
California Coastal + Yosemite Fly / Self Drive – San Francisco, San Diego, Monterey, Los Angeles
Total 14 nights
Day 1
Arrive San Francisco
(Please note: Flight times are subject to change)
Arrive in San Francisco, the beautiful city by the bay. Frank Lloyd Wright once said “What I like most about San Francisco is San Francisco”! That says it all and you’ll have 3 nights and 2 full days to fully explore and enjoy this amazing city. We advise you to pick your car up on Day 3 and transportation to downtown San Francisco is readily available via taxi (approximately $50 ) or by shared van (approximately $16 per person).
Your hotel for the next 3 nights is The Hotel Adagio is a historic boutique hotel situated in the heart of downtown. Your location makes a great hub for discovering the many attractions of this beautiful City-by-the-Bay.
Overnight - San Francisco
Day 2 & 3
San Francisco at Leisure
Two full days to explore San Francisco: Union Square, Nob Hill, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park. Enjoy a breathtaking ride on a cable car, rent a bike, take a bay cruise or visit the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Between the sightseeing choices, shopping and restaurant opportunities your visit will be full and memories bountiful!
Overnight - San Francisco
Day 4
San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
Today you will pick your car up and travel west across the state to Merced where you follow the Merced River to El Portal. Your home for the next two nights is the Yosemite View Lodge (Mountain View room) located alongside the beautiful Merced River. The hotel’s excellent location is 2 miles to the Yosemite west entrance and 12 miles to the valley floor.
Overnight - Yosemite National Park
Day 5
Yosemite National Park
We suggest a visit to the visitor center to pick up the latest information on hiking and activities in the park. You won’t want to miss the drive to Glacier Point for spectacular views of waterfalls and glacier-carved granite peaks.
As you first arrive on the Yosemite Valley floor, you’ll see that there is a one-way loop road that travels in a counter clockwise direction. As the valley floor opens in front of you, you will see El Capitan to the far left, and Yosemite Falls and Half Dome at the eastern end of the Valley. This is a great place to stop for panoramic photos. You may wish to visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and Wilderness Center located in the Yosemite Village that provides detailed trip-planning information, books, exhibits and audiovisual programs. An orientation film called “Spirit of Yosemite” is shown in the Valley Visitor Center Theater.
Overnight - Yosemite National Park
Day 6
Yosemite National Park to Monterey
188 miles
Heading back to the Pacific Coast, travel across the San Joaquin Valley, knows as California’s breadbasket. We suggest a stop in San Juan Bautista at their historical fruit stand to buy fresh fruit and local specialties and a visit to the Old Mission San Juan Bautista, one of the original Spanish Missions. Continue to Monterey, your home for the next two nights.
Your hotel is the boutique Best Western Plus Victorian Inn conveniently located in the heart of Cannery Row.
Overnight - Monterey
Day 7
Monterey at Leisure
A full day to explore the Monterey Peninsula, Pacific Grove and Carmel area famous for Cannery Row, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach and more. We suggest an afternoon visit to the world-famous 17-mile Drive, home to the Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach Golf Course. The 17-mile drive connects with the quaint village of Carmel where you can stroll down Ocean Avenue to explore the eclectic shops and cafes.
Overnight - Monterey
Day 8
Monterey to Santa Barbara
An opportunity to travel the famous and spectacular Highway 1 winding through countless state parks and picturesque small towns. Though the route looks short we suggest an early start to accommodate the curvy roads and multiple stops. Leaving Monterey, the stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway leading through Big Sur is one of the most famous roads in America, carved into cliffs where 1000 meter high redwood covered mountains plunge down into the sea. Continue south to Santa Barbara, one of California’s most beautiful cities with spectacular Mediterranean architecture.
Your home for the next 2 nights is the Canary Hotel, a boutique hotel located in downtown Santa Barbara and walking distance to lively State Street.
Overnight - Santa Barbara
Day 9
Santa Barbara at Leisure
Sheltered between the towering green mountains and the deep blue ocean, with the Channel Islands just offshore, Santa Barbara has been nicknamed the “American Rivera”. There are two main areas of interest in Santa Barbara; the historic downtown area with its delightful Spanish colonial architecture and old-world aesthetic and the harbor area. You’ll also find the 19th mission constructed by the Spanish and considered to be the best preserved and most beautiful. Wine tasting, culinary experiences and world-class shopping also await you in this beautiful sea-side town.
Overnight - Santa Barbara
Day 10
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles / Century City
87 miles
As you head toward Los Angeles you’ll pass Camarillo about 40 miles south of Santa Barbara. If you haven’t finished your shopping the Camarillo Premium Outlets mall featured over 160 stored with many famous brands. A fun and scenic way to enter Los Angeles is from Highway 1 through Malibu Beach and Santa Monica where you’ll quickly understand why these beaches are so popular!
Two nights at the Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles, an iconic Hollywood landmark located just minutes from Century City entertainment studios, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean’s sun-soaked beaches.
Overnight - Los Angeles
Day 11
Los Angeles at Leisure
Los Angeles is really a jumble of many towns – 95 municipalities in fact, with as many unique personalities. Today there are many sightseeing opportunities including Hollywood with famous Grauman’s Theatre home to the famous hand and foot prints of the stars. From Grauman’s Theatre you can easily book a sightseeing tour of movie star homes with a lively and informative guide who’ll point out the famous homes and where the stars may be seen around town! Or you can visit Universal Studios for a behind the scenes look at movie making.
Overnight - Los Angeles
Day 12
Los Angeles to San Diego
133 Miles
Traveling south today, you can access Highway 1 at Newport Beach and travel to San Juan Capistrano. En route you van visit the beach communities of Laguna Beach and Dana Point before reaching San Juan Capistrano, home to Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of the 21 California Missions. Enjoy your arrival to San Diego as you round the interstate and have your first view of the sparkling San Diego bay and beaches.
Enjoy 3 nights at the Catamaran Resort Hotel located on the shores of Mission Bay where you can sunbathe on the beach, enjoy the pool or relax in one of the hotels hot tubs that overlook the bay.
Overnight - San Diego
Day 13 & 14
San Diego at Leisure
Two days to explore and enjoy San Diego, a year-round paradise. You can relax on one of the fabulous beaches, experience a San Diego harbor cruise, visit world famous San Diego Zoo, see Shamu perform at Sea World, visit Old Town, Balboa Park or drive across Coronado Bay Bridge to the charming town of Coronado and home to historic Hotel del Coronado known as ‘Hotel Del’ to locals. Whatever your desire San Diego has something to offer including a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing tour should you decide to leave your car behind.
Overnight - San Diego
Day 15
San Diego Departure
Today your adventure comes to an end with your departure flight.
As hotel check-out time is 11:00 am you can leave your bags with the hotel bell-desk while you do any last minute shopping or sightseeing.
Introduction
Welcome to our first solo California itinerary! This superb tour takes in the best of the Pacific Coast which includes driving down one the best stretches of road in the world in the Big Sur and allows you to visit some of America's best cities all without leaving the beautiful Golden State. Californian's have a unique, laid back way of life and this itinerary compliments that perfectly allowing you two nights in each of the places you visit. You'll also have the chance to visit the world-famous, awe-inspiring Yosemite National Park where you'll spend three nights exploring this wonderful, diverse area. This really is the itinerary dreams are made of!
Please do remember we can work on any number of variations of this itinerary to suit your own individual requirements, the possibilities are endless. Please just give us a call on 0115 9610590 or drop us a line - tell us what you'd like and we'll do the rest!
Accommodation
Your experiences will be varied and that goes for our choice of accommodation too. We've handpicked properties to compliment this wonderful California holiday. All are properties we know and trust to deliver just what's required on a fly drive holiday like this. We offer two levels of hotel categories to choose from depending on your preference & budget; 'Moderate' & 'Superior'. Of course we can work on any number of variations for this itinerary to suit your own individual requirements, the possibilities are endless…We would be glad to prepare a personalised quote for you on request.
Sometimes the hotels named in this itinerary are not available at the time of booking. Under these circumstances Complete North America will book alternative accommodation of a similar standard. Such changes will be confirmed in writing to you at the time of booking confirmation. If you are not completely happy with the alternative hotel we will happily discuss other possibilities with you in the same location.
Financial Protection
By booking this complete package with Complete North America you benefit from reduced rates on flights, accommodation and car rental along with complete financial protection. Package holidays are sold by Complete North America Limited as a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group. All payments will be handled by Hays Travel Limited and will be financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under Hays Travel Limited's ATOL Number 10531. The ATOL scheme ensures that you will not lose the money you have paid over and will not be stranded abroad should the ATOL holder fail.
Note: ‘From’ prices are per person based on 2 people sharing one room travelling in low season and are subject to availability. Click the 'Quick Enquiry' tab above or call us today on 0115 9610590 for an instant price based on your specific travel dates / travel party requirements
Hotel Category | Value | Moderate | Superior | |
No. of nights | Prices From... | £2389 | £2899 | £3158 |
3 | San Francisco | Holiday Inn Civic Center | Hotel Adagio | Argonaut |
2 | Yosemite National Park | BW Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn | Yosemite View Lodge - Mountain View | Yosemite View Lodge - River View |
2 | Monterey | Mariposa Inn & Suites | Best Western Plus Victoria Inn | Intercontintental The Clement |
2 | Santa Barbara | BW Plus Peppertree Inn | Canary Hotel | Canary Hotel |
2 | Los Angeles | BW Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel | Intercontinental Hotel - Century City | Intercontinental Hotel - Century City |
3 | San Diego | BW Yacht Harbor Hotel | Catamaran Resort Hotel | Hilton San Diego Resort Mission Bay |
'California Coastal + Yosemite' inclusions:
- Scheduled non-stop flights
- UK & US Airport Taxes
- Accommodation - 14 nights as mentioned or similar
- Compact car rental based on Alamo 'Gold Rate' - 12 day rental
- Comprehensive travel documentation and information package, daily driving descriptions and directions to hotels (deposited at first hotel)
Extra Fees
Some hotels now charge an in house daily 'resort fee' which covers things like WiFi, local shuttle service, business & fitness centres, steam room etc. irrespective of if any/all of these services are used. Hotels may also charge for parking be that self parking or valet parking. Where applicable, such fees are not included in your prepaid cost and payable by yourselves directly to hotel at check out.
Amendments
Please do remember we can work on any number of variations of this itinerary to suit your own individual requirements, the possibilities are endless… Please just give us a call on 0115 9610590 or drop us a line - tell us what you'd like and we'll do the rest!
Hotel Availability
Sometimes the hotels named in this itinerary are not available at the time of booking. Under these circumstances Complete North America will book alternative accommodation of a similar standard. Such changes will be confirmed in writing to you at the time of booking confirmation. If you are not completely happy with the alternative hotel we will happily discuss other possibilities with you in the same location.
Weather
During this fly drive tour you will pass through a variety of different climates which vary dramatically throughout the year. For this reason we recommend you take layered clothing so than you can be as adaptable to the current conditions as possible. During the summer months June - October the weather should be favourable in all areas. During the autumn/winter months, October-May weather is less predictable and snowfall and road closures are common around Yosemite National Park. Conditions are often still pleasant in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles at this time.
Best days to travel, seat assignments, special requests and flight upgrades
British Airways operate non-stop flights daily to San Francisco and San Diego so subject to availability you can select the travel date that best suits you. Should you wish to fly with an alternative carrier we would also be happy to prepare a quote for you. Where available we will be delighted to take care of any special meal requests on your flights (vegetarian, child meals etc) – please discuss with us at the time of booking. We have exceptional deals on upgrades with British Airways to World Traveller Plus, Club World and FIRST. We have discounted prices for British Airways regional flights to Heathrow, please ask for details and if you are flying from Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland.
Ready to Book?
Call our booking line on 0115 961 0590 (Mon-Fri. 09.00-18.00 or Sat 10.00-17.00) or email us.
Hawaii add-on
From £699 per person
Paradise awaits...
Extend your trip with a visit to the beautiful island of Oahu, the Heart of Hawaii. Oahu is home to the State capital of Honolulu, which offers magnificent palaces, museums and art galleries as well as the world famous Waikiki Beach. Indulge in world class hotels, shopping and dining and visit the Memorial of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor or the Polynesian Cultural centre to experience the rich island tradition.
6 days/ 5 nights add-on to include: Roundtrip Transpacific flights (Between Mainland USA & Hawaii), Lei Meet & Greet at airport in Hawaii, Round-trip Airport Transfers and 5 nights hotel accommodation*
*'From' price based upon a Standard room at the Aqua Aloha Surf Hotel, Oahu (Upgrade options available)... Contact us for more details
Prices from £2389 per person |
California Coastal + YosemiteItinerary SummarySan Francisco, CA Total 14 Nights |