Blessedday

Hi,

my husband and I intend to make a trip in October from Singapore to Yosemite to Sequoia/Kings Canyon to Death Valley to Grand Canyon (One week) to Indiana(One Week) and back to Singapore.

We will need help with the
1. Route of advancement
2. Where to stay on a budget
3. What to see/ do
4. Which airports will be optimum for the route
5. What should we pack

We will probably be renting a car and after grand Canyon, fly to Indianapolis.

spirobulldog

Will you be flying into Los Angeles(LAX) or San Francisco(SFO)?
If you were flying on American Airlines, then a connection in Dallas could put you in Fresno(closer than San Francisco or LA, but probably not an option coming from Singapore). You might want to spend a day or two in San Francisco. I don't care for LA that much myself.

Seeing Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley and Grand Canyon is really not that great of an idea with just a week.

In October the waterfalls at Yosemite are likely to be dry, so that is not the best time of year there, in my opinion.

I would concentrate on just Sequoia and Yosemite or Just Grand Canyon and perhaps Zion and Bryce. I like Bryce, Zion, Yosemite and Sequoia better than Grand Canyon, but I do understand everyone feels that is necessary to see the Grand Canyon.

Las Vegas to Indiana would be best bet for airlines for Death Valley, Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon. You could use Phoenix from the Grand Canyon easily too.

I would stay at Curry Village Cabins or Yosemite Falls Lodge at Yosemite. Wuksachi Lodge for Sequoia. Bright Angel Lodge for the Grand Canyon. Furnace Creek for Death Valley. Zion Lodge and Bryce Lodge for those

jamie99

Not sure when Tioga Pass closes, but if it closes mid to late October then the OP may have to drive to Death Valley via Bakersfield or maybe via Lake Tahoe, either way a long drive. I also agree with spiro that you are trying to cram too much into one week.
Why Indiana? Family?

illnative

Yes - why Indiana? I live here and am questioning how this got on your itinerary! I will advise you that you can get direct flights to Indianapolis from Phoenix - so if that is important (non-stop, direct flights) - fly here from Phoenix after visiting the Grand Canyon.

Blessedday

yah gonna visit family in Indiana. Is it an option to drive from the first airport to the next? Either LAX or SFO can be an option depending on the convenience of the route of advancement.

boom_boom

From either LAX or SFO you could drive to Las Vegas or Phoenix. If you pick LAX I'd skip Yosemite and Sequoia and concentrate on Death Valley, Grand Canyon and maybe Zion or Bryce.
IF SFO I'd skip Sequoia, hope that Tioga Pass is still open and drive to Vegas via Death Valley and then on to Grand Canyon and flu to IN via Phoenix.

easytraveler

You can certainly do Yosemite, Sequoia then over to the Grand Canyon in one week. That's not impossible, depending on your age and how long you can stand being in a car. Remember that here in the States we drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

I like spirobulldog's idea of Bryce and Zion. You could probably add those in, skip Sequoia (pretty much the "same" as Yosemite).

For budget air, try searching on skyscanner.net for international flights. I like this website as the price you see is the price you will be paying, including all fees and taxes. Other websites will give you a lower rate, but by the time you add in all the fees and taxes, the rate could be double.

A really good airline on which you can get good fares is Korean Air. It stops off at Inchon Airport and then comes to the States. Inchon is one of those dream Asian airports, probably second only to Changi . You wouldn't mind spending too much time at Inchon.

You can also use skyscanner for US domestic flights, however, I'd suggest that you check Southwest Airlines first. Southwest doesn't usually appear on other "consolidated" websites, but their airfares aren't usually any higher than the lowest you will find elsewhere. The nice thing about Southwest is that you can check in two bags for free per person, plus you can have a carryon. Other airlines will charge for each checked bag and even for each carryon, so you may think you're getting a better airfare, but by the time you add in the baggage fees, you're actually paying more. You can fly Phoenix to Indianapolis.

Welcome to the States! Is this your first visit?

Blessedday

Thanks for all your replies and tips! They're really helpful.

Initially we wanted to see the big trees and was told they're at Yosemite and Sequoia. Then we thought since we're in the area to go visit the Grand Canyon. Then we saw we'd be passing by Death Valley so thought maybe to drop by. Now we're hearing about Bryce and Zion for the first time! Sound's like there's a lot to see!

I see on Google Maps that Bryce and Zion are on the north side of the Grand Canyon. Would that detour be worthwhile cos Google Maps says the drive to the South Rim of Grand Canyon would take another 5 hours.

It's our second time to the States. First time, our family in Indiana took us on a road trip to Niagara Falls and the Smokey Mountains. We totally loved and enjoyed the experience. But this time we're on our own so we're unsure what to plan or expect.

Blessedday

Oh I think SFO is nearer Yosemite so it'll probably be where we'll fly in. We might fly back earlier to SFO from IND on the way home and just tour around SF and visit the Golden Gate bridge with some friends living around that area.

Blessedday

Hi, anyone knows or can recommend lodging just outside Yosemite on the West side where we can spend the night before heading to Glacier Point the next morning? Also lodging to the East of Yosemite before Death Valley. We are thinking of visiting Yosemite by travelling from the West to East in one day via Tioga Pass.

emalloy

Blesseday, start a new thread with your question, this is a very old thread.

janisj

emalloy: >>Blesseday, start a new thread with your question, this is a very old thread.