USA West Coast Tour : Day 1 The start of the Journey
Waking up at an ungodly hour and taking a taxi to go to the airport is nothing new especially when you're travelling. This is trip is no exception. Begrudgingly, you have to just look at the positive side that you'll get to explore Uncle Sam's country in this trip!
It took a few months of preparations - from getting the sim cards, arranging for airport transports, booking all hotels, local tours and buying tickets for studio lot tours and amusement park tickets. Finally, the day has arrived.
day 0
Touch down at LAX. Normally, I would not plan for any itinerary on this day (in case there is a travel delay. The lone itinerary would be to walk around the vicinity of the hotel, but since this is US, everything is far, and you need to take a cab/Lyft/Uber) and the nearby walk to the nearest restaurant (if there's nothing nearby) would be around a couple of blocks away. I saw a nearby convenience store and Mcdonald's (which can hold up the fort, while thinking about breakfast) as the Supershuttle I was riding parked in front of the hotel I was staying.
Stay-in: Holiday Inn, El Monte
pro:
con:
Tip: You should bring water bottle, and fill it up before you leave for the tour.
Reason: This is a pick up point for the tour.
Day 1
Itinerary for the day:
8AM
Wait in the lobby. Try to at least be there 10-15mins before the designated pick up time. Head out to the parking lot to check if the tour guide is there. You just need to pass him/her the confirmation number (that the agency will send out). He/she will assign you a (family) number for the whole trip and seat allocation. Take note of these things.
Also, do take note of the bus number (because there'll be a time when there's 2 buses of the same color side by side. You should know which bus to take).
Few things to take note (that the guide will also explain):
Once everything is settled and all the guests have been picked up. The journey will start with the guide telling about the history of the place you will be visiting for the day, and at the same time, he/she will also be telling about the itinerary for the day (how long the drive is going to be). For this tour, our guide's name was Kevin.
After that long intro, the tour will start with roughly a 2 hour drive.
1105AM
There will be a stopover at Buttonwillow Rest stop for a quick 40 mins lunch.
Insider tip: Better queue early and know what you'll order, the kitchen will be pretty busy with a bus load of people ordering at the same time.
Lunch was at Taco Bell.
11:50AM - 1:30PM
After lunch, the bus will depart and for drive for another 2 hours (with 15 minutes stop at another rest area) . Here you can get Cinnabons, fruits, beef jerky, and snacks.
1:45PM
Departure from the rest area and then take another 2 hour drive to reach the start of 17-mile scenic drive.
3:30PM
The first stop of the day after the long drive is The Lone Cypress Tree. It's significance is that this is the longest, oldest standing cypress tree. There's only like some 15 minutes for the photostop before being wheeled in to the next itinerary of the day.
03:40PM - 04:00PM
Stop over at Pebble beach visitor center 18th green (US Open)
04:50PM
Left pebble beach and then it was another 2 hr drive to the dinner place. (But on the bright side, it's only a few minutes away from the hotel).
You will roughly have around 40-50 minutes to eat dinner (so better eat and choose fast) . There's a nearby cafe, Chinese restaurant and Wendy's.
Insider tip (for those joining this tour) : better get your snacks at dollar tree than get snacks at 99 market unless you favor Asian snack.The dollar tree and the Asian grocery store charge .10 for 1 shopping bag, so bring a bag.
08:00PM
Before the day ends, the guide will remind you of the wake up time (and if there's going to be breakfast at the hotel. There's only 2 breakfast for this tour) for the following day.
Once the guide is done with the briefing, the guide will collect the hotel keys and need to meet him at the lobby (This will be your regular routine until the last day of the tour).
The driver will then start to unload all luggage (they don't allow for you to keep your luggage inside the bus).
Day 1 Hotel: crowne plaza newark blvd
pro:
con:
day 0
Touch down at LAX. Normally, I would not plan for any itinerary on this day (in case there is a travel delay. The lone itinerary would be to walk around the vicinity of the hotel, but since this is US, everything is far, and you need to take a cab/Lyft/Uber) and the nearby walk to the nearest restaurant (if there's nothing nearby) would be around a couple of blocks away. I saw a nearby convenience store and Mcdonald's (which can hold up the fort, while thinking about breakfast) as the Supershuttle I was riding parked in front of the hotel I was staying.
Stay-in: Holiday Inn, El Monte
pro:
- walking distance to mcd,7-11
- got microwave (bring plates)
con:
- no complimentary water bottle but got water fountain below.
Tip: You should bring water bottle, and fill it up before you leave for the tour.
Reason: This is a pick up point for the tour.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Day 1
Itinerary for the day:
- 17 mile scenic drive - roughly 27km
- The Lone Cypress Tree
- Pebble Beach Visitor Centre
8AM
Wait in the lobby. Try to at least be there 10-15mins before the designated pick up time. Head out to the parking lot to check if the tour guide is there. You just need to pass him/her the confirmation number (that the agency will send out). He/she will assign you a (family) number for the whole trip and seat allocation. Take note of these things.
Also, do take note of the bus number (because there'll be a time when there's 2 buses of the same color side by side. You should know which bus to take).
Few things to take note (that the guide will also explain):
- No bringing up of beverages on the bus. Only twist bottle cap (and water bottles) are allowed.
- No eating of ice cream either. Snack, chips, fruits are OK as long as you properly dispose them.
Once everything is settled and all the guests have been picked up. The journey will start with the guide telling about the history of the place you will be visiting for the day, and at the same time, he/she will also be telling about the itinerary for the day (how long the drive is going to be). For this tour, our guide's name was Kevin.
After that long intro, the tour will start with roughly a 2 hour drive.
1105AM
There will be a stopover at Buttonwillow Rest stop for a quick 40 mins lunch.
Insider tip: Better queue early and know what you'll order, the kitchen will be pretty busy with a bus load of people ordering at the same time.
Lunch was at Taco Bell.
 |  |
11:50AM - 1:30PM
After lunch, the bus will depart and for drive for another 2 hours (with 15 minutes stop at another rest area) . Here you can get Cinnabons, fruits, beef jerky, and snacks.
1:45PM
Departure from the rest area and then take another 2 hour drive to reach the start of 17-mile scenic drive.
3:30PM
The first stop of the day after the long drive is The Lone Cypress Tree. It's significance is that this is the longest, oldest standing cypress tree. There's only like some 15 minutes for the photostop before being wheeled in to the next itinerary of the day.
 |  |  |
03:40PM - 04:00PM
Stop over at Pebble beach visitor center 18th green (US Open)
 |  |  |  |
 |  |
04:50PM
Left pebble beach and then it was another 2 hr drive to the dinner place. (But on the bright side, it's only a few minutes away from the hotel).
You will roughly have around 40-50 minutes to eat dinner (so better eat and choose fast) . There's a nearby cafe, Chinese restaurant and Wendy's.
Insider tip (for those joining this tour) : better get your snacks at dollar tree than get snacks at 99 market unless you favor Asian snack.The dollar tree and the Asian grocery store charge .10 for 1 shopping bag, so bring a bag.
08:00PM
Before the day ends, the guide will remind you of the wake up time (and if there's going to be breakfast at the hotel. There's only 2 breakfast for this tour) for the following day.
Once the guide is done with the briefing, the guide will collect the hotel keys and need to meet him at the lobby (This will be your regular routine until the last day of the tour).
The driver will then start to unload all luggage (they don't allow for you to keep your luggage inside the bus).
Day 1 Hotel: crowne plaza newark blvd
pro:
- got wifi, basic amenities (except for toothbrush, you ought to bring your own toothbrush, comb and slippers)
- table light got usb charger
con:
- only gave 2 towel. (There's no housekeeping after 10pm.)
- no bottled water.
 |  |  |  |
Comments
Post a Comment