Hi, Paragkash: You're making this way too complicated for yourself.

Rent the car at SFO, don't try to rent it in Monterey, Salinas, or San Jose. You have to think about getting to those cities and then getting to the rental car place. It's a waste of a lot of time, which you don't have.

Even if you had all the time in the world, I still won't advice renting in those cities (especially not Salinas!). With all the luggage that you will have, how are you planning on getting to those cities and to the car rental places in those cities? It's going to take a superman...

The moment you get off the plane, you need to have access to a shuttle which is the quickest way to get you to a car rental location or a hotel. That's what you must focus on. A shuttle that will get you somewhere so you don't have to carry your luggage exhausting distances. The same for your return trip. You have to think of depositing your luggage somewhere - in the trunk of a car or in a hotel - as quickly as possible <i>so that you can enjoy touring</i> and not having to carry/worry about your luggage.

I was trying to give you as efficient a use of your limited time as possible as well as giving you just about every destination you wanted.

If you're trying to save money by renting the car elsewhere instead of SFO, then there are much better ways to save and many of the Fodorites, including janisj, Michelle and the others will give you plenty of good ideas and hints.

Janisj, you are right. The Yosemite Lodge is fully booked for those dates. Am trying for other places or dates.

easytraveler, Thanks for the advice. I will rent a car from SFO.
But the idea of renting it from San Jose is not money saving. In fact, it will cost me more time and money. If I directly fly to San Jose, I thought I would save some driving time. The Air Ticket is the same price, so is the car rental. I was just trying to cut down my driving in SFO (didnt know that it's a city by-pass where I am directly onto highway 101) and have a rental place where I can reach 40 min earlier on my way back, so I am not driving in the dark. Also, while flying back from Las Vegas, To solve this issue, I will leave Yosemite on 17th June early morning. (If I get the accommodation)

About carrying the luggage.. That is precisely the idea of staying 1 night in San Francisco. I intend to keep our 2 bags in the hotel and travel only with 2 small haversacks( kind of day bags) We are comfortable and can travel for about 8 days like that. That makes it travel super-light. One more thing is, we are travelling for about 23 hours from Mumbai, via Zurich. We will not have much energy left if we fly directly to Las Vegas and will have to carry all our luggage with us.

I will try and convince my wife about dropping LV and GC. She is keen on it.

One more, very basic question. It may sound silly.
If I am visiting various national parks in Canadaian Rockies, like Yoho, Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise etc., will it be a Deja-vu feeling if I visit Yosemite or Sequoia NP. Not rating any one of them higher or lower. I had a similar feeling when I went to Bruges in Belgium just after Venice. Nobody told me to drop Bruges. I wasn't on Fodors then.

Please help.

You can "drive" yourself daffy by trying to plan too perfectly. If you are luggage bound - it complicates everything.

Really - why not try to pack "light" - in one suitcase each? See many posts/travel logs/books for packing light - doing a little laundry/dry cleaning along the way, etc.

If you are packing light - then the tail is not wagging the dog - and you could fly to Vegas from SFO after you arrive - with your one light bag each - and crash there, or get a hotel by the SF airport and leave your suitcases there - and fly to Vegas in the AM. Remember - you can also buy clothes in the US if you have to. :)

See/do what you want in Vegas and I think the Grand Canyon is worth a trip - but if you are going to beautiful parks in Canada - you could consider saving that for another trip, especially if you get into Yosemite, or drop Yosemite, whatever.

FYI - we have gone to Yosemite a day before our scheduled reservations and stood in the standby type line at Curry Village and were able to get a place/tent - due to their cancellations, etc.

As for flying back to San Jose and renting a car there - great idea - as you are closer to Carmel/Monterrey (with less traffic) and yes, you can drive to Carmel/Monterrey (2 hours) for lunch - maybe tour the Aquarium/etc - and continue on down through Big Sur to Cambria (3 to 4 hours+ depending on how much you stop) before the sun sets.

Hope this helps.

Just re-read your original post. Assuming you arrive in SF by 4 PM - you can be in Vegas fairly early in the evening - and you can get some inexpensive rooms in Vegas for a couple of nights if you google away. I think it is an amazing place to see and I really don't gamble when I go there

Just be sure to double check the "resort fee"" so they don't charge you an extra $25 etc for the privledge of using their spa, etc You can always pay for thsat fi you do decide to use it, etc.

Hi Paragkash. Welcome to the U.S.

Yes, you do have a whirlwind trip planned but that's okay. You're going about it sensibly and I am going to bet that you'll be back. I wouldn't miss Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon. I think the day trip via bus from Vegas is fine. Yes, it would be wonderful to get up and watch the sunrise over the Canyon but sunrise is very early in the morning in June and you're going to be very jet-lagged and tired. I'm in the camp of flying directly to Vegas upon arrival into SFO. You might even arrive in time to catch a late show in Vegas but the warning for you is that you might fall asleep after your long travel.

I did a similar trip last year although we had 10 days. We flew to Las Vegas, spent 1.5 days, drove to the Grand Canyon and spent the night. Then we drove to Yosemite via Death Valley. Despite trying for 6 months we were unsuccessful in finding accommodation inside Yosemite, complicated by the fact that we needed two rooms. Staying one night just outside in El Portal was fine. Then we drove to San Francisco and returned the rental car and spent the remaining 3.5 days in San Francisco. It was busy but it was fine.

Since you're already going to be in the mountains in Banff why not save Yosemite for another time and see the gorgeous California coast? I like the idea of skipping Yosemite for this trip and driving the Pacific Coast Highway. Paso Robles has some wonderful wines and Hearst Castle is an interesting couple of hours stop (make advance reservations for a tour).

sharona, Thanks for giving positive vibes to me. I feel better after the confusion and do feel that I will come back. I will surely sleep if I go for the night show. I would rather stroll on the fisherman's cove in San Francisco. I am extremely comfortable travelling with a day bag.
You all are absolutely right about Yosemite accommodation. It's full and whatever is available is beyond 300 to 400 USD.
I liked the idea of(rather forced to like after seeing the tariff at yosemite) dropping Yosemite. :)
After seeing the photos, I feel one thing that I can skip is Hearst castle rather than Yosemite.
I feel If I can spend 3 1/2 days in Yosemite and West coast, 2 days in Las Vegas and Grand canyon + 2 days in San Francisco- It would be a bit hurried but rewarding tour. I will have a tight itinerary and even a slight delay will make me miss something. I understand that things don't always go as planned and I must keep some space for a goof up.
Will try and do it in a positive frame.
Yosemite accommodations are full or very expensive. Will try and book Best western Plus at Oakhurst. Will study a bit more and work out in detail.

I know about jetlag/being tired - not fun. But seriously your plan to spend a night as an SFO hotel mostly to stash the luggage just complicates things more.

You won't be staying at the same hotel when you return to San Francisco. At least hopefully you won't. SFO is not a good base for visiting the city of San Francisco. So you'd have to return to this SFO hotel to get your bags and then return the rental car maneuver, the bags to the SFO BART station and into the city. Just crazy making IMO.

For one thing you don't have to pack a ton of stuff. Yes, you are going to Canada but you can still get by w/ small to medium sized suitcases. But also - I personally like to get the BIG travel out of the way. You are going to be tired sure -- but another 4 hours (to allow for immigration/luggage/and the flight) and you will be in Las Vegas and able to sleep in as late as you want/need.

Re Yosemite, unless you can get Curry Village or the one motel I mentioned - I'd skip it. You just don't have the time for hour+ drives in/out of Yosemite Valley. Yosemite is magnificent - but if you don't have time, you don't have time. You will see gorgeous mountains in Canada.

Tomsd, You pointed out correctly. I have booked MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They charge 25 USD as refrigerator charges. Don't understand it. It's absurd !!

You can also store luggage right at San Francisco Airport. Here's the information from the airport website:

"Baggage storage is exclusively available at the Airport Travel Agency, located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal, near the entrance to Gates G91-G102. The Airport Travel Agency is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. No reservations are required for baggage storage. All baggage is x-rayed prior to storage.

Rates are assessed per each 24 hour period that an article is in storage (articles in storage for less than 24 hours will be subject to the 24 hour rate), and vary according to the size of the object.

Please contact the Airport Travel Agency at 650.877.0422 or [email protected] for additional information."

http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/orphan/faq/#10

You'll probably be paying about the same as storing your luggage at a hotel - without having to pay for a hotel room.


<i>But the idea of renting it from San Jose is not money saving. In fact, it will cost me more time and money. If I directly fly to San Jose, I thought I would save some driving time.</i>

SFO to San Jose is only about an hour's drive on wide freeways. You'll be spending a lot more time getting from San Jose Airport to SFO or SF without a car. Please get your rental car at SFO. Glad you've decided to do that! :)


<i>One more thing is, we are travelling for about 23 hours from Mumbai, via Zurich.</i>

Once in an emergency business situation, I had to fly from San Francisco to Bangalore. With the available flights at that time, it took a total 36 hours with flight and ground time. I got to Bangalore alive, so will you when you come to SF. You can bear to take another short flight to Las Vegas, just be sure to give yourself enough time to get your luggage in SFO, go through customs and immigration and then get to the domestic flight to Las Vegas.

Make sure you drink lots of water (and no alcohol!) and pace the aisle once awhile during flight (pretend you have to go to the restroom, if anyone objects. I've never had anyone object). Also while in the Zurich airport, WALK! Assuming that your luggage will be checked through to San Francisco, you will have only a couple of haversacks, so don't spend the time sitting around with a couple of coffees. Walk around. This may sound contrary, but by exercising and stimulating your blood flow, you'll find it much easier to fall asleep during the second leg of your trip.

Your plans are coming together nicely!

EASYTRAVELER, Thanks a lot for help and concern. Some wisdom and eye opener for me. From where I started, I think you all have put some sense into me. Though a bit fast paced, but I am trying to make it. Though many wont support me for Las Vegas. I thought I am starting early. but surprisingly, Yosemite and Cambria are almost sold out for June 13.
Thanks to Janisj, I could book Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal for 14th June.

That's great. Yosemite View Lodge is a short drive from Yosemite Valley - about 20 minutes to the Valley and little over 30 minutes to Yosemite Village

LOL - and keep that great - what me worry? - attitude while traveling. I rememmber in Tangiers, Morocco - we were stuck in a"que" - which there means everybody sort of hangs out in front of the ticket counter until it opened after the mid-day siesta - and then - whamo - the locals were all scrunched up against the front while we were standing by ourselves further back in the room.

We barely made the train - with the lowest priority seats - and then - halfway to Fez - which was only about 100 miles - we were put off the train at Sikki KaSim. Spent 6 hours there in the middle of the night, as train after train went through with no room.

We passed the time singing songs with the 17 other stranded students, as somebody had a guitar and somebody else had a small portable coffee maker - and we had a blast - so to speak.

We then clamored aboard in a 4th class car - front half with seats and the rear half was just a floor which they used for transporting animals, and we threw our backpacks down and slept on them. :)

Tomsd, those are fun memories now, huh?

Paragkash, I've lost track. Did you decide to fly to Las Vegas directly upon arrival in San Francisco? If you haven't I'm going to try really hard to convince you that that's the best thing to do. You'll have time to walk around Fisherman's Wharf when you return to San Francisco later in the trip. Strolling on the Las Vegas Strip will be a nice way to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. And you won't have to wake up the next morning, make your way to the airport, and get on another plane. Since you'll already be in Las Vegas you'll be able to sleep as late as you want, have some leisurely meals and enjoy your day without worrying about travel.

Since your luggage storage was one of your hold-ups now you don't have to worry about that thanks to the information supplied by easytraveler.

The Yosemite View Lodge is not a bad second choice to staying in the park. It's quite close to the Valley and an easy drive.

Hi Tomsd, That's a quite scary kinda experience, but you took it in your stride and had fun..the LOL moments you described can be nightmare for most of us... That's most important in travel and life... When life throws Lemons at you.. make a lemonade..
Sharona and easytraveler, you have given so much info and courage to take a connecting flight to LV. But there are a few factors that make me jittery about it.
1. My flight from India is pretty long. Just checked, it is 8 hours to Zurich, 7 hours of waiting (will try and use the lounge etc to relax) and 12 hours flight to SFO. That makes it good 28 hours of flight. + add 3-4 hours for airport transfer and check in process. In all about 31 hours. We have done 7 Europe trips and are used to a maximum of 10 hours of flying. 3 times that can be taxing for us at least for the 1st trip. That could have been one of the reasons why we never visited US and Canada. I may have a slight backache after sitting for so long and may not be really fresh. I remember seeing Vienna after a 2nd consecutive night journey. We couldn't enjoy it the 1st time. Had to go again after 8 years.

2. There can be a flight delay beyond our control, even if I keep a gap of 3 hours. The anxiety may kill the fun of travelling.

3. Considering that all goes as planned, I need a gap of 3 hours for getting the luggage, storing it and transfer to another terminal and check in. 7 to 8.30 flight. if i reach vegas by 8.30, reaching the hotel plus check-in will take a long time(I have heard that MGM Grand has long ques for check in)I can only start moving out by 10 pm. I will have missed a lot of fun and street shows and "O" show is the one I can hope to barely see.

4. I wish to book a GC south rim bus tour which leaves the hotel at 6.45 am. and comes back at 9 pm or so.

5. If I stay 3 nights at Vegas, I am loosing the purpose of doing so hectic tour and reaching vegas directly. I wont save any day as such. Though it would be slightly cheaper as I save on airport transfers and hotels in Vegas are much better and cheaper than SF.

I still feel it would be quite taxing to fly directly to Vegas

I have spent sleepless nights ever since I have posted the the thread and have got immense support from you all fellow fodorites. Had to go back and study routes and places before I could write again. Was like a cat on a hot tin roof till I finalized my itinerary with the help of you all. Stayed awake till 3 am for last 2 nights and booked all the hotels and car rental.
Itinerary now is:
1. 11th June-Tue- Land at SFO. check in and relax/ stroll
2. 12th June- Wed- 1 pm flight to Las Vegas. Enjoy the evening.
3. 13th June- Thur- Grand Canyon south Rim bus tour. If possible, stroll on the strip at night.

4. 14th June, Fri- Take an early morning flight from LV to SFO. Reach by 8.30. Rent a car from the airport. Drive to Yosemite. reach by 2pm. Yosemite valley by shuttle. See a few attractions... Overnight at Yosemite View Lodge
(am forced to do this driving loop in an anti clockwise manner as Yosemite on weekends is full)

5. 15th June, Sat- Sunrise at Yosemite. I have seen photos of Yosemite falls at sunrise. from a particular angle, it looks like orange Lava flowing. Come back for breakfast by 9.
Leave by 10am and drive to Paso Robles. Reach by 2.30. Wine tasting. Reach Cambria for the night.

6. 16th June, sun- See Hearst castle(optional- I saw the pictures. It looked good, but given a shortage of time; not something that I will regret missing.) Drive on highway 1, big Sur, to Monterey. See aquarium.(overnight)

7. 17th June, Mon- Leave early morning. Drive to SFO and drop the car. There is a small hitch here. If I drop the car by after 9am, they will charge me a day's rent extra even if it is 1 hour extra. So I will have to pay for 4 days instead of 3. Don't know if that can be avoided.
Check in at SF hotel. Full day SF

8. 18th June,Tue- San Francisco city on foot and Muni

9. 19th June, Wed- Leave for an 8 am flight to Vancouver.

Have about 4-5 hours of drive every day for 4 days.

All the hotels are "free cancellation"(Except Yosemite- They charge 7.50$ which is fair) and so is the car rental.Can change it if required.
please comment...

Paragkash: You're a superman! :)

Please get some rest.

There's a lot to digest here.

If you don't mind, I need to understand a few things: why are you going through Zurich? Is it because of better airline fares?

Are you arriving in San Francisco at 8:30am? Because if you are, you won't be getting your car until at least about 10am.

If you're not planning to go to Hearst Castle, why are you driving all the way to Cambria from Yosemite?

It's bedtime for me here. Take it easy and I'm certain the others will help you along. You're making a lot of progress!

And please do get some sleep! I-|

IMO - very good job in putting together a survey/whirlwind type trip to SF, Las Vegas/GC (We love the show O - or the similiar Reve at the Wynn)- SF-Yosemite - Paso Robles.

IMO II - the reverse wheel/direction is fine to get you a day of wine tasting at Paso Robles - and then over to Cambria and the south side of the prettiest drive - from San Simeon up the Coast/Hiway 1.

I/we like Hearst Castle but you can play it be ear when you get there, and skip it if you so decide. As for getting back to SFO by 9? to turn in the rental car - that's doable if you left early from Carmel/Monterrey - and allowed a little extra time when you hit the San Jose to SFO part (commuter traffic) - and if you wind up paying an extra day's car rental - well worse things have happened.

As an alternative - if you left Cambria early - and skipped Hearst Castle this trip - you could enjoy your trip up to/through Big Sur, stop at the Aquarium in Monterrey - and even continue up the Coast (also a pretty drive) a couple hours to at Half Moon Bay, which is only about an hour (or less if not much traffic)- over the hill - from SFO. You would have a long, albeit scenic day - and have most of the driving completed for this portion of your rental car journey.

If you really wanted to splurge - check out the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay - at least for a drinkn if you can't a room for less than a King's Ransom - or maybe breakfast/coffee - as it's almost like taking a trip to Scotland/St. Andrews.

Would cut and paste the webpage but don't know how to do that on my wife's laptop. My computer is temporarily on "the fritz". :)

And yes Sharona. Traveling makes for some great memories - including the ones we really laugh at later.

That also reminds me of later in that trip - staying at a campground - about 7? miles south of St. Tropez, France. My two law school roomies had stayed behind an extra day in Madrid while I headed to the fabled playground of Bridget Bardot and the horde of yacht owners.

Seems with my "horr-i-bell" French - I somehow misread the bus schedule and after a fun night in town - was walking back to the campground (just south of the nudist beach - another great story there earlier in the day - but I digress) - when two older British Gentleman picked me up in a classic Morris Minor. They had enjoyed themselves with a number of libations (as had I) - and we all chatted about their time in WWII.

All was well and good until they dropped me off at the campground - and I didn't have a tent but was just sleeping on the grass - and I woke up to zixxxx, zixxxx, MOSQUITO ATTACK!!!

Well, I had a mummy type - goose down sleeping bag - so I would put my head inside the bag, wake up with a sweat, dare to pop out into the open air for a while, zixxxxx, zixxxx, and then have to dive back under hood up again.

Never enjoyed it finally getting light out - any more than that morning. :)

Then went on to meet up with the lads in Nice - and that evening - pour down some of the potent French beverage (fooey - forget the name - like the Norweigan Anisthe (sp)) - a licorce tasting brew. Back then ('75) - it was a more powerful drink - which gave mild hallucinations - (like Mescal used to) - or so they said.

Next day - paid for it with the runs/hung over, but hey - gotta love going for it, eh? :) Nothing like finding a laundromat while one is feeling the blahs.

Next morning - after touring the castle at Monaco - we went to a rocky beach by Monte Carlo - and laid on towels (placed over the stones) - for a couple hours that afternoon - admiring some topless lasses, before we took the night train to Florence. :)

Those were da days.......................

Ah yes, Pastis. After having ingested copious amounts of the very inexpensive Ouzo in Greece - why not try Pastis in Nice?

And back then - they used/added the potent herb - wormwood? - which could in fact cause some hallucinations - especially if consumed in sufficient quantity.

Well - the dollar was strong v. the Franc - so Voila - lets have another round. Maybe that's why I thought the cute french girl - blond - sitting next to us in the bar - was related to Bridfet Bardot? :) She was cute and played along with my chat.

Tomsd, you should publish your Adventures...:)