For long-haul trips, we usually try to pack in as much cities as we can in our short vacation. However, we just end up stepping in and out of airports, or traveling through miles and miles of highways. Not exactly an ideal vacation since we would find ourselves feeling more tired rather than rejuvenated. For a recent holiday trip, our family decided to visit just four North American cities in a span of two weeks – San Francisco to Las Vegas by road, then a short flight to Vancouver and a visit to Whistler. We purchased our tickets a month in advance to take advantage of cheaper fares. After all, we’re on a budget.
Roadblock. Three opinionated individuals planning an itinerary proved to be a challenge. We all had some form of opinion or another on which areas we wanted to visit and how much time we should spend in each. We settled the matter by flipping a coin and assigned each a city to plan for. Although crude, the coin-flipping method still works.
By car. Book car rentals before departure, and choose a more reputable car rental company if traveling in great distance. We chose Hertz. Their pickup and drop-off locations fit perfectly into our itinerary, and a 24-hour emergency roadside assistance kept us feeling safe at all times. By booking early, we also availed ourselves of a cheaper weekly rate deal. Upon arrival in San Francisco, we retrieved our reserved van with the intent of going to Napa Valley that same afternoon. Our eyes were already drooping from jetlag so we just postponed it to the next day and spent the afternoon in downtown San Francisco.
Route-markers. With such a long road trip ahead, crossing numerous cities in-between, we needed the aid of Mapquest.com. Using the maps available, we were able to identify specific driving routes and have accurate information on departure and arrival times during our planning stage. This was extremely helpful since we had a plane to catch in Las Vegas. The task was tedious, but with proper planning, we were able to gauge the time available to spend in our transit stops and destinations – from downtown San Francisco, to Napa Valley, to Gilroy Premium Outlets, to Six Flags, to Cabazon Outlets, to Las Vegas.
Detour: Hotel or motel? On limited budget, we had to weigh the costs and benefits of staying in a hotel versus a motel. En route to Las Vegas, we settled for accommodation in motels or inns and didn’t do advance reservations to give leeway for ad hoc plan changes. The disadvantage is that we had to pay the walk-in regular rates. In major cities, we reserved our rooms before departure so we were able to avail ourselves of cheaper rates. For San Francisco, we prioritized location. Although we had already rented a van, parking was quite inconvenient and fees were expensive. Thus, we opted to stay at a boutique hotel downtown – the Sir Francis Drake. The staff was friendly and service was excellent. It’s strategically located in Union Square, a short walk to boutiques, malls and restaurants. Everything is conveniently just a short walk away. In Las Vegas, we chose a hotel located on the strip – the Aladdin Resort and Casino. From their complete make-over about four years ago, it has revived its image into a four-star hotel and shopping complex. The hotel is now linked to a row of boutiques, rooms are spacious with two queen-sized beds, and the bathroom is also huge – the size and configuration of the rooms is the same as most five-star hotels, and at half the price!
Pit stops. To complete our day, we thought of finishing off with a good meal. Friends and family had recommended various restaurants so we had to incorporate as many of these in our itinerary as possible. For reservations, OpenTable.com was extremely helpful. The site provides reservations to various restaurants in almost every city in the United States. Book online and get your confirmation details by e-mail. We were able to get confirmed reservations in Greystone at Napa Valley (lived up to our expectations – we ordered different dishes and everything was delicious), Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas (watch out, their portions are huge; their famous beef stew is extremely tender and good for sharing), Emeril’s in Las Vegas (their seafood dishes were excellent; their lobster is steamed whole, and even at market price, it was well worth it!) and Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Las Vegas (the dishes ooze of his motto – Live, Love, Eat!).
Finish line. Barely a week left before our flight back to Manila, we were looking forward to a less hectic schedule. We spent a day in Whistler, regularly flocked by visitors for its ski resort. What were snow-covered caps in winter gave way to biking trails in the summer. It is also the pickup and drop-off point for other outdoor activities. We signed up for white water rafting, but being first-timers, we were clueless on what to do. No worries, though. Before getting into the boat, the instructors spent half an hour briefing us on safety instructions and on paddling terms that would be used for the full length of the ride. We carried our own rafts to the riverside, got in, and paddled away at the instructor’s call. From afar, we looked like those professional sports teams ready for a race – geared up in wetsuit and boots, and armed with our paddles. The ride lasted for about an hour, and we were able to stop halfway through the route and enjoy a short swim. Even during summer, the water was ice cold. Yet, the experience was extremely enjoyable! We got back to Vancouver and spent the rest of our time relaxing and enjoying the various selection of authentic cuisine available.
We were also fortunate enough to catch Alegria, a circus show by the famous group Cirque du Soleil. Contrary to the stereotypical circus shows, this group has transformed the show into art by combining music and perfect timing to effortless acrobatic stunts, without the need to incorporate animals into their acts. Each show has a theme, and there are a few clowns inviting the audience to participate, always ending up in a roar of laughter. It was a definite treat.
Although hardly in the same league of the amazing racers, we had a good mix of fun, adventure and relaxation. Meticulous planning allowed us to maximize our time and budget. In a word, our trip was amazing!