First time to Los Angeles, coming from London.

Hi

The wife and me have only ever been to Orlando, 3 times now with the kids, not sure what to expect in LA. We would like to see as much as possible without needing another holiday to get over this one. Any idea%26#39;s for first timers. We our looking to come over 19 Aug to 2 Sept 2007. Things that jump out are :-

Grand Canyon (may be in a helicopter)

Las Vagas but 16 yr old in tow so casino%26#39;s I guess are out, so is it still worth a vist?

What about some of the tours

Shopping, of course

Any other recommendations?

Also is it better to stay arround LA or drive and stay at each port of call? I don%26#39;t mind the driving but not sure about driving and always looking for some where to stay. Only used to staying in a villa with a pool.

All information greatly recieved. Paul

First time to Los Angeles, coming from London.

You can post on TA LV forum about travelling there with kids. Get ready for some abuse.

But LV should be fine with a 16 year old. They are not supposed to be in the casino, but there is a lot to do. And LV is a better way to go to the Grand Canyon by air.

If you go to LA, then stay central in Hollywood. This means you can be near Hollywood Boulevard and be near the metro. This will be handy to go Universal studios.

Tours to take. Disney, beach tour, stars home.

If you don%26#39;t mind driving the LA is best explored by car. I understand that you can drive from LV to LA on a good day in 3/4 hours.

We did LV to LA by plane. The whole experience including coach transfers, waitng etc took 6 hours.

First time to Los Angeles, coming from London.

Saying that you%26#39;re coming to Los Angeles on holiday and want to visit Las Vegas and Grand Canyon is like me saying I%26#39;m going to London on holiday and want to visit Glasgow and Amsterdam while there.

So - choose a city to fly into, and one to fly out of. I suggest beginning your vacation in Los Angeles, flying to Vegas from LA, and back home to the UK from Vegas. I wouldn%26#39;t spend more than a few days in Las Vegas, but also know that it is our busiest holiday of the year Aug 31 through Sept 3, so expect Vegas to be overly crowded and, perhaps, sold out already as that is a big convention weekend.

Driving to Las Vegas from LA is about 5 hours each way. Grand Canyon is a few hours drive from Vegas.

In LA, choose an area/neighborhood you want to stay in, as LA is enormous (and NOTHING like Orlando). Please see our FAQs at the top of the Los Angeles Forums, particularly Where to Stay and What to Do, within the sticky.

Hi

Thanks for the reply%26#39;s so far.

Good thing I posted this then as I now no Aug 31 through Sept 3 is a big convention weekend. So perhaps the way to go is Las Vagas first and leave before the convention starts. Then maybe finish off in LA? What is the convention thats taking over the town?

Not sure about going to Universal and Disney as we have been a few times before. Disney in 2002 %26amp; 2006 and Universal in 2002 %26amp; 2004 all in Orlando. I guess they are the same as the parks in Orlando?

There are always conventions in Las Vegas, but Labor Day kicks of their busiest month - I found listings for 5 conventions/trade shows, for just that weekend.

Although in TA LA - having been to LV if you want to do Grand Canyon best if go in a helicopter as Sooooooooo much less time taken up. We did the sunset tour with a stop down in one of the valleys, left in daylight from LV (picked up by Limo) then dropped off with a over the strip helicopter flight at night - FAN flippin TASTIC! I would do it again!