Western Road Trip for UK Honeymooners - Does this sound like a good route?

[Steve237]

Firstly, what an incredible site! Very pleased to stumble across this on Google... Hope you guys can help me fine-tune this honeymoon trip I'm planning.

We have 15 nights to do this in. I know it's going to be a push but I think it is just about workable - let me know your views.

We are getting married on 29th August 2005 and want to leave the UK a couple of days later to begin the trip. So less than two months away. I really need to get some flights and some of the hotels booked ASAP. Last time I went to the US with a friend, we came across a book of vouchers at the car hire place and used these to pick up cheap accommodation along our route - are these voucher books common?

Anyway, here's the idea:

- Fly from Manchester, UK to NYC. Stay 2 or 3 nights
- Fly to Vegas. Stay 2 nights.
- Pick up car and drive to Grand Canyon early in the morning. Spend the day here and stay the night and watch the sun come up in the morning.
- Drive to the Meteor Crater near Flagstaff, then drive on to Phoenix. Stay here for one night.
- Leave Phoenix and head to L.A. - possibly via Palm Springs? Maybe stay the night half way there.
- Spend the night in L.A. and cruise around Hollywood, etc.
- Drive along the coastline to San Francisco - attempt the whole trip in one day or stop the night somewhere midway?
- Spend the night in San Francisco
- Drive to Yosemite National Park and stay the night (I know this is one place where I'll need to book accommodation in advance - ASAP right?
- Drive through Death Valley to Vegas to catch flight to NYC and then home to Manchester, UK

I would be extremely grateful for any opinions, advice, recommendations, etc.

Bearing in mind the limited time we have to do this trip, is the Vegas to Vegas road trip the quickest way to do the places I have mentioned, in one big loop? Would it be better to go from Vegas and end at San Francisco (with a short detour to Yosemite and back again) and fly from San Francisco back to NYC for our connecting flight back home? Or maybe fly from NYC to L.A. and start our road trip there, with Vegas as the end point?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated! We are running out of time fast.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Firstly, what an incredible site! Very pleased to stumble across this on Google... Hope you guys can help me fine-tune this honeymoon trip I'm planning.

Thanks for the kudos and welcome to the RTA roadtrip community!

We have 15 nights to do this in. I know it's going to be a push but I think it is just about workable - let me know your views.

OK -- it is your honeymoon -- not a job -- maybe you would consider -- slowing the pace, lingering over moonlit walks, candlelit dinners, etc. Your route is possible, but you will be exhausted and perhaps you might enjoytaking some slower days as you start your new life together?

We are getting married on 29th August 2005 and want to leave the UK a couple of days later to begin the trip.

Congratulations!

Last time I went to the US with a friend, we came across a book of vouchers at the car hire place and used these to pick up cheap accommodation along our route - are these voucher books common?

Yes, the best place to find these is are at the State Welcome centers (usually found near Interstate highways and state border crossings)

- Fly from Manchester, UK to NYC. Stay 2 or 3 nights
- Fly to Vegas. Stay 2 nights.
- Pick up car and drive to Grand Canyon early in the morning. Spend the day here and stay the night and watch the sun come up in the morning.
- Drive to the Meteor Crater near Flagstaff, then drive on to Phoenix. Stay here for one night.
- Leave Phoenix and head to L.A. - possibly via Palm Springs? Maybe stay the night half way there.
- Spend the night in L.A. and cruise around Hollywood, etc.
- Drive along the coastline to San Francisco - attempt the whole trip in one day or stop the night somewhere midway?
- Spend the night in San Francisco
- Drive to Yosemite National Park and stay the night (I know this is one place where I'll need to book accommodation in advance - ASAP right?
- Drive through Death Valley to Vegas to catch flight to NYC and then home to Manchester, UK

OK -- while I often recommend Las Vegas as a perfect hub for such a trip -- I am not sure it is your best hub. I think I would recommend San Francisco and so fly from NYC to San Francisco and upon leaving the Bay area go direct to Yosemite and then onto Death Valley and Las Vegas. The to the Grand Canyon and then Phoenix and LA and then up the coast for a departure from San Francisco home.

You could do the LA to San Francisco leg up the coast, but it is an all day journey -- need to allow 10 hours at least.

What do think of this route?

Mark

[Robert Schaller]

You mentioned spending a night somewhere between Phoenix and LA -- I'd suggest that's not necessary. It's only about 5 hours between the two, so I'd go on to LA in one shot and spend that extra time on the coast road. That'll give you a bit more "gawk" time there and it's worth it! Bob

[Steve237]

OK -- while I often recommend Las Vegas as a perfect hub for such a trip -- I am not sure it is your best hub. I think I would recommend San Francisco and so fly from NYC to San Francisco and upon leaving the Bay area go direct to Yosemite and then onto Death Valley and Las Vegas. The to the Grand Canyon and then Phoenix and LA and then up the coast for a departure from San Francisco home.

What do think of this route?

Mark

Thanks for the detailed response, Mark.

I think this route sounds great! I like the idea of some serenity at Yosemite National Park and a wild drive through Death Valley into Vegas rather than just landing there on a plane. Is this the reason you suggested this different route or are there other benefits of doing it this way?

[Steve237]

You mentioned spending a night somewhere between Phoenix and LA -- I'd suggest that's not necessary. It's only about 5 hours between the two, so I'd go on to LA in one shot and spend that extra time on the coast road. That'll give you a bit more "gawk" time there and it's worth it! Bob

Thanks for the tip, Bob. Makes perfect sense to me.

[Steve237]

Your route is possible, but you will be exhausted and perhaps you might enjoytaking some slower days as you start your new life together?

If we were to decide to remove one of the destinations from our planned trip, which one would you advise we miss out?

[Mark Sedenquist]

If we were to decide to remove one of the destinations from our planned trip, which one would you advise we miss out?

I was afraid you would pose that query... If pushed, I would counsel eliminating Arizona from the trip and spending more time at leisure elsewhere...

mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

I think this route sounds great! I like the idea of some serenity at Yosemite National Park

Um. Unless you do some hiking, you won't find much serenity at Yosemite in late Auigust -- early September. This is a very popular park.

and a wild drive through Death Valley into Vegas rather than just landing there on a plane.

I am not sure what you mean by "wild drive" -- how many hours per day would you like to be on the road?

Is this the reason you suggested this different route or are there other benefits of doing it this way?

Your other route did a little too much zig-zagging around and this second route might be easier to accomplish.

Mark

[Steve237]

By "wild drive" I just mean exciting, cruising through the hot desert...

Looking into our flight into NYC from the UK right now - does it really matter whether we land at JFK or Newark?

Checking flights for our return leg of the journey (San Fran to NYC), it seems luck is against me as there are no flights into Newark on the same day as the best priced flight home to the UK (apart from flights that arrive later in the evening when our flight home has been and gone). The difference in cost between initially flying from the UK into JFK rather than Newark is very high - I'm wondering whether you think the alternative route you've suggested is worth the extra cost we'll incur?

Having said that, perhaps a taxi ride from Newark to JFK will be pretty straight forward? Just checked google maps and it's less than an hours drive... what do you think?

I'll be glad when I've got this airport business and flight booking out of the way, then I can get to the fun part - the road trip!!!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Looking into our flight into NYC from the UK right now - does it really matter whether we land at JFK or Newark?

JFK is a little more convenient because of proximity. It is just south of Queens, and therefore, technically in New York state. Newark is west of the Hudson River and therefore in New Jersey -- but depending where you will stay in Manhattan the cab fares will be similar from either airport. (With the caveat that I am not a NYC local).

Checking flights for our return leg of the journey (San Fran to NYC), it seems luck is against me as there are no flights into Newark on the same day as the best priced flight home to the UK (apart from flights that arrive later in the evening when our flight home has been and gone). The difference in cost between initially flying from the UK into JFK rather than Newark is very high - I'm wondering whether you think the alternative route you've suggested is worth the extra cost we'll incur?

Have you looked at the cost of connecting flights between LA & Las Vegas with NYC? Actually, for that matter, have you looked at the direct flights from UK to Las Vegas (bypassing NYC)?

Having said that, perhaps a taxi ride from Newark to JFK will be pretty straight forward? Just checked google maps and it's less than an hours drive... what do you think?

An hour's drive? I don't think so -- we would need a local's view -- but I don't think you can cover that distance any time in less than two hours. Maybe you should consider a helicopter transfer?