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| Wild West | Route 66 | California Dreamin’ | Daytona Bike Week |
| Sturgis and the Old West | High Chaparral | Cowboys & Indians |
| PCH All the Way | Self-Guided Tours | Rental |
USA Route 66 Guided Tour
 . ... have just returned from the trip of a lifetime on Historic Route 66. Thank you so much for arranging everything for us. We will always remember this trip. We met some great people, not just fellow Harley riders but the Americans introduced to us by Gary 'Bear' Fleshman along the way. This guy deserves a medal. Not only hard working, he has so much enthusiasm for all things Route 66.
John and Gabrielle Magill, UK, 2011
This was my first ever organised bike trip and it was fantastic. The tour guide Gary Fleshman was incredible, he lives and breathes Route 66. The standard of the hotels were great as were the staff who always made us feel welcome. It really was a trip of a lifetime and I enjoyed every minute of it, I can't wait to start booking my next trip.
Mike Narey, UK 2010
I must say it's not often these days when something you buy exceeds one’s expectations, but this holiday sure did!! ... all I can say is a big" thank you" to you, and your staff, for my making my dream holiday such a great success. The whole trip, including all the flights, the bike, and the hotels were just perfect. I have no reservations in recommending your company.
Vic Bryan, UK, 2008
It’s like life, complicated, but well worth it”
Billy Connolly, UK, 2011
Route 66 videos from Gary, the tour guide:http://www.youtube.com/mtnphotoman
Magazine Articles
One on One Routemaster, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, issue 606, pp82-83
| Once in a Lifetime, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, Part One | Once in a Lifetime, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, Part Two |
| Once in a Lifetime, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, Part Three | Once in a Lifetime, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, Part Four |
 Our Route 66 tour is probably the most famous motorcycle tour in the World, and has won plaudits for many years from customers and journalists alike because it is quite simply the best Route 66 tour there is. Riding Route 66 with us you soon realise it really is something special – a real journey of discovery. So, take the offramp into a bygone era. Discover how America travelled in the 1920s-60s. Experience the flair and charm of the old route, stop at museums and historic sights, and get a great insight into the people and history of the USA. Visit the wonderful old trading posts, filling stations, motels, tourist traps and diners along the scenic "Mother Road". Slow down and enjoy the scents of new mown hay and hickory smoke drifting from the pit barbeque chimneys. Stop and stroll through villages which haven't changed since they were bypassed by the interstate highway decades ago. Experience Sky City where native Americans live exactly like they have for hundreds of years. Pull over along a deserted stretch in the Mojave and listen to the hum of millions of wheels that have passed this way. This is time travel through nostalgic America.
So, what makes our tour so special? Well, it is the little personal touches, our knowledge of those fun places, the people we meet, the bits of old road no-one else knows about, access to places no-one else gets access to. We follow the old route as much as possible and you will ride about 60-70% (some sections no longer exist). Because we know Route 66 better than anyone, we have a number of surprises in store for you along the way, and some unique rides and stops ONLY available to H-C Travel customers, to make your Route 66 experience unlike any other!
Once a year, in June, we run a Route 66 Deluxe Tour, where we offer you a little more on tour. Our deluxe tour includes a private visit to the Harley-Davidson museum, with an extra night in Milwaukee or Chicago, some hotel upgrades and a detour to Las Vegas.
Highlights
- Chicago – City of the Blues
- Al fresco barbeque with live music
- Santa Fe mountains
- Grand Canyon
- Oatman
- Mojave Desert
- Santa Monica Pier – the end of the road
- The people you meet, often friends of our guides
- The places we take you, some accessible only with our guides
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Chicago. Welcome to Chicago! On arrival at O’Hare Airport, take a taxi to our downtown hotel where you will be met by our tour guides at the hospitality desk. Afterwards you're free to go out and explore the "Windy City" of Chicago with all it has to offer. Our hotel is close to Chicago's famous blues clubs, Navy Pier, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), fine dining restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Perhaps go to the starting point of Historic Route 66 at East Adams St and South Michigan Ave. Or if you prefer just relax and get a good evening's rest, tomorrow we ride!
Day 2 Chicago – Springfield, IL (215 miles). During our Welcome Breakfast our guides will go over important information about the tour. Then we're off to our local Harley-Davidson® dealer before we say goodbye to Chicago and are riding down Historic Route 66 through the cornbelt of Illinois as we follow the Pontiac Trail, as Rte 66 used to be known here, to the state capital.
Day 3 Springfield – Rolla, MO (220 miles). Today we ride through the picturesque scenery of small town mid-America to the beautiful rolling hills of the Ozarks. The first half of the day meanders through small farming towns and countryside until we reach the border between Illinois and Missouri: the Mississippi river. We stop here to see the Chain of Rocks Bridge which became a part of original Route 66 in 1936. After lunch we stop at the Missouri Route 66 State Park, and then visit Jesse James' hideout at Meramec Caverns. Finally we arrive in Rolla for dinner and a good night's sleep.
 Day 4 Rolla - Tulsa, OK (320 miles). Today we weave our way from the rolling hills of the Ozarks through (another) Springfield, Joplin and Carthage until we reach Kansas. This was frontier country for much of the 19th century, and although the mountains aren’t high, the road switches, dips, and climbs providing great views of the steep hillsides of oak, elm, hickory and redbud. We stop for lunch in Kansas at the Little Brick Inn, once one of the banks robbed by the James' gang. After less than 20 miles of Kansas we move into the beautiful scenery of eastern Oklahoma.
Day 5 Tulsa – Weatherford, OK (190 miles). We head towards western Oklahoma and its wide open spaces. Oklahoma has more miles of Rte 66 than any other state, and in better condition! So it’s a real mecca for bikers and old-road fans alike. The majority of the day is spent riding the "Old 66" through pasture and prairie. We stop at the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, the Round Barn in Arcadia and ride the longest remaining stretch of the original 1926-1935 alignment of the route.
Further west we ride through El Reno, over the mile-long bridge near Bridport and end up at our hotel in the ranching and college town of Weatherford..
Day 6 Weatherford – Amarillo, TX (200 miles). We start today at the Route 66 museum in Clinton, where you can learn more about the route and its importance in American history, and do some souvenir shopping. Then it's back on the road, passing through great plains, vast cattle ranches and small farming towns as we enter the Texas panhandle. We stop at the beautiful U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, featured in the film "Cars" as Ramone's Body shop. Then we're off across the plains for a well deserved steak at the Big Texas Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Are you brave enough to attempt the 72-oz (2 kg) steak dinner challenge?
Day 7  Amarillo – Santa Fe, NM (290 miles). First stop, the Cadillac Ranch: a crazy farmer planted Cadillacs in his field, hoping to grow new ones – guess what?!. Then it's off to Adrian, home of the Midpoint Café and our halfway point. After stopping for a coffee we leave the great plains behind and head into the natural splendour of the southwest. Riding through the wide open spaces and into the Rocky Mountains, we arrive in the beautiful city of Santa Fe where we will spend the next two nights.
 Day 8 Santa Fe (rest day). Today is a day of rest and relaxation in one of the oldest (and highest, at over 2250 m) state capitals in the USA. Enjoy Santa Fe's numerous art galleries, specialty shops and museums, all within easy walking distance from our central hotel. Or just roam around the beautiful downtown plaza taking in its unique combination of Native American and Spanish colonial architecture. Or if you want a gentle ride, we recommend the short visit to Taos - from a biker's viewpoint probably the best day of all! Lots of bends to ride as we take the valley road there and the high country road back. Taos is famous as an artist colony and some beautiful art and Indian crafts awaiting you.
Day 9 Santa Fe - Gallup, NM (210 miles). It’s time to get back on the road and out into the deserts of the southwest, to our first stop for lunch in Old Town Albuquerque. Then we head on through the splendour of New Mexico’s natural beauty, ending the day in the old railroad town and Indian stronghold of Gallup and our historic hotel.
Day 10 Gallup – Williams, AZ (240 miles). Today we head into Arizona’s spectacular deserts. Our first stop is the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Park, where we take our time riding through the park stopping to take in its natural beauty. Afterward we stop in Holbrook to see the Wigwam Motel’s teepee shaped rooms on our way to lunch. Then it’s time to “Take it Easy” with the Eagles, standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona, before continuing to our hotel in the quaint town of Williams, gateway to the Grand Canyon.
Day 11 Williams (120 miles). Today is Grand Canyon day. We ride the 60 miles from Williams to the canyon’s south rim, or you can take the train. Here we have time to explore on our own and see the canyon in our own time. We recommend a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of the vastness of the canyon. We meet up later for a sunset ride back to our hotel. This will be a day to remember!
 Day 12 Williams – Needles, CA (160 miles). We start the day by riding to the small town of Seligman for breakfast, and give ourselves some time for shopping at its many Route 66 shops. Afterward we make our way to Hackberry and then Kingman, the self-styled ‘Capital of Route 66’, for lunch. Then comes what Americans like to call the ‘curviest’ part of the Route, the Oatman Highway, a twisting ride over the Black Mountains. We stop in Oatman to see one of the few remaining old west gold mining towns and its burros, left behind when the miners abandoned the mines. And then we reach the Colorado River, California and Needles, our next historic Route 66 town.
On our deluxe tour we detour at the Colorado River to ride to Las Vegas for the night, before rejoining Route 66 tomorrow.
Day 13 Needles – Victorville, CA (220 miles). We start the day by riding over the Spirit Mountains into the dramatic, desolate and hot Mojave Desert, stopping in Amboy, located in the middle of nowhere, to check out Roy’s Motel and Café. We continue on to our lunch stop in Barstow and then on to see Elmer’s Bottle Tree ranch, before climbing up into the cooling pine trees of the San Gabriel Mountains. After a hot day riding through the desert our hotel’s refreshing pool beckons us to take a cool dip and relax before our last day of riding tomorrow.
Day 14 Victorville - Los Angeles (115 miles). The big adventure comes to an end today with our ride to Los Angeles. Much of the road has been lost, but the end of the Mother Road, Santa Monica Pier, is worth the wait. Park up the bike and dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean, this really is journey’s end! We take our time going to the end marker plaque, and then have a nice lunch on the pier. Afterwards you’ll have some time to look around. Then it just remains for us to return the motorcycles in the afternoon, and enjoy our Farewell Dinner.
Day 15 Depart Los Angeles. Sadly it’s time to pack our bags and head home, filled with the experiences and memories. We hope to see you back for another great tour. This is end of the road - for now!
Total mileage c. 2700 miles
Our tour price includes
- Authorized Harley-Davidson® motorcycle (low mileage, under 18,000) or other makes and models as listed
- Standard motorcycle insurance package: CDW with $5000 excess, theft insurance with $5000 excess, state minimum liability cover of typically $10,000-$50,000
- American licensed tour guide on motorcycle and assistant in support vehicle (guided only)
- Support/luggage vehicle with coolbox/drinks (guided only)
- Spare motorcycle for emergencies (guided only)
- Trauma / First Aid kit (guided only)
- Unlimited mileage
- All taxes and one way fees
- Helmets (if requested). We strongly recommend you bring your own
- Detailed tourbook including maps
- Accommodation in 3-4* hotels
- Welcome Breakfast & Farewell Dinner (guided only)
- Some breakfasts
- National Park, State Park and National Monument entrance fees (guided only)
- Hotel parking fees (guided only)
- Airport transfers in Los Angeles
Our tour price does not include
- Meals except where specified (allow c. £25/person/day)
- Fuel and oil (allow c. £10/day)
- Riding gear
- Additional activities
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, tips
Optional prebookable items
(for details of our optional extras, please see the details on the Guided Tour page)
- Flights
- UK airport hotels and parking
- Airport-hotel transfers
- Travel insurance
- Optional CDW & SLI motorcycle insurances
- Excursions/activities (guided tour only)
- Pre and post-tour accommodation and tours
- Pre-and post-tour motorcycle hire
Motorcycle selection:
(Please indicate 1st and 2nd choice, all bikes are subject to availability at the time of booking and all are the same price)
- Chicago H-D
- Sportster 883
- V-Rod
- Dyna Low Rider
- Fatboy
- Heritage Softail Classic
- Heritage Softail Deluxe
- Road King Standard
- Road King Classic
- Street Glide
- Electraglide Classic
- Electraglide Ultra Classic
- Trike (surcharge applies)
- Other H-D models may be available on request
- Or
- BMW R1200GS
- BMW R1200RT
- Ducati Multistrada
- Honda VT750 Shadow
- Honda GL1800 Goldwing
Ready to book? Please click here
Any questions? Please click here
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Route 66
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Prices
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Rider + passenger (per person in twin or double room)
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2 riders (per person in twin or double room)
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Rider, single room
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Passenger, single room
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Regular Tour
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£2,845.00
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£4,045.00
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£4,945.00
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£2,545.00
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Deluxe Tour
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£3,275.00
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£5,245.00
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£6,045.00
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£2,125.00
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Self-guided tour
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£1,575.00
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£2,475.00
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£3,125.00
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£1,275.00
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Prebookable extras
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Basis
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Price
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CDW ($0 excess)
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Per bike
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£169.00
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SLI ($1 million)
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Per bike
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£143.00
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Flights
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Per person
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POA
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Travel insurance (EU residents only)
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Per person
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POA
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Airport hotel/parking (UK only)
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Per room/car
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POA
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US arrival transfer, airport-hotel
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Per person
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POA
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Chicago hotel pretour
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Per room per night
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£143.00
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H-D museum tour (1 nt)
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Per person
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POA
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Chicago sightseeing (1 nt)
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Per person
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£131.00
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Grand Canyon helicopter flight
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Per Person
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£169.00
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Los Angeles amusement package (1 nt)
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Per person
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£163.00
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Hollywood package (1 nt)
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Per person
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£101.00
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Los Angeles hotel posttour
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Per room per night
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£94.00
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Tour dates
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03 May - 17 May 2012
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31 May - 15 Jun 2012 (deluxe tour)
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28 Jun - 12 Jul 2012
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16 Aug - 30 Aug 2012
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05 Sep - 19 Sep 2012
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20 Sep - 04 Oct 2012
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09 May - 23 May 2013
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06 Jun - 20 Jun 2013
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27 Jun - 11 Jul 2013
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08 Aug - 22 Aug 2013
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04 Sep - 18 Sep 2013
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19 Sep - 03 Oct 2013
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Route 66 accommodation list - guided
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Route 66 accommodation list – deluxe
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Route 66 accommodation list - self-guided
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Chicago, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza
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Chicago, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza (2 nts)
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Chicago, Holiday Inn Mart Plaza
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Springfield, Holiday Inn Express
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Springfield, Crowne Plaza
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Springfield, Holiday Inn Express
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Rolla, BW Coachlight Inn
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Rolla, BW Coachlight Inn
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Rolla, BW Coachlight Inn
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Tulsa, BW Inn & Suites
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Tulsa, BW Inn & Suites
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Broken Arrow, Clarion Hotel
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Weatherford, BW+ Mark Motor Inn
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Weatherford, BW+ Mark Motor Inn
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Weatherford, BW+ Mark Motor Inn
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Amarillo, Big Texan Motel
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Amarillo, Big Texan Motel
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Amarillo, Ambassador Hotel
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Santa Fe, Plaza Real (2 nts)
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Santa Fe, Plaza Real (2 nts)
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Santa Fe, Courtyard by Marriott (2 nts)
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Gallup, El Rancho Motel
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Gallup, El Rancho Motel
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Gallup, El Rancho Motel
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Williams, Holiday Inn (2 nts)
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Williams, Holiday Inn (2 nts)
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Williams, Holiday Inn (2 nts)
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Needles, BW Colorado River Inn
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Las Vegas, Monte Carlo Resort
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Needles, BW Colorado River Inn
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Victorville, Hilton Garden Inn
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Victorville, Quality Inn & Suites
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Victorville, Comfort Suites
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Los Angeles, Radisson LAX
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Los Angeles, Radisson LAX
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Los Angeles, Radisson LAX
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| Wild West | Route 66 | California Dreamin’ | Daytona Bike Week |
| Sturgis and the Old West | High Chaparral | Cowboys & Indians |
| PCH All the Way | Self-Guided Tours | Rental |
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