Las Vegas (Aug. 29-31, 2019):
Baker
Los Angeles
Monterey
San Diego
San Francisco
Saint Joseph
Saint Louis the Bishop
Santa Barbara
Solvang
They're not from California, but I'm adding them because we also did them on this trip:
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Las Vegas (Nevada)
Tijuana (Baja California, Mexico)
A brief history of Las Vegas:
Origins:
The area where Las Vegas is located today was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Southern Paiute, who developed settlements around the valley's natural springs. In 1829, Mexican explorer Rafael Rivera was the first non-Indigenous person to record the area, naming it "Las Vegas" because of its green prairies.
Middle Ages:
There is no equivalent Middle Ages in this territory; during that European period, the region was occupied exclusively by indigenous desert communities with their own social and cultural systems, without influence from Western medieval development.
19th Century:
In 1855, Mormon missionaries established a small fort in the valley, though it was short-lived. The arrival of the railroad in 1905 spurred the settlement's growth. During this century, Las Vegas transformed from a stop on trade routes into a small hub for transportation and water supply in the desert.
Present:
Today, Las Vegas is one of the most iconic cities in the United States, known worldwide for its Strip, casinos, entertainment offerings, and hotel infrastructure. It is a global tourist destination and a major economic hub in Nevada, combining leisure, conventions, culture, and technology.
It's really just one avenue, but yes, you have to go... The hotels are absolutely amazing and you can enter them all freely, and even park inside each one.
We were told that leaving the Strip (the main avenue) was dangerous, and as expected, off we went without a second thought 😅 and yes, we can confirm that the least dangerous thing we saw were several people who seemed to be starring in The Exorcist, screaming alone, or dancing, or approaching you at high speed with unfriendly faces…
Contrary to what we expected, the hotels there are actually quite cheap. What's expensive are the taxes; it costs more to pay for the hotel than the hotel itself. Going during the week is the best option because they strategically raise prices on weekends.
You can't tell if it's day or night in the hotels; they're packed with people at any time of day.
Although, as I said, there are thousands of hotels, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, and the Bellagio were our favorites. The Bellagio's famous fountain show is breathtaking.
Hotel: Hotel Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas €94 for both of us for 2 nights.
While it wasn't bad, there are thousands of better-located and much cheaper hotels. This hotel did have several swimming pools and included parking.
Information obtained from the web https://www.exteriores.gob.es
Passport: It must be electronic and have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry into the U.S. and at least two blank pages. The passport must have been issued after 2006.
ESTA form: Spanish citizens must complete the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form at least 72 hours before their flight. This allows stays of up to 90 days without a visa. 40,27$/Person. LINK.
Return ticket: You must present a return ticket dated within 90 days to prove that you will leave the country within that time.
Travel insurance: It is recommended to have adequate travel insurance due to the high cost of medical care in the USA. In our case, we always used Iati, but lately we've been using Globalfine, which is much cheaper.
Vaccines: There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry.
Special conditions: If you have traveled to certain countries, such as Cuba, Iran, or Syria, after specific dates, you may need a visa instead of an ESTA.
International driving permit: It is requested through the website of the DGT.
It costs €10.51. The good thing is you can order it online and pick it up without an appointment. It took a couple of days for ours, then you go to pick it up and it's a cardboard card like the ones they had 20 years ago.
Travel insurance: It is recommended to have road insuranceHeh. The best known and most complete ones are Iati y Heymondo, if we don't need insuranceWe'll grab him with... oh fat Globalfine which is much cheaper, in this case we use Iati.
Payment card/currency exchange: we always go with Revolut definitely.
Roaming: NO There is, so if you have data enabled you can take a nice little gift back.
GPS: Maps.me Download the maps for Spain and they work great offline, whether you're on foot, by car, or on public transport.
Other destinations in California: 
