Hi ladies,
SF was around 60F ( ~15C-20C) while LV 100F (~38C) when I visited in first week of September. Too cold for me at SF, too hot at LV. Hehe.
My accommodation:
SF:
Stratford Hotel (~usd370 for 3 nite include tax)
Room as expected from lissa’s feedback is small. But is clean with good location and breakfast provided. I find it a bit noisy also. Overall ok just that I felt I paid too much for this hotel liao.
LV:
MGM (usd90 per nite for 2 nite)
Hotel is very big, room is also big. But not as good as I expected. I thought it should come with plasma tv&free internet from website. But no leh. Good thing is they offer free ride to Primm Outlet for hotel guest which normally cost usd15.
Monte Carlo (usd70 per nite)
This is my fav. Cheap and nice room. Also come with 1for1 Breakfast. But car park no good. Theirs is open area parking, and very little parking space. While the rest of hotels has multi level parking.
Grand Canyon:
Holiday Inn Express (usd130+ include tax)
Although it says 2mile away from GC, I felt the car ride takes forever. Breakfast provided. So I recommend those lodges which is just right beside the canyon like Bright Angel Lodge & etc, except Yayapai I think…which need to walk across few streets to see the canyon.
The entry to GC is usd25 valid for 7 days and you can enter at any time to the park.
My itnery
Day 1: Reach SF hotel around 3pm noon. Visited area around hotel, Chinatown, Fisherman Wharf
Day 2: Alcratraz, Fisherman Wharf
Day 3: Sausalito (Supposed to go Gilroy shopping, but cannot find transport)
Day 4: Fly to LV. Explore LV hotels + Phantom
Day 5: Shopping at Primm and explore nite of LV
Day 6: Drive to GC passed by Hoover Dam
Day 7: Back to LV in evening (Used the 66 historical route) + visit Fashion Show mall + LV Downtown
Day 8: Flight back home
Some notes:
SF: Try their sourdough+clam chowder, Ghiradelli fudge choc drink, shrimp/crab
Take Muni no. 28 to Golden gate bridge ( I took the wrong muni, make me walked 2hrs+ to reach the bridge..hehe)
Parking in SF is really expensive, so plan well – can cost up to usd 20-30 per day.
LV: Dun forget the Fremont street experience, quite special. I find Luxor, Paris, NYNY very very nice to stay as compared to MGM (But not sure of their rates)
Hope this helps…