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The Budget-Conscious Traveler's Guide

This past Labor Day holiday, my family embarked on an unforgettable 9-day adventure across the Western United States. Our route took us from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with a flight to Las Vegas​ in between to visit the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. The key to our success? No self-driving and no tour groups.​ Instead, we opted for a flexible strategy: we flew between cities and hired private car services within each city. This gave us the freedom of independent travel without the stress of navigating foreign roads. Our total cost per person was ¥24,000 RMB (approximately $3,300 USD), excluding shopping. Our motto was: "Safety First, Save Money Second."​ Here’s a detailed breakdown of our budget and itinerary. 💰 Cost Breakdown (Per Person) ✈️ International Flights:​ ¥5,600 (Korean Air, round-trip with a layover in Seoul) ✈️ Domestic U.S. Flights:​ ¥750 (Southwest Airlines: San Francisco → Las Vegas & Las Vegas → Los Angeles, ~$50 each). Pro-Tip:​ Domestic flights in the U.S. can be incredibly cheap—fly when it makes financial sense! 🏨 Accommodation:​ ¥10,000 (~¥1,250/night for 8 nights). We allocated a larger portion of our budget to safe and comfortable hotels. 🚗 Private Car Services:​ ¥4,700 (Covered: Half of Highway 1 (1 day), Los Angeles (2 days), Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon (2 days, including entrance fees)) 🍽️ Food:​ ¥3,200 (Sit-down meals: ~¥200-300/person; Fast food: ~¥80/person; Buying semi-prepared food from Costco is even cheaper!) 🗓️ Detailed Itinerary Days 1-3: San Francisco 🌉 🏨 Hotel:​ InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco​ (Highly recommended! The location is fantastic, and it's right next to a famous "Inception"-style photo spot). Day 1 (Half-Day):​ We hopped on the iconic Cable Car​ from Union Square and rode it all the way to Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf​ to see the famous sea lions 🦭. Then, we drove to Treasure Island​ for a stunning panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline, followed by a visit to the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts. Day 2 (Highway 1 Road Trip):​ We hired a car for a day trip down the legendary Pacific Coast Highway. Our stops included the rugged coastline of Half Moon Bay, the scenic 17-Mile Drive with its famous Lone Cypress, the charming town of Monterey, and the breathtaking Bixby Creek Bridge. We turned around at the bridge and headed back to San Francisco. Day 3 (Golden Gate Bridge):​ We visited two key viewpoints for the Golden Gate Bridge. First, Langdon Ct, a hilltop parking lot that offers a spectacular elevated view. We then walked downhill for a closer look. Our second stop was the main Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center​ and parking lot for the classic tourist photos and souvenirs. Days 4-5: Arizona Adventure (Round-trip from Las Vegas) 🏜️ 🏨 Hotel:​ Holiday Inn & Suites Page at Lake Powell​ (Highly recommended! A comfortable stay with complimentary breakfast). Day 4 (Grand Canyon & Horseshoe Bend):​ Our private car took us to the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim). We visited Mather Point​ for those iconic, jaw-dropping views. We skipped Hopi Point due to time constraints. In the afternoon, we visited the stunning Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River makes a dramatic 270-degree turn. Day 5 (Antelope Canyon & Route 66):​ We explored the magical, light-filled corridors of Lower Antelope Canyon​ (booked in advance). Then, we visited Wahweap Viewpoint at Lake Powell​ for more incredible scenery. On our drive back to Vegas, we made a nostalgic stop in the quirky Seligman, a town frozen in time on the historic Route 66. We also passed by the massive Hoover Dam. Days 6 (Afternoon) - 9: Los Angeles 🌴 🏨 Accommodation:​ A Korean-style guesthouse​ in a Korean neighborhood (Highly recommended! It had security, a washing machine, and was in a safe, convenient area). Day 6 (Half-Day):​ We took a taxi to see the stunning interior of the Bradbury Building​ (a filming location for Blade Runner) and rode the short, historic Angels Flight Railway. Day 7 (Full-Day Tour):​ Our private car took us on a whirlwind tour of LA's highlights: the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the luxurious Beverly Hills, the world-class art at the Getty Center, the iconic Griffith Observatory​ for city views, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)​ with its famous urban light installation, and finally, the sunset at Santa Monica Beach​ 🏖️. Day 8 (Shopping Day):​ We dedicated our last day to shop #US #Florida #California

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Madonna Louise
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The Budget-Conscious Traveler's Guide

This past Labor Day holiday, my family embarked on an unforgettable 9-day adventure across the Western United States. Our route took us from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with a flight to Las Vegas​ in between to visit the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. The key to our success? No self-driving and no tour groups.​ Instead, we opted for a flexible strategy: we flew between cities and hired private car services within each city. This gave us the freedom of independent travel without the stress of navigating foreign roads. Our total cost per person was ¥24,000 RMB (approximately $3,300 USD), excluding shopping. Our motto was: "Safety First, Save Money Second."​ Here’s a detailed breakdown of our budget and itinerary. 💰 Cost Breakdown (Per Person) ✈️ International Flights:​ ¥5,600 (Korean Air, round-trip with a layover in Seoul) ✈️ Domestic U.S. Flights:​ ¥750 (Southwest Airlines: San Francisco → Las Vegas & Las Vegas → Los Angeles, ~$50 each). Pro-Tip:​ Domestic flights in the U.S. can be incredibly cheap—fly when it makes financial sense! 🏨 Accommodation:​ ¥10,000 (~¥1,250/night for 8 nights). We allocated a larger portion of our budget to safe and comfortable hotels. 🚗 Private Car Services:​ ¥4,700 (Covered: Half of Highway 1 (1 day), Los Angeles (2 days), Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon (2 days, including entrance fees)) 🍽️ Food:​ ¥3,200 (Sit-down meals: ~¥200-300/person; Fast food: ~¥80/person; Buying semi-prepared food from Costco is even cheaper!) 🗓️ Detailed Itinerary Days 1-3: San Francisco 🌉 🏨 Hotel:​ InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco​ (Highly recommended! The location is fantastic, and it's right next to a famous "Inception"-style photo spot). Day 1 (Half-Day):​ We hopped on the iconic Cable Car​ from Union Square and rode it all the way to Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf​ to see the famous sea lions 🦭. Then, we drove to Treasure Island​ for a stunning panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline, followed by a visit to the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts. Day 2 (Highway 1 Road Trip):​ We hired a car for a day trip down the legendary Pacific Coast Highway. Our stops included the rugged coastline of Half Moon Bay, the scenic 17-Mile Drive with its famous Lone Cypress, the charming town of Monterey, and the breathtaking Bixby Creek Bridge. We turned around at the bridge and headed back to San Francisco. Day 3 (Golden Gate Bridge):​ We visited two key viewpoints for the Golden Gate Bridge. First, Langdon Ct, a hilltop parking lot that offers a spectacular elevated view. We then walked downhill for a closer look. Our second stop was the main Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center​ and parking lot for the classic tourist photos and souvenirs. Days 4-5: Arizona Adventure (Round-trip from Las Vegas) 🏜️ 🏨 Hotel:​ Holiday Inn & Suites Page at Lake Powell​ (Highly recommended! A comfortable stay with complimentary breakfast). Day 4 (Grand Canyon & Horseshoe Bend):​ Our private car took us to the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim). We visited Mather Point​ for those iconic, jaw-dropping views. We skipped Hopi Point due to time constraints. In the afternoon, we visited the stunning Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River makes a dramatic 270-degree turn. Day 5 (Antelope Canyon & Route 66):​ We explored the magical, light-filled corridors of Lower Antelope Canyon​ (booked in advance). Then, we visited Wahweap Viewpoint at Lake Powell​ for more incredible scenery. On our drive back to Vegas, we made a nostalgic stop in the quirky Seligman, a town frozen in time on the historic Route 66. We also passed by the massive Hoover Dam. Days 6 (Afternoon) - 9: Los Angeles 🌴 🏨 Accommodation:​ A Korean-style guesthouse​ in a Korean neighborhood (Highly recommended! It had security, a washing machine, and was in a safe, convenient area). Day 6 (Half-Day):​ We took a taxi to see the stunning interior of the Bradbury Building​ (a filming location for Blade Runner) and rode the short, historic Angels Flight Railway. Day 7 (Full-Day Tour):​ Our private car took us on a whirlwind tour of LA's highlights: the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the luxurious Beverly Hills, the world-class art at the Getty Center, the iconic Griffith Observatory​ for city views, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)​ with its famous urban light installation, and finally, the sunset at Santa Monica Beach​ 🏖️. Day 8 (Shopping Day):​ We dedicated our last day to shop #US #Florida #California

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InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco by IHG