Monday 16 January 2017

USA Tour 2016/ Family Travelogue 26Nov ~ 18Dec 2016 features: NewYork,Las Vegas, Grand Canyon,Disneyland, Universal Studios, WarnerBrother,Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Malibu,Hollywood, Los Angeles,SanFrancisco



New York



Las Vegas

San Francisco

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California




Disney California Adventure


Warner Brothers Studio


Hollywood and Los Angeles, California


Universal Studios Hollywood

We, family of four,  just got back from our exhausting but fulfilling  trip to US.  We planned this tour for almost a year.  We purchased our air tickets as early as April 2016.  We reserved our hotels (free cancellation)  and local tours one year earlier. We booked at Cathay Pacific  thru Expedia.  It was a promo fare, the system selected seat for us.  We maybe one of the earlier who booked, we got good seats, 2 to 3 rows behind the business class.  Cathay was a superb airline.  Crew were accommodating, helpful and efficient.  Our only complain was the long horrible flight.  

Our flight from Singapore to New York was not direct, with a stop in Hong Kong  as follows:

SIN to HK    01:15  to 05:05    3hrs and 50mins
Stopover- 4hrs and 35mins

HK to JFK  09:35 to 12:10      15hrs and 35 mins  (Singapore was 13 hours ahead)

Going back to Singapore, we departed at LAX

Airfare per passenger S$1,394.60.

In New York we had stayed at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott NY Queens/ Queensboro Bridge.

At first we were booked thru booking.com.  On the 2nd of October, we went direct to the hotel's website, there was a promo and free cancellation.  We reserved a room direct to the hotel and cancelled the one at booking.com.

Hotel rates from 26Nov ~02Dec  (6 nights):

Booking.com     US$1,185.00 (excluded:  14/75% tax and City tax US$3.50 per night)
Direct                 US$1,136.38 (tax inlcuded, S$1,656.42 was charged in our credit card)
continental buffet breakfast included

Oftentimes though, Booking.com is cheaper.

UBER xl for  transfers from and to JFK/hotel.

We had spent 6 days in NY then flew to Las Vegas via Delta Airlines

Airfare one way from JFK to LAS   US$250 per passenger (booked in advanced) plus baggage US$25 per first check in bag, US$ 35 for the second.  We had 5 bags, we paid online before our flight US$135.

Arrived Las Vegas, we picked up our rented vehicle at the airport,  There was a shuttle from the terminal to the LAS Car Rental location.  We booked our vehicle rental in advanced at  AVIS website.  We reserved the 7-seater to fit all our luggage.  We had rented the vehicle till our departure on 16Dec at Los Angeles Airport (LAX).  Yes, we were not happy of the drop off charges.

Total Rental fees  S$2,510 (approx  US$1,680)

We did not drive in NY, the city has a very good public transportation system.  We bought the unlimited 7 days metro card.  From our hotel in Queens to Manhattan Midtown was around 15 mins by train.  Metro card are also acceptable  on bus.

We will share the complete details of our tour later... much much later as we have just started posting our 2015 Europe tour.

Here's our Itinerary: (please click the links for the separate post)

26Nov Sat   arrived JFK, hotel checked in, purchased metro card, first meal at Panda Express, checked out all the Christmas window displays from department stores in NY started at Bloomingdales to the largest in the world, Macy's at Herald Square. We had our dinner at Shake Shack.  Their burgers were so good.

27Nov Sun   attended mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, SAKs Fifth Ave department store, Rockefeller plaza, Central Park, Top of the Rock (observation deck)

-we purchased the admission tickets to Top of the Rock via the machine on the same day and selected the earliest available time.  Line was not long.  Our schedule was 4:10pm with 15 minutes window.
Ticket price  $34 per visitor.

28Nov Mon   Statue of Liberty island (cruise, base, pedestal and crown), Financial district, 911 Memorial, One World Trade Center (observation deck)

we booked the Liberty cruise and admission 6 months ahead US$18, and able to get schedule to go up to the crown for an additional US$3.00.

29 Nov Tue   laundry, Metropolitan Museum of Arts, watched broadway show, The Lion King, Time Square

-re:  Metropolitan Museum and I believe all Museums in US suggests an  admission of $25.00 but  actually you can  pay as little as $1.00.  We gave $20 for four of us and they gave us something to stick on our dress so we would be allowed to go in.

-We booked orchestra in advanced for the Lion King show at Minskoff Theatre.  Cost $199 + service fee of $13   Row N Seat 121-124.  That was the best seats we could get, most orchestra had been booked as early as 18Oct.

30 Nov Wed   Empire State Building, Bare Christmas tree at Rockefeller

-to avoid long queue, we had purchased the tickets for Empire State Building one day before we flew to NY.  Tickets purchased online are valid for one year.  

01 Dec Thu   Washington Square/NYU, Soho, City Hall, Wall Street, Brooklyn, DUMBO, crossed Brooklyn bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan,  Grand Central Terminal, lighted Christmas tree at Rockefeller plaza, SAKs Christmas lightning show.

-we never took the bus tour.  We got to visit all these places taking the subway and bus.  Fares all covered by our 7-day unlimited metro card

02 Dec Fri   departed NY, arrived Vegas, picked up rented car, checked in at Best Western Plus Casino Royale, visited relatives,  walked around Las Vegas strip

Best Western Plus Casino Royal rate for 2 nights  US$229.48 plus 12.5% tax.  One night rate was charged right after booking,  Booked in advanced thru booking.com, free cancellation, no breakfast.  

03 Dec Sat   Grand Canyon (5 to 6hrs drive from Vegas), walked around the  strip in the evening

On the road, we stopped every 2 hours for toilet, hot drinks; re fuel every 3 to 4 hrs approx US$30 to US$40.

04 Dec Sun   walked around the strip in the morning, bought groceries at Walmart, on the road for 5 hours to Bakersfield, laundry the whole night.

Stayed for 2 nights at Whispering Meadows Aparment, booked in advanced thru booking.com, free cancellation, total rental:  US$480,

05 Dec Mon...  rest, laundry, shopped at Tejon Outlets (30 minutes drive from the apartment)

06 Dec Tue   left 3am to Livermore, on the road for 4 hours, met brother, San Francisco:  Twin Peaks, Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street (crooked street), Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Cheese Factory

stayed at Best Western Plus Pleasanton Inn for one night, booked in advanced thru booking.com, free cancellation,  rate:  US$139.99 plus tax  (our card was charged S$223.97) with continental breakfast, free cancellation

07 Dec Wed   Livermore outlets drive, on the road for 5 hours to Cambria

-originally, we wanted to drive along Pacific Coast Hi way, but we got stuck at the outlets, we left Livermore at 3pm.  It was raining and sunset was 4:30pm.  We took the fastest route instead to Cambria.

stayed at Sand Pebbles Inn for a night, booked in advanced thru booking.com, free cancellation, rate: US$189 plus tax (our card was charged S$307.73.  with breakfast.

08 Dec Thu.  Sand Pebbles Inn is in front of the beach with spectacular views of the pacific coast.  However, ir was raining, there was not much to do. Back on the road to Anaheim.  We took Highway 101 for a good view.  We stopped at Santa Barbara for lunch.  Few hours spent for shopping at Camarillo outlets.

We were supposed to stay at Howards Johnson for 4 nights.  Said hotel is 5 min walk to the Disneyland Resort. Fortunately, a relative invited us to stay in their beautiful house, 5 min drive to Knotsberry and 15 min drive to Disneyland.  They took us to boiling crab for dinmer.

09 Dec Fri. Disneyland Park

10  Dec Sat.  Disneyland Park

11 Dec Sun.  California Disney Adventure

We purchased the 3 day disney ticket with one magic morning.  Latter means, we were able to go inside the park one hour earlier the opening hours.  Not everyday has magic morning.  We went inside earlier on 10Dec, Friday.

3 day ticket price each US$255

12 Dec Mon, Knotsberry farm, Citadel outlets, checkef in at Hollywood Orchids Suites.

We had stayed at Hollywood Orchids Suites for 4 nights, booked in advanced thru booking.com (free cancellation) and with breakfast.

The hotel is 4 min walk to Hollywood walk of fame

Hotel rates for 4 nights:  US$736 plus 14% tax and US$40 parking fess for 4 nights.  One night was charged right after booking.  Balance was charged upon checked in.  

13 Dec Tue. Warner Brothers featured the TV show, FRIENDS, setting; Batman mobiles; Griffitt Observatory; Malibu; visited relatives

Warner Brother studio visit was booked one day before we flew to NY,  each US$62.00

14 Dec Wed. Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive

15 Dec Thu  Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience: Studio tour featured the set of the Tom Cruise' movie, War of the Worlds; The  Wizarding World of Harry Potter (new at USH)...City Walk.

We booked our VIP experience on 17 Oct. US$359.00 per guest.  We had paid this much to cover in one day all what Universal Studios could offer.  We never queue (during that time though, the park was not very busy).  Studio tour was great.  We were able to get off the Private trolley and walked around the lot and inside to a few available studios.

16 Dec Fri Returned the rented car at LAX.  We arrived NY with 5 luggage, leaving US with 8 luggage-one of which was a box.  Everything went good, no hassle, except for the terrible long flight.


LAX~HK  08:25~16:00+one day  15hrs and 35min

Stopover  4 hrs

HK~SIN   20:00~23:55

Arrived Singapore on 17Dec at 23:55.



Midtown, New York

view of the Central Park from the Top of the Rock observation deck

Castle Clinton for Liberty Cruise and Admission tickets

Statue of Liberty

Charging Bull at Financial District, Downtown, NYC

Time Square

Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Fifth Ave, NY

view of Brooklyn bridge and Downtown from DUMBO


Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge



Grand Central Terminal


Top of the Rock observation deck

Statue of Liberty Pedestal



Empire State Building observation deck



911 Memorial

Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown NY

rented Dodge Caravan


Grand Canyon, Arizona

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Dessert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon


Welcome Las Vegas at MacCarran Internationl Airport (LAS)


Bellagio Las Vegas casino

view of Paris Las Vegas and the Planet Hollywood globe

The Forum at Ceasar's Palace, Las Vegas Strip

The Buffet, Bellagio, Las Vegas Strip

Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas Strip


view of Las Vegas Eiffel
Bellagio Fountain, Las Vegas strip



view of San Francisco at Twin Peaks

view of the Golden Gate bridge from Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks, San Francisco, California

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, California


Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

San Francisco bay view at Golden Gate bridge

Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco, California

Sourdough bread and soup at Boudin, Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco, California

Boudin at Fishermans Wharf,, San Francisco, California

PIer 39,  Beach Street & The Embacadero, San Francisco, California

Sea lions  at PIer 39,  Beach Street & The Embacadero, San Francisco, California


Pier 39 shopping center, Beach St, San Francisco, California

Madame Tussauds San Francisco




view of Ghirardelli square at Fishermans Wharf area


Ulta Beauty at San Franciso City Center, California


Longboard's Grill, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, California


Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, California




Boiling Crab, Garden Grove, California

Boiling Crab, Garden Grove, California

Hyperspace Mountain, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park, Anaheim

Disneyland Fast Pass, Indian Jones Adventure

Indiana Jones Adventure, Adventureland, Disneyland Park Anaheim

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California

Castle vintage wall clock and Floral Mickey's head at night, Disneyland entrance, Anaheim, California

Downtown Disney District, Anaheim, California

Disneyland Resort tram shuttle

Castle vintage wall clock and Floral Mickey's head, Disneyland entrance, Anaheim, California

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California

Sleeping Beauty castle, Disneyland Fantasyland, Anaheim, California

view of the Matterhorn, Fantasyland, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California

Mickey's Toontown, Disneyland

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California

Japanese Restaurant at Anaheim, California




Disney California Adventure, Anaheim

Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure, Anaheim

Grizzly River Run, Grizzly Peak, Disney California Adventure

Anaheim, California



Knotts Berry, Anaheim, California

Central Perk set from the TV show FRIENDS

Central Perk set from the TV show FRIENDS

Central Perk set from the TV show FRIENDS

Warner Brothers Studio tour trolley



Malibu beach

Nobu Malibu

Hollywood Orchids Suite bedroom

Hollywood

Walk of Fame

Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier


Gryffindor

Warner Brothers Studios tour trolley

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

Hollywood

Santa Monica PIer, Los Angeles, California

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP trolley

We'll be posting more of our US tour.  We are currently completing the travel blogs of our Europe Tour in 2015.


See Related Posts
New York Christmas 2016
Window Displays
Walking on the
LAS VEGAS STRIP
Central Park
Bethesda Terrace, IMAGINE
Wollman Skating Rink
St Patrick's Cathedral,
Rockefeller Center,
5th Ave











Check out the places we had visited in Asia

Japan trip 2014

Hong Kong



See Also:

Resort World Sentosa
Singapore 
Travels in France
Singapore River
Munich, Germany



Family cycling
The making of Harry Potter

Universal Studios
Singapore
Shrimp Stew
Family World Travels






3 comments:

  1. I am just wondering what's in Bakersfield? Looks like you have circled around. Why didn't depart SFO instead? Nevertheless, I am amazed you have visited most of the popular places in NYC and California. Great photos.

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  2. Hi Verene, thanks for the visit. It's 7 to 8 hrs drive from Vegas to SF. We planned to stay overnight half way. We found a good apartment in Bakersfield with washing machine. We had stayed there 2 nights and one day only. It was like a needed rest after the non-stop exploring NY, Vegas and Grand Canyon. Kind of re charging to prepare for the next adventure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Truly great photos. You guys are inspiring.

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