CHECKstar's US West Coast Vacation (inclusive of 30th birthday in Vegas) - Help Required!

[CHECKstar]

Hi All

My gf and I have just booked our return flights to LA (from Australia), landing 30 March and departing 17 April. We're both quite excited as I have never visited the states before, while the gf was lucky enough to visit as a child. Asides from the normal tourist things, it will give me the chance to catch up with my brother, who has been living in LA for a little over a year now. It will also give us the chance to celebrate my dreaded 30th birthday in Vegas with some friends who will also be in town at the time. So far we have penciled in the following dates:

30 March to 5 April (6 nights) - LA - see the sights, do the tourist things visit a couple of theme parks to relive our childhoods​

5 April to 8 or 9 April (3 or 4 nights) - Las Vegas - chill during the day poolside, maybe do a touch of shopping, hit it hard at night​

9/10 April to 13 April - SF - again see the sights, do the tourist things, maybe try and get out to the Napa Valley​

13 April - the GF departs for home, I am staying until the 17th, which I intend to just hang out with my brother or catch up with friends at Cochella in the unlikely event I can get a ticket​

Anyhow, was wondering a few things that either locals or those who have done similar can help out with:

• How does our initiatory look? Is it too ambitious? Any suggestions for changes or doing things differently?
• What are some of the 'must see' or do things in LA?
• Any advice of planning a big night out in Vegas?
• Other then the obvious, like visit Alcatraz, what else is there to do in SF (ie a local's view of the city)?

Thanks, any help greatly appreciated!

 

[CHECKstar]

Common guys, any advice?

 

[AgentQ]



• Any advice of planning a big night out in Vegas?

restaurants:
there are obviously a variety of options as it is vegas. this site:
http://www.eatinglv.com/
has good reviews.

clubs:
[missed the fact that it's not just you + gf. will post later with better info on clubs for bigger groups]

if you are more into the loungey / nice view sort of atmosphere, voodoo lounge @ rio, ghostbar @ palms, and foundation room @ mandalay bay are good bets.

 

[acidboy]

I've been to sf almost every year for the last 7 years and I've never gone to alcatraz. better to just enjoy the city, find great places to eat/drink/hang out, explore the different neighborhoods... and avoid the wharf.

 

[rollafan]

I think it is quite safe to say "XS" at Encore is the best in Vegas..

It also helps when you are staying at Encore to avoid long lines.

Have you ever seen one of the Cirque du Soleil shows? If not, seeing the "O" at Bellagio isn't a bad idea either.

 

[shibbel]



[*] Any advice of planning a big night out in Vegas?

Fake food poison in hopes of being to stay back at the hotel, thereby losing the girlfriend, assuming you can get her to gamble the night away alone, long enough to hammer some really hot LV escorts.

 

[CHECKstar]

Another question – In LA we’re thinking of staying in West Hollywood. What is the likelihood that we’ll need to hire a car (for some days at least) to get around? Or probably better said, what are our chances of getting around sans hire car?