppl per room!

Another place I looked at was Petite Auberge which is 216 for Deluxe King OR Nob Hill Motor Inn for around 195. Would either one be close enough to easily and quickly navigate to the tourist places such as Fishermans Wharf and Union Square?

Any other ideas?

Help! Best place around $200 near Union for family of 3?

Okay, so I just looked at Nob Hill Motor Inn and actually for a family we%26#39;d have to book a large room for $285!

Still looking for the almost perfect place!

Help! Best place around $200 near Union for family of 3?

See what a club room at the Handlery would cost. Good location 1/2 block from Union Square.

Columbus Motor Inn between North Beach and Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf gets good marks for family suites.

The junior suite at Hotel Fusion can accommodate 3 persons. They have a promotion stay 7 nights pay only 5 I think. This is worth checking out. About 1 block away from Union Square.

Hope this helps.

We stayed at the Petite Auberge two years ago and loved it--it%26#39;s charming and their breakfasts are delicious!!! It was very convenient to everything.

Seeking smallish/quiet ski resort for a coming sunday

I%26#39;m going to be in Big BEar for a conference and I%26#39;m looking for a smallish ski resort. I am a beginner for the most part and I didn%26#39;t like the snow summit big bear resorts... it was too crowded and busy...

Anyone know of other resorts in the area that are smaller/cheaper and might be more on the quiet side of things on a sunday?

Don%26#39;t need many slopes or lifts...

Thanks

Seeking smallish/quiet ski resort for a coming sunday

There are only 2 ski resorts in Big Bear

Snow Summit

Bear Mountain

they%26#39;ll both be crowded this weekend.

There is a fun place on the corner of Big Bear Blvd %26amp; Division that has ';tubing';

Have fun !

Seeking smallish/quiet ski resort for a coming sunday

As the previous poster said, there are only 2 ski resorts in Big Bear - Snow Summit %26amp; Bear Mountain. Snow Summit is geared more towards the beginner and intermediate skier.

The only other option for skiing is Bear Valley which is halfway back down the hill near Running Springs. They are a smaller resort but all of them will be crowded and busy on any Sunday.

LA Galaxy soccer

hi all, Im visiting la from 1st-5th June and would like to see galaxy play, but when we are in la there is no game :( Does anybody on the forum know of the location of the training ground and also the times/dates as I will have to settle for the training(if possible).

thanks in advance.

LA Galaxy soccer

you can check there website at www.lagalaxy.com

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Villa de Buena Vista

Has anyone ever stayed at Villa de Buena Vista? It looks beautiful on the website, but I can%26#39;t seem to find any reviews.

Thank you!

Villa de Buena Vista

Yes, I actually stayed at the Villa de Buena Vista for 2 nights. The rooms are nice, but there would never be rooms nice enough worth dealing with the owner. She treats you like it is your priviledge to be staying there. There is no privacy and I swear she has baby monitors in those rooms, so she always knows what is going on. She didn%26#39;t even let us lock our door. So you can make the decision, but there are so many other B%26amp;B %26#39;s that are just as nice, if not nicer, so I see no reason for subjecting yourself to her. Also, I was not impressed with her breakfast at all, I expected a much nicer meal for what we were paying to be there. I would recommend Villa Toscano or the new one that just opened up downtown.

Villa de Buena Vista

Well Peapod we just spent 3 nights at Buena Vista and had a excellent time. The property was beautiful and private, the rooms were exceptional, and the overall experience was a combination of pampering and privacy. We felt like we were completely refreshed after our stay due to the excellent attention to our needs by the owner. It was the best get-away we have had in years.

There are more reviews for this venue on citysearch.com

The citysearch.com posts sum up our experience EXACTLY. In fact, it feels so nice to know we weren%26#39;t the only ones who got duped out of thousands of dollars for such a poor experience. Yes, the property is really scenic--gorgeous. But that being said, the experience at Villa de Buena Vista was an absolute nightmare in dealing with the owner who does not understand the concept of ';customer service';. Bringing this to her attention, she turns her mistakes and nastiness around on YOU.

I do not have experience with Villa Toscana but for friendliness I would suggest Hotel Cheval in downtown Paso whose rooms are small but very beautiful and stylish. The courtyard, for guests only, is also a little nook to enjoy yourself with some wine. For a bigger hotel setting...La Bella Sera Suites, who were great. The manager, Mary Lynne, at La Bella Sera was especially accomodating. The rooms are large and very nice. The location is central to either the East or West wineries. The view obviously isn%26#39;t in a B%26amp;B type setting but it is so worth it to not have to deal with the owner at Villa de Buena Vista. Afterall, you are trying to ENJOY yourself, aren%26#39;t you?

Save your money! The owner is very moody so depending on the day you stay depends on the experience you get.

I had a horrible experience at this place. There many other wonderful places go somewhere else.

Yes, my husband and I stayed at this lovely inn last July. As a matter of fact, everything negative that%26#39;s been written is quite opposite from what we experienced. I suppose if I were a bride and wanted everything my way regardless of rules established for the safety of guests and welfare of the property, I could go on a rampage to destroy someone%26#39;s livelihood. (When you read the posts on the local Website, there are many common threads in this tapestry that are very telltale for sensible readers.)

Had I not visited this beautiful inn, I%26#39;d have no reference point. We were originally only going to stay one night. Because this location and owners were so wonderful in every way, we canceled other plans and stay on with them.

We were given very special attention. Breakfast was warm and delicious. Hospitality was over the top. We watched TV with Patty one night in her common room, with their (very) wide screen TV, and huge overstuffed leather chairs... This room is open to their guests.

We enjoyed complimentary afternoon wine and appetizers, and Patti was very helpful with where to go and what to visit.

The trip evolved into home away from home for us, and lately I%26#39;ve been yearning to return.

There isn%26#39;t a sweeter couple, and their location is sublime. I%26#39;d return anytime...

To each his or her own... I stopped taking wedding photos as soon as my first bride (after twenty or so weddings) copped some kind of wicked attitude. Hopefully, Patti and Charlie will continue to give brides a really special location, because it%26#39;s a fairly tale setting; and, the Youngclaus%26#39; are a delightful couple running a very professional operation.

738lisbon%26#39;s post is obviously a ';plant';. She either is the owner or is a friend of the owner. Little too perfect...nice try, but I can see right through it.

Well, I%26#39;m sorry to inform you that I%26#39;m not a plant.

I%26#39;m a wine professional that travels for business. I went to Paso Robles to visit a wine client. You can check out my credentials, and you%26#39;ll see that I have many relationships in Paso. I went there for work.

www.diaz-communications.com

www.wine-blog.org

I live in Windsor. It%26#39;s a four hour ride from here to there. When I get to Paso, I need a place that%26#39;s a nice as home. Villa de Buena Vista is just that.

After having stayed with Villa de Buena Vista in July, I blogged about my experiences.

Here are the links. Please note that no where on my blog or my business Diaz Communications Web site will you see Villa de Buena Vista as a client. I never met them before staying there. And, have had no interfacing until these terrible postings began.

Here are the links to my professional work that describe my stay.

http://www.wine-blog.org/?p=197

http://www.wine-blog.org/?p=198

Thanks for driving traffic to my blog. It was never my intention to do this, but you%26#39;ve pushed me into a corner in order to prove my credibility.

I said it then, and I%26#39;ll say it again, this is a wonderful bed and breakfast that could only ';not'; seem like that to a bride who didn%26#39;t get her own way.

The telltale mark of vengeance for me was in the posting from her husband that said, ';We can deal with it AFTER the wedding.'; There was a plan for ';getting back'; for perceived injustices, and now it%26#39;s being acted out.

Rather than dealing with misunderstandings as they occured, this bride, her husband, and bridal party are using a classic passive aggressive approach in complete anonymity, so there%26#39;s no real accountability for being mean. [There are great courses on effective communication that teach one how to communicate without hurting others in the process. One must first respect oneself, though, before caring completely about others. It will take time for this, as a maturing process, and I don%26#39;t expect a 20ish year old to be that developed, yet. In time, this party will matured, I%26#39;m sure.]

We%26#39;re all taught to talk, very few of us are taught to communicate.... no matter how scary it is to speak up at perceived injustices, it%26#39;s better to deal with it head on than to let it fester into what I read in horror about Villa de Buena Vista.

These negative postings came to my attention from colleagues in Paso, and for me it was a call to action, as I%26#39;ve been yearning to return. I, unlike you, did not have a terrible experience, and I have a right to post positively, too.

The waves of positive will happen, because every action has an equal and opposite reaction. You won%26#39;t make this company go out of business, because there are many of us who love this location.

Edit that... We stayed in September, not July... So much travel, so much work, and so much writing as a professional.

I imagine that I write well enough for it to be thought of as, ';too perfect.'; That%26#39;s why they pay me the bucks... I take that feedback as a compliment, and say, '; Thanks!';

parameter

silvas sheldon inn

Has anyone tried this restaurant in ElkGrove. Their web page looks interesting and so does their menu but there are no TA reviews. So has anyone been there and what are your opinions?

Thanks

CB

silvas sheldon inn

Yes - I%26#39;ve been to Silva%26#39;s many times. The food and atmosphere are good. It ';used'; to be out in the Country - but suburbia is creeping up on it fast. Another place I%26#39;d recommend is the Boulevard Bistro, on Elk Grove Boulevard, in Old Town Elk Grove. Much smaller than Silva%26#39;s with better food, in my opinion.

silvas sheldon inn

Thank you ddk for your response.

My husband and I have already made a reservation for the date of our arrival to ElkGrove( Feb 14) at Silvas Sheldon Inn. We thought it might be necessary on Valentines Day ( it usually is here in Chicago) but thanks for your info. We may try the Bistro later in our stay.

CB

Coming from the airport into SFO

We are a family travelling with 2 small children, arriving from Europe around 16:30pm. Is it worth trying to get into the city at this time of a day, or will there be lot of traffic? Propably we%26#39;ll be pretty tired after the long flight... Could anyone recommend a nice area to spend the first night in between the airport and San Francisco?

Coming from the airport into SFO

Please visit the page of options for Getting From/To Our Airport to Your Hotel geocities.com/touringsfo/鈥romSFO.html at the TouringSFO site at http://geocities.com/touringsfo/ A less useful version of the page may be found by putting ';Wunth'; in the Search box above.

Yes, there will be traffic. Yes, it IS worth coming here (isn%26#39;t that why you left home?). It%26#39;s only about 25km and about forty minutes.

Coming from the airport into SFO

Yeah, I personally would just go in to the city via taxi if you%26#39;re tierd and get settled in at your hotel. If you had a few hours to drive, I%26#39;d totally understand not wanting to go that far but as it is, I don%26#39;t think the distance is significant enough to really need to stay by the airport.

Thanks for your advice. We are going to stay in California for 3 weeks so we will have a car anyway. I was just worried of not getting into a traffic jam after having been travelling for something like 16 hours with 2 small, not so patient kids...We%26#39;ll have to weight different options. Thanks again!

Will you be awake enough to drive at this point? You could take BART to your hotel, take public transit around the city, and begin your car rental later in your trip. This could work if your hotel is near a BART station (in which case they may not have free parking).

Marie, San Francisco airport is about a 45-minute drive south of the city along the western edge of the bay. There%26#39;s little, if any, reason to stop along the way.

At 16:30, you%26#39;ll be in the the evening rush hour, so traffic will be apparent, but you won%26#39;t have any problems getting into the city.

Assuming you have your hotel booked, I%26#39;d recommend just going to the hotel, unpacking, having dinner, and collapsing after the flight. And, the jetlag will be telling you that you%26#39;re still on Belgian time.

The most convenient way into the city is by taxi. Noticeably cheaper -- about $15-$18 per person -- are the shuttle vans operated by companies like SuperShuttle and others. They drive around the airport loading passengers and luggage until full and then, one by one, drop them at their hotels. The cheapest way into the city is BART, the areas%26#39;s subway system. It%26#39;s convenient if it stops at a station near your hotel, and very inconvenient if it stops nowhere near your hotel. (Shuttle and taxi drivers know where the popular hotels are located, but it%26#39;s smart to have the street address available just in case. I stayed a few times at a small, nice hotel that taxi drivers seemed never to have heard of.)

With young children, after such a long flight, I%26#39;d avoid BART -- it could easily be standing room only during that time of day -- and go for a van or a taxi, probably depending on how the kids were doing.

I would avoid renting a car at the airport and driving in, if a car is in your plans. Rent one in the city. And note that hotels charge a sizeable fee for space in a parking garage.

Yes, best not to have a car in the city. Wait until you are ready to leave on the rest of your trip.

If you are coming from Belgium to spend 3 weeks here, you are likely to have more luggage than you can comfortably take on public transit. Airport shuttles are cost-effective for 1-2 people; more than that and a cab is a better alternative, because cabs charge per trip, not per person.

Coming up from the airport is counter-commute in the afternoon, The customs and luggage rituals will keep you occupied for awhile. By the time you leave the airport, traffic might have thinned out a little. In any case, to answer your question qhether there is a nice area to stay between the airport and the City, the answer is no. It%26#39;s well worthwhile to come right into town, get settled in your hotel, have a good rest if you%26#39;re ready, or a good dinner. If you slept on the plane, depending on where you are staying, you might even be up to an evening stroll.

How much are those shuttles to get to Union Sq. How much are the taxis? Does anyone know if you can rent a car in the city and drop it off at the airport? I will be solo when arriving from airport to city. I am spending 2 nights in SF and then renting a car and going to Tahoe for a week and then back to SF to fly out. Thanks

A taxi from the airport to downtownt would be around $35. They charge per trip, for any number of passengers and their luggage. I think the maximum number of passengers in a regular cab (not a van) is 5.

Shuttles are about $16 per person, and some companies have a discount rate for parties of nore than two people. But on the whole, once you have three people or more, a cab is more economical. Also, a cab is entirely yours, but with a van you ride with other parties and everyone is taken to their destinations in order of location, so you might be the last dropped off.

The rates do not include gratuities.

I agree with Frisco Roadrunner. If you%26#39;re going to be tired from the trip and have small children and luggage, do yourself a favor and take a cab into SF.

You would not, by the way, want to be ';Coming from the airport into SFO,'; because that would mean you would be going in circles isnide the airport grounds... unless you intend to stay at an airport hotel, or unless the airport you first speak of is OAK, but who would want to go from airport to airport? [ IATA Code San Francisco International Airport = SFO ; Local lingo for San Francisco = SF ]

Valentine's Day in L.A.

My husband and I are attending a conference in Santa Ana but tacked on 3 days prior to the conference to see L.A. and 2 days at the end to see San Diego. Our trip has us in L.A. for Valentine%26#39;s Day and rather than spending a fortune on an overpriced dinner we thought about just getting some bread, cheese and a bottle of wine but the question is ';Where is a good place to go?'; Perhaps a scenic overlook of the city or a safe park? Suggestions?

Valentine's Day in L.A.

Nothing I can think of - this isn%26#39;t Europe so you can%26#39;t just take a bottle of wine to a park or beach or have it open in your car - it%26#39;s against the law.

Valentine's Day in L.A.

It%26#39;s against the law but people still do it each and every day. It%26#39;s not like you have a keg party out of your car.

There are great spots on Mulholland Drive you could sit back, watch L.A., the lights and share a drink in your car. It really depends on what part of town you are staying at so we can give you a good recomandation

Thanks. I guess I%26#39;m just looking for something a little less traditional than going out to dinner. Perhaps watching the sunset somewhere and maybe having an appetizer at an outdoor location near the beach or at a scenic overlook. We are staying near Disneyland on Garden Grove but will have a rental car.

Drinking on Mulholland before driving the twisting roads? Now that%26#39;s a very bad idea. Didn%26#39;t know it was done each and every day. I sure hope it isn%26#39;t.

Anyway, you can%26#39;t drink on the beach or in a park, they are patrolled.

For restaurants with a view, you could go to Casa del Mar hotel and have a drink in the bar (there%26#39;s a piano player, too), or at Shutters, or at Lobster -- all in Santa Monica. It might be crowded, but you could give it a try. Gladstones in Malibu-ish is another idea.

Just to get things back on track I%26#39;m going to take the alcohol out of the equation. That was not intended to be the focal point of the request nor of our Valentine%26#39;s Day. The point was to find an off-the-beaten-path romantic location to enjoy some quite time together.

Beverly Hills to Anaheim

I am going to los angeles on honeymoon we are staying in beverly hills for two days and then are going to anaheim what is the best way to transfer between the two locations we dont have a car

Beverly Hills to Anaheim

Easiest probably would be just to rent a car for a day and drop it off in Anaheim, as that will be cheaper than a taxi

You could also use to Amtrack option from Union Station in Downtown L.A.to Anaheim and take a taxi from that station to your destination

Maybe there is some tourcompany offering cheaper/more convinient options, so hopefully some of our experts on here can help you with that

Beverly Hills to Anaheim

There are shuttles for about $25. Check Lux Bus for example. If you%26#39;re only going to Disneyland, that will be fine. But if you want to explore Orange County, you will need a car there. If you%26#39;re only going for 1 day to go to Disneyland, there are tour companies that offer transportation and ticket to Disneyland for the day in one price.

I agree that a rental car is best for all visiting in southern California. I am assuming that you can%26#39;t do that. Public transportation website is www.metro.net. They have inexpensive bus service (more than one bus and it is time consuming) that can take you to Disneyland. As mentioned, you could take the train (www.amtrak.com or www.metrolinktrains.com), but this will involve a bus or taxi to the train and from the train.

thanks guys for your help

San Fransico

I am planning a day trip to San Fransico and would like to know if there is transportation from the airport to the Fishermans Wharf and how we can ride the trolleys this would probably be enough for the day we are taking the first flight out and the last flight back. Thanks again for your suggestions. Debbie

San Fransico

I didn%26#39;t mean trolleys I meant the cable cars :). Debbie

San Fransico

So if I understand your post correctly, you are flying in from LA or OC to spend one day in SF, then heading back to the same airport that night- so there will be no luggage or anything to deal with, right?

Then what you want to do is take BART from the airport to the Powell St. station in downtown SF. When you get out at Powell st. you will be right in front of the cable car entrance. (You will also pass the visitor information center, if you get there after it opens...this could be a useful stop for some info, etc.)

At any rate, you can catch the cable car there and ride it into Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. There are 2 lines- the Hyde St. one will take you to Aquatic Park and Ghirardelli Sq., as well as past the famous Crookedest St. The other is a little less scenic but will take you directly to Fishermans%26#39; Wharf. However, I%26#39;d still rec. the first one, as it%26#39;s still a very easy walk from Ghirardelli Sq. to the wharf/ Pier 39 area.

You may also want to look into getting reservations for an Alcatraz tour. Another idea would be to get a hop on/ hop off tour of the city for the day, so you can see the Golden Gate BRidge and other highlights of the city.

favorite lipstick

identifying rows

Where to watch the Super Bowl---Giants fans

We are going to be in SD for the Super Bowl and would like to find a bar to watch it which is NY-friendly--or at least tolerant of highly emotional NY Giants fans. Thank you!

Where to watch the Super Bowl---Giants fans

Here%26#39;s a link to the SanDiego NY Giants ';meet up'; group. they watched the other games at PB Bar and Grill in Pacific Beach.

http://nygiants.meetup.com/22/?gj=sj6

Where to watch the Super Bowl---Giants fans

this is perfect---we%26#39;re staying in Mission Beach so it would be nearby.

thanks!

Go Giants!

Sandbar Sports Bar and Grill--adross the street from the the roller coaster in Mission Beach--would be another good place to watch the game.

Here we go Giants, here we go!!

If you had any huevos, you%26#39;d go to Seau%26#39;s! :)

Do the Giants even stand a chance??? What%26#39;s the line on the game??

I think the Pats are favored by 13, but no worries---the Giants have been in this position throughout the playoffs, no one has given them a chance and they have proven everyone wrong.

They came closer to beating them in the regular season than any other team so they have a good chance of winning---I%26#39;d bet the Giants to beat that spread.

13 points???? That%26#39;s pretty high!! You%26#39;re right....that last game of the season was CLOSE!! I think the Giants only lost by 3. The last 4 or 5 games has been like that for the Pats.

Denise:

Word of caution: there are lots of New Englanders here in San Diego and they bring their inferiority complex with them (i.e. they%26#39;ll root more for the opposing team, especially from NY, to lose than they%26#39;ll root for their own team to win.

To the other poster--Do the Giants have a chance?...I dunno... I guess the end of season 38-35 Patriot win was a blowout? Of course, the Giants have a shot especially if they can establish the running game which I expect they%26#39;ll be able to do.

Thanks for the heads up and understand how many people hate NY teams which is why I%26#39;m looking for friendly environs. Now we%26#39;re contemplating making the drive to Phoenix for the game, but we%26#39;ll see about that---hotel rates are outrageous (La quinta Inn is $400 a nite)and tickets would be even worse, but it%26#39;s a once in a lifetime chance, so just may have to!

Good luck...face value for the ticket probably starts at $400 or higher....you%26#39;re probably looking at minimum $ 750 per ticket just to sit in the end zone....use that money to have a nice vacation here in San Diego....one other bar that I forgot to mention which is NY friendly--though it would be a 20 - 25 minute drive for you from Mission Beach is Jimmy O%26#39;s in Del Mar.