Florida or California?

[scamhammer]

Florida or California?

I have been comparing the pros and cons of visiting California and Florida. It would be interesting to read comments on the following analysis:-

Theme parks: Fla slightly better
Hotel prices: Fla slightly better
Public transport: Cal somewhat better
Airline prices: About the same
Flight times: Fla somewhat better
Weather: Cal usually less humid and less wet
Car hire prices: About the same
Nightlife: Cal better
Flight times: Fla slightly better
Shopping: About the same

[Calamity Jane]

We love both places, my husband used to live in California, so every time we go there it is a sort of a pilgrimage, both places are very different, but if I was to put my mark on one of them, for me personally it would be Florida.

Theme parks...Universal much bigger and more happening than FL
Hotels...Only slightly better in FL
Public transport...cant say, never used it in Cal or FL always had a car
Airline prices...depends where you are flying to in Cal and time of year
Flight times...Cal is approx 3 hrs longer flying
Weather...Go to Death Valley Cal, it is damn hot there but not as humid
Car prices...yes roughly the same
Nightlife... Depends on what you class as nightlife...eating or clubbing, if its the former then there is no difference if its the latter Cal wins hands down.
Shopping... Well shopping is shopping which ever way you look at it and most women would find a shop if they were lost in the Sahara Desert, it also depends where you go shopping, and what for.

[trevlad]

floridas fun
californias just dreamin

[blott]

Theme parks: Florida heaps better
Hotel prices: Don't know
Public transport: Don't know
Airline prices: California more expensive
Flight times: Florida 3 - 4 hours better
Weather: California much cooler (we went in March/April and nearly froze during the day)
Car hire prices: California more expensive
Nightlife: Don't know
Shopping: Florida has more bargain outlets and discount stores

To be honest, I don't think you can compare the two. We hated California (apart from San Francisco) and found LA was mostly miles upon miles of urban concrete sprawl. California Disney isn't comparable with Florida Disney, the latter being much better and the weather's heaps warmer in Florida. It did nothing but rain in California with roads closed by mud slides when we were there, so you can hardly call Florida wet in comparison!

Score:
California 5 Florida 9

Go to see California just to say you've been there and see for yourself but I bet you'll return to Florida and not California!

[imported_n/a]

I have to agree with Blott in the main, but once you travel further south past Anaheim, starting at Newport Beach the coastal resorts are really pretty and Carlsbad could even be called "quaint". San Diego is lovely and cross over the bridge to Coronado and the place is elegantly old-fashioned, just like the Hotel Del Coronado where Some Like it Hot was filmed. We would recommend San Diego/Coronado to anyone!

[gromit]

We went to California on our honeymoon in September a couple of years ago - had a great time. We didn't do the parks as there was so much else to do. We were going to go to the film studios but ending up being right in the middle of a film set on Rodeo Drive so didn't need to go! It was much better seeing movie making that way. The weather was quite good, but we travelled around and it varied from place to place more than the weather varies in the whole of Florida. We started off in LA - good weather, then to Vegas where it was very hot, normal for Nevada. Next stop was Yosemite and due to the altitude it was cooler but nice. Finally back into California to San Fransico where the weather was quite different to that of LA. It was a great trip and I love California - however it's Florida we decided to buy and we could have bought in California if we wanted to. The flights are longer to California by approx 3 hours. Therefore they are slightly more expensive too. The parks in Florida are bigger. There are outlet malls in Cal. but I feel Florida is better for bargains. Cal was slightly more expensive for car hire too.

We do love California and if you have never been you should go. I loved cycling along the beach from Santa Monica to Marina Del Ray. I used to be a lifeguard so had to see the baywatch bit. Had to do some star watching but I'm lucky in my job to come into contact with some anyway. I think if you have children you are better waiting until they are teenagers to appreciate Cal. and get through the flight. Long flights are quite difficult for children anyway even with 101 things to occupy them.

In summary, for better valus for money, shorter flight times, better weather & parks I would go to Florida.[msnsmile]

[armagedon]

If you like rollercoasters then california it has to be what with magic mountain and knotts berry farm you cant go wrong. Disney is a disappointment if you go there after florida you are best off to go to Disneyland first i think. Other than that i found the prices for things are about the same, flights cost me the same and car hire was. There is one BIG different though no buffet restaurants like Ponder or golden coral. You cant bet florida for food places.

mark

[Pluto]

We went to California in September 2001. Disney in FL is miles better than Disney CA. We didn't like Los Angeles at all and were glad to leave. Did go to Vegas and San Francisco as well and they were fab.

[Ray&Sarah]

We think that Florida is better, although we did enjoy Las Vegas (I know thats in Nevada) but we did Las Vegas/LA as a two centre holiday. We thought Anaheim was a bit of a dump really.

[gromit]

We think Santa Monica is a better place than Anaheim to stay if you go to LA. Vegas we stayed at The Venitian, extravegant I know, but it was our honeymoon, if you are planning a trip to Vegas check it out!