USA West Coast (Spring Season 2022)

 San Francisco - Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Los Angeles 

• 8 June to 18 June 2022 (8 nights in US, 3 nights on flight) 
• Qatar Airways via Doha (coming back to KL with MAS from Doha) 
• 3rd visit to US in 5 years. My 2nd visit was before the Omicron in November 2021. I guess i can't get enough of this land. Didn't plan much. At first, want to join some agent from KL but they postponed the trip to a later date. So, i decided to proceed on my own and just take calculated risk and tawakal that everything will go well. 
• Bought the tix flight 3weeks+- before my departure after confirm that all my key deadline will be settled before i depart for US. 
• This time less nervous cause i just come back from US travel 6 months earlier compared to my trip in Nov'22 i was extremely nervous and have difficulty to sleep. 
• Miraculously, i just experience very mild jetlag at both way. My body and sleeping hours immediately adjusted to US time and KL time especially after crossing different time zones. 
• And, i take this journey as one of my key milestone in my life as i travel solo 15000km from home. I have plenty of time for self reflection and repentance. More prayers i ever asked from Allah swt and i never feel this close to Allah swt. 
• Thank you Allah for blessing me with strengths and courage to experience the glimpse of your heaven, to face this world alone but not lonely, to be with me even at the end of the world. 

Itinerary 

8 June 2022 - KL 

• Flight from KUL to SFO via DOH (8pm from KL, 245am from DOH, transit about 3 hours)
• Pros: Hamad Airport is much2 better than Dubai in term of integration, connection, prayer room and security to board to US. 
• Cons: No free shower room and bad wifi connection. 
• Arrive in SFO: 1345pm; 8 June 2022 (15 hours timing difference). 
• Take Lyft (like Grab/Uber) from SFO to Hostel in Downtown. 
• No direct subway from SFO. You need to take AirTrain to another station that will take you  to Downtown called (BART) and it much cheaper just time consuming. Bus is also available if you travel light. But i travel with 2 luggage and a handbag. 
• Manage to do free RTK test at airport and get one for free. Vaccination is also free in this airport (and many places in US)

8 June 2022 - SFO 

• 4pm arrived in Hostel "Orange Village Hostel, O'Farrel". Close to Union Square 
• Take my own time roaming around the city. 
• Union Square, Cable Car Power Street, Fisherman Wharf, Ghirardelli Square (makan sundae). Ghirardelli ni famous chocolate kat West Coast ni. Dari SF, sampai Vegas and LA, memanjang chocolate and sundae die. 
• Union Square ade Macy's (Cheese Factory) and many shopping mall here. 
• Btw, during Spring/Summer got Day Light savings. The day start around 4am until 830pm. That's why can do lot's of thing during this trip. 
• Weather is extremely kind to me throughout the trip. The sky in west coast is so blue and bright. Subhanallah. 

9 June 2022 - SFO 

• Take 2 bus rides to Golden Gate Bridge. Spent 2 hours here. walk and cross the pacific bay. 
• Take another bus to Legion of Honor, a fine art museum. I enjoy museum and doing thing different from my routine when i travel. Know nothing about art. Just enjoy my free time. 
• Another bus ride to Ocean Beach. Plan to walk to Japanese  Tea Garden which is in the middle of  Golden Gate Park. But i under estimate myself and the size of the park. Cancel my walking plan and decided to ride another bus to the closest bust stop to the Tea Garden. 
• Take bus ride back to hostel and continue trip to Fisherman Wharf by Cable Car. The view from Cable Cable was amazing. 
• Walk to Pier 39 - Hard Rock Cafe SFO, Dinner at Bubble Gump 
• Take last cable car back to Hostel. 
• Golden Gate Bridge - Legion of Honor - Golden Gate Park - Japanese Tea Garden - Fisherman Wharf - Pier 39 

10 June 2022 - Yosemite Valley National Park 

• Book a daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD199 - 15 hours round trip including entrance fees, transportation cost and guide. no meal included. Tips: USD20. 
• The trip cover Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tunnel View of the Valley (El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Fall
• Back to Hostel and have the Halal Guys for dinner. The only Halal Guy i managed to try during this trip. Very close to my hostel. 

11 June 2022 - SFO to Las Vegas (LAS)

• Take a bus ride to The Painted Ladies near Almo Park. 
• Another cable car ride to Lombard St. Walk towards Coit Tower and Transamerica Pyramid
• Take a bus to Cable Car Museum (free entry). Have to walk cross Chinatown cause it's Saturday and pack with tourist riding Cable Car. 
• Lunch Cake at Cheese Factory, Macy's Union Square
• Take a Lyft to SFO
• Flight to LAS at 4.15pm. about 1 hour flight. 

11 June 2022 - Las Vegas (LAS)

• Take Lyft to Travelodge by Wyndham Las Vegas Airport Hotel. Got free shuttle but from T1. I arrived by United flight in T3. Too tired to take shuttle to T1. Was a bit lost but a kind gentleman help me to get me on my track back. 
• Clean up and take a Lyft to High Roller, The LINQ (550 ft - the tallest wheel ride in North America)
• Walk along the LINQ Promenade, The Strip, Bellagio Fountain 
• Somebody try to open my door. Luckily i block my door with chair. Tips: Choose guarded hotel with better security not an open hotel like this (no gate and i was on ground floor due to heavy beg)

12 June 2022 - LAS - Utah - Arizona 

• Take Lyft to Bellagio Hotel at 5am waiting for the Tour Guide to pick me and everyone.
• Bought daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD329 with free flow drinking water and lunch.
• 17 hours trip covers Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon X and Grand Canyon South Rim
• Horseshoe & Antelope close to each other but 2 hours ride to GC 
• And there are many stops within GC
• Drop at Hurricane, Utah and one station close to Route 66 for rest room, snacks, coffee & fridge magnet of coz.
• Arrive in Bellagio, just nice for Bellagio Fountain musical, Walgreen and lost myself otw to HRC. Eventually call a Lyft almost cry heading to hotel.

13 June 2022 - LAS to LAX

• Breakfast at Denny's Diner and walk to The Strip for Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas. 
• Flight to Los Angeles (LAX) at 3pm. Almost 2 hours flight via Southwest Airlines 
• Free shuttle from hotel to T1

13 June 2022 - Los Angeles (LAX)

• Take taxi from LAX to Orange Drive Hostel (my credit card suddenly does not work with lyft)
• 5 min walk to Hollywood Walk of Fame, Target, CVS, Wax Museum, Ripley, El Capitan Theatre, Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, Roosevelt Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood, Madam Tussads 
• I didn't go to all this place. Just take picture and walk along the hollywood street.
• 10 min walk to Hollywood-Highland Subway (Red Line) 

14 June 2022 - LAX City 

• Bought a daily tour from Trip Advisor for USD99 and USD10 tips. 
• 7 hours trip from Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, The Original Farmers Market, The Grove, The Griffith Observatory (concert Adele) with Hollywood sign view
• I skip Hollywood walk of fame since i stay nearby 
• Visit Line Friends (BTS merchandise) biggest store 

15 June 2022 - Universal Studio California

• Take subway from Hollywood-Highland to US station (1 stop) 
• Free shuttle from US Station 
• Ticket bought online about USD120
• I try all the rides here except Simpsons cause 2 hours waiting time 
• Back to hotel and watch Jurasic World 3 movie in Dolby Theatre (best lagi wayang kat KL)

16 June 2022 - LAX to KUL

• Shopping snacks and shampoo (necessity items every time i went to US)
• Coffee Bean + Breakfast with vegetarian food bought from Target
• Bad news about the hotel wifi. the security was at risk cause the previous guest use it to commit fraud. Happened to me when i realised my credit card was charged with US transaction after i arrived in KL for a few days/week. immediately call the bank to cancel my card. the host has remind me about the security breach but i totally forget about it and use hostel internet to buy the movie tix. moral of the story, use your own internet line for online transaction. 
• Take Uber to LAX
• Flight to KUL via DOH at 6pm. 

17 June 2022 - DOH to KUL 

• about 6 hours transit 
• booked a lounge service at Al Maha to get my shower, snacking and rest 
• much2 better than premium lounge in KL 
• Flight with MAS (Code Sharing) to KL at 2am, 18 June

18 June 2022 - KUL

• Arrived in KUL at 3pm. 
• Home at 5pm at sleep until the next day. 

Budget - RM22k

• International Flight Qatar KUL - SFO - LAX - KUL: RM5,200
• Al Maha Lounge access: RM240
• United Airline SFO to LAS: RM400
• Southernwest Airlines LAS to LAX: RM1,000
• Accommodation: RM4,300 (can fit 2 pax)
• Trip Advisor packages (Yosemite+Grand Canyon+LA City): RM3,000 
• Universal Studio California: RM600
• Entrance Fees (Museum, Tea Garden, High Roller, Movie Tix): RM400 
• Transportation
• Lyft/Uber/Taxi: RM1600 (can fit 2-3 pax)
• SFO 3 days pass: RM200 
• Subway LA: RM25
• Food, Tips & Shopping: RM5,000

Photo: Uploaded in IG Story Highlight bookworm.travel 

Blog: www.travelinstylewithfara.blogspot.com