booking now closed
nine days duration
california mostly
private travel in USA
This tour is centred around the Miramar Airshow and The Pacific Airshow at Huntingdon Beach, with visits to Naval Air Facility El Centro, MCAS Yuma, North Island Naval Air Atation, March AFB and various smaller airfields as well as San Diego.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE (22nd Sept)
TRAVEL TO SAN DIEGO – departing from London, to catch our flight to San Diego. Board our private transport for our connection to our centrally located hotel, where we will stay six nights on a Bed and Breakfast basis. The Hotel is close to the metro/trolley bus/train stop/station and has restaurants, bars and attractions nearby.
DAY TWO (23rd Sept)
After breakfast at the Hotel, we board our private transport and head to MCAS Miramar Airshow this is the USMCs flagship show and is always well attended, one of the highlights being the USMC Tactical Demo; confirmed displays as of early April, USN Blue Angels and F16 Viper with others to follow.
DAY THREE (24th Sept)
We return to the MCAS Miramar Airshow for a second opportunity to capture the displays. Alternatively, take the day to explore the delightful city of San Diego. The location of the international airport so close to the city centre can make for some great images.
DAY FOUR (25th Sept)
NAS North Island is one of the busiest Air Stations in the US, with an almost constant stream of SH-60 Seahawks movement along with all types of Naval and sometimes USAF aircraft coming and going. There are some great vantage points, including the famous Coronado Beach for landing shots and
Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Centre for Seahawks flying below you heading out to sea. We spend the day at these and other vantage points, capturing all the action.
DAY FIVE (26th Sept)
The
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier dominates the harbourside. We spend time exploring this great museum. Next, we board the Hornblower Harbour cruise boat. The cruise gets us even closer to the North Island, and it also takes us around the giant Naval shipyard where ships are built and reworked. Later we head over to the world-famous
San Diego Air and Space Museum
DAY SIX (27th Sept)
Today explore the local airports and airfields in the Area, including the museum’s reserve collection at Gilespe Field, Imperial Beach and Montgomery-Gibbs Executive. We end up back at the international airport, and take the opportunity to check out the Coast Guard base.
Tonight is our last night in San Diego so why not celebrate by heading to the
Kansas City Barbeque, better known as the Top Gun restaurant? The original piano is still there, and the bar is full of memorabilia from the film. Also, the food and beer is good too.
DAY SEVEN (28th Sept)
After checking out of our San Diego hotel, we head east into the desert, following along the Mexican border. After a few hours, we arrive at NAF El Centro. The Base is used by many units for training, so the pattern could be full of F-18s, T-45s or Harriers. A few minutes drive away is Imperial County Airport, which is regularly used by military helicopters for hot refuels. We will divide our time between the two airfields to maximise our photographic opportunities.
In the evening, we head to our Hotel located close to shops, bars and restaurants.
Cont.....
ITINERARY Cont.
DAY EIGHT (29th Sept)
After breakfast, we take an 80-minute drive to MCAS Yuma, home of Marine Corps F-5s, Harriers, and F35s CV-22s; normally a very busy base. we will position ourselves outside the fence to capture the best of the action. After lunch, we head to Huntington Beach via Palm Springs Air Museum with its large collection of aircraft, including the recently acquired F-117 Nighthawk.
Arriving late evening, we book into our hotel for a two-night stay in the Huntington Beach area.
DAY NINE (30th Sept)
The Pacific Airshow has grown recently and seems to get great support from the American military. Aircraft already confirmed, include the Thunderbirds and the F-22 Raptor display. So grab your flip-flops and head to the beach for a full day of aviation entertainment.
DAY TEN (1st Oct)
After breakfast, we head back to San Diego, making a stop on the way at the March Field Air Museum. It has a large collection of aircraft, including one of only two Northrop YA-9As, an SR-71, B-47 and many more. Depending on time, we may spend a few hours on the perimeter of San Diego airport. Then head to the terminal and check in for our flight home.
PACKAGE COST
Total cost of package price, which is based on sharing a twin room on a bed only basis at a mid-range hotel, Return flights with checked luggage allowance, private travel in the USA and including all tour manager costs.
From £3250.00
Single Supplement +£400.00
IMPORTANT
Payment for this Tour: This will be made direct to Travel Counsellors Ltd and covers all the travel items as stated in the ‘What’s on Us’ section.
You will be required to pay a deposit of £400GBP after filling out your booking request form below, which will secure your place and the trip itself.
Alec Walker of Travel Counsellors will contact you direct for the payment after we have the required number of travellers to make this viable.
IMPORTANT: The operation of the airshows is outside of the control of both Travel Counsellors Ltd and Threshold. These items do not form part of the Travel Package and any cancellation/curtailment of these will not affect the running of the trip. Should these event(s) be cancelled prior to trip departure, we will endeavour to arrange alternative itineraries for those days within the same cost window
WHATS ON US….
- Return flights from London with checked luggage allowance
- All airport taxes
- Local city and UK passenger taxes
- Coach travel
- 9 nights’ accommodation room only
- Services of the Threshold Tours Tour Manager
- ATOL package protection
WHATS ON YOU….
- Admission to museums and airshows.
- Hornblower harbour cruise costs
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Any extra in room charges or personal expenditure
- Tips and gratuities
Passports and Visas:
It is your duty to ensure you are in compliance with all entry requirements listed on the FCDO website (for British passport holders), or the appropriate national authority (for non-British passport holders). Threshold and Travel Counsellors will not be held responsible for any entry refusals or delays due to failure to comply with the entry requirements at the point of entry.
Coach Travel:
All our tours will be conducted using a professionally operated commercial vehicle, with suitably qualified driver in line with local and national laws to ensure your health and safety, and compliance with insurance and legal requirements. We will never utilise hire vehicles with a tour manager or member of the tour acting as the driver as this will be illegal as all members of the tour will have made a payment to the hire.
Mobility:
If you have any assistance requirements, please ensure you make us aware of these at the time of booking.
COVID Entry Requirements:
It is your duty to ensure you are following all COVID-19 requirements listed on the FCDO website (for British passport holders), or the appropriate national authority (for non-British passport holders). Threshold and Travel Counsellors will not be held responsible for any entry refusals or delays due to failure to comply with the entry requirements at the point of entry.
Airport Security:
Airport security staff may ask you to turn on electronic or battery-powered devices, such as phones, tablets, e-books and laptops, to demonstrate their function. If you're not able to do this, you will not be able to take your device with you.
All medication should be accompanied by documentary proof of authenticity, such as a prescription or letter from a medical practitioner confirming that you need them for your journey. Liquid medication that is not required on the flight should be carried as hold luggage.
Climate and Currency:
California daytime temps of between 20-30°C can be the norm, sunscreen and head and neck protection is recommended when out for long periods with little shade.
The currency in USA is the US Dollar. Major credit cards are accepted everywhere.
Other Travel Arrangements:
All flight departure and arrival times are correct at the time of preparing this itinerary; however, it is worth noting that many airlines may change their flight times with limited warning. The final itinerary will show the actual times. Anyone making their own arrangements around that of the tour, should bear the above in mind if purchasing non-refundable or non-changeable tickets. Threshold cannot be held responsible for any changes, to flight times in respect to any privately arranged travel tickets not being useable.
