Originally Posted by
Musken
Hi again,
I am starting to get an idea of our round trip. Here is my planning so far:
SF - 4 nights - need recommendation for hotel: Need good, central location for sightseeing and shopping and and outside pool - I am reading that the MO is not good location wise and FS does not have an outside pool. Other ideas??
Big Sur - 1 night: Ventana (as the Post Ranch Inn does not accept children): Which category room do you recommend?
Santa Barbara - 1 night: El Encanto: Category room?
LA - 3 nights – Hotel Bel Air Loft King room
Palm Springs - 1 night – ACE Hotel in their top suite (not luxury but looks so fun I would like to try it unless any of you say no way!!)
San Diego - 1 night - Rancho Valencia San Diego (might leave this out altogether)
Phoenix area - 1 night – Four Seasons Scottsdale or Sancuary on Camelback mountain (which one should I go for?) - want to stay there to drive the Apache trial, i.e. hotel itself is not very important, but need pool
Sedona - 1 night: L’Auberge de Sedona (looks like a beautiful stop)
Amangiri - 4 nights (visit Gran Canyon on the way there)
Vegas - 3 nights (FS or MO: Do not manage to decide, since MO looks best but FS is said to be better with kids)
Los Angeles - 1 night (not Bel Air, but somewhere else to see another area - and flight back home next day
Any comments or suggestions? (Cannot go for more days, need to start in SF and end in LA)
This trip is going to be fraught with compromises, as there is no way you can fulfill all your requirements.
Given that your son is not the average 'kid' and appreciates fine dining, then in Las Vegas, I would definitely opt for MO - they have a terrific outdoor pool and great food.
If you need a pool, then SF is a problem. MO is seriously not your sort of thing, but then even the FS is a bit challenged. Although there really should be something wonderful in this city, there isn't. Compromise!
Avoid FS Scottsdale - it is a convention hotel generally. Sanctuary is more of a couple's hotel (great restaurant though) and given the sophistication of your son, then this could work. The other option is Royal Palms Hotel & Spa which is very much of the place and perhaps a bit more kid friendly. It is also quite central to everything.
In LA, on your way back, I would really avoid the hotels in Santa Monica that are close to the airport, like Shutters, Casa del Mar, Ritz-Carlton - they are seriously sub-standard these days. Shutters remains very pretty, but the food is frightful.
OK, forgotten this - how about Cavallo Point Lodge in SF? Quite different!