West Coast US

Hi QF are having a significant sale on Y fares across the pacific so we have decided to grab ourselves a couple of tickets for early June. Less than half price.

We are heading to San Francisco 3 nights, Las Vegas 4 nights and Los Angeles 2 nights. We are currently looking at staying at the Hilton Financial District SF, Bellagio in LV and Hilton Universal in LA.

Can any of you good VFlyers (bad ones too [}:)], recommend/suggest/comment on the choices or otherwise. We have been to SF before and are not too concerned about it. We are only to going to LA as we are flying out of there (direct flight back to Melbourne - A380 too) and fancy a day at Universal the only other thing we want to do is see the Hollywood sign. Never really had a desire to go to LA.

Any help you can offer is appreciated.

Thanks

[Darren Wheeler]

Generally, I would say shop around and don't be afraid to contact hotels to see if they will beat re-seller quotes. Also, search for discount codes. I've managed to save a heap on the MGM Grand with one.

Hi Rob, great trip planned!

In SF I am not so keen on the financial district Hilton, it's a bit away from the cable cars and key shopping areas, perhaps the 'Hilton SF' instead? Also I don't rate the Hilton financial district as highly as several other hotels including its stablemate.

Bellagio, loved it but I think any of the hotels of its size and class are on a par, there's a better expert somewhere around here than me though.

In the LA area I only stay in Beverly Hills so won't comment on what's good for Universal City.

I can recommend the Sheraton Universal in LA - right by the Studios and 5 minute drive from Hollywood to see the sign!

I've stayed at the Sheraton and Hilton Universal, both are great. The Hilton was in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. That made me happy. Staying at The London West Hollywood in a week or so, will report back should you wish. I love their NYC one.

Loved the Bellagio and it is fairly central on the Strip...but a word of warning[:(] when we stayed there last year they downgraded our room without telling us or offering a partial refund, luckily I realised it didn't match the description in the VH brochure and I had to kick up in reception before they admitted it. Eventually a duty manager upgraded us to a huge suite overlooking the fountains to make up for their deception..... [V]

I would stay there again though.

Thanks guys - very helpful.

Will do a bit of ringing around and see what deals can be had.

[Scrooge]

One thing I always do is check biddingfortravel.com, it is a website that gives pointers to what the area hotels are accepting for bids on priceline, with a bit of reading you can set your bid up so you will get the hotel of your choice.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
One thing I always do is check biddingfortravel.com, it is a website that gives pointers to what the area hotels are accepting for bids on priceline, with a bit of reading you can set your bid up so you will get the hotel of your choice.


betterbidding.com is a site in a similar vein and especially good for hotwire info. The downside is that it doesn't have Sheryl patrolling the place [:D].
DL

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite on the top floor of the Universal Hilton a couple of years ago and on that experience I can highly recommend it. You're just a short walk away from the park and City Walk which has lots of bars clubs etc.

One other bit of advice I would offer regarding Universal Studios is buy the Front of Line tickets on line if you can rather than the ordinary ones. If it's hot and busy they are worth every penny. We were there last July and we did everthing we wanted twice or more and avoided some pretty scary queues later in the afternoon.

Miopyk[8D]