Please Help with Los Angeles USA 16 Day Itinerary

UnusualSuspects on 11/02/2017 - 16:29
Last edited 13/03/2017 - 17:55 by 1 other user

Hi,

First time travelling to US.

Will be going with wife and 7 year old son.

Flight to LA booked for late Sept 2017.

Please provide positive feedback on the following 16 day itinerary, thanks in advance:

Day One – Arrive LA airport 6 am. Drop off luggage / rest at airport hotel for a few hours. Adjust to LA time by spend the day @ Santa Monica Pier. Stay the night @ airport hotel

Day Two – Fly from LA to Las Vegas. Bus to Grand Canyon. Watch the sunset @ Grand Canyon. Stay the night at Grand Canyon lodge.\

Day Three – Day tour of Grand Canyon and spend the night at lodge

Day Four – Travel to Las Vegas. Explore Vegas pm. Spend the night in Vegas

Day Five – Spend am exploring Vegas. Catch afternoon flight to LA. Stay @ LA airport hotel

Day Six – Spend the day & night @ Lego Land California

Day Seven – Transfer to Anaheim hotel & go shopping for the day

Day Eight – Visit science centre

Day Nine – Visit universal studios

Day Ten – Hollywood day tour

Days Eleven to Fourteen – Disneyland & California Adventure Parks

Day Fifteen – shopping

Day Sixteen – free day then night flight back to Australia.

Travel

Comments

  • thatonethere on 11/02/2017 - 17:05

    Our 7 yo son (at the time) liked most of those places and you aren't doing too much in a day - also consider http://www.tarpits.org/ which is in LA (dinosaur bones being excavated onsite and still bubbling tar pits)

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 17:13

    If it were me, I would hire a car from Vegas and drive to San Francisco via Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. The drive from SF to LA is dead boring so either fly or drive overnight.

    California is made for road trips.

    • RockyRaccoon on 11/02/2017 - 17:21

      a 7 year old son I would think, would prefer the Fun Park Attractions in LA rather than Tahoe or Yosemite

      • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2017 - 17:24

        Possibly…but I'm thinking of shaving off the Day 5 morning Vegas explore :p

    • jamesharrisonats on 14/02/2017 - 11:01

      you must be referring to drive down interstate from SF to LA. We did hwy 1, the coast rd & it's one of the worlds best drives. If you do it, allow at least 4 days.

      BTW
      If wanting to get from LA to Vegas or return & connecting with flights much faster to drive. 4 hours versus longer to gaet through airports. arrive 2-3 hours before flight. Fly 20 mins. Wait at other end delays delays delays.

  • RockyRaccoon on 11/02/2017 - 17:18

    Why bother staying in LA the first night. Just go straight to Las Vegas, and comeback a day earlier if you want more time in LA. Getting around and going to Santa Monica on first night, then going back to Airport on next day, seems like a lot of wasted time.

    You will be tired on the first day - some jet lag, so bite the bullet and suffer a little, to go to Los Vegas and get the travelling stop and start over and done with. To aclimatise its better to get into the US time ASAP, going to the hotel at 6am (about 9am after getting thru customs etc), it will be tempting to go to sleep, then you get up late afternoon and cant get to sleep that night. Plus you will probably pay an extra night for that early check in.

    BTW when in Vegas look at side trip to Page (there will be tours) to see the slot canyons. Google Slot Canyons Page AZ

  • Randxyz123 on 11/02/2017 - 18:03
    +1

    Why are you staying at LAX airport on day 5…?

    It is no where near Lego Land California. Honestly you'd be better off staying in Anaheim and commuting out to Lego Land then and there. Unless you arrive into LAX at some stupid time.

    I don't personally think moving hotels is worth it unless you want to stay somewhere really nice and then move to a cheap place.

    On day 8 do Disney and California Adventure, then I'd personally move up to Venice. The weather will still be nice in September so you may as well be there. I'm not sure I'd stay in Anaheim at all.

    Will you have a car? Public transport is terrible. You either need to use Uber or rent a car. UberPool is really cheap.

    Same with day 1. You'll be zonked. I'd go straight to Vegas but that's just me.

  • try2bhelpful on 11/02/2017 - 19:20

    Difficult with a 7 year old, but LA is not my favourite spot, it is a group of suburbs looking for a centre. The LA to San Fran drive is good and Yosemite is amazing and there is a really good Aquarium in Monterey that is worth looking at.

  • ms_caz on 11/02/2017 - 21:44

    In defence of your original plan, we arrived at LAX very early after a rough all night flight from Melbourne. Had a great bargain from a name your own bid on Priceline for an airport hotel with shuttle included (Hilton), had a brief nap, spent the day in Santa Monica and then overnight at the Hilton with a great breakfast included. Then an early flight to Vegas the next day.

    We were bright and well refreshed without any signs of jet lag. Don't forget that OP is having a long bus ride to the Grand Canyon the next day, so some sunshine and walking around at Santa Monica will be a well appreciated break, especially with a kid. It's so easy to get the bus from the airport to Santa Monica (or to Venice if they are so inclined).

  • Hayesy22 on 13/02/2017 - 13:16

    A day for at the beach on your first day is fine, spending time on a Cali beach is something you should do.

    The changes I would make are I would cut a day (or more) out of LA. Maybe do tour of holllywood and science centre on the same day or lose your free day.

    On day Five instead of flying into Lax I would I would fly into San Diego.

    Day Six - one of the following Sea world, Zoo or USS midway
    Day Seven - Lego land then head to Anaheim.
    Day 8-11 Disney and California adventure. On the end of day 11 move from Anaheim to a more central location of LA.
    Day 12-16 do all your LA stuff.

    This cuts out a ton of traveling back and forth and you get to see San Diego which is worth doing.

  • UnusualSuspects on 02/03/2017 - 22:47

    Thanks for everyone's feedback. The following is a revised version -

    Day One – Arrive LA airport 6 am. Drop off luggage / rest at airport hotel for a few hours. Adjust to LA time by spend the day @ Santa Monica Pier. Stay the night @ Sheraton.

    Day Two – Uber to Legoland. Spend the next two nights at Legoland hotel.

    Day Three – Spend the day at Legoland Aquarium.

    Day Four – Spend the day at Legoland Water Park. Uber to Omi San Diego Hotel.

    Day Five – Fly from San Diego to Las Vegas. Explore Vegas. Four nights in Vegas, Luxor Hotel.

    Day Six – Shopping in Vegas.

    Day Seven – Shopping in Vegas.

    Day Eight – Coach day tour to Grand Canyon.

    Day Nine – Fly from Vegas to LA.

    Day Ten – Visit Universal Studios.

    Days Eleven to Fifteen – Disneyland & California Adventure Parks. Stay at BEST WESTERN PLUS Stovall's Inn.

    Day sixteen – shopping then night flight back to Australia.

    Decided to visit Legoland earlier due to it being easier to schedule.

    Rather fly then drive as I'm not comfortable driving in a country I'm not familiar with.

    • madreece on 13/03/2017 - 17:39

      You seem to be doing a lot of travelling. Would you consider doing the L.A stuff while you are there. Santa Monica , Universal etc. Then moving down Anaheim Disney etc, then San Diego then on to Vegas and the fly directly out from Vegas to home?

  • sprucemoose on 03/03/2017 - 11:13

    You are going to Vegas for 4 nights but it seems like you are not actually doing much in the city. You are doing yourself a massive disservice if you waste two days shopping (the outlets are average IMO). There are so many things you could be doing instead.
    - Circus Circus theme park
    - Downtown Fremont street experience. There is a huge zip line that takes you along the whole street.
    - Wet N Wild water park
    - Hoover Dam
    - Pinball Hall Of Fame
    - Mandalay Bay Aquarium
    - Neon Museum

    • madreece on 13/03/2017 - 17:31

      Circus Circus possibly the saddest place we have ever been. We still laugh about it.All the workers looked like they were just praying to die.
      Freemont street was great.

      • sprucemoose on 13/03/2017 - 19:59

        Yes I wouldn't be heading back anytime soon but if you have a family the theme park is a decent way to entertain kids.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2017 - 03:36

    The Grand Canyon is a great place to visit. Beautiful views.

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