Holiday Recommendations?

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
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The wintry weather up here seems to have sparked some kind of brainstorm in the Orchid household.

I was summoned to the breakfast table to be told that The Committee had decided they wanted to get some concrete ideas sorted for the holidays. I could tell by the glint in their eyes that "Put the money towards a cement mixer" wouldn't go down too well. Apparently they're fed up with villas in Spain, Cyprus, etc., and want to "see things" rather than another beach holiday (which is rich considering they stay away from the beach).

Canada and the USA got a mensh so can anyone recommend 'must see' destinations or travel companies that know how to look after you on these types of trips?

We went to the US about 12 years ago. It was really good. A week in Atlanta with relatives on my side followed by a week in Montana with Mrs O's side's kin and a week in Disneyland Florida to wind it up. Our local travel agent got us a fantastic deal on flights: the transatlantic returns plus all the internal flights (eleven in all, IIRC) for just over £500 a skull.

This time we don't want to go to Disneyland. The Montana relatives would rather we met them in Colorado (which I'm all for as I'd love to see the Grand Canyon, to see if it matches Mrs O's gob) as they have more extended family there (yes, they're all 6'10") but Toronto and Canada always seem to end up back in the ideas pot. Maybe they've seen the sign Drink Canada Dry and fancy the challenge.

So, anyone 'done' North America with companies they'd recommend (travel companies, care hire firms, etc)?
 
I've been to the States about 10 times. The best of those holidays always involved a roadtrip. There are plenty of interesting places and people you can meet once out of the big cities.

Of these I think my favourite has to be the round trip we did from Washington DC, down to Charlotte NC, through the Appalachians en-route to Nashville. A day trip from there to Memphis, then back up through Kentucky (with an obligatory visit to Churchill Downs), night in a small backwater town called Mount Sterling, and back to DC.

EDIT: I forgot to say, we planned the trip ourselves and booked very little in advance except the car rental. You can often get some generous hotel discounts from (free) magazines found in all petrol stations.
 
DO, you'll need to head to Arizona, rather than Colorado, to see the best of the Grand Canyon.

Me and the lovely Mrs Grass did a road-trip a few years back which took in Vegas, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite and culminated in five nights in San Francisco....did the whole shebang in a fortnight easy, including two-nights in each of Vegas, GC, DV and Yosemite. The driving was a skoosh.

If Yosemite is on your itinerary, then make sure you book accomodation in advance, and make sure it is down in Yosemite Valley.......otherwise you have about a 50-mile drive from your hotel into the park ('tis a nice drive though, it has to be said).

It costs a few quid more to stay at one of the gaffs in Yosemite Valley itself, but natures bounty is right on your doorstep, and its well worth the extra scheckels, imo.

If you have a crew going and want to save on hotels, you could consider hiring a Winnegabo or something similiar, as you won't want for RV destinations along the way (though Yosemite might be tricky).

Good luck.
 
Originally posted by Grasshopper@Mar 18 2007, 12:02 PM
DO, you'll need to head to Arizona, rather than Colorado, to see the best of the Grand Canyon.

Me and the lovely Mrs Grass did a road-trip a few years back which took in Vegas, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite and culminated in five nights in San Francisco....did the whole shebang in a fortnight easy, including two-nights in each of Vegas, GC, DV and Yosemite. The driving was a skoosh.

If Yosemite is on your itinerary, then make sure you book accomodation in advance, and make sure it is down in Yosemite Valley.......otherwise you have about a 50-mile drive from your hotel into the park ('tis a nice drive though, it has to be said).

It costs a few quid more to stay at one of the gaffs in Yosemite Valley itself, but natures bounty is right on your doorstep, and its well worth the extra scheckels, imo.

If you have a crew going and want to save on hotels, you could consider hiring a Winnegabo or something similiar, as you won't want for RV destinations along the way (though Yosemite might be tricky).

Good luck.
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Yosemite is stunning. There was organised camping there from what I remember, if that's your bag.
 
The best thing is to grab an armful of USA/Canada brochures from various travel agents and look at what will be the most popular destinations from those, and see which appeal. Colorado is beautiful throughout, there's Aspen for ski runs and just terrific sightseeing, but a lot depends on whether you all want a lazy holiday or a more active one. If you have a special interest in seeing historical sights, though, best to get the travel brochures, because all the pictures will be in there, where they are: Washington, DC, is a super city for sightseeing monuments and museums, Texas would be big fun for rodeos, visiting a ranch, visiting the desert, etc. There are organised tours to all these things via aircon luxury coaches, so no need to feel you're going to be roughing it. In fact, you might prefer not to drive at all, and totally relax, going by Greyhound - very, very comfortable and very reasonable, too.

How about San Francisco? Incredibly friendly and diverse, lots to see and do, visit the local vineyards in the region, buy loads of lovely cheap local fruit, see the Bridge, visit Chinatown, Ghirardelli Wharf, see Coit Tower and the vertiginous Lombard Street, favourite of cop car chases, and so on. Beautiful place.
 
I'm banned :P

Some people get banned from their local pub? but that's not good enough for me. I just settle for the most powerful nation in recorded human history :laughing:
 
Boots one-use plastic gloves, 25 to a box. Great to keep some in the car for any messy pokings and proddings, great for dog owners to scoop the poo in one and chuck it in a plastic bag, for dealing with mucky jobs where you need a bit more feeling in your fingers than thick Marigolds, working with bleach, glue, ink, paint, and generally messy jobs.
 
Originally posted by krizon@Mar 18 2007, 10:52 PM
Boots one-use plastic gloves, 25 to a box. Great to keep some in the car for any messy pokings and proddings, great for dog owners to scoop the poo in one and chuck it in a plastic bag, for dealing with mucky jobs where you need a bit more feeling in your fingers than thick Marigolds, working with bleach, glue, ink, paint, and generally messy jobs.
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And for fooling the fingerprint machines at US immigration ?

San Fran, and for that matter most of northern California are both great. Mount Shasta near the Oregon border is quite unique - at least in Californian terms !

The bottom line is if you want to do the US, now is the time to do it as the dollar is at a very tourist friendly rate.
 
My girlfriend is banned too. She was there for 2 years working for Camp America. She went back 6 months later to see a friend, halped out for a week and got thrown out for not having a working visa!
 
To you Scots, it'll seem damn hot no matter what time of year!! :P

Depends where you go - North Queensland & further north is hot all year round. Cairns for example will be lovely still.
 
Don't go near Texas, Florida, etc in July unless you mean to stay indoors. Remember those World Cup matches in Orlando and Dallas where they melted into pools of sweat and were ferried off to hospitals in relays? And that was only the spectators.

I was in Aus last July. SL is right, it's the nicest time of year for Queensland and the Barrier Reef, but Sydney had rain and Melbourne was a bit cold. It's a great place though.
 
Its been an ambition ofmine to go to OZZ but never made it as yet.........the downside would be having to return here to the BRONX that's really holding me back ............... :P :P cry :D
 
Originally posted by Shadow Leader@Mar 19 2007, 01:04 PM
To you Scots, it'll seem damn hot no matter what time of year!! :P

Depends where you go - North Queensland & further north is hot all year round. Cairns for example will be lovely still.
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I used to think that until my nieces went there last year and were freezing for the six weeks they were there. I've also heard San Francisco can be very cold in July.
 
Cricketfan: :laughing: I've just realized I wasn't on the 'Recommended' topic! Poor old fing wot I is these days - time to be hauled off to Sunny Pines Home for the Terminally Bewildered, I think!
 
I would be fairly knowledgeable on all of California. (there now). If you are getting to the coast PM me with rough schedule and I'll help fill in the dots.

Denises hubby would be strong on South Cal if you ask.
 
If you go to Kentucky I understand a lot of the big studs are very welcoming to visitors

Wherever you go let us know, I should be able to put you in touch with people more or less anywhere from the other list I belong to, inc Canada. There are over 1000 members, mostly in North America, and they just love visiting Brits and Irish. It's mainly a history/military history/literature list, but there are quite a few racing fans on there and other horse lovers.

Wherever you go there will be someone who can advise on local interest, places to stay and to eat etc. I'd take the advice and hire a car or Winnebago and just tour as you fancy.
 
Originally posted by Maruco+Mar 19 2007, 06:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Maruco @ Mar 19 2007, 06:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Gareth Flynn@Mar 19 2007, 01:59 AM
What did you do to get yourself banned Warbs?
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He didn't rate it. :P [/b][/quote]
It's a long story, and barely believable - I'm trying to find a way of abridging it, but aren't sure I can shrug:: Suffice to say, it isn't your normal run of the mill type of thing (I don't do things in halves) and perhaps it isn't the sort of thing I ought to be putting into the public domain anyway.

Of the English speaking nations, I'd recommend South Africa, provided you're sensible about the do's and don'ts
 
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