7 days USA: New York + Grand Canyon + Los Angeles

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival New York City

   Direct Paris-New York (JFK/EWR) flight (8h, Air France/Delta/United/La Compagnie, $350-900 return depending on season). ESTA mandatory for French (21 USD, online application 72h before, valid 2 years). Land JFK (Queens) or Newark (EWR, New Jersey). Transfer to Manhattan: JFK AirTrain + subway ($8, 1h), yellow taxi flat rate $70 + tip, Uber/Lyft $50-90. Settle hotel in Manhattan: Midtown (Hyatt Times Square $250-450), Soho (The James $350-600), Lower East Side boutique hotels. Evening first Times Square walk + Italian pizza dinner (Joe's Pizza, Lombardi's $15-25/person) or Shake Shack burger.

   Tips

   • · ESTA MANDATORY: 21 USD, online application 72h before, valid 2 years
   • · JFK airport (Queens, $70 flat taxi) or Newark (NJ, $50-90)
   • · Midtown hotels: Hyatt Times Square $250-450/night
   • · Local pizza: Joe's Pizza (Bleecker St), Lombardi's (first US pizzeria 1905)
   New York City →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Manhattan: Central Park + 5th Avenue + Empire State

   Morning Central Park (843 acres, Manhattan's green lung): Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields (John Lennon memorial), Belvedere Castle. Afternoon 5th Avenue (Saks, Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman), Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock $41, view Empire State + Central Park), St. Patrick's Cathedral. Sunset Empire State Building 86th floor ($44 day, $50 night, time-slot booking) — iconic skyline view. Dinner Keens Steakhouse (since 1885, legendary steaks $70-120/person) or Le Bernardin (3 Michelin stars, $200-300).

   Tips

   • · Central Park: 843 acres, bike rental $15/hour
   • · Top of the Rock: $41, view Empire State + Central Park (better than Empire)
   • · Empire State Building: $44 day, $50 night, 86th floor
   • · Keens Steakhouse: since 1885, $70-120 steaks
   New York City →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Downtown: Statue of Liberty + 9/11 Memorial + Brooklyn

   Morning Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island ferry ($24 with pedestal, $30 with crown, book 2 months ahead for crown — strict quota). Visit Ellis Island immigration museum. Afternoon 9/11 Memorial & Museum (Ground Zero, $33 museum, free 24/7 memorial pools), One World Observatory ($44, 102nd floor, 360° view). Continuation Brooklyn Bridge walk (1.8 km on foot, 25 min, iconic bridge + Manhattan skyline photo). DUMBO (under Manhattan Bridge, Washington Street photo). Brooklyn dinner: Juliana's Pizza (under Brooklyn Bridge, $20-30), Peter Luger Steakhouse (Williamsburg, mythical $90-150).

   Tips

   • · Statue of Liberty ferry: $24-30 depending on access (pedestal/crown)
   • · Statue crown: book 2-3 months ahead, strict quota
   • · 9/11 Memorial: free 24/7 pools, museum $33
   • · Brooklyn Bridge walk: 1.8 km, 25 min, iconic photo Brooklyn side
   New York City →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Flight NYC → Las Vegas

   Morning JFK/LGA/EWR airport transfer. Domestic Delta/JetBlue/American JFK → Las Vegas (LAS) flight (5h30, $150-350 return, several flights/day). Time difference -3h (Pacific). Land Harry Reid airport (LAS), 5 min from Strip. Settle hotel on the Strip: Bellagio ($250-500, iconic fountains), Caesars Palace ($200-400, Roman antique), The Venetian ($250-450, gondolas + canals), cheaper option Excalibur or Luxor ($80-180). Afternoon Strip walk: Bellagio fountains (every 30 min, free), Venetian indoor gondolas, Caesars Forum Shops. Evening Cirque du Soleil show ($75-200 depending: O at Bellagio iconic, Mystere TI). Dinner Bellagio buffet ($75 all-you-can-eat) or Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen (Caesars, $90-150).

   Tips

   • · JFK-LAS flight: 5h30, $150-350 return, Delta/JetBlue/American
   • · Time diff -3h NYC→Vegas (Pacific)
   • · Strip hotels: Bellagio $250-500, Caesars $200-400
   • · Cirque du Soleil O (Bellagio): $100-200, iconic aquatic show
   Las Vegas →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Grand Canyon (day excursion)

   Day excursion Grand Canyon (South Rim) from Las Vegas (4h drive, 380 km). Several options: organized bus (Sundance, Grand Canyon Tours - $100-180/person, full day with park entry), helicopter ($250-450/person, 45 min flight + 2h on site — signature experience), car rental + freestyle ($50-80/day + $35 park entry). Arrive South Rim: Mather Point (first panorama, 5 min walk from parking), Yavapai Point (geological museum), Bright Angel Trail (canyon descent trail possible 1-2 km). Lunch El Tovar Hotel (historic 1905, canyon view) or Bright Angel Lodge. Back Vegas evening. Strip dinner.

   Tips

   • · Vegas → Grand Canyon: 4h drive, 380 km South Rim
   • · Organized bus: $100-180/person, full day with park entry
   • · Helicopter: $250-450/person, 45 min flight + 2h on site (signature)
   • · El Tovar Hotel: since 1905, lunch with canyon view
   Grand Canyon →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Flight Vegas → Los Angeles + Santa Monica

   Morning domestic Las Vegas → Los Angeles (LAX) flight (1h, $80-200 return) or 4h30 drive (430 km). Land LAX. Mandatory LA car rental (Hertz, Avis, $40-70/day). Settle hotel: Santa Monica (Loews Santa Monica $350-650, Shore Hotel $250-450), Hollywood (Roosevelt Hotel $250-450), Beverly Hills (Beverly Wilshire $600-1200). Afternoon Santa Monica Pier (iconic pier with Pacific Park, sunset photos), Venice Beach (Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, palms), 3rd Street Promenade (shopping + street performers). Santa Monica dinner: Cha Cha Chicken (Caribbean street food $15-25), Father's Office (gastro-pub $30-50).

   Tips

   • · Vegas-LAX flight: 1h, $80-200 return
   • · Car ESSENTIAL in LA ($40-70/day)
   • · Santa Monica hotels: Loews $350-650, Shore $250-450
   • · Santa Monica Pier + Venice Beach: iconic sunset photos
   Los Angeles →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Hollywood + Paris return

   Morning Hollywood: Hollywood Sign (view from Griffith Observatory, free, 1h easy hike from parking), Walk of Fame (Hollywood Boulevard, celebrity stars), TCL Chinese Theatre (hand prints). Afternoon Beverly Hills: Rodeo Drive (luxury boutiques Cartier, Chanel), Greystone Mansion. Return car LAX. 3h airport margin (controls + e-Ticket Migración). Direct Los Angeles → Paris CDG flight (11h30 return, Air France/Air Tahiti Nui, €600-1500 return), +9h time difference back to France. End of trip. Souvenirs: New Orleans jazz vinyl, museum t-shirts, Levi's jeans (quality + prices often better in US), cosmetics (Sephora, MAC).

   Tips

   • · Hollywood Sign: view from Griffith Observatory, free, 1h hike
   • · Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame: celebrity stars + TCL Chinese Theatre
   • · Direct LAX → Paris flight: 11h30, €600-1500 return, Air France
   • · US souvenirs: Levi's jeans (quality+price), Sephora/MAC cosmetics
   Los Angeles →

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