It’s Vegas, baby!

A great place to start a road trip

Here we are on the West Coast trip but where do we start?  At the beginning, of course.  Having just arrived in Vegas by air, you’ll need to get to your hotel and those in the know will agree that the best way is just to get a taxi.

If you want to show up in style, I can arrange a private car or limo at an extra charge but I never include the transfers in Vegas.  If you’re coming in by road from Los Angeles, try to time it so you’re hitting Vegas at sundown and into the twilight.

As you get closer to the city, every little hill in the road will provide you a closer and brighter view and a thrill that I can’t really describe…it has to be experienced.

Get checked in and then get out there

Having gotten yourself to the hotel, and checked in, it’s time to experience everything that Vegas is about…glitz and excess!  Many go to Vegas for the gambling but the city has changed itself in the last decade or so; this is now a place to take your family and relax or catch some world class entertainment.  The old Las Vegas is still there in spirit and all-night drinking, gambling at the best online casinos in usa and cavorting in ยูฟ่าสล็อต are the attractions for a good portion of visitors but the old images of gangsters and corruption are (at least visibly) a thing of the past.

There is more to Vegas than just ‘the strip’; if you want to get away from the high rollers and noise, there are some nice bars and restaurants in the suburbs where you’ll find the ‘locals’.  Most residents are relative newcomers and the city continues to grow;  I like the East end as it has a suburban feel to it and lacks the pretence of downtown.  My favourite casino is Sam’s Town on Boulder Highway (easy to get to by taxi or bus); here you can go elbow to elbow with the diehard bingo players (blue hair included) for just a few dollars, or while away the hours at the penny slot machines.  Sam’s, definitely, isn’t the Bellagio or Venetian but it does have an appeal and it won’t break the bank. If you prefer online casinos, you can also try your luck and ลุ้นรางวัลใหญ่กับ UFA.

The best shows anywhere

Entertainment in Vegas is big business and it is here that you will see the best of the best.  People fly from all over the world to watch a title fight at the MGM Grand or, on the other end of the spectrum, to see the likes of Celine Dion…you haven’t made it until you’ve played the strip!  The shows that are put on by the hotels are fantastical spectacles that cost them millions to produce and some are free…you’ll have to do some research .

There are few ‘Must Do’ things for your time in Vegas :

-See the Grand Canyon (pop me over an e-mail for info on how to do this)

-See the light show on Fremont Street (free)

-The fountains at the Bellagio are amazing

-Buffet, buffet and more buffet (you can get these for free, sometimes) but if you only try one, make it a champagne brunch on the weekend…usually in the range of USD35-40.

-Play golf if you’re a golfer or attend a sporting event, such as baseball

I could go on and on but don’t want to be long-winded so, if you do want more on Vegas, get in touch and we’ll have a chat.

Western fly drive

Many of my friends and clients have experienced the classic West Coast fly drive but most tend to overlook my absolute favourite San Diego. I always recommend taking as much time as possible to see as much as you can and, when possible, include Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I’ll get to more about the individual locations on separate blogs but let’s just get the itinerary for now.

The glitz of Vegas is always worth a look for at least four nights and, also, to allow for a trip out to the Grand Canyon. Die hard gamblers will want to stretch this out a bit but there is always enough to see as not to move on right away. Exotic shows and bright lights are the normal attractions, but golfers will be spoilt for choice, as well.

San Francisco is the next stop, and you can get there either by road or by air…I’d suggest just getting there by plane and picking up your car on the other end as the 9 hour drive may be too much for some or, alternatively, stopping along the way but this is a wasted night. After about 4 nights in ‘Frisco’, it’s down the coast to Los Angeles and this time it is worth a stop in the Pismo Beach area just to enjoy the scenery.

Los Angeles has a love-hate relationship with tourists; it’s big and smoggy, but there’s a ton of stuff to do, as well. It’s important to consider exactly what appeals to you so a decision can be made as to the length of stay.If you want to explore you’ll need a week but if there are just a couple of points of interest then 3 days will be sufficient.

A short drive down I-5 brings you to San Diego and, arguably, one of the best climates in the world. It’s a busy city with a lot to see but, at the same time, San Diego invites you just to relax. I always recommend at least 4 days but would gladly stay for weeks. Your time constraints may limit you to a couple of days, but at least you’ll get a taste.

In between these major centres, there are other popular options for side trips or stays. The coastline itself has many towns and events to visit, and there are more out of the way choices such as Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the giant redwoods in northern California. The more adventurous could consider travelling into Oregon and Washington to explore the Pacific Northwest, but you will need to allow more time.

There are numerous other considerations to be had; available time, school holidays when travelling as a family, budget and, ultimately, what you want to see. As I mentioned, I’ll put more detail into individual blogs but this will get you thinking about where to start planning.

If you’d like to discuss a fly drive (or any other holiday), or have these details e-mailed to you, please feel free to contact me at any time.

San Francisco

When looking into American destinations, you’ll find holidays to San Francisco tend to be one of the most popular options available. Situated in California, you are guaranteed fantastic weather, a varied culture and plenty of interesting and exciting activities to keep you entertained. You certainly won’t forget your San Francisco holidays anytime soon!

Most Popular Attractions

One of the best ways to explore the city when you go on holidays to San Francisco is via cable car. It provides you with a unique and retro way to explore the city.

Alcatraz is potentially the most popular attraction in San Francisco. This is by far the world’s most infamous prison. It hasn’t been used since 1963, yet the attraction still manages to pull in around a million visitors every year. While visiting this popular attraction, you’ll go on an audio tour where you hear interviews with former prisoners and guards. This is a really chilling experience and one that will stay with you for a long time.

If you love greenery you’ll want to head to the Golden Gate Park. It features around 3 miles of beautiful scenery. No San Francisco holidays would be complete without a visit to one of the world’s largest man made parks. From Japanese tea gardens to paddocks and white domed conservatories packed full of beautiful flowers; this is the best place to head to if you are looking to relax and escape the bustling city life.

One thing that holidays to San Francisco are known for is a fantastic nightlife scene. The city really does come alive at night time and there’s so much to take in. The Marrakesh Magic Theatre is perfect for the whole family.

It can sometimes be difficult finding night time activities for children but this is by far one of the best available. This close up magic show will have you laughing and your children will be left amazed by what they have seen. Definitely an activity not to be missed on any family holidays to San Francisco.

If you’re looking for a cultured holiday, then head to the Palace of Fine Arts. The building alone is beautiful. It looks similar to Roman ruins and it attracts thousands of tourists every single year. Other cultural activities in the city include theatres and many museums. There’s even a good selection of children’s museums.

Dining Out in San Francisco

One thing that you won’t be disappointed with on your holidays to San Francisco is the food on offer. It really doesn’t matter what mood you are in, you will easily be able to find something to suit your tastes.

As well as standard eateries, you’ll also discover some weird and wonderful dishes in restaurants such as ‘Don Bugito’. This unusual restaurant serves up creepy crawlies as one of its main delicacies. If creepy crawlies aren’t your thing then why not try unusual meats such as elk and wild game in ‘Missing Link’.

Don’t worry if you don’t fancy trying anything out of the ordinary. San Francisco holidays offer delicious foods from all over the world. This is definitely one destination you won’t forget in a hurry!