National Parks
I try to spend a lot of time up front creating itineraries that cut out wasted time. I want to get from point A to B to C as efficiently as possible. I also hate to not budget properly. I hope you can find some use in these plans as well.
Las Vegas
McCarran International airport car rental is an off site center with a free shuttle. For this trip we chose Thrifty. Not much selection in the midsized SUVs.
Zion
Springdale, Utah La Quinta Inn and Suites. Friendly staff, free breakfast, pool, and nice rooms. Bus stop #4 or #5 for free park shuttle. Less than 10 min to the entrance.
Zion NPS– $35 entrance fee for 7 consecutive days or the annual America The Beautiful pass for $80. You must ride the free park shuttle during summer months
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
$10 entrance fee for the whole day, real bathrooms, and an observation deck. $25 for sled or snowboard rentals.
$10 entrance fee good for one time only. Port a potties available. 3/4 mi hike. Expect to spend about an hour here.
Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
$50.40 per adult for the general tour. Book early. In the summer prime sunbeam lighting is 10-1:30 and the tours sell out early. They run every half hour and last about an hour. The lower canyon has steeper and more staircases and no strollers or children in carriers are allowed. You will go in groups of 10.
Grand Canyon
The first night we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Grand Canyon village. It’s about 15 min from the bright angel lodge. Indoor pool, free parking and free breakfast. Walking distance to many dining choices.
GCNP Phantom Ranch
The mule ride is by lottery only. You must apply 14 months before you want to go and give several choices for dates. You will have to pay the entire deposit within a week of acceptance. The prices vary depending on how many nights (in summer you are limited to one night; winter 2 nights). This can include cabins or dormitories, but includes one lunch, dinner and breakfast. If you choose to hike and make reservations you can also eat here. It’s worth every penny for the meals. This trip is limited to 10 people a day and you must meet the restrictions.
Las Vegas
Fairfield Inn & Suites Convention Center. I am a rewards member and like a chance to keep my status and this is a quiet hotel close enough to the strip to be easy, but far enough to be small and less expensive. We did not have to pay for parking, internet, breakfast or a resort fee. The strip hotels usually include internet with the resort fee but parking is extra. Not to mention the long walk from lobby to your room. A lyft ride was $7 on a Saturday night each way.
Nova Scotia
We flew into Halifax International Airport and picked up our Enterprise car rental directly at the airport.
Our Air B&B was a “Cozy Furnished Air Conditioned” apartment hosted by Andrea. It was absolutely lovely for a couple and I’d highly recommend it despite it’s being about 20 minutes outside of Halifax in Lower Sackville. It’s a few minutes drive to the airport and you avoid quite a bit of the cost and the traffic by staying out of town.
Attractions: Peggy’s Cove and lighthouse; Polly’s cove hiking; the towns of Lunenburg; Mahone Bay
Foodie facts: Donairs: Randy’s Pizza & Donair in Lower Sackville. Up North Diner in Lower Sackville. Booza Emessa for stretchy Syrian ice cream. Dhaba express Halifax for Indian food. Lobster rolls: Dave’s Lobster at the Halifax waterfront. Dessert: Beavertails at BeaverTails also, Halifax waterfront. Hot Wing Poutine at St. Louis Bar & Grill in Lower Sackville.
Eating Around 