Hello there. I am also staying in west hollywood for 5 nights -at the hollywood hostel and 1 extra night in anaheim. I will definately be doing universal studios from hollywood and was thinking of doing knotts berry farm from anaheim on the 30th aug. i figure that way i can do disneyland and california adventure with the tour group.

i've been emailing Jen (Kiwigirl) as we are both going solo.
we've got this planned for LA if anyone is interested in joining us.

August 28th - Day tour to Tijuana Mexico (i'm doing this by myself as Jen doesnt get in till that night)

Aug 29th - Six Flags Magic Mountain, by far the best looking theme park

Aug 30 - Universal Studios

Aug 31 - LA sightseeing with Contiki

Sept 1 & 2 - will be for Disneyland both days for Jen and for me most likely just the 1 and then the other day doing something else.

We're both staying at the Contiki accomm Best Westeran Stovalls Inn in Aneheim which is across the road from Disneyland

Hi Nikki, any chance you'd be able to change your day set aside for universal as i was planning on doing it sometime between the 26-29th but not the 30th as i will be heading to anaheim that day. i am also planning on paying extra for the front of line pass, had you considered that option? i figure i only have one day there and i'd rather not spend it lining up for hours. cheers, michelle.

hey Michelle,
dont think between the 26th-29th will work sorry! i only get in on the 28th and was gonna go to Mexico that day then Six Flags on the 29th, bummer.

Hi all,

I am planning on going on this tour also, 29 yr old Melbourne chick travelling solo too!

Be great to talk to people before the trip! I have been on contiki before in Europe, had a great time!


Kathryn

Hi Kathryn. Glad to hear more people booking this tour. Are you planning on spending extra time in l.a or nyc at the beginning/end of the tour. I arrive in l.a 6 days earlier and am staying 3 extra days in n.y. i am also travelling solo but this is my first overses holiday. Whereabouts in Melb are you from, i am on the mornington peninsula.

Hi there,

I am from Richmond. I am planning on arriving in LA on 4 days earlier and NY 3 days after. I am still looking at flights as I was thinking of going to Hawaii also, but undecided, then heading to the UK for 2 weeks. I lived in the UK for 2 years in 2004 - 2006. Given I am over that way wanted to catch up with friends. Let me know where you are staying in LA and NY and I will book the same accom. I feel nervous about being in those places solo! Whereabouts are you from on he peninsula? My grandparents live in Rosebud.

hi kathryn

looks like most of us so far are heading over solo - thats awesome!

Hi Nikki,
it is great to see so many people travelling solo. I am feeling much better about it. When I was on contiki in Europe in 2004, I went with a friend, however there were heaps of people doing it solo.

hey Nikki,

I am just looking at north by north east tour and thinking about doing this also. Have you booked it?

Hi Kathryn, I am doing the budget thing and am staying in hostels in a private room. In n.y it is the broadway hotel and hostel which is a boutique hostel and in l.a i am at the hollywood hostel. check them out as they are very cheap. good luck.

thanks Michelle,
will have a look. I need to sort out my accom still and flighrs so better decide on what I am doing so I can sort it out.

Hey Michelle,
did you book accom online or through your travel agent? and are you staying at the contiki hotel night before tour in La and after tour in NY?

Hi Kathryn, my travel agent booked me one extra night at the contiki hotel in anaheim,( i didnt want to stay in anaheim much more than that as it is so far out of l.a/hollywood/bev.hills which is where i want to see the most of.) but i decided not to have any extra nights at the marakech in n.y as it has really awful reviews on trip advisor (bedbugs!) As for the hostels, i booked them myself online directly with each of them. other than the really good prices the other great thing is you don't actually pay for the rooms until you arrive. they took my creditcard details to hold the booking but i can cancel right up to 1-2 days before with no penalty if needed, which is handy if anything changes with the tour. their websites are www.usahostels.com/hollywood and www.broadwayhotelnyc.com.
Although if I found someone who wanted to do the twin share thing in the hollywood area i would be happy to share the costs of a nice hotel instead. I was fully planning on staying by myself at somewhere like the magic castle hotel but when the cost is over $1000 compared to $360 for the hollywood hostel, i decided i'd rather have more spending money.

Also my travel agent has got me a qantas flight that is actually melb-l.a then n.y to melb via l.a. i do have to change planes in l.a before coming home but it is a connecting flight. it should be easier than trying to get my own connection home. hope this is helpful. michelle.