Best place to book fllights to the States
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9416
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Topic: Best place to book fllights to the States
Posted By: marielb
Subject: Best place to book fllights to the States
Date Posted: 24 July 2007 at 10:04pm
Hey all 
I have been invited to a wedding in Minnesota in September (hmm, heaps of notice huh!) and really want to go - DH has said I can go without him and kids for a week!!!!!!!! BUT, we can't really afford it so I need to find relatively cheap flights. Anyone have any ideas on how I can get there on the cheap??   Thanks 
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Replies:
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 24 July 2007 at 10:41pm
| Hi Marielb, I'm sorry to say that it's not terribly cheap to fly to the US at the moment, with all the currency rates skyrocketing. September-October are *supposedly* the cheapest time of year to fly there, though, as that's when the US school year begins so there aren't a lot of people travelling. Your best bet, although it's time-consuming, is to decide what your travel dates are and ring up a whole bunch of different places -- travel agents, chain travel agencies, airlines -- and get their quotes. Keep a big list of what they tell you, then go back and ask them to price-match each other. Be warned that a lot of the cheapest deals require a minimum stay -- sometimes it's at least two weeks. Good luck! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 8:00am
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I agree with what Katherine said...
also the internal USA flights to minnesota are alss best booked here - flight centres etc will get you decent prices tell them you are on a budget! we are watching for cheap flights too at moment....damn that hawaii one the other day for $500 return only being for august!!!
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Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 8:21am
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Wow! $500 Bombshell!? Was that a grab a seat deal? I've been looking there but theres only been domestic flights or to the islands lately.....
Thanks for the info Katherine, don't think I could be away from my babies for 2 weeks though so I guess that will push the price up too
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Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 8:53pm
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Another question: Anyone been to LA?
Where is the best place to stay?? |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 9:22pm
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I'm heading there in less than 2 weeks with my 3 year old.. we're going with airNZ, so wasn't cheap though, luckily as it's a work trip for DP, work will pay for us.
I'd be interested in accomodation in LA too as we're going to be there for one day. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 10:38pm
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where in LA = LA is huge and if only an overnight for a flight hook up then you may as well stay in an airport one.
we stayed at a howard johnsons across road from disney...was ok and suited our purpose...going to disney!!! the $500 deal was a grab a seat the other day = and could have got one for each of us no probs but was confined to an 18 day period in late august....
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 10:42pm
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sorry to take over the thread lol.. we are staying there for one day and one night.. to break up our flight from Chicago. So I guess we'll be near the airport, but we want to travel around. Guess it would be handy to stay near the airport for flying out the next day. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 11:03pm
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yeah def stay near airport in LA and if you want to go anywhere take bus or taxi if you have time - dont go walking round too much there!
I usually fly right thru from PA to akld - a long flight but is harder if you stop...if you dont have to or dont want to stop i recommend keeping going.....you get jt lagged on way home from usa so might as well do it in one go. |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 29 July 2007 at 8:03pm
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Well my friend and I are booked and going!!!!! We will be gone for 9 days and fly from here to LA, with a 6 hour layover (just in case flights are delayed) then straight on to Minneapolis, there for a few days, back to LA for 4 days and back home!!!!!!! I am SO SO SO excited, although nervous about leaving the boys, and I feel a bit sick about how much its costing, but I never do stuff like this thats just for me so its more exciting than anything else!
I'm so glad you said the dates for those cheap flights bombshell as they wouldn't have worked for us :) We aren't going to Disneyland as my friend is pregnant and has already been, and I've already been to the Paris Disneyland so we don't need to stay near there. Where else should we stay? I've looked on line but its so darned big I wouldn't have a clue!!!! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 29 July 2007 at 8:17pm
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my SIL stayed in La (closer to hollywood) I will ask her what the place was like she stayed in for you. She was there on her own so she wouldn't of been anywhere dodgie. I am sure if you aren't there for disneyland then you will want to see the other sites. (will have to email SIL as she is in Ireland)
We stayed at the Howard johnson as well and really liked it there. ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 29 July 2007 at 8:41pm
OOOh how exciting!! You're going to have a fantastic time and you deserve a nice break away (just think, if you're going to have more children this might be your only chance for ages)!! You could always stay around Hollywood and even if your friend is preggers you could go to some fun places like Universal Studios? |
marielb wrote:Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 29 July 2007 at 8:44pm
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And how about checking some of these kinds of sites out to see if anything appeals..
http://golosangeles.about.com/od/laforfree/tp/TopFreeStuff.htm - Top 10 free things to do in LA http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g32655-Activities-Los_Angeles_California.html - Other top things in LA |
Posted By: jldev
Date Posted: 29 July 2007 at 10:47pm
| Anaheim definately has the best value accommodation but if you aren't doing Disneyland then there is no point basing yourselves down there. I suggest you consider either one of the coastal suburbs of Marina del Rey or Santa Monica or else base yourselves in western Hollywood. |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 30 July 2007 at 4:59pm
ooh, thanks for those sites pepsi 
And thanks for the other ideas too ladies! I am so bloody excited!!!!!!!!
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 10:55pm
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asked sil and this is what she said:
It was the Hollywood Roosevelt which is on Hollywood Boulevard. No, I wouldn't recommend it - it cost €240 which is a lot when converted back to the NZ dollar and I think you'd get better value for money elsewhere. just remember she said euros cause she is in ireland at present... so no help really. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 10:11am
Hehe, thanks Ann :) We are looking more at spending $50 
Will have to see what we can find :) |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 1:36pm
| Another question - where is the best place to get travel insurance from? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 1:40pm
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They vary, we got a great deal with Tower when we went to Oz a few years ago $47 for the 3 of us for 10 days. If you are a Southern cross member they offer a discount but I think they are a bit pricey. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 1:42pm
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theres several different places we got our at bnz (I get a discount cause i am staff) but we have also used Southern Cross and Flybuys.. both you can get a quote on line. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: jldev
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 1:48pm
| Hi Marielb, I'm actually a Go Holidays Approved Travel Broker as well as a Mum to my 3 girls, so I could give you a quote for Mike Henry travel insurance if you want to just send me a private message. I promise absolutely no pressure to buy though, just might give you a idea of the cost! |
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 10:43pm
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I'm a travel agent and would strongly recommend you get your insurance through the travel agent you booked with. If you have any problems while travelling then the agent will be able to work with you and the insurance company to get things changed. Also with insurance, check your policy! You need to have maximum cover. If you get your insurance through someone else and something happened then it can be problem to get things fixed as the travel agent will not generally liase with someone else's insurance.
As for accommodation, I would probably stay in Anaheim. Its cheap, there are heaps of cheap restaurants nearby and lots of day trip options if you are keen. Also, its a busy tourist place with lots of people out and about so you feel safe....even at night. I love the states! |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 7:26am
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Wow, that was cheap Mummy_Becks!
Thanks for the ideas girls :) We booked on travelocity.com, and I don't know if they organise travel insurance too. Thanks for the tip about Anaheim, linda. We want to be close to where the touristy things are (the Hollywood sign, the stars, Rodeo Drive.....), is that close??? :) |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 7:27am
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Oh, jldev, I have had a quote from Mike Henry - thanks
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Posted By: jldev
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 9:14am
| That's no problem Marie, just as long as you get good cover insurance from somewhere! With regard to staying in Anaheim, I know that the accommodation costs are cheaper down there, but the touristy things you mentioned are no where near Anaheim. It sounds like you want to see Hollywood and Beverley Hills which are at least an hour north of Anaheim (can be much worse depending on traffic). If you choose to save money on your hotel going south to stay in Anaheim, you would then have to pay for the transport to get you up to Hollywood and back each day, not to mention the travelling time cutting into your day. By that stage you would most likely be close to the cost of a Santa Monica or West Hollywood hotel. So again, unless you have Disneyland in your itinerary I'd recommend staying more central than Anaheim. I hope this helps...you must be so excited! I lived in L.A. for 7 years on and off and although it's a big concrete jungle compared to our beautiful clean green N.Z., I still love it! |
Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 7:55pm
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OOH, thank you so much jldev! Having never been to the States or having any idea how near or far things are from each other its nice to hear from someone who knows where things are in relation to each other!
I am SOSOSO excited - except that bridge collapsed today in Minnesota which is where we are going..... 
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