Anyone been to Las Vegas or San Francisco?

[Llantony]

We are going to both cities (not my choice really) and wonder if anyone has any advice/recommendations of what to see?

Also, I've never done a 10 hour flight before - any tips?

 

[nectarine]

Yes, Las Vegas - no need to stay in the centre of the town, if price is an issue stay near the airport and take a (cheap) taxi to the strip. Everything is within walking distance, all the casinos are linked. If you sit at one of the one-armed bandits, then waitresses will usually supply you all day with soft drinks and snacks at no charge, just to keep you seated on that stool!! OK for about two days, no more unless you are a compulsive gambler. Go outside Vegas, see the Hoover Dam and around there.

San Francisco - lovely and scenic and quite hippyish. Depends where you stay but good transport links mean that you don't have to stay in the centre or near the bay, there are plenty of cheap motels on the outside and taxis are plenty. For sightseeing, there are plentyof shows taking place outside the hotels in the main strip - go into the Veneziana Hotel and check out the artificial Venice!

In both places, food is cheap and plentiful, accommodation is cheaper on the outside of the town. Vegas is particularly pricey in the centre - I wouldn't stay there, too noisy unless you really want to stay in plastic luxury!

[Dog]

[quote user="Llantony"]

We are going to both cities (not my choice really) and wonder if anyone has any advice/recommendations of what to see?

Also, I've never done a 10 hour flight before - any tips?

 

[/quote]

 

I have  been a few times at Christmas as I could not get away at other times. I do not like towns on the whole, much prefer the country. I don't have a great fondness for SF. But do like the honest to goodness LV. It is what it is and has no pretences. If you are used to the UK you will enjoy its classlessness and friendliness. Detour from SF and do Hurst Castle and the Californian coastal highway. See the sea otters and check out the wildlife around Hurst Castle.

But it isn't just LV - you have the Grand Canyon (great by helicopter), various national parks, Death Valley there is lots to do. Old copper mines check out Lonely Planet guide. Nearly forgot the Hoover Dam.  Hire a 4WD, a motorcycle whatever. You can do just about anything you can think of. My brother and I once had a mad day and decided to see how many different forms of transport we could hire in a day. We managed: bicycle, tandem, quad, beach buggy, motorcycles, boat, para sailing - we could have easily done more.

I never spent more than 10 minutes on any trip gambling - enjoy the free drinks and food. There are micro-breweries with great fresh real ale. You name it it's there. It is possible to do LV quite inexspensively. Cuisine from all over the globe.

I love the Cirque de Soleil and have been to various shows in London and am enthralled everytime and usually picked on by the performers and span in the air or some such craziness. Last time I was in LV there were three different shows by C de S on - I only saw two and they were as usual mind boggling. Lots of shows and concerts.

The Yanks are hilarious and its quite gobsmacking the excess - but enjoy yourself there is so much going on!

Oh the flight - I just sleep the entire time. Earplugs are a must and flight socks. Drink water.

I would love to be going. Let us know how you get on.

 

[DerekJ]

Been to both for both business and pleasure.

LV - the hotels are entertainment in themselves... see the free sea battle outside of Treasure Island, the fountain display at Bellagio. Take a day trip to flight to the Grand Canyon. Could take a car trip if you've more time to Death Valley and Yosemite NP.

SF - go see Alcatraz, definitely worth it... you may need to book in advance depending on when you go.  Take a trip over the Goldon Gate Bridge to Sausilito.. Fishermans Wharf and Pier 39, take the cable cars (hang on the side),

[Cendrillon]

Re the flight:

As mentioned do drink lots of water, don't touch alcohol.

Wear loose clothing and in-flight socks. Be aware that feet will swell and shoes may be difficult to put on again so loose fitting shoes are a must.

During the flight be sure to get up, exercise and move about from time to time.

You might be able to sleep but take a good book with you.

[Mik from LA]

Best tip I was given is to sign up for email/newsletter for each of the big hotels in LV. When they have special offers they will let you know and you can build a holiday around that. We did this and got four nights at £30 per room for each night. An extra night after that would have cost $270!

We enjoyed it so much we got married there at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Well worth the helicopter flight.

I second the advice to travel the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to SF. Booking motels as you go is no problem. If doing a round trip by car come back via Yosemite (breathtakingly beautiful) and Death Valley (awsome)

[Dog]

I second that - prices can be dirt cheap - and many hotels price the room each day according to demand. It's no wonder Jerry Springer is so busy when the bed we had could easily take 6 people - I'd wake up in the morning and spend five minutes searching for the Mrs under the cover.

[Keni]

Been to Vegas - did the fly-drive thingy from Vegas up through the old Route 66 down to Williams - via the Canyon, the Native reservations - Sedona and so on. The ancient history bit was what we loved, visiting all the old native settlements - I was amazed that the children in Tuba City were actually taken down to McDonalds for their school lunch! But there is a part of the reservation with history about the WW2 Windtalkers as that is where a lot of the Navahos' were based. There are some great dinosaur remains - even a nest with eggs in - that's on the route up fromTuba.

All around that area the history of the pre-modern American is apparent with old villages from the ancients and much more.On the modern scale there is the Hoover Dam. However night-time in Vegas has to be seen to be believed - just wandering around with the hotels and their offerings to the punters, it's actually incredible. Stan Franks Disco on the Western Seaboard is the next place we hope to visit. Just go and enjoy.