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Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 11:03
by mallin
Have just booked our 1st UC tickets managed to get 2 reward seats to LAX in Oct.Lots of questions I won't ask all at once as it is some time away. Its to celebrate OH 60th birthday.We have an empty plane both ways and the reservations guy has booked us in 4/5 k they seem pretty good seats are they ok for coming back, will ask about sleep wear later.

Have never flown from HEATHROW so have had a quick look at Holiday Extras and can get Crowne Plaza with evening meal, parking for 16 days for £200 (thought that was ok).

We will be staying overnight at LAX then driving to Vegas for 6 nights, Palm Springs 2 night, then San Diego for 5 nights.

Any help on car hire or hotels would be greatly appreciated, got the Vegas hotel sorted its just the others.

Could probably go to max £150 a night for hotel and we need a medium suv. many thanks in advance Linda y)

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 12:25
by pjh
Result on the reward...

You don't say which LA flight you are booked on, but even if the earlier one I'd suggest looking at booking a car to get you to LHR from Huntingdon. The service we have used a couple of times is reliable, cheaper than the combination of the hotel / parking / petrol to get you there and back and means that you can easily use the DTCI on the way out and relax on the return in terms of feeling you *need* to sleep. PM me if you want details of the car company.

Paul

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 12:44
by plane340
http://www.aph.com/

Just booked the meet and greet through this site for parking at Heathrow. Also has good offers for Hotel and Parking.

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 13:30
by DragonLady
Excellent news on the Gs :D .
There are a plethora of airport hotels around LAX. The Renaissance and Sheraton 4 Points are within walking distance of most of the car hire depots. I last used the Rennaissance when arriving on the VS23 and then walked the 5 mins or so in the morning to collect the car from Dollar (just around the corner).
4/5 K are fine both ways (on a 360) but I prefer 3 and 4 K as my absolute favourites :) .
Shop around for car hire. There are lots of brokers but sometimes it's cheaper to book direct- Dollar have never let me down either booking direct or via a 3rd party .The Express lane is a real bonus too. The mid size SUV they offer is either a Ford Escape or the horrid Jeep :$ (both of which will accommodate 4 large suitcases and 2 pull -alongs if there are only 2 of you travelling.
What have you booked in Vegas?
DL

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 14:21
by mallin
Thanks DL,

we have had the horrid Jeep last time but as we did a lot of off roading it was fine. As hubby has a back problem he likes to sit up high and its easier to get in and out of an suv could possibly go to a premium car, actually going through virgin was about the best price so far.
For hotels, we are only staying in the Excalibur as we like the pool area I know its a good way down the strip but its excellent value for money and their widescreen rooms are alright and the buffets and eateries are fine.

No idea where to stay in Palm Springs or San Diego as there is so much choice, but have plenty of time to plod through enless trip advisor reports.

We do need as near a hotel to Lax as possible, I see most of them do transfers its just lugging the suitcases around, so will have a lok at your suggestions. Many thanks once agin Linda :D

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 14:30
by Treelo
pjh wrote:You don't say which LA flight you are booked on, but even if the earlier one I'd suggest looking at booking a car to get you to LHR from Huntingdon. The service we have used a couple of times is reliable, cheaper than the combination of the hotel / parking / petrol to get you there and back and means that you can easily use the DTCI on the way out and relax on the return in terms of feeling you *need* to sleep. PM me if you want details of the car company.

Paul


Great advice, Paul. It's not so bad driving to any airport on the outbbound (having had a good night's kip) but to do LHR to Huntingdon after such a long flight is a total PITA. Plus, doing it this way would mean that the OP could enjoy all the benefits of a UC flight. ;)

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 14:37
by DragonLady
mallin wrote:We do need as near a hotel to Lax as possible, I see most of them do transfers its just lugging the suitcases around, so will have a lok at your suggestions.



The pick up for the hotel shuttles are literally right outside the exit doors at LAX so it's pretty easy.
You don't fancy flying up to LAS from LAX (given you'll be at LAX anyway) ?
DL

Re: Advice required,UC first flight

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2012, 19:38
by jh71283
For the palm springs hotel, I honestly cannot recommend Desert Riviera enough, it's fantastic.

And there is a reason that they are constantly #1 on trip advisor.


http://desertrivierahotel.com/