Holidaying in USA from Australia

[Daddisgrl]

Originally Posted by Baz

I have planned and implemented this entire holiday myself over the net without using a Travel Agent. I have arranged all the Shuttle transfers from airports to hotels and to pickup and drop off locations for the R/V's, but I have hit the wall with one booking. I can't find a shuttle transfer operator in Carson CA to take 7 of us on a 5 minute 3 mile journey between our hotel and the R/V pickup depot. Can anyone over there suggest a respectable operator who is not going to rip us off?

Originally Posted by Baz

I have decided to give the shuttle bus idea a miss and take 2 cabs. The shuttle quotes have been ridiculous with a minimum of 1 hour bookings only available. One company wanted $360 for a 5 minute ride. I told him he's dreaming.

Doesn't the hotel have a courtesy shuttle? Normally they pick up at airports. I googled & it says the nearest airport is Long Beach Airport & the next is LAX. I don't know how close the RV place is in relation to either of these; but it may be worth looking into. If they do have a shuttle; they may be willing to pick you up.

Another thought would be to rent an SUV; large pick up or van for a day from a place that will pick it up. It should be cheaper then prices you were quoted for the shuttle or possibly the taxi. I just did a quick search using Enterprise; to rent a van for 1 day 101.50 USD.

A good message board to go to would be city-data; they have state specific sections where locals can help you figure something out.




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[Baz]

Originally Posted by Daddisgrl

Doesn't the hotel have a courtesy shuttle? Normally they pick up at airports. I googled & it says the nearest airport is Long Beach Airport & the next is LAX. I don't know how close the RV place is in relation to either of these; but it may be worth looking into. If they do have a shuttle; they may be willing to pick you up.

Another thought would be to rent an SUV; large pick up or van for a day from a place that will pick it up. It should be cheaper then prices you were quoted for the shuttle or possibly the taxi. I just did a quick search using Enterprise; to rent a van for 1 day 101.50 USD.

A good message board to go to would be city-data; they have state specific sections where locals can help you figure something out.




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Thanks for the info Daddysgirl. I'll take it on board. Every bit of info helps when you'r in a different Country with different practices.


Baz

[Baz]

Here is our itinerary for the 7 week USA adventure:-

Arrive LA Monday 10th December, 2012. 2 days at the Tropicana Inn Anaheim whilst visiting Disneyland.

Thursday 13th December, 2012. Fly to New York. 4 days in the Broadway Plaza Hotel whilst attending Christmas Spectacular at Madison Square Garden, Freedom Tower, Manhattan Cruise, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, skate Central Park, visit KOA Swartz Toy Store and Tiffany's on 5th Ave, Empire State Building, Rockerfella Centre, and Brooklyn tour.

Monday 17th December, 2012. Fly to Orlando. 5 days at Rosen Inn Hotel at Pointe Orlando. Visit Universal Studios, Seaworld and Kennedy Space Centre.

Saturday 22nd December, 2012. Transfer to Port Canaveral for 7 day Christmas cruise of Caribbean on the new Disney Fantasy.

Saturday 29th December, 2012. Transfer from Port Canaveral to Kissimmee Florida to pickup 2 x rented 30 foot motor homes and drive to Gator R/V Park in the Everglades.

Sunday 30th December, 2012. Airboating in the Everglades then drive to the Riptide R/V Resort in Key Largo.

Monday 31st December, 2012. Drive from Key Largo to KOA St.Petersburg FL for New Years Eve celebrations.

Tuesday 1st January, 2013. Drive from St.Petersburg to Panama City beach Resort FL.

Wednesday 2nd January, 2013. Drive from Panama City to KOA New Orleans West LA for 2 nights. Visit Oak Alley Mansion and Plantation.

Thursday 3rd January, 2013. New Orleans.

Friday 4th January, 2013. Drive from New Orleans to The Woods R/V Park, Montgomery, AL.

Saturday 5th January, 2013. Drive from Montgomery AL to Whitwell TN for an overnight at friends ranch.

Sunday 6th January, 2013. Drive from Whitwell TN to KOA Nashville R/V Park, TN

Monday 7th January, 2013. Drive from Nashville to Asheville East KOA R/V Park, N.C., and visit Biltmore Estate.

Tuesday 8th January, 2013. Drive from Asheville to Swansea Jellystone Park S.C.

Wednesday 9th January, 2013. Drive from Swansea Jellystone to Savannah South KOA R/V Park G.A. Visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston.

Thursday 10th January, 2013. Drive from Savannah G.A. to St.Augustine FL. Meet up with Tom Wells - Florida Cobra Club member, then drive to KOA Kissimmee, FL.

Friday 11th January, 2013. Clean R/V and fly from Orlando to Los Angeles and overnight in Double Tree Hotel by Hilton at Carson C.A.

Saturday 12th January, 2013. Pickup 2 x 30 foot R/V's from carson F.L. and drive to mesa Apache Junction KOA R/V Park A.Z.

Sunday 13th January, 2013. Drive from Apache Junction, through Sedona and Oak Creek to the Grand Canyon. Overnight at the Mather Campgrounds, Grand Canyon National Park.

Monday 14th January, 2013. Drive from the Grand Canyon to KOA Flagstaff R/V Park.

Tuesday 15th January, 2013. Drive from Flagstaff to KOA Circus Circus Los Vegas for 2 nights.

Wednesday 16th January, 2013. Los Vegas.

Thursday 17th January, 2013. Drive from Los Vegas to Visalia KOA R/V Park C.A.

Friday 18th January, 2013. Drive from Visalia to Placerville KOA R/V. Park C.A.

Saturday 19th January, 2013. Drive from Placerville to Golden Gate Trailer Park San Francisco C.A. for 3 nights.

Sunday 20th January, 2013. Discover San Francisco.

Monday 21st January, 2013. Alcatraz tour.

Tuesday 22nd January, 2013. Drive coast road from San Francisco to Salinas Monterey KOA R/V Camp.

Wednesday 23rd January, 2013. Drive from Monterey to Los Angeles. Enroute visit Hearst Castle. 2 x overnights at Walnut R/V Park Northridge L.A.

Thursday 24th January, 2013. Visit Legoland in Carlsbad L.A.

Friday 25th January, 2013. Wash R/V, drop off and fly back to Sydney at 10.20pm.

Saturday 26th January, 2013. Flying home.

Sunday 27th January, 2013. Arrive in Sydney at 8.20am - Totally stuffed.

If there is anyone in the USA besides Tom Wells in St. Augustine that would like to catch up with us that fits in with my itinerary, please respond. I would love to hear from you.

Hershal:- Texas is a bit too far off the track, but the offer to visit and stay with us in Sydney is always there.


Baz

[Ron61]

Baz,

That is quite a trip that you have planned and you should enjoy it a lot. To bad you aren't coming farther up into Northern Calif. as I live 250 miles North of San Francisco.

Anyway have a great time and enjoy the sites.

Ron

[Tom Wells]

Baz,

When I get a 2013 calendar I'll put January 10 on there

In the meantime, don't lapse and drive on the wrong side of the road over here

Sounds like a dream trip!

Tom

[FuzzyDiceRide]

Sir .......Rude I am not. But if you ain't coming to Texas, I would forget the whole trip and just Google Earth it and save the money for good kangaroo BBQ . ;-)

[Baz]

Originally Posted by FuzzyDiceRide

Sir .......Rude I am not. But if you ain't coming to Texas, I would forget the whole trip and just Google Earth it and save the money for good kangaroo BBQ . ;-)

Hi FuzzyDiceRide,

This holiday started off as 7 days and now has blown out to 7 weeks. I would love to have visited Texas as I have some good friends down there, but when the women tell you," This is where we are going!" Guess what. That is where we are going.

Another reason for this itinerary is to catch up with some good solid Americans who we have met over the past 14 years during our travels. Some, we haven't seen for that length of time and we are really looking forward to seeing them again.

Forget the Kangaroo B.B.Q. I'm into black Angus grain fed beef fillet steaks, medium rare topped off with a couple of bottles of good red wine and a few good old Aussie beers..

Take care now and keep well.


Baz

[Tom Wells]

Baz and family,

We immensely enjoyed your visit! Hope you did too.

I put up a few of Kay's photos in the thread here: First Coast Cobra Club • View topic - Cobra guy from Australia visiting Jan 10, 2013

Come back any time!

Tom & Kay