Originally Posted By SMCD I have started to plan a trip to California to see the last two remaining parks on my list of visited Disney parks. It will most likely be around summer/autumn 2008. The whole trip will be around 12 days, and I have planned 3 days at the Disney parks. But I do have some questions I hope someone can answer. First – what is the distance between LA and Anaheim? Is it okay to stay in LA and travel out to the Disney Resort, or should we stay in Anaheim for the three days? And how is LA to stay in for a tourist? In what part of the city should we stay? Also, we would like to see San Francisco. What is the distance from LA to SF, and what’s the best transportation between the two cities?
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I live the in San Francisco area and travel to Southern California multiple times each year. For Disneyland, you definitely want to stay in Anaheim. Depending upon where you stay in LA and time of day, it can easily take an hour or more to get to the parks. Anaheim has many, many hotel options in all price ranges. If you come to San Francisco, it's about 400 miles. The fastest driving route is I-5, but if you want a prettier drive, come up the coast on 101. Flights between the LA area airports and plentiful and pretty cheap. Southwest frequently goes down at low as $39 each way. Currently, there is a special between John Wayne (Orange County - 12 miles from DL) and Oakland (across the Bay from SF) for $53 each way. I'd suggest the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco. It's a boutique hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf/Ghiradelli Square area. It is reasonably priced, in a good pedestrian neighborhood, and convenient to many areas of the City.
Originally Posted By dsnykid We are flying into San Francisco in 3 weeks, staying there for a day and then driving down the coast to Anaheim... Much cheaper airfare( and it's only a $10 charge to drop our rental car off at a different airport), although our hotel in San Fran is a tad more than we though we would pay. The drive along I5 is a direct route and if I remember correctly about 7 hours right to Disneyland. We are going along the Pacific Coast Highway and stopping at Hearst castle and the beaches and missions though, so we are taking 2 days with lots of stops to get to Anaheim. I have never stayed in LA, only Anaheim and then driven into LA for the things I wanted to see like Hollywood, Farmers Market, etc... I've just felt... safer, I guess, staying in Anaheim. Depending where you want to go and how the traffic is, traveling around LA can be very quick or VERY slow, I think the drive from Universal Studios to Anaheim is 40 minutes in regular traffic. Also if this is your first trip to Disneyland, you may want to consider more than 3 days, especially if you are going during the summer. I know this doesn't answer everything, but i hope it helps
Originally Posted By SuzieQ dsnykid, is this your first trip to SF? Do you have specific plans for your one day or do you need a whirlwind guide to the City?
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I have a bit of a different viewpoint: I love the Argonaut Hotel. I've stayed there three times and always recommend it to out of towners. Reasonably priced depends on your personal finances. In the summertime rooms can go from $150's to $300's based on availability and how many in your party. However, it's a great hotel right at the end of Fisherman's Wharf, across from the Ghiradelli Cable Car connection and shopping center. <a href="http://www.argonauthotel.com/" target="_blank">http://www.argonauthotel.com/</a> My other favorite that is a few blocks from Union Square is the Orchard Hotel. Now you can find deals for it on expedia, priceline, and kayak all the time. If you book off their website, it's pricey. Anywhere from $175 to $300's per night. Love this place, top service. <a href="http://www.theorchardhotel.com/?source=google&gclid=CL2agbvtkI0CFQflhgodrmTFkQ" target="_blank">http://www.theorchardhotel.com /?source=google&gclid=CL2agbvtkI0CFQflhgodrmTFkQ</a> Another area I'd recommend staying is on Lombard Street - not actually on the crookiest street part but downtown. They have done a great job renovating a bunch of smaller motels and hotels in the past several years. Here's a article talking about it and recommending several motels. I had family stay at the Buena Vista and they liked it. I went to their rooms - very clean, decent size - as most SF hotels/motel rooms are small, like NY. <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/travel/11surfacing.1.html?ref=travel" target="_blank">http://travel.nytimes.com/2007 /03/11/travel/11surfacing.1.html?ref=travel</a> Good luck!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 You should definitely stay in Anaheim while visiting DLR, and in LA when seeing LA. I recommend West Hollywood when staying in LA. It's pretty central to most things you'll probably want to see in LA (Hollywood, the Getty, Santa Monica, Farmer's Market, the mid-Wilshire museums, even downtown isn't too bad to get to). I like the BelAge (and have even gotten some deals there - under $150), but I think it's under renovation now.
Originally Posted By dsnykid SuzieQ - thanks for the invite but we get in at 10 and go to our hotel which is on Lombard street.. then head over to the wharf and have a nighttime tour of Alcatraz. I've been to San Fran several times before, just never in summer, which is why I think the price of the hotel, $190 plus $30 for parking, kinda shocked me. When we leave in the morning we're going across the Golden Gate bridge and doing a loop across the bay bridge... not too sure, Rob's planning that part
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Well, the invite was for a typed up one-day itinerary, lol If you've been to the City, you know the places you want to go. If you've never been, there are ways to see a lot in only one day, and I had some pointers.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb ^^^My roommate wants to take a "family" trip up to San Francisco at some point. If/when we get around to it, I will be paging you for tips, pointers and your whirlwind itinerary!
Originally Posted By SMCD Thanks for all the tips! But are there bus communication between LA and SF? Also, can someone recommend a hotel in Anaheim – close to the parks, and not too expensive? And when in LA, is it possible to take a day trip to Grand Canyon, or is it too far away?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm SMCD - I definately do not recommend bus service between the two - it would take forever and you will definately meet some interesting people. If you cannot aford to drive or fly it, I recommend you wait until you can. As for a day trip to the Grand Canyon - it can be done if you fly, otherwise it is a very long drive (about 12 hours if I recall) each way. I do recommend spending your DL time at Anaheim (good quality afordable hotels include the Howard Johnson and the Candy Cane Inn - also some of the Holiday Inns offer good deals occassionally).
Originally Posted By SMCD >>Hmmm SMCD - I definately do not recommend bus service between the two - it would take forever and you will definately meet some interesting people. If you cannot aford to drive or fly it, I recommend you wait until you can.<< Ok, it’s not that I can’t afford it, but I guess I’m too young to get a rental car in the US, and it just seemed a little stressful to have to get to the airport again just a few days after a 15 hour + flight from Norway. >>As for a day trip to the Grand Canyon - it can be done if you fly, otherwise it is a very long drive (about 12 hours if I recall) each way.<< Then I guess I have to skip that. But thanks for the hotel tips!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Grand Canyon is definitely out of the question, but San Diego is do-able... the zoo and Griffith park are nice, as is Old Town. You might even consider Las Vegas if you haven't been there before. It's about a four hour drive from LA.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 SMCD - getting to and from the SF airport from downtwon SF is a snap as is landing and getting a shuttle or taxi into Long Beach or Orange County airports for Disneyland. In SF you can use BART - our public transportation or a taxi. BART being the more economical way. For DL from either airport a cab ride is about $35, there are shuttles for $10 to $20 one way. I would recommend flying Southwest or JetBlue from SFO to Orange County. Good motels within walking distance(my opinion)are: BWPPI: https://reservations.ihotelier.com/onescreen.cfm?hotelid=5008&languageid=1 HoJo's: <a href="http://www.hojoanaheim.com/laughingplace/" target="_blank">http://www.hojoanaheim.com/lau ghingplace/</a> Candy Cane Inn: <a href="http://www.candycaneinn.net/" target="_blank">http://www.candycaneinn.net/</a> Carousel Inn and Suites: <a href="http://www.carouselinnandsuites.com/" target="_blank">http://www.carouselinnandsuite s.com/</a> I'm sure others will chime in.
Originally Posted By TinksBestFriend You can get from The City (that's San Francisco) to Anaheim using Amtrak. A beautiful trip that follows the Coast mostly. Amtrak uses Oakland however, not San Francisco. And do not even think of taking the bus!
Originally Posted By grammy954 We usually stay at the Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites - both are reasonably priced, quite clean and friendly, and include a good breakfast. You should also check out getawaytoday.com - they have really good prices - you can get most of the hotels without having to get tickets if you already have them.
