Virgin Holidays > Reviews (26)

My wife and decided to go to the US on holiday and as we like the freedom of having a car a Fly-Drive was the obvious choice. However, we had no real idea how to arrange a Fly-Drive so we went to Thomas Cook and asked! They showed us a number of different options and from those we chose Virgin's Western Renegade as it covered most places we have always wanted to see. Booking was easy, however we were quoted the 2003 price not the 2004 one - Virgin honored the price quoted without hesitation. Pre-allocated seats were arranged on the aircraft and we were offered a number of excursions through the Virgin brochure. We decided to book the San Francisco City Tour and Alcatraz visit for the day after our arrival. This proved to be a good move as this tour is normally booked up. We took travel insurance through Thomas Cook (you can normally negotiate a discount on this if you try) and opted for the full Platinum insurance on the car. More expensive but worth the peace of mind as we were to find out! Flight Tickets, hotel vouchers and detailed itinerary and directions arrived in good time and off we went via Heathrow:

FLIGHT
You use Virgin’s scheduled service to San Francisco and back from LA. Both flights were on time and all the Virgin staff are great. Food and drink was good quality but not particularly plentiful. However, if you ask you will get more without any bother. Legroom was OK, we booked right at the back in one of the rows with just 2 seats so we could sit as a couple, the in-flight entertainment was excellent on the way out (new aircraft) and only good on the way back (not so new) – overall the flights were very good.

SAN FRANCISCO
Hire Car: Easy to get to the Hire Car Centre at San Francisco Airport using the Air Train, the Dollar Hire Car desk is 10yds from the platform. Tip: Follow Virgin's advice and upgrade BEFORE you go (if you want an upgrade that is!) and don't be tempted at the Hire Car desk - it will cost you more and you might get upgraded free anyway - as we did.

Picked up the car and headed for the hotel using Virgins directions – their directions proved to be perfectly adequate to get you around. However, I recommend taking a map to cater for the US past time of road closures and diversions.

Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel: Easy to find and park. Rooms are spacious and well equipped, room safe, iron, coffee maker etc. Hotel décor is starting to look a bit drab; however, it’s clean and friendly and a laundry room is available. We only used the restaurant for breakfast and would recommend their buffet – the best we had in the US. 3 nights here translates into 2 full days sightseeing and then off to the next place. Do a city tour – it’s the only way to see it all and ride a cable car – they are great! (HOTEL RECOMMENDED)

LAKE TAHOE
Horizon Casino Resort: Again easy to find and park. Rooms are huge and well equipped, iron, coffee maker etc. It’s a lovely hotel with great décor and friendly, helpful staff. We used the restaurant during the 2 days and would recommend both the buffet and Al La Carte – Virgin customers get a free buffet anyway!

The Casino is good and the complimentary drinks helped to loosen my wife’s grip on her purse! Snowed quite heavily when we arrived and I hadn’t bothered with snow chains. We were lucky and got away with it, however, if you go before mid April, think carefully before going without chains. Roads are often closed to cars without chains fitted. (HOTEL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
Mammoth Mountain Inn: Again easy to find but parking is not easy. Rooms are smallish but well equipped, iron, safe, coffee maker etc and a laundry room is available. Hotel décor is poor and because it’s a ski resort suffers from mud and snow being trailed into the corridors etc. We used the restaurant during the 2 days and the food was good. However, after 9pm everyone’s in bed and it’s a bus ride into Mammoth if you want any nightlife. Being a non-skier at Mammoth during the ski season is like being the only bloke at a dance without a girl!! (HOTEL NOT RECOMMENDED)

LAS VEGAS
Circus Circus Hotel: Easy to find and park at this HUGE hotel. Rooms are large and well equipped although you wait an age for the lift. The Hotel has seen better days and is one of the older ones in town. Great for the kids but I would not stay there again. That said, Vegas is fantastic and there is so much to see and do that it’s just a place to sleep when you’re tired. You can eat anything, anytime, at any price in Vegas! (HOTEL NOT RECOMMENDED UNLESS YOU HAVE KIDS)

GRAND CANYON
We had a small problem with the car after hitting debris on the Interstate and had to wait for a replacement. Dollar were very good and arranged it all no problem. I had paid for a tow truck and that was reimbursed without question. However, we had the platinum package so everything was covered. Arrived at the Grand Canyon late at night and it was raining hard next day with low cloud. We cut our losses, had breakfast and left for the next place.
Maswik LodgeAccommodation: Rooms are very small and poorly equipped, however, if you are there to sightsee, the location could not be better as it’s very close to the rim. Unfortunately restaurant/cafeteria was appalling, food was cold and poor quality and the whole dining area was covered in dirty plates and food. Without doubt the worst dining experience in the US probably due to a lack of staff. (HOTEL RECOMMENDED DUE TO LOCATION ONLY)

LAKE HAVASU
Ramada Inn: Again easy to find and park. Rooms are huge and well equipped, iron, coffee maker etc. Hotel décor is good and there is nice bar, pool etc and a laundry room is available. We used the restaurant and would recommend the food. There was entertainment in the bar (HOTEL RECOMMENDED)

LOS ANGELES
Sheraton Anahiem: Again easy to find and park. Rooms are huge and very well equipped, iron, coffee maker etc. Hotel décor is absolutely superb and staff are very friendly and helpful. We used the restaurant each night and would highly recommend the food. There is a nice bar and swimming pool – Virgin customers get a free drink and 10% off their bar and restaurant bill! Without doubt the best hotel we stayed at. Close to Disney and some great shopping. (HOTEL VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

OVERALL: Excellent holiday with just a bit too many locations. One night in a place isn’t enough as you are constantly traveling. If we were doing it again I would definitely use Virgin but would tailor the holiday to about 4 locations of 3 or 4 nights. Virgin Reps were good, on hand and extremely helpful.