V-Flyer

Ideas and suggestions for my next holiday welcomed.
Of the many va routes on offer, what do we all recommend?

Done: East Coast USA, lax and Oz/Nz

Somewhere new for 2014

S

How about the Far East?
Tokyo is just anotha level (intentional misspelling lol)

Do a full west coast and north west us tour starting sfo finishing yvr taking in places in/around the drive oregon, washington, montana etc --- national parks like yosemite a trivial drive from sfo eastbound too... Given you've done LAX I guess you've done a southbound tour from there - Havasu, Arizona, Palm Springs, Grand Canyon ?

My wife and I done a west coast tour on honeymoon, and we want to do same again on a different route in 2015, so we'll be fighting for the G's ;0 - above SFO tour is pretty much our next tour but exact stops TBD still

gfonk wrote:How about the Far East?
Tokyo is just anotha level (intentional misspelling lol)

Another vote for Japan from me.
I'd also recommend South Africa .
Both are fantastic places .
DL

with or without children? without Japan would be fantastic, with i would still think far east but maybe HK and then onto a beach somewhere

starquake wrote:Do a full west coast and north west us tour starting sfo finishing yvr taking in places in/around the drive oregon, washington, montana etc --- national parks like yosemite a trivial drive from sfo eastbound too... Given you've done LAX I guess you've done a southbound tour from there - Havasu, Arizona, Palm Springs, Grand Canyon ?

My wife and I done a west coast tour on honeymoon, and we want to do same again on a different route in 2015, so we'll be fighting for the G's ;0 - above SFO tour is pretty much our next tour but exact stops TBD still

Pacific North West is a great trip.

Being Northern based we try to use Manchester to Orlando or Vegas. We did travel via Orlando to New Orleans taking in the beaches around the Florida Panhandle.Then having the time we drove up to Memphis, Nashville and eventually back to Orlando, again via beaches in Naples. It will all depend on how long your trip can take. Luckily we are retired.

enjoyingit wrote:with or without children? without Japan would be fantastic, with i would still think far east but maybe HK and then onto a beach somewhere

Not disagreeing with your recommendation at all, just to add that Tokyo does have a disneyland and disney sea resort that is only 15mins from Tokyo Station by train and costs about £1.30.

Depending on how old your kids are Akihabara is great for all things electronic and computer games. There is lots more but dont want to hijack the thread.

HK would probably be easier in terms of language though I imagine.

Another vote for Japan. I wouldn't hesitate even with Kids. Given the route network and want to explore there is more to life than the US ][|)

The world is a bigger place.

Japan, Clean/ Safe/ very Friendly/ no idiots/ fantastic sites/ easy, if a little busy transport..

South Africa - Capetown?

Vancouver?

No kids yet - japan is looking likely

Got me thinking now you pesky bunch !

northernhenry wrote:Another vote for Japan. I wouldn't hesitate even with Kids. Given the route network and want to explore there is more to life than the US

Fair point, but the US isn't one homogeneous mass. Got me thinking about Japan though.

Blacky1 wrote:Got me thinking now you pesky bunch !

Go for it ! It's totally different - very few people speak English for a start. The culture is service orientated and the Japanese people were unfailingly helpful and polite wherever we were.
Lots to do and see and your girls ( and dare I say Mrs B should she ever get invited ): ) would love the place .
DL

DragonLady wrote:

Blacky1 wrote:Got me thinking now you pesky bunch !

Go for it ! It's totally different - very few people speak English for a start. The culture is service orientated and the Japanese people were unfailingly helpful and polite wherever we were.
Lots to do and see and your girls ( and dare I say Mrs B should she ever get invited ): ) would love the place .
DL

Second this! Getting trains in Tokyo isn't a problem and there are no penalties like on London transport. They have a minimum fare ticket and when you get to destination just pay the top up before exiting.
I love Tokyo - and fashion shopping in Tokyo is out of this world.
Electronics - what the fridges can do is amazing lol
Toilets too lol lol
Kyoto is also amazing - the area of pontocho by kamogawa river is a narrow street lined with restaurants and sometimes as you walk along at night you can hear the sound of laughter and shamisen and if you are lucky you will see maiko.
And food ! Oh my.
Lol sorry to go on.

gfonk wrote:

DragonLady wrote:

Blacky1 wrote:Got me thinking now you pesky bunch !

Go for it ! It's totally different - very few people speak English for a start. The culture is service orientated and the Japanese people were unfailingly helpful and polite wherever we were.
Lots to do and see and your girls ( and dare I say Mrs B should she ever get invited ): ) would love the place .
DL

Second this! Getting trains in Tokyo isn't a problem and there are no penalties like on London transport. They have a minimum fare ticket and when you get to destination just pay the top up before exiting.
I love Tokyo - and fashion shopping in Tokyo is out of this world.
Electronics - what the fridges can do is amazing lol
Toilets too lol lol
Kyoto is also amazing - the area of pontocho by kamogawa river is a narrow street lined with restaurants and sometimes as you walk along at night you can hear the sound of laughter and shamisen and if you are lucky you will see maiko.
And food ! Oh my.
Lol sorry to go on.

That's it! I'm saving up for next year!

waatp wrote:That's it! I'm saving up for next year!

y) y)
go for it. I have done Tokyo on the cheap but its just sooo much more fun if you save hard. I scrimp and save so that I can shop like a footballers wife when I go
oh forgot to mention the train jingles too lol i actually bought a cd last time lol i know i know...dont say it!!! LOL!!! should have seen the look on MRS GFONKS face lol

So....Sam Farmer.....what you thinking?? have we inspired you? you have got some itineraries for driving tours westside and some snippets of the far east.

Another vote for South Africa - would go back in heart beat. Also Vancouver and do a tour of the Rockies and Vancouver Island for the wales and bears. For the Far East, loved, loved, loved Thailand. Japan is on the bucket list....

Well Japan is on my bucket list, and is where I'm heading next year. If OP is interested in that check out http://www.insidejapantours.com they're an excellent company specialising in organising trips only to Japan and can arrange pretty much anything you want, unless you like to DIY Seriously, I can't wait and we have an excellent itinerary.

If the Pacific Northwest of US floats your boat and you like indigenous culture I know someone who can guide you around some of the Indian Reservations in that area, right up on the peninsula by Cape Flattery with the Makah Nation, down through to Forks and the Quileute Nation (Twilight series country).

And don't get me started on the highlights of Vancouver and Vancouver Island - love, love, love the place oo) oo)

So, as the gameshow host used to say press the button and gamble away" lol.

West coast US:

Vancouver circle one: Vancouver a few days, trip through rockies (lot cheaper to hire car, drive and spend a few days where you want than the train with one stop), go via Lake Loiuse, Banff through to Calgary, fly back to Victoria, go whale watching on the way back to Vancouver and back out. Accomodation possible all the way.

Vancouver circle two: (correct me if I'm wrong, this is theoretical and perhaps next for us). Fly vancouver, stay a few days, train/car to Seattle (perhaps via Victoria, not sure of sense of this), drive through spokane to Yellowstone. Not sure onwards to where to fly back to a VS airport, you could go north and come into Calgary and go back that way, or longer circle via southern canada. Or south to salt lake city and fly back to Vancouver/departure airport. (Advice welcome on this BTW, this might be 2015's holiday). An RV might be required for this one.

In SFO, out Vancouver, train up the west coast via Seattle and Portland. Hire cars locally or not. Can meander to Yosemite (give it at least two nights stay).

@smid - that sounds cool. If we ever look to do a west coast tour we will be back on here to ask.
I definitely want to do SFO one day and west coast up to Vancouver.

There are different options for west coast, I personally don't rate LA, but flew in there on reward and did a few days to make sure. Santa Monica is fine.

Some people do the LA/SF/Las Vegas triangle (personally I'd do the SF, Yosemite, Las Vegas route and miss out LA.

Others do the LA and down to San Diego and back up to Palm Spring and then Vegas.

There is a train which goes all the way up the west coast from San Diego, through LA, San Jose, Oakland, Portland, Seattle and then Vancouver. Given that eastbound rewards are always lacking on the LA/SFO airports and better in the Vancouver, it might well be a good route to do. 8 hours between LA and San Jose (nice views of the coast), but at $55 per person was pretty cheap. The upgrade to a cabin is possibly worth it too and seemed reasonable, especially given that it includes onboard meals too...