first time i'm on this thread so HELLO!! everyone
firstly, i'm not going USA anytime soon.. i've been to SF at least 5 times, LV at least 3 times, at least 3 times to Anaheim etc.. All just for holidays.. Usually free n easy and sometimes alone. I spent a week in SF last Sept by myself.. My family and HTB think that I musta bn living in SF in my prev life!
Love the place a lot.
BUY BUY BUY maps called MapEasy. It's water-resistent and more importantly, really the best map to travel in USA. Buy them from the local city bookshop or newstand. Not avail in Singapore i think. It's slightly pictorial and points out the hotels and wear to eat, shop. I've got London, SF, LV, LA, Minneapolis etc.. Very helpful.
United Airlines:
I'm a Krisflyer normal member so I usually take UAL because I can check in at Changi Airport and the SQ counter can checkin my onward connections for me if I take UAL since they're Star Alliance affiliates - saves me time and the connecting airport (LAX or SFO) will know that I've started boarding from SGP and if there's a delay from Changi, they'll look out for me to make sure I get connected on time.
IMPT!!! UAL does cancel or change flights. If u buy tix directly from
www.ual.com.sg, u must check every few wks or month to make sure your flight hasn't been cancelled or timing changed. UAL may inform you only when the time comes but you may have other connecting flights or day tours and it'll be too late for you to get gd seats on another UAL plane.
UAL is esp gd if you are flying thru SFO because i think they use SFO as one of their HQ so there're many flights for u to choose and SFO has pretty decent food/shop outlets.
SFO - shortform for San Francisco airport
Visit
www.flysfo.com for further info on SFO airport. May take awhile to load page hor because it is the airport homepage and all times are realtime.
BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit
www.bart.gov
You can get from SFO to the Union Sq (Powell Street Station) by train. But i do not suggest it for those with big luggages. There're steps (can't remember if there're escalators) and the slopes of SF are detrimental to health and luggage pulling!
Staying in SF:
I always stay in Union Square area (something like Orchard Rd but it's more squarish instd of 1 long stretch of shopping).
I've stayed at Maxwell Hotel and Andrews Hotel. Sir Francis Drake also but that was donkey yrs back.. Go check
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g60713-San_Francisco_California-Hotels.html for the latest reviews.
TIP: If you do not like noise, don't stay at a hotel with Powell St as its address because you'll hear the cable car the whole day (from morning onwards).
If u stay at Union Square around Chancellor, Cartwright, Hyatt Union Sq (there are other Hyatts - four in SF I think), Florence, Westin St Francis etc, safe to roam till about 11pm alone. If you stay near Fisherman's Wharf area... can get reeaaally cold at night due to sea breeze. And a bit scary (or romantic i guess) after 10:30pm.
Shopping in SF's Union Square.
Kinda tiring because the Union Sq area is slanted downwards towards Macy's and if you plan to go shopping in the shops there.. try to shop from Bush St down to the next st which is Sutter St, then to Post St, Geary St etcbecause if you're a shopaholic, it's less tiring to carry your purchases down the slope than up the slope!!!... there's Victoria's Secret, Williams Sonoma, Border's Books(gd range of romance novels), Levi's, GAP, Banana Republic. All shops are 1 to a building so it means 2-3 floors of the same brand.
Eating at SF's Union Square :
Must try
www.searsfinefoods.com for their pancakes.. Breakfast!! Diner style. If u dine alone, eat at the counter -it's faster. Be prepared to queue in the morning. They just underwent reno so when i went, dinner atmosphere was more expensive and romantic but not sure abt now.
http://www.lorisdiner.com/ Lori's Diner (the branch opp Crowne Plaza Union Sq) is also gd for bkfst.
http://www.bubbagump.com/ at Pier 39 near the carousel is one of the better branches due to the fresher seafood avail. Very fun dining experience.
If you stay outskirts such as at a hotel near SFO, you can save money but very difficult to get food and groceries. I stayed near SFO because I had early morning domestic departure and believe me when i say i'm hungry and had to call in for pizza. Looking out of the hotel gives me a lonely, untouristy feeling.
Do visit Sausalito
http://www.sausalito.org/ I usually take ferry but make sure you catch the ferry timings. It's a romantic picturesque place. Don't shop there though. It's more arty and expensive. I just go for the view.. Only if you've three days there and wanna secnic spot! Love the Scoma's restaurant for the calamari. Expensive hor.
http://www.scomassausalito.com/
Las Vgs
Got to
http://v*gas4visitors.com/column/index.htm it's very up-to date ... almost weekly. Better than other websites.
LV airport:
Go to
http://www.mccarran.com/ for airport info. If you're staying along the Strip (something like Orchard Rd), it's very fast and convenient to take shuttles from the airport). Abt 10-15 min depending on hotel.
TIP: The LV Area Map & Visitor's Guide is usually avail at the airport BEFORE customs. Get it. It's free.
LV Hotels:
I've stayed at Paris Hotel and Caesar's Palace (shopping!!). Locations are very good. My friend stayed at Venetian and loved it! Tried the waffle at Bellagio for lunch.
If you stay on the side of Bellagio,Caesar's Mirage, Treasure Island.. this stretch is pretty safe to roam till abt 11pm. Yes, even alone
Do avoid the flyers-giving male touts of course (women available for lonely/horny men)
For those of you who have prob getting gd rates for hotels at LV (eg, Cat). Try checking
http://www.v*gasrooms.com/las-v*gas-conventions.html to see which dates clash with your arrival. It's super important because it also means that if more than 10,000 folks are gonna be in LV with you for conventions, Mccarran International Airport will be jammed. There was once when the queue stretched to the parking lot for checking in at airport departures!!! I prefer taking early departures from Mccarran cos it's faster. The airport can get very busy because of strict rules at custom checking.
Try not to stay near the Las V*gas Convention Center, eg. Hilton. Hotels near there are usually more biz-oriented and packed when conventions are held.
Fremont at Downtown LV
http://www.v*gasexperience.com/ :
It's more famous for the Light Show at night. Not my cuppa tea because staying there gets crowded in the evenings due to pple going for the free light show (Imagine Bugis Junctions Overhead Glass Ceiling but no glass, i think solid ceiling, and there's a laser show beamed towards it) every night.
Two days 1 night is not enuf for LV because you may wanna catch some live stand up shows, magic shows or big-name singing performances. Visit
http://www.v*gasrooms.com/las-v*gas-shows-tickets.html and key in your dates. If you don't gamble (er... IT IS LV after all?!!), just wanna see free lights, the Bellagio musical fountain or sit gondola at Venetian... i guess 2 days is more than sufficient but PLEASE remember to queue early for lunch/dinner. It can be chaotic sometimes. The biggest hotels with most rooms in the world are mostly in Las V*gas.
For 4-5 days, you shd be going to Grand Canyon and/or Red Rock Canyon. I preferred Red Rock in Sept. Not so desert hot.
http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/
TIP: Bring a good camera for night visual shots along the Strip.
Anaheim (Orange County Disneyland):
Hotels:
If you stay in LA and your hotel is not in Anaheim, you will miss out some fun. Why?
Because if you spend 2 nights and 1 day (eg, arrive in hotel at Anaheim abt late afternoon) , you can go to Downtown Disney District (just in between the main gates of Disneyland and California Adventure), you can have dinner and also buy your Disney Park ticket for the next day. Beat the queue/rush.
For hotel reviews, try
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g29092-Anaheim_California-Hotels.html for up-to-date reviews of hotels around Disneyland. I've stayed at Howard Johnson twice and it's walking distance.
For a MAP of ANAHEIM HOTELS near Disneyland:
You can TRY to open this file which i believe is from 2005 Dec but don't ask me if you CAN'T open it.
http://anaheimoc.org/pdf/hot_1205.pdf
Disneyland Opening Hours:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/monthly/monthly?name=CalendarMonthlyPage&bhcp=1
For your info, Disneyland has different opening hours for Park safety. Open longer during summer. In 2008 - May 26 thru Sep 1 - weekends will be crowded due to summer vacation.
In Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm is kiddyish fun too! Home of Camp Snoopy!
LASTLY, sales tax in USA varies so if you don't bother how soon you wanna start carrying your honeymoon presents in your luggage, check out
http://www.miketodd.net/encyc/salestax.htm cos it's like our GST. LV is under Nevada. SF and Anaheim/Orange County are under California.
Sales tax is NOT the same amount as Hotel tax hor!!
Hope all the above benefits you all!! And hope my info is appreciated