I was lucky enough to be one of 49 agents from around the UK, picked to take part in a California Super-fam. This was my first visit to California and what an experience! There were 5 different itineraries taking place around the state, all with very different themes. I was put into the āEntertainment and Cultureā group, we started in San Diego, travelled on to Huntington Beach, before finishing in Los Angeles. Then we met with the other 4 groups in Sacramento for a grand finale party!
I met the others in my group at Heathrow Airport, and whilst we waited for check-in to open we got to know each other over a couple of drinks⦠well it has to be done doesnāt it! When we reached check-in British Airways had a surprise for us, weād all upgraded to Business Class seats. It was the second time Iāve been lucky enough to fly in Business and the experience will never tire, itās such an amazing way to fly. Thanks very much BA! The flight was great, I also managed to get a few hoursā sleep. So even after an 11 hour flight I wasnāt feeling too bad when we landed in āAmericaās finest cityā, San Diego.
On arrival we made the short journey to the Omni Hotel where we were spending our first two nights. Upon checking in to the hotel we couldnāt help but notice the huge baseball stadium right next to the hotel where a game was taking place for the San Diego Padres. The hotel is actually attached to the stadium via a walk-way, and is one of only 2 hotels in the state that has this kind of facility, so the hotel is a must for sports fans! We even learned on the news the following day that a woman actually gave birth whilst at the game⦠one way to get a life time season ticket ha!!
After our evening meal at the beautiful Bahia Beach Resort we got to see first-hand one of the things that San Diego is famous forā¦.. The night life at the Gas Lamp Qtr! This is the main street in central SD for an evening out and features a fantastic array of bars and restaurants. It has to be one of my favourite places in the USA due to the number of bars located in such close proximity of each other. We were taken to a really cool āspeak-easyā style bar which we wouldnāt have known was there if we hadnāt had a guide with us. They did some of the nicest cocktails Iāve ever tasted and it had a really relaxed and fun atmosphere.
I really enjoyed San Diego. Itās a laid back city thatās so easy to get around, it has stunning beaches, fantastic bars & restaurants, great sports events and a mix of hotels. It would definitely be suitable for all age ranges as thereās so much to see and do. The weather is also some of the best in the USA.
Whilst in Huntington Beach we stayed at the Hyatt Regency which is a gorgeous hotel, right opposite the beach and the only hotel in the area to have direct access to it via its own private walkway. The hotel had two main pool areas, both with hot tubs and bar service and one even has water slides for children⦠or big kids! The grounds of the hotel were immaculate and the gardens and spa area were stunning. Iād highly recommend this hotel as although itās not the cheapest you definitely wonāt mind paying the difference when you see how stunning it is.
The beach is obviously the hub of Huntington and you can really see this at the weekend when all the locals gather to have beach barbecues, along with taking part in the various events and actives on offer. On our final night we enjoyed an evening bonfire which was taking place during the Luna eclipse and we got the chance to make Sāmores which Americans are crazy about⦠Basically toasted marshmallow which you then place onto a chocolate wafer to devour, I can now see why they like them so much š If you get the opportunity to fit Huntington Beach into your USA multi centre holiday, donāt think about it just get it included, you honestly wonāt regret it.
Next on the itinerary was āThe City of Angelsā Los Angeles, which is around 45minutes to an hour depending on traffic (which Los Angeles has a lot of). We were based at the Angelino Hotel which is in the Beverly Hills area of the city. It wasnāt too central though, so if you are over that side of the city I would highly recommend hiring a car for getting around, as there isnāt too much located by the hotel. To be honest I would always recommend car hire anywhere that isnāt central Hollywood as the city is huge, plus then you have the freedom to travel to places like Disney or Six Flags themes parks, along with the beach areas like Santa Monica.
The next day after breakfast we made a brief visit to the Getty Center which is a museum finished in 1997 and funded made by J. Paul Getty, an American industrialist who was the richest man in the world before his death in 1976. It has amazing panoramic views right over Los Angeles and is home to billions of pounds worth of modern paintings and sculptures. Itās free to enter and is one of the most visited museums in the USA.
Later that afternoon we got the opportunity to visit the world famous Warner Bors Studios for a behind the scenes tour. We got to see costumes from all the recent Batman films and even the costumes for the upcoming āBatman vs Supermanā film, along with a collection of around 10 Batmobiles which were worth a cool million dollars each. We were also shown memorabilia from all the Harry Potter movies, as well as various famous sets which included the TV series āFriendsā where I actually got to star in my own episode playing āJoeyā along with Monica and Phoebe⦠well they were only super-imposed into the scene along with me, but it still looked real! I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and would recommend this to anyone whoās interested in TV and films.
After a quick change we made our way to the famous āWalk of Fameā where we had a brief stop to look at the stars on the walkway. Then we went to the Chinese Theatre which features the hand prints in cement of famous Hollywood stars from throughout the years, I spotted Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzeneggerās hands to name a few! We also went to the shopping centre at the back of the Chinese Theatre to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood sign in the back drop on the hills⦠this was the closest we got to seeing it!
Across the road from the theatre, right in the heart of Hollywood Boulevard is the historic Roosevelt Hotel, which is where we had our evening meal. The hotel was first opened in the 1920ās, and was part funded by non-other than Charlie Chaplin. The hotel is everything that Hollywood stands for and although it has been through refurbishments over the years, it still retains that 1920ās charm which I loved. Marilyn Munroe lived at the hotel when she first started her career and we were shown the suite where she lived, which faced out on to the beautiful pool area where a pool party was taking place. If you want a luxury hotel that has a fun and original Hollywood feel to it, then this is for you. There are no other hotels like this in LA, itās truly iconic. Even if you donāt get the chance to stay here I would at least recommend going for food or drinks. You might even bump into a celeb or two!
The next day we were up early for our flight to San Francisco for the grand finale in Sacramento. The Finale was held at Sutter Fort, right in the heart of Sacramento. It was used back in the days of the gold rush and has now been restored to its original condition and is now a national historic landmark. All the groups that were travelling on similar itineraries around California now got the chance to get on stage and speak about their experiences, sharing the memories of their trips with the other groups.
The morning before our flight home we got the chance to have a brief bike ride through Sacramento, but not on normal push bikes⦠these were brew bikes! Theyāre basically a bar which you can have drinks at, that is moved by everyone who is sat at the bar pedalling, they were a really fun way to see Sacramento.
That brings my California adventure to an end. A big āThank Youā to Visit California for putting such a memorable trip together! I hope youāve found my post informative and if you wish to discuss anything or have any questions about a holiday you have in mind, please feel free to contact me.
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Duncan
Give you exactly what you ask for!
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Allan
Michelle, what a star !! The first I have dealt with eShores and what a delight. Exceptional knowledge of our destination resorts, airlines and hotels. I cannot speak highly enough of such a professional setup.
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Anonymous
4th time using eshores and they always deliver, understanding what we're looking for and finding solutions to any difficulties
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Karen
I am very happy with the booking of our holiday. Kadie discussed with me our requirements - our preference for an airport and what sort of accommodation we would like and as far as I can tell she has followed it to the letter. We look forward to our trip in September
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Angela
Excellent Service once again from Dave at Eshores. His patience with me swopping and changing goes above and beyond. I always book with Eshores to the far east and have done several times and had Excellent holidays everytime at Excellent prices. I wouldn't book with anyone else but Dave at Eshores
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Elizabeth
Hannah and the team did an excellent job of organising our holiday in Italy, even informing us about a train strike while we there and booking us on to a coach instead. They gave us helpful directions from the airport to the hotel. The accommodation was very good with spacious rooms, delicious breakfasts and helpful receptionists giving us directions to the city centres. All in all we had a brilliant time.
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Lynwen
My travel consultant (Rachel) was so patient and understanding of my requirements and concerns. Nothing was too much trouble for her so we have our ideal package. Her knowledge of the country and local contacts were also extremely helpful. Thank you Rachel š
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CarolLynne
Michelle has been really helpful planning our trip to Australia and New Zealand . Her knowledge and advice invaluable. Iām amazed how quickly she Booked our routes and accommodation too. Feel confident we can rely on her for any further queries etc
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Andrew
Recently returned from a 17 day trip from Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam. All 7 flights and transfers were planned and executed seamlessly. The support in choosing our hotels and locations was excellent. Have just booked with EShores again for Thailand. Chris was excellent throughout
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Anonymous
Emily was a pleasure to deal with to book our holiday - friendly, efficient, called when she said she would, changed the itinerary to suit, and even gave us some helpful tips of things to do and book in advance. 10/10 so far for sure.
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