Indeed but I was still surprised at the prices mentioned by Craig. Direct flights in and out of LA in October are currently £475pp via Skyscanner. That's why I'm glad we are able to travel out of peak season.Pretty sure cheap long haul is a thing of the past!
We have come to the conclusion that we'd like to be able to enjoy a little more time with the kids before they start leaving school, starting to drive, getting jobs, going to nighclubs... Yes it's hella expensive but you only get to live this once so screw it. That said I think 2025 is going to be a little more low key and close to home. If we could do these trips in October I'd love to as a) it's cheaper and quieter b) we don't step out of the nicer time of the year in the UK but, as you say, it's not really an option. Sorry to take over your thread Mattyn1!Originally Posted by Southwest Dave
I am someone who has always thought of the drive BEING the holiday but even I am coming round to building time in to the schedule for decent stops. I think it is far too easy to keep packing things IN to the schedule; the key to making it work is knowing what to take OUT. When I was able to travel solo I'd book a flight in, a flight out, a car and a first nights accommodation. I'd arrive with tickets for a highlight along the way (usually a motor race of one type or another), a rough route in mind and a list of possible destinations and set off and see how it went, finding hotels or campgrounds along the way. A real freedom. No longer an option now there are four of us but it is still a lesson to me that I shouldn't over plan or over load things and I should allow space in the schedule to let the trip 'happen'.
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Nice to see you back, Howard!
Another quandary for the experts please if I may!
I am due to leave Death Valley (The Ranch @ Furnace Creek) AM of 14 August. I am booked into San Francisco hotel on 16 August. Those two nights were going to be up to Bishop overnight, then onto Lee Vining and do Tioga Pass staying on Yosemite for a night. Then on to SF.
But I have just discovered the reservation system for Yosemite and it bothers me. To get accommodation in good time for Yosemite I need to pay now and it really isn't cheap. The cancellation policies seem sketchy at best (noting I would want to stay in Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge @ El Portal. There seems to be no guarantee I will be able to get a reservation for Yosemite in August (and I could easily forget while on the road). As I read it if I can't get a reservation, I am pretty stuck.
So I am contemplating options here. I could head north go through Lee Vining and get to Tahoe (which would be awesome - a place I have always wanted to see) or head round and up through Sequoia. I am easy either way.
So - what do you all think to the Yosemite Reservations? And if you were to avoid Yosemite, which way would you go to SF?
Why San Francisco I hear you ask? Well I want to see if it really is as bad as people say, I want to see Alcatraz and drive across the GG Bridge, and I want to do the PCH. So it is a fixed stop so to speak!
I'd book the hotel in Yosemite and worry about the cancellation policy later if it were me. Absolutely a must on that route and should not be skipped. Be aware that there will be a huge volume of traffic in the valley during the day but that does settle down as the day goes along so I'd take my time on the drive and enjoy the Tioga Pass (a stop at the Whoe Nellie Deli is recommended for lunch and a look around the souvenir shop!) before arriving after lunch when things should have calmed a little. Make the most of your hotel reservation by staying in the park and exploring the valley area later in the day/evening and stop at a few places as you leave the next morning (Glacier Point would be a good place to see the sun come up) and then head on to San Francisco (which certainly IS as bad as reported in certain areas) It is NOT a place to park a car ANYWHERE and expect it to be left untouched when you return: just park it in the hotel parking lot - preferably underground - and use public transport. It's a great city and well worth a visit but I think the defund the police thing has gone too far there for sure!
You will need a reservation for entry in to Yosemite I believe - though this may come automatically with a hotel reservation (?) - and you will want to make certain to book Alcatraz tickets in advance as they sell out. You will also need to make sure your rental car has a tag to allow you to pay for the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge (they only charge in one direction but sadly no longer take cash and it seems a real faff to set up an account on a rental car to pay the bridge directly)
A less crowded option.
Yosemite is a highlight of any trip and still my favourite place so I (like Craig) would probably bite the bullet and reserve asap. If it's not for you I would opt to go south to Sequoia NP even though Lake Tahoe is wonderful. In DV you could take CA178 past Ballarat ghost town, through Ridgecrest towards Lake Isabella. If you wanted to get away from the crowds you could head up to Kernville and onto Johnsondale via the pretty Kern river highway. From there take the Great western divide highway North and stop at the little visited Trail of 100 Giants grove of Sequoia's and on through Cedar slope to Porterville. Then head up to Three rivers to the southern entry point of Sequoia NP. Kernville and Three rivers would make to decent overnight stops and it's a lovely mountain drive in between.
And I also agree that you will need to book Alcatraz tickets in advance. Many companies advertise them but only along with other tours as the 'other' tour is the one that earns them money. So, I recommend purchasing them from the official nps website.
Last edited by Southwest Dave; 01-19-2024 at 01:25 PM. Reason: Added info
Dave & Craig - was having a bit of a flap so thanks for the d&g!
I have been in comms with the Yosemite View Lodge this evening and as they are out of the park proper, the accommodation reservation does not give the entry reservation.
There must be opportunity to get these in the future right? We still have seven months to go! Surely.
It has to anyway as I want to try this Whoa Nellie!!
You will be pleased to know I have provisionally booked the hotels for Alberquerqu/Santa Fe/Taos/Colorado Springs so that bit is firming up - thank you for that advice. Next I need to square away what happens after Aspen to the Million Dollar Highway - wondering if Glenwood Springs is a bit too far - so might stay in Carbondale and then head across to the MDH.
Then it is almost there. V Excited!!
Have provisionally booked a hotel in San Francisco v close to Fisherman's Wharf - with valet parking. Yes it's expensive but already been advised about secure parking. And yes will pre book Alcatraz in good time!
Cutting out Glenwood springs would give you a little more time to enjoy both the drive over Independance pass to Aspen and the Million dollar highway where you will want to stop at the mountain towns of Ouray and Silverton for a peak! Although Glenwood springs is not miles and miles out of the way, it's a very popular spot and traffic could potentially slow you down on days you have some slow going miles to cover with lots to see.
The fact that Yosemite had gone to a timed entry system was, until yesterday, news to me in all honesty. I'd only seen it mentioned when I went on to recreation.gov worked as I need to source my own timed entry tickets for Rocky Mountain NP (these are not available until much closer to the time unfortunately).
Your post actually got me to wondering when they released Yosemite passes as there may be a need to re-route our own trip should the road through the Big Sur area not re-open after the winter as Yosemite is the natural alternative route from SF to Furnace Creek. Surprisingly they are on sale now and I reserved my own for the period which we would be travelling through the park should worst come to worst. They cost $2 and are valid for three consecutive days so I figured there's nothing to lose and will cancel it closer to the time if we are not going to need it. I'd suggest checking out this page at recreation.gov and reserving now also if you have your dates all set.
Already done so…. When I looked last night late, it was working and allowing me to book……also As well as sorted accommodation in Bishop, Yosemite and SF!
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