With this limited time offer we will throw it in for free on new bookings received from May 13th 2008 subject to availability at the time of booking.

Applicable to departure dates between May 15th – June 30th 2008 & September 01st – December 31st 2008.

Applicable on all website featured fly-drive packages and tailor-made packages including flights, car rental and accommodation of the same 2 week durations.

Call us today on 0845 263 7100 to discuss your holiday with our team of specialists.

Applicable to all bookings received from April 14th 2008 until further notice
Applicable to all travel from April 01st 2009 - March 31st 2010.
Please note this offer can be withdrawn at anytime.

Offer applies to advertised packages on the web site excluding Florida. Offer also applies to amended or tailormade packages including flights and a minimum of 7 nights pre-booked accommodation.

This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer and Complete North America reserve the right to change or remove the offer at anytime.

So take a look at our fantastic selection of fly drive packages or motorhome deals, alternatively email us you tailormade requirements or call today on 0845 263 7100 to discuss and book your requirements.

Remember this offer is only available to the really early bookers so move quick and save money!

We will be driving the route of our CNA Western over 8 days following the Sedona/Scottsdale option at the end.

If you would like to look at the CNA Western fly-drive route we will be taking please click here

Duncan.

Tuesday April 15th 2008
Well with a day to go the team are eagerly looking forward to tomorrow. So I thought this would be a good opportunity to fill you in on who we have on this trip.

Myself (Duncan Harwood)
A terrible driver with terrible taste in music, terrible sense of direction and very little in the way of leadership skills.. guys you’re in for a treat!

Andrew Horner
Our new boy.. Andrew joined this week and is already off on his first fam trip. Andrew reliably informs us the shorts are packed so keep and eye out on the blog for the picture!

Rachel Haddow
Been with CNA less than 12 months and on her 2nd fam trip, we must like her! Our only concern for Rachel is making sure she does not starve.. has to be the fussiest eater on the planet.

Claire Harwood
The baby of the group, 20 something… and the quiet one.. you know what they say about the quiet ones, I think we will need to keep a close eye on Claire.

Anyway, just seat numbers to assign today 24 hours before departure which is British Airways policy and then off to the infamous Terminal 5 tomorrow.

Stayed tuned….

Wednesday April 16th 2008
Well pleased to report that we all arrived safely on our respective flights and met up at the Hotel Adagio at about 6.30pm Pacific Time, some 8 hours behind the U.K.

All enjoyed a very pleasant transfer to Heathrow Terminal 5 thanks to CNA’s private car service which we would all thourgouhly reccomend if the budget can stretch to this for your holiday. We can arrange transfers from virtually anywhere in the U.K.

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We all agreed that transit through the new Terminal 5 was very pleasant with no issues at all. I had been through the front doors less than a minute when a nice young lady with a big ‘i’ for information approached me to offer assistance in finding my way. There were no queues at the fast bag drop desk (I’d checked in online the night before so as to assign me seat number so I didn’t need to go and use one of the fancy cash dispenser lookalike machines) The security checks were very well handled and the shopping on the airside is fabulous. They have that groovy quiet flooring so noise is reduced and it’s very light and air y with big glass frontage looking out over the parked aircraft

What we did not realise is that T5 consists of 2 buildings, Gates starting with a B or C are in the 2nd building accessed by an underground rapid transit system. Be sure to allow 15 minutes to get to you gate in this case. All in all we would say don’t believe that the stuff in the press is the full story, yes they have had problems but things are getting sorted and travelling from T5 will be far superior in our opinion to any other terminal.

British Airways flights were all on time and the service was faultless.

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The view arriving at San Francisco was amazing, a clear day and our approach path meant if as we were you were sitting on the left side you got to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz in the Bay and a stunning view of downtown San Francisco. I enjoyed quite a smooth transit through the airport, from landing to arriving at the Hotel Adagio took about an 1 hour 15 minutes whereas the rest of the group took about 2 hours as the queues at immigration were a little longer.

Whilst the taxi drivers may not be the chattiest folk they are readily available right outside the terminal and you wait in a short line whilst the dispatcher calls one round for you. Fare comes to around $37-$39 so allowing for tip you should budget on $45. This transfer takes 20 - 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Hotel Agagio is quite an understated hotel, no grand entrance or flags flying just to huge wooden doors you enter through to reveal an relaxed and relatively small lobby and check-in desk. Check-in was fine and we were soon in our rooms. With Adagio you have to appreciate that it is an old building so it has character. There is no fitted air conditioning but they have fitted mobile units in all the rooms it would seem and whilst a little noisy they are good to have during the warm days, perhaps the ceiling fan is a better option at night.
We are in the heart of the city so the view from rooms is up and down Geary Street as the 2 pictures below show.

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Rooms are all well equipped with very comfy beds and a great shower that is always the first thing I look forward to after a long flight. All in all a thumbs up for the hotel, it offers decent standards of service and decor and has a great location, just what we look to offer on the CNA Western.

We soon met up in the very trendy bar here which seems to be well frequented by locals looking to do a bit of posing as much as people from the hotel. We all fancied something a bit more casual for dinner than the hotel restaurant so we got a cab to a great place I had been to several times before down on the waterfront right at the base of the Oakland Bay Bridge called Gordon Biersch, of course I might have been slightly influenced in this suggestion by the beer they brew on-site and the awesome chicken wings but hey.. we all enjoyed it.
Certainly sitting in front of the open doors, with the sun setting in clear skies looking across San Francisco Bay next to the Oakland Bay Bridge at what was 4am in the morning UK time was a surreal experience, but adrenaline was carrying us through!

The beers were great and the girls reminded us with every sip that their vodka and Sprite’s were 90% vodka, so all in all everyone was happy… Good tip there, always ask for a Vodka and Sprite not a Vodka and Lemonade.. lemonade over hear is taken as the real homemade style stuff if you know what I mean, nice but probably not what you would be looking for with your Vodka.

Having been up now more than 24 hours we decided to throw the towel after a quick nightcap back at the hotel, we had lasted to about 9.30pm.

Today we are meeting Morgan from the Golden Gate Greeters. A service operated via the hotel company where unpaid volunteers meet you and spend 2-3 hours visiting chosen parts of the city and giving you a real ‘locals’ view of the city. This is not an organised tour, it’s very personal and we will be using public transport to get around, should be fun and it’s totally free!

Feel free to leave comments on the blog and if you have any questions you would like us to answer whilst out here then do ask.

Thursday April 17th 2008
One tip I employed this morning was always to ask the concierge desk (Dedicated desk to assist with tours, transfers and advice on local area) a good place locally for breakfast. Nothing wrong with hotels for breakfast if that’s what you want but I like to get out and find a locals place if I can. Well we got exactly what I was looking for at ‘Dotties’, just round the corner from the hotel. It’s a tiny little place but clearly very well known locally. The breakfast was excellent and cost us $10 each for everything, coffee, juice, toast and the fabulous ‘True Blue Plate’ . Suffice to say Andy didn’t leave anything….

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After breakfast we met Morgan Jones who works as a volunteer for the hotel company that owns the Adagio as a ‘San Francisco Greeter’. This is a unique opportunity to spend 3 hours with someone who has lived their whole life in San Francisco. With the weather sunny and the temperature rising to around 70 degrees we set off on one hell of a walking tour.

We first passed through the newly pathed Union Square which incidentally is only 5 minutes from the hotel. This is a nice area now and rather different from how I remember it 10 years ago when it was a grassed area and home to a large proportion of San Francisco’s vagrant community. Now it’s a nice area where local artists display their work. Union Square is also the hub of the shopping in San Francisco, Macys faces out on to the square and if you head across the square and walk down Post St you will see the full array of famous international fashion houses.

Facing on to Union Square is the Westin St. Francis Hotel, A big grand old landmark hotel. Morgan took us for a ride in the elevator on the outside of the building to the 31st floor, usually you would go right to the top but there was a function on today so we only made it to floor 31. The views are quite awe-inspiring as the picture below demonstrates.

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We then pressed on through Chinatown along Grant St which really took us through the heart of Chinatown which is such a great experience, it really is like walking out of San Francisco and into Beijing! We then turned and climbed the hill along Washington St to the Cable Car Museum. This is free to enter and we all really enjoyed it. You get to see the huge pulley wheels that operate the cable cars across the city, and there is lots on the history of the city and in particular the great earthquake of 1906 that pretty much flattened San Francisco - well worth a visit.

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Then we were off again ant Morgan’s relentless pace, left out of the cable car museum along Mason Street towards North Beach which is the Italian community and a really great area. We walked as far as Columbus and then turned left. There are lots of great looking restaurants, delicatessen and little cafe’s in this area, would have made a great stop for a nice Cappuccino but on we went with Morgan! By now the sun was up all of our faces were getting nicely grilled.

Morgan was a real character, she took great pleasure in taking off our English accents and seemed to know everyone from the hotel managers to the little Chinese guy on a street corner in Chinatown. She explained she walks everywhere, is heavily involved in the arts of San Francisco but to me it was clear we were spending some time with a real local celebrity!

We had said to Morgan that we wanted to visit Alcatraz in the afternoon so we worked our way through North Beach towards Fishermans Wharf where we bid our farewells.

We visited the Argonaut Hotel which we offer as an upgrade on our CNA Western programme and managed to get Kevin the Bellman to show us a few rooms, top bloke! Anyway I think it would be fair to say the whole team fell in love with the Argonaut. The hotel is in the old Del Monte cannery building and many of the rooms have the exposed old red brick which along with the nautical theme is really nice. We would recommend the deluxe room category if budget will allow as these rooms offer views of the cable car turning point, Ghirardelli Square or the bay and Alcatraz Island - stunning. Standard rooms do not have a view but the room facilities and decor is just as nice. Room 445 was the room for everyone, a quite beautiful suite with the very best views on 2 sides and the size of a tennis court!

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We then meandered along Fishermans Wharf to Pier 33 where we hoped to buy the tickets of Alcatraz… not to be, all ferry’s were sold out. So unable to handle the tears and long face (Just kidding) I suggested a change of plan and we bought tickets for the next day, our departure from San Francisco to Carmel would be a little later!

We then stopped for lunch at Knuckles Sports Bar located at the Hyatt Fishermans Wharf - I’d been here before and wanted to see if the Hot Wings were still as hot… no doubt about that! When Andy asked for a cold beer I don’t think he was expecting it to come iced up! Mind you he didn’t hang around with it… The girls were clearly enjoying their soft drinks but I wonder what had them giggling… I really cannot say…

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After lunch we headed for Pier 39 which is the main shopping pier and also home to the seals of San Francisco. Story is they moved a day before the last big earthquake from Seal Rock located further round the bay and after the quake commandeered numerous boat mooring pontoons next to Pier 39 and there they have remained, probably quite enjoying their star status as they always attract a large crowd.

We took some fabulous pictures out over the bay to Alcatraz as the fog rolled in over the Golden Gate Bridge and then decided to head back up to Hyde Street next to the Argonaut Hotel to take a ride on the cable car to Union Square. The cable cars are $5 one way regardless of where you get on/off on that particular line. There is always a queue here and I think we waited about 30-40 minutes during which time we had to endure probably the worst busking performance I have ever heard RIP Neil Diamond tracks, this guy just killed them… I did consider paying him to stop but I doubted I’d get a receipt for expenses!

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Anyway I was on the back of the car with Rachel and Claire while Andy braved ‘The Boards’ riding on the side, this was great fun, everyone has to ride the cable cars on a visit to San Francisco.

We then all had a couple of hours to do our own thing, before we met for dinner. We decided to head back to North Beach and try one of the Italian Restaurants we had clocked earlier, Calzone’s. We had a nice meal, nothing spectacular. After a brief drink back at the hotel we turned in the towel mindful that we planned to make an early start to fetch the 4×4 rental vehicle from the airport and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge before heading back to Fishermans Wharf for the trip to Alcatraz.

I’m sure everyone will sleep well, it’s been a busy day and Rachel in-particular was flagging with sore heals and god knows what else wrong with her! Nothing too serious though and we are all really enjoying the experience. When Claire turned in her shoes after I’d warned everyone to bring good walking shoes, I must admit I didn’t give her much of a chance of staying the pace but to everyone’s surprise but Claire they served her well!

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Until tomorrow… Arrevederchi!

Friday April 18th 2008
This morning we returned to Dotties for a hearty breakfast, there was a longer queue today but boy it’s worth the wait, top draw breakfast again.

We then checked out and put luggage into storage. We took the hotel towncar service the Alamo location at the airport to collect our rental vehicle as we wanted to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge for the experience and take some photos. This came to $50 including tip.

Normally we would have people collect their car downtown just around the corner from the hotel but as we were renting a larger/special vehicle we could only get it from the airport.

The weather was much cooler today with cloud/fog hanging over the bridge, however we did manage to get a few photos from the other side of the bridge. There is a car park/viewing area on the other side of the bridge called Vista Point. There is a toll of $5 to use the bridge payable as you come back across to the San Francisco side of the bay.

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We had hoped to use my Tom Tom Sat Nav but despite having the maps loaded it was not finding the GPS signal so we rented a Sat Nav system when we collected the car for $50. This so far has been spot on in finding our way across the Bridge and then down to Fishermans Wharf to get the ferry to Alcatraz and then back to the hotel.

We had booked a 4×4 for this trip and were given the choice of the parking lot aisle for the 4×4 and plumped for a GMC Arcadia which looked the most testosterone charged vehicle we could find!

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Ferries for Alcatraz depart from Pier 33 which is also where you buy/collect your tickets. You really need to pre-purchase your tickets online prior to arrival in San Francisco as the ferry’s do sell out and in summer this problem is even more acute with their often being no ferries available for several days. If you are only in the city for a couple of days this would be a disaster as Alcatraz and the audio tour that goes with it are a must. Tickets can be purchased online 90 days in advance at www.alcatrazcruises.com

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After Alcatraz which took about 2.5 hours, we headed back to the hotel to load up and head south to Carmel. Our Sat Nav wanted to take us on 101 which is the faster road but I was keen to get over on to the coast road US1 so Andy soon dived into his new map to sort us out with a detour. The road south along the coast to Santa Cruz certainly offers some lovely coastal view and with the high surf you are likely to see the wind surfers making the most of it at various beaches along the route. These days they seem to use some sort of kite rather than a sail on their board, sure there is a proper name for it but it looks pretty cool all the same.

Santa Cruz was ok nothing special and in truth the drive from Santa Cruz to Monterey & Carmel (Some 50 miles) is rather non-descript so time to put the pedal to the metal on this beast! Would be fair to say it’s not the most economic and environmentally friendly vehicle but then they haven’t bought into that over here yet. That might change as their gas prices continue to rise but they really don’t know how lucky they are paying $4 a gallon tops (£2 roughly).

We hit some traffic on this drive at first which set us back somewhat so we had a quick drive around Monterey to get a feel for things and see where a number of hotels are as well as the Aquarium, Cannery Row and Fishermans Wharf. Monterey is a nice town and certainly a good alternative option to Carmel.

We then drove along the famous coastal road called 17-mile drive, a toll road ($9.25) that winds through the forest and past the homes of the rich and famous to reveal some of the most stunning coastal scenery you could ever wish to see. This area is the location for the famous golf courses called Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hills and Spanish Bay, there are also some very exclusive hotels here.

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By now the light was fading fast so it was into Carmel to find our motel for the night the Best Western Town House Inn. We would have stayed at the Carmel Mission Inn but this was unavailable. The Town House Inn is certainly a great alternative to the Mission Inn and whilst rates may be a little higher it is located in town so you can walk to all the shops and restaurants.

This is a pretty classic American motor lodge where you park outside your room and the door opens straight into your bedroom. I thought the room as exceptionally clean and comfortable and with air conditioning was a perfect 1 night stay.

We decided to eat at the Hogs Breath Tavern just down the road which is apparently owned by Carmel’s most famous resident, Clint Eastwood. The ribs and steak were great and Claire was over the moon with her pasta.. she now knows what Fettuccini is… see you learn all sorts of things on a C.N.A. Fam Trip!

We were all pretty tired so headed for an early night as tomorrow is an early start as we head inland to Yosemite something we are all really excited about. Incidentally the Town House Inn offers a complimentary continental breakfast in their tiny little lobby/office. Due to lack of room you get what you like on a tray and take it back to your room – This is going to suit us perfectly tomorrow so we can grab something light and hit the road early.

Well if we survive the switch back roads, shear mountain drops and potential snow then we’ll be back with tomorrow bulletin!

Saturday April 19th 2008
We took advantage of the complimentary continental breakfast this morning at the Best Western and after filling the gas guzzler we left Carmel at about 8.30am. We headed north for a short while before heading inland east towards Yosemite. To be honest there is little of any interest en-route, just acres and acres of farmland so the foot went down and we arrived at the Yosemite View Lodge at about 12.30.
We had been upgraded to river view rooms and for a relatively small price (Approx £25 per room per night) this is something we felt was well worth it if available as they are popular rooms. All these rooms have a kitchenette and with a small store on-site you can make your own breakfast or make yourself a pack-up lunch before entering the park. This is a tip we would really recommend as we found parking and access to the eateries within the park difficult, it was just so busy. The picture below shows the view from riverside rooms.

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We had all expected to see more snow than we did but this was confined to the very high ground where we were not going, in fact we were blessed with clear skies and mild weather.

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The Yosemite View Lodge is perfectly located just outside the main entrance and entry to the park is $20 as is the case with most of the National Parks. We encountered quite a bit of traffic congestion within the park but the waterfalls at this time of year are tremendous and more than make up for this. Yosemite certainly has a natural beauty that has to be seen to be believed and with a choice of very short walks or more testing hikes it’s a great place to spend a full day. Alas on our whistle stop tour we just had the afternoon but as the pictures show we certainly got to see some of the incredible beauty the park has to offer including a glimpse of a Bobcat which wondered past us as we returned from a short walk, very surreal and she was gone as quickly as she came, certainly before Claire managed to pull the camera out anyway!

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We returned to Yosemite View Lodge in the early evening so that Andy could dive into his double-sized Jacuzzi bath.
There is a restaurant on-site but it was quite busy with a waiting line so we got a pizza from the take away next door and called it a day aware that we had a bit of a marathon journey to Death Valley in the morning.

Sunday April 20th 2008
We headed out at 7am this morning; the journey to Death Valley would take us a little over 8 hours. We do not usually recommend this journey, better to overnight in Bakersfield (Approx 4 hours from Yosemite) when the Tioga Pass through Yosemite is closed (Oct – May/June subject to conditions)

After heading back into the park to pick up US-41 south to Oakhurst the road soon levels out and you can relax a little and engage the cruise control. Covering larger distances is easier over here than in the U.K.

As our time was limited we took on the drive to Death Valley and in truth it was not too bad although I do have to report that Claire and Rachel were caught ‘Resting there eyes’. I did say I would squirt anyone with water who fell asleep whilst I was driving on this WORKING trip… I guess I am too soft .. or maybe the posting of these pictures on the blog is punishment enough.

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With about 130 miles to go you head east where the terrain changes dramatically as you enter the desert. Traffic levels drop dramatically as the temperature rises just as quickly. I think we are all quite taken a back with the dramatic scenery we came across as we ventured further into the desert, the picture really do not convey the vast awe-inspiring view that greets you as you climb over crests and into vast flat basins.

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Well after 1 short coffee stop and 2 gas top-ups we arrived at Stovepipe Wells where you stop to pay your $20 entrance fee to Death Valley National Park. Furnace Creek and our Ranch for the night is a further 23 miles along the road and 190 feet below sea level. The temperate in this region today is 85 degrees and always above 100 in the summer.

Furnace Creek is not really a ranch as we know it but the rooms are straight forward, functional and very clean and ours had patios onto a grassed area which was nice to sit out on. There is also a nice visitor centre just a quarter of a mile down the road from the Ranch which is well worth a visit to get a better understanding of the region. The property has a store, bar and steakhouse restaurant. It’s an ideal overnight as you continue your journey through the desert.

Monday April 21st 2008.
Following breakfast we continued south east heading for Nevada and probably the biggest contrast to what we were currently seeing, from something completely natural to something completely man made, contrast is a recurring theme as you experience the C.N.A. Western.
The drive took is about 2.15 hours and afforded yet more fabulous views across the desert mountain scenery.

The two things that hit you about Las Vegas is the impersonal nature of it all and the sheer size of everything, I guess in fact the two go hand in hand. Arriving at 10am we were told that check-in did not start until 11am. You really have to picture the long line of desks and queues to appreciate check-in/out at a Las Vegas Hotel.

The rooms were perfectly fine, spacious clean and well decorated. We soon got ourselves out onto the famous Strip and began what turned out to be a rather long walk all the way North along the strip to the Circus Circus Hotel.

If you are considering the C.N.A. Western or have booked to travel then subject to being available an upgrade to the Luxor is something we would recommend, it just gives you a modern hotel and a location right at the happening end of the strip. Please contact our sales department to check availability and prices, keeping in mind that prices do vary greatly according to availability in Las Vegas.

Well I did give everybody a little time to shop this afternoon and as Andy has bought his much desired cowboy boots I will be on hand tonight with the camera as he has promised to sport them!

The picture! Half boots apparently… ladies might call them ankle boots… not what I call cowboy boots but Andy is as proud as punch!

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Tonight we take to the skies with the Heli USA Apollo Night Flight over Las Vegas, a highlight of the trip the team have all been looking forward to.

Well back from the night flight and a bit more exploring of the strip. The helicpoter flight was really exciting, the feeling flight in a helicopter is fabulous and the views as your pilot narates your trip up and down the strip are great - well reccomended.

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Tuesday April 22nd 2008
Must dash this morning as we are leaving at 8am for the Grand Canyon. Claire and Rachel were heading for the clubs when Andy and I headed for bed last night so will be interesting to see them bright eyed and bushy tailed….

Quite possible we will not have internet access at the Grand Canyon so further updates may have to wait until we reach Sedona now tomorrow.

Tuesday April 22nd 2008.

Well we all met at 8am today in the lobby of the Luxor, or should I say at the car in the case of Rachel and Claire who decided to make the most of the Las Vegas nightlife and slept through numerous alarms only waking 15 minutes before the meeting time… no sympathy and I had Andy on full alert for closing eyes during the drive to the Grand Canyon! Once again we were blessed with fabulous weather for today and I was already eyeing up the sunset over the Grand Canyon this evening.

As with other mornings we called in at a Starbucks coffee shop for a muffin and coffee rather than waste time sitting down for breakfast at the hotel, if you are driving I find it far better to eat something light and get a coffee rather than have to drive on a full breakfast.

The drive to the Grand Canyon would take us 5 hours. I wanted to leave at 8am, get there for lunch and then have the afternoon to visit the IMAX theatre and then spend the last few hours of the day at the south Canyon rim.

After heading south east out of Las Vegas for about 30 miles we reached the Hoover Dam. You can do a tour here and whilst we did not have time on this visit I have done it before and it is quite interesting, taking you down to the base of the dam and inside the workings. Awesome sight and the bridge they are building next to the dam is a jaw dropping sight.

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Once we reached Kingman a little further into the journey I decided to take Historic Old Route 66 which heads north, east and then south to join up with the interstate further down the road. It does not really add much to your journey and you can see you have driven Route 66. Not much to see en-route in truth other than some of the old gas stations and motels from the heyday of the mother road.

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Once back on the interstate heading east we trundled along for a little further before picking up highway 64 taking us directly north to the Grand Canyon south rim village. You eventually come to Tusayan which is where the non-Grand Canyon National Park lodges are located. You will also finds the IMAX theatre here and various other services including a cowboy steakhouse opposite the IMAX theatre which we decided to stop at for lunch. Fair to say Andy was in his element with the western theme, I did at one point think he might climb on one of the saddle hung up! If you want to try rattlesnake meat this is the place!

We checked into our hotel the Quality Inn which we were very happy with, once again clean comfortable and with a nice indoor and outdoor pool to relax in later on. The Read Feather Lodge for the guys back in the office is right next to the Quality Inn and looks fine.

Off to the IMAX theatre next to the IMAX theatre next. At a cost of about $15 it is well worth it and something I would recommend you do before going up to the Canyon rim. The huge screen makes you feel as though you are riding the old pioneer’s boat down the rapids and flying with the eagles.

Something to appreciate at this stage is that you cannot see the Canyon from Tusayan, in fact you cannot see it until you reach your first pull out on the south rim road, this really adds to the jaw-dropping experience when you first glimpse it. Pictures really cannot bring to you the vast splendour of the Grand Canyon but as you can see I twiddled a few knobs on the camera to cut the flash and had a go! David Bailey has nothing on me!

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We spent some time looking at the village on the rim and the various National Park Lodges. This visit convinced me what I have thought before that unless you really want to stay right on the rim and there is little to be gained from staying at one of the National Park lodges. They are more expensive, you generally have to book 12 months in advance, they are pretty basic and are just so busy with people visiting the rim.

One really good tip we stumbled on is going up to the Canyon at 3pm + as you pass all the day tripping traffic on the way out. The Canyon Rim is busy at the best of times so this is really a great way to do it. We give 2 nights at the Grand Canyon on the C.N.A. Western but if you wanted to pinch a night from here and stick it somewhere else like Carmel if you fancy visiting the beach of Monterey Aquarium for the day then it is entirely feasible if you do what we did and get here for lunchtime.

Anyway before heading back to the lodge for some dinner before an early night we stopped to watch a fabulous sunset and I’ll let the pictures tell the story from here..

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Tomorrow we head to Sedona before flying home from Phoenix on Thursday. On our C.N.A. Western we off an option after the Grand Canyon to head back to Los Angeles via Lake Havasu City or south to Sedona and then Scottsdale before flying home from Phoenix.

Wed April 23rd 2008
We left our hotel at 9.30am today having taken advantage of the complimentary continental breakfast and headed back south on US-64. Instead of returning to the Interstate we took US-180 southeast which is about 20 miles south of Tusayan where the hotel was.. just remeber to look out for the giant Freddie Flintstone and turn right!

This route takes you through the Cocconino National Forest and through the Snow Bowl ski area. It kind of cuts the corner and is more scenic so a good call. Once we reached Flagstaff (About 1 hour) we soon picked up the road through Oak Creek Canyon towards Sedona which is a very pretty drive with several pullouts for pictures of the Canyon view.

Sedona is a lovely town with the stunning red rocks surrounding it and the Amara Resort which we feature on the C.N.A. Westenr is set right on the creek amongst the trees.. lovely setting, lovely hotel, awesome fine dining restaurant. Tip - when you check-in book a table at Galleries restaurant (Located within the hotel) and request an outside table next to the fire pit if the weather is good..

This afternoon we followed the spirit of adventure and took a pink jeep tour into the desert. This is great fun, very imformative and the routes they take off-road are exciting… hold on tight! Well worth it.. speak to our sales team to get pre-booked as they are very popular… We had Bob who was 3rd in line to king of the pink jeep tours and basically seemed to know everything about world history!

As I have already eluded to dinner at the hotel in the evening is fabulous… My reccomendation would be the lamb dish which is a house signature dish and quite special.. was really nice to finish the trip with a wonderful meal and a couple of good bottles of wine, oh and to see Andy enjoying his very first lobster was a pleasure too!

Thu April 24th 2008
We enjoyed a leisurely morning, had a delightful breakfast on the patio at the Amara before heading south towards Scottsdale. We saw several properties in Sedona but I have a real soft spot for the Amara Resort having visited before, it has a really modern chic style, the rooms are specious well set out and the beds are delightful.

OK, so we headed south eventually picking up Interstate 17 towards Phoenix and Scottsdale. After a brief shopping stop at an excellent outlet mall en-route we headed for Scottsdale for a look at the JW Marriott Camelback Resort and a quick look around Old Town Scottsdale.

The time soon came to head for the airport and here we are now in the bar at the airport waiting for our flight home with my battery fast running out…

I will update the blog when we get back to the UK with a few nice pictures.

Cheers!

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At first, we weren’t seeing any. No waves. Nothing. Out on the water this foggy July morning in New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy, we could barely see 10 m ahead. Our group of eight paddlers clung together as if strung by a rope. Then just on cue, gentle gusts of wind appeared, allowing a glimpse of the cliffs around Hopewell Rocks, a narrow-mouthed, shallow inlet. Soon we were paddling among Flowerpot Rocks, giant arches and stacks, some capped with windswept spruce trees and bushes. Orchestrated by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, 100 billion tons of salty seawater has rushed in and sluiced out in 16-m-high tides, shaping the towering “flowerpots.” At this spot, tides fall and rise as high as a four-storey building, making it arguably the best place to see the highest tides on the planet. By now only wisps of fog remain and the hot summer sun glints off the water.

We return that afternoon. We now stroll where, just a few hours earlier, we had floated by in our sea kayaks. Thousands of shore birds feed on shrimp on the mud flats. (Some studies report up to 20,000 of these crustaceans per square metre.) Plus, 34 species of shorebirds—sandpipers and plovers—flock here on their only stop en route from the Arctic to South America. The goal: to double their weight at the seafood smorgasbord.

As the tide rises, the birds take flight in an exquisite pattern, flowing through the air as if choreographed, banking and swooping in unison. So many fly together, they momentarily darken the sky—a massive flicker of whites, blacks and greys.

(An interpretive centre at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park explains the tides and profusion of birds.)

By Keith Nicol

C.N.A. are happy to arrange excursions such as the kayak trip featured in the article as part of our travel packages. We are currently working on a New England & Maritimes itinerary to cover the Bay of Fundy and other breathtaking areas of Northeastern America and Canada. Whilst not published yet, the itinerary has been finalised, please contact us for more information.

You may already have an idea of what you would like to do and require help putting an itinerary together, if so please contact us today.

0115 9504555, or email us today - click here

Useful links
www.thehopewellrocks.ca
www.baymountadventures.com
www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

I am fortunate enough in this job to sample many different hotels across North America from old cotton picking shacks in Mississippi to the famous Waldorf Astoria in New York, variety is something I have enjoyed a plenty. But if I could go anywhere tomorrow I would take myself back to a place where the stresses of daily life simply melt away. A place where the only noise interruption is my favourite track on the CD player and the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the beach. A place where I can enjoy fine dining and luxury amenities in accommodation that oozes quality without wondering if I am dressed smartly enough or am I too casual? A place where I can stroll into town in my shorts enjoying the warm California sunshine, browsing the smart shops and art galleries before enjoying a good glass of wine with fabulous food in a different place every night, always with the ocean close by. And when I do retire for the night I know I can leave the balcony doors open and drift of to sleep listening to the calming sound of the ocean on the beach outside. That place for me is The Surf & Sand Resort located in the community of Laguna Beach just a 45 minute drive south from Los Angeles International Airport.

Located on a quiet stretch of sand in the heart of Laguna Beach, The Surf & Sand Resort offers a luxurious opportunity to retreat from every day life for just a short time - A chance to recharge the batteries..
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It’s often hard to believe that one of the biggest cities in the world, Los Angeles, is only a short drive away such is the seclusion and ‘Village like’ atmosphere of this south California gem. A sleepy town crammed full of interesting art galleries and a quite astonishing number of superb restaurants, not to mention probably the best beach in all of California.

With just 152 rooms the Surf & Sand has an intimate feel. From the moment you arrive entering the small relatively minimalist lobby you sense a quiet relaxing time awaits you. As you open your room to reveal the delightful quality decor and the floor to ceiling folding glass doors, I suspect you will make straight for the balcony for a glimpse of your ocean view…

Splashes restaurant located in the hotel at the oceans edge is a wonderful experience. With the floor to ceiling doors folded back the ocean view can be enjoyed to the full. In keeping with the hotel the restaurant is casual but the food is of an exceptional standard.

For those that like a little pampering there is Aquaterra Spa with a variety of personally tailored treatments for you to enjoy.

Whilst it would be easy to indulge in complete relaxation at Surf and Sand a short walk down the road each day into the centre of Laguna Beach is a must to immerse yourself in this laid back community and also to sample some of the other fine cuisine on offer.

Other important points that make this such a fabulous place to visit are of course the fabulous year round southern California weather, the close proximity to the many attractions of Los Angeles and San Diego which is a great day trip just 2 hours drive south along the coastline.

A stay at Surf and Sand is a luxurious experience which can be factored into a fly-drive tour of the west, in which case I would suggest a 3 night stay or why not make it a base to visit southern California for a week or more. If you do not wish to rent a car transfers can be arranged.

Written by - Duncan Harwood.

To talk to a member of our experienced team regarding a stay at the Surf & Sand Resort call us today on 0115 9504555.

If you would prefer to email an enquiry click here

All travel arrangements with Complete North America are financially secured by membership of the ATOL scheme (Membership No. 5368) run by the CAA. For more details click here

California north and south are like two separate countries. In the north there are lush mountainous dormant volcanic landscapes, giant redwood trees and miles of wild Pacific coastline. The south is famous for its beaches, theme parks, deserts and plenty of sunshine.

Experience the sheer beauty of Yosemite National Park, the Sentinel Dome which provides a great view of Yosemite Falls, or a trip to the Sequoia National Park to see the largest trees on earth. Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain in the High Sierras are famed for their winter activities with some of the best snowfalls in America and one of the longest seasons, quite often running from October to May.

Southern California offers a wide variety of activities, a rich diverse heritage, sandy beaches, great shopping, fine dining and lots of attractions, which means there is something for everyone.

California Facts.
Land Area - 158,000 sq miles
Population - 32,500,000
State Capital - Sacramento
Largest City - Los Angeles
Local Time PST - 8 hrs behind the UK
Climate - Warm dry summers along the coast with hotter temperatures in the deserts and inland valleys. Cooler temperatures along the north coast and the mountains. Winter provides snowfall on the inland mountain ranges, whilst the south of the state remains warm and sunny.
Ntl Parks Yosemite, Sequoia, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Channel Islands.

What’s new in California.

LAX - Renovations at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) broke ground in February 2007. The $723.5-million project will involve major interior renovations, and a second boarding gate to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 747-800. Considered the largest individual project in Los Angeles’ history, the significant changes are expected to by March 2010. The terminal will remain fully operational during renovations.

San Francisco Fishermans Wharf - Major attractions at Fisherman’s Wharf are included in the new Wharf Pass. Buyers can select six options from a group of 12 attractions for a savings of 33 percent off admission fees. The pass allows users to visit each of the six attractions once over the course of three consecutive days. Options include a choice of a hop-on, hop-off CitySightseeing tour on a double decker bus or a San Francisco Gray Line Trolley Hop tour; Bay cruise aboard the Blue & Gold Fleet or Red & White Fleet; Ripley’s Believe It or Not! or Pier 39’s Turbo Ride; Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf or the USS Pampanito submarine tour; Aquarium of the Bay or tours of historic ships at Hyde Street Pier; Boudin Sourdough Bakery Museum tour or a ride on the Pier 39 carousel. The Wharf Pass is $61 for adults and $38 for children ages 5–11. For details click here

Podcasts for San Francisco - Discover San Francisco in a whole new way. The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site now features podcasts from more than a dozen of San Francisco’s top attractions. Learn about the latest research and exhibitions from prominent museums such as the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum. You can also take an audio walking tour of the City’s hottest spots from
StrollSanFrancisco.com

There is a podcast available in most subject interests for visitors. Podcasts are free and easy to upload on to any computer or MP3 Player. To learn more and download the podcasts
click here

To talk to a member of our experienced team regarding a trip to California call us today on 0115 9504555.

If you would prefer to email an enquiry click here

To view our best selling west coast fly drive package click here

To view our latest luxury southern California fly drive package click here

All travel arrangements with Complete North America are financially secured by membership of the ATOL scheme (Membership No. 5368) run by the CAA. For more details click here

The year-round money-saving discount card is valid at 105 establishments in the Orlando area including attractions, accommodation, restaurants, dinner theatres, ground transportation, golf courses, shopping malls, ecotourism and cultural art venues.

The card is valid for up to six people with the maximum discount based on a family of four staying six nights. Those planning a trip to Orlando can also discover some of the state’s less well-known attractions in the newly published 2007 Unexpected Orlando Guide.

The 24-page guide highlights 120 hidden treasures - natural, cultural and historic – and includes an area and downtown map.

Both the card and guide are available to anyone who has booked with Complete North America.

To talk to a member of our experienced team regarding a trip to Orlando or maybe some of hte other fantastic destinations in Florida call us today on 0115 9504555.

If you would prefer to email an enquiry click here

All travel arrangements with Complete North America are financially secured by membership of the ATOL scheme (Membership No. 5368) run by the CAA. For more details click here

Our wedding planning service comes with full tailored travel arrangements for you and your wedding party. Unlike many advertised wedding packages we include the license fee, minister gratuity and taxes. Depending on what package you choose, you can expect us to provide photographers, bouquets, music, transfers from/to the hotel, a DVD of the ceremony and the all important certificates.

So what more are you waiting for… pop the question today and call C.N.A!

Wedding packages start from £190.00, excluding travel arrangements.

To talk to a member of our experienced team regarding a trip to Las Vegas and weddings to any destination in North America call us today on 0115 9504555.

If you would prefer to email an enquiry click here

All travel arrangements with Complete North America are financially secured by membership of the ATOL scheme (Membership No. 5368) run by the CAA. For more details click here

Chicago claims to be the birthplace of House music, and the Blues capital of the world and the exclusive Frankie Knuckles ‘MyChicago’ podcast guide can be downloaded by clicking here to help those planning a trip to the city.

From the history of House to the way he’d spend 48 hours in Chicago, Frankie features his funky favourite bits of the city in his 18-minute podcast as part of a series of celebrity guides designed to enhance visitor appreciation of the city. This one follows the Chicago shopping guide produced by Melissa Turner, expert fashionista and Chicago Director of Fashion Arts, and additional lifestyle gurus are currently producing their personal guides for what’s hot in Chicago’s entertainment, dining and architecture scenes.

To talk to a member of our experienced team regarding a trip to Chicago or maybe a stopover en-route to somewhere else call us today on 0115 9504555.

If you would prefer to email an enquiry click here

All travel arrangements with Complete North America are financially secured by membership of the ATOL scheme (Membership No. 5368) run by the CAA. For more details click here