![\"stregisbentley\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/stregisbentley.jpeg\")
<\/a>\u2018Road Trip\u2019 was the simple headline in a local magazine; those words however are always a clarion call me and thus seduced me to read on. \u00a0This road trip was described as \u2018one of the world\u2019s most iconic drives\u2019 \u2013 cruising the coast on Highway 1 between Orange County and San Francisco, taking in Big Sur and the beautiful coast line along the way.\u00a0 I read on to discover that this \u2018Pacific Grand Tour Aficionado Package\u2019<\/strong> was being offered by St. Regis Resorts<\/strong>.\u00a0 As a rule I<\/a> try to stay away from packages with the word \u2018Grand\u2019 in them, as it usually refers to the price. Add words like \u2018aficionado\u2019<\/strong> and<\/i> St. Regis<\/strong> and I can almost feel my bank account wither as I\u2019m reading.\u00a0 But it gets better . . . or worse.\u00a0 What makes the tour so grand is not only that it includes two nights at both ends of the trip in St. Regis Resorts in OC and SF, but it also includes a Bentley Mulsanne<\/strong>.\u00a0 For those who think Bentley Mulsanne is a footman on Downton Abby<\/i><\/strong>, it is not; it is an expensive automobile \u2013 a very expensive automobile, like $300,000<\/strong> expensive \u2013 if you don\u2019t want any extras.\u00a0 Undaunted . . . OK, I was somewhat daunted, but I continued reading and finally found what I was looking for . . . the price.\u00a0 \u201cPrices start at<\/i> $6,900\u201d<\/strong>, it said.\u00a0 \u201cWhew\u201d, I breathed a sigh of relief, for a moment there I thought it was going to be up in the $7,000 range.\u00a0 \u00a0It doesn\u2019t really say how far that ‘starting price’ will get you, but probably not out of the shadow of the St. Regis from which you are leaving, but I read on imagining myself tooling up Pacific Coast Highway<\/strong> in a Bentley.\u00a0 I looked good.<\/p>\nWhen I finished reading the article I paused and wistfully thought to myself, I haven\u2019t made that drive in many, many years and it is<\/i> beautiful and what a thrill it would be to do it in a Bentley; I have the time and I\u2019m not getting any younger, so . . .<\/p>\n
The fun included a great room at the Mirage Hotel<\/strong>, an evening at the greatest Irish Pub<\/strong> (and I know my Irish Pubs) this side of Killarney<\/strong>, Ri Ra<\/strong> at Mandalay Bay<\/strong>, a liquid lunch (their specialty) at Margaritaville<\/strong>, where the bartenders put on a show that you\u2019d pay to see, and the Cirque du Soleil LOVE<\/strong> show \u2013 an amazing performance that we did pay to see, AND we left town with about a thousand dollars more than we came with.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m thinking that if I can do that 300 more time I can buy that Bentley!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow \u2018Road Trip\u2019 was the simple headline in a local magazine; those words however are always a clarion call me and thus seduced me to read on. \u00a0This road trip was described as \u2018one of the world\u2019s most … read more<\/a>You guessed it, I threw the magazine away and wondered what I was thinking. \u00a0\u00a0But I\u2019d been put in the mood for a road trip, so I decided to create my own package \u2013 I called it \u2018The Grand Fun Bus to Barstow, Baker and Beyond\u2019<\/strong> – mostly Beyond. \u00a0It wasn’t in a bus, but it wasn’t in a Bentley either that Linda and I\u00a0headed for Vegas<\/strong> to<\/a> celebrate her birthday. \u00a0Now I\u2019m not saying that the Zzyzx Road<\/strong> turnoff reminded me of\u00a0Big Sur<\/strong> or that Baker\u2019s giant thermometer<\/strong>, as majestic as it is, compared\u00a0favorably to the giant redwoods<\/strong> along the coast, but I\u2019ll tell you this, we had $6,900 worth of fun, maybe $7,000.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0NOW THAT’S A GRAND<\/span> PACKAGE\u00a0!<\/strong><\/p>\n