Please keep us updated and post a trip report. Have a great trip!

From Yosemite View Lodge it is possible to take the bus into Yosemite - bus stops outside the door. If you are just going to the Valley Floor, the bus will save you looking for parking spots which can be frustrating and time consuming.

I have stayed there once and thought it was a very convenient place to stay and way better than the tents at Curry Village.
In Yosemite I suggest taking the tram tour of the valley floor- an easy and inexpensive way to see the area. I think you have to get your tickets fairly early in the day as it sells out.

Enjoy your trip-

I'm curious Paragkash~what made you decide to come to the US? I think if all I saw from the marketing companies that it consisted of glass and steel cities and Disney, it wouldn't capture my interest. What grabbed your interest?

Thanks MichelleY, sunbum1944, Am studying each topic, taking notes on Yosemite, Highway 1, GCNP. Shall come up with genuine queries if I have doubts.
I still have dilema, Hearst castle or wine tasting at Paso Robles.. I am more inclined towards wine tasting.. Can I have some tips on this..I hope it is as good as Sonoma or Napa..

Paragkash: glad you got a good rate for the car rental!

Janisj: I realize that visitors can book without a drop-off charge, but that's not ALWAYS the case. Just trying to save the OP some money.

tenthumbs, you are absolutely right... If you see the brochures, you will not really feel like visiting the US. You can see a sample of the grandest and most expensive of the US tours here..

http://thomascook.in/tcportal/intern...ldID=PKG120291

That is one of the reasons why I made 7 trips to Europe and not 1 to the US. High ticket costs, Long flights and so called Visa hassles are some more reasons(which turned out to be false- It was a pleasant experience and got a 10 years B1 visa even without asking for it.) Canada, on the contrary is marketed as a scenic destination.

Very few people outside US even know about Yosemite, Sequoia or Wave canyons.
I knew that US has a lot to offer in natural beauty than what is shown in the brochures. I read a trip report on the West coast by fellow fodorite and a friend "Indiancouple" Did some study. But it proved to be much less and inadequate when I planned and posted this question on the Forum.

To tell you the truth, I started my tour planning around my 24th anniversary in the Canadian rockies and 7 days on the West coast and 7 days on the east coast were add ons, since I was flying so far and could make it a in 1 month trip. I was grossly wrong. I hope I can make some more trips to US to enrich myself.

That tour you linked to is exactly why I tell people to avoid guided tours. It looks awful. I'm glad you decided to visit and plan your own trip, even though it's still a lot to see in a short time you'll be much happier with your own trip.

It's also nice to see a topic where the OP actually listens to advice and does a lot of research on their own, that is very much appreciated. You'll have a great trip.

WhereAreWe, thanks for the encouragement...
That is how most travelers from India travel.. Looking back, it felt almost like watching a Discovery channel through a coach window.
I made my 1st europe trip by a tour company as a study tour through architecture college. Planned a Europe trip on my own in 1999 based on a similar ridiculous itinerary based on Trafalgar tours and a combination of timeshare holiday. Ever since I started reading Fodors trip report and Forum threads, my outlook towards travel and the world, in general, has changed drastically. Since 2001, I started picking 2 countries with about 13 to 15 days for each. As you have put it rightly, it is much more satisfying and fulfilling.
Thanks for your advice and best wishes...

Thanks for sharing, Paragkash. I think with your open mind and willingness to listen to the advice given to you, you'll have a great trip.

and I agree~that tour does look awful!

Some more help required. Did some study and have come back to get your genuine advice..
I had planned to visit Grand canyon, stay overnight and come back to LV and fly to Fresno on 14th June morn for Yosemite.

Am working on an alternative itinerary after study...

12th June- Fly to Las Vegas from SFO and stay near the strip.

13th June- Leave early by Car Via Bishop, to tuolumne meadows.. Stay overnight ??? where I don't know.. Near Mono Lake? some place that can be reached after 5-6 hours of driving.. Reach by 2 pm.. spend some time around

14th June- Some glorious sunrise ?? where?? After breakfast .. drive to Yosemite View Lodge.. reach by 3 pm.. Sightseeing en route

Am getting a car at LV to Fresno..without any drop off charges.
Is this a good option instead of GC.
Are the roads good to drive..
Frankly, it sounds scary

Pl advice

I think I will stick to the Last itinerary than trying to see too much. Will need to slow down rather than rushing everywhere.

Ain't really nuttin in Fresno except being the gateway to Yosemite.

I think the Grand Canyon certainly merits some travel effort and not sure of your latest schedule/variation? If you are starting in SF - I would check out flying from SF to Vegas and then from Vegas (even a day bus trip to the GC if that's all you can allocate)- fly Fresno - and then pick up the car and carry on.

And no doubt in my mind - stay on the beach at Moonstone/Cambria if you can. San Simeon is just a few motels on the road.

Or stay at one of the wineries/B & B's on 46 - west of Paso Robles.

Yes Tomsd, I will be renting a car and driving down to GC. Shall stay at Yavpai Lodge. Drive back to LV for a day. Then fly to Fresno and drive to Yosemite, Paso Robles, San Simeoon, Monterey and back to SF. Just have a feeling that I should cut down on one of the destinations and slow down...

If you're going to drop the Grand Canyon, then you should just drop Las Vegas as well. That would simplify everything.

>>I have booked a Chevy Aveo or similar for 3 days at 106 USD, with pick up at Fresno FAT and drop off at SFO at zero extra charge<<

That's terrific and is why Americans car hire advice isn't always useful for our visitors from overseas.

Whether you do the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas is up to you. But if you DO decide to drop the Grand Canyon, then drop Las Vegas too.

There is no guarantee you can drive through Tuolomne Meadows/get to Yosemite from the east side. We don't have a heavy snow pack right now but a couple of late spring storms could delay the road's opening into June.

From the official National Park website: >><i>Clearing of the Tioga Road begins on or about April 15 each year and usually takes between one and two months. Predicting when these roads will open is not possible, even in late spring, because April and May weather significantly affects plowing progress.<</i><<

Here is a link to the record of previous Tioga Pass road openings.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

As you see, many years it doesn't open til mid-late June. But in other years it opens in May. As I mentioned <i>right now</i> the snow pack isn't massive and I'd guess the road may open early-ish. But that could all change.

If the car is being rented in Fresno - then no worry about driving through the Tioga pass, right?

That's from the east side/395.

Also - Las Vegas has a lot to offer- aside from the gambling. Incredible architecture, shows, restaurants and like.

Tomsd, you are right. There are so many things to see at Las vegas. I am not into gambling but we would like to see the architecture, extravaganza and some naughty shows too.
I was just contemplating driving down to Yosemite and see some less traveled places instead of the touristy GC. But I know that it is worth the effort, that's why it is touristy.

One of my friends who has been to all the places, suggested that you drop Yosemite, though it is good, but if I have been to Switzerland and Germany and planning to visit Canadian rockies for 8 days; it would be a Deja-vu effect. Since he really felt that going to Yosemite for 1 day is a waste and asked me to spend some more time on highway 1 and I need to slow down.

So the plan stays as it is. I will fly from LV to Fresno and drive to Yosemite thro 140 and out the next day via Wavona to Paso Robles.

Janisj, I thought we all access the same websites for car rentals. I have booked it thro' "carrentals" which is basically a UK based agent. My car is coming thro' Dollar Company, but they don't offer the same rate on their own website.
I am glad that you feel it's a good deal. To be extra sure, I e mailed them to confirm if there is zero drop off charges. They confirmed that within California it will be zero.
They have given me full CDW with zero excess. But I think I should go for a super CDW that also covers Tyres, glasses etc. to be on the safer side.