From c0b881c1bff8a9daa26ee2f800c5e4ccfc94ee2d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Maxim Shulga <maxim.shulga@alludo.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:18:15 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add TODO list and settle 2026 park entry rules

Collect the open action items scattered across booking records into
TODO.md, starting with the US$250 nonresident annual pass. Yosemite has
no timed-entry reservation in 2026, and per NPS one nonresident pass
admits the whole vehicle and waives the per-person surcharge at both
parks, so update the parks notes accordingly.
---
 README.md       |  1 +
 TODO.md         | 34 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 parks_sights.md |  4 ++--
 3 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 TODO.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e41602e..edc48c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Group trip: SF → Yosemite → Sequoia → LA → Las Vegas → SF.
 
 ## Structure
 
+- [`TODO.md`](TODO.md) — open action items before and during the trip
 - [`itinerary.md`](itinerary.md) — bookings overview and timeline
 - [`days/`](days/) — one file per day: logistics, agreed plan, notes, addresses with map pins
 - [`expenses.md`](expenses.md) — shared-expense ledger and reconciliation notes
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efe51b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# TODO
+
+Open items before and during the trip. Tick and date when done.
+
+## Before departure (Sep 19/20)
+
+- [ ] **Buy the US$250 nonresident annual pass** — digital, on
+  [recreation.gov](https://www.recreation.gov/pass/annual), before the Sep 22
+  Yosemite entrance. One pass admits the whole car at Yosemite and
+  Sequoia/Kings Canyon and waives the US$100/person nonresident surcharge.
+  Without it: ~US$435 per park, US$870 total. Pass holder must be in the
+  car with photo ID at every gate.
+- [ ] **KT: complete the LA DTLA online check-in form** —
+  [Hostaway portal](https://guest-portal.hostaway.com/65596088/dxYlP4ov/check-in).
+  Entry code is activated only after it's submitted.
+- [ ] **MS: assign Air Canada seats** for the YVR ↔ SFO flights.
+  See [`flights-ms.md`](bookings/transport/flights-ms.md).
+- [ ] **LK: confirm Budget LAX pickup/return location and price** —
+  itinerary `73544810702403`. Hertz cancellation refund also TBC.
+- [ ] **Brand Plaza Glendale** room, price and payment TBC.
+- [ ] **Oct 3 overnight stop** on the drive back to SFO — not yet chosen.
+
+## Money
+
+- [ ] **Watch Visa 3924 for the US$228.43 Gilmore Cabin refund** after the
+  Sep 16 date change. Then update the payment row in
+  [`cabin-sequoia-miramonte.md`](bookings/stays/cabin-sequoia-miramonte.md).
+
+## During the trip
+
+- [ ] **Sep 23: screenshot the Miramonte door code** while there's signal —
+  it arrives 24 h before the Sep 24 check-in; the cabin has no service.
+- [ ] **Sep 22: save the Yosemite door code 0517 and wifi offline** before
+  leaving cell coverage.
diff --git a/parks_sights.md b/parks_sights.md
index c2c0db6..bc38422 100644
--- a/parks_sights.md
+++ b/parks_sights.md
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 ## Before you go
 
-- **2026 nonresident fee:** from Jan 1, 2026, non-US residents pay a US$100 per-person surcharge at Yosemite and at Sequoia & Kings Canyon, on top of the vehicle entrance fee. Everyone in the car is a nonresident. A **US$250 nonresident annual pass** is meant to replace the surcharge — confirm on [nps.gov](https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fees.htm) whether one pass covers a full vehicle or is per person, and buy it before the Sep 22 entrance
-- **Yosemite entry reservation:** check [nps.gov/yose](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm) for 2026 peak-hours rules; a Wawona in-park stay usually counts as the reservation
+- **2026 nonresident fee:** from Jan 1, 2026, non-US residents pay a US$100 per-person surcharge at Yosemite and at Sequoia & Kings Canyon, on top of the US$35 vehicle fee. Everyone in the car is a nonresident. Per [nps.gov](https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm) the **US$250 nonresident annual pass** admits the entire vehicle and waives the surcharge — one pass covers all four at both parks (vs ~US$870 without). Buy the digital pass on recreation.gov before Sep 22; see [`TODO.md`](TODO.md)
+- **Yosemite entry reservation:** none needed — the park [dropped the timed-entry system for 2026](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm). Drive in through the South Gate on Hwy 41
 - **Sunset ~6:55 PM** in both parks on these dates; drives back to the cabins are in the dark
 
 ## Yosemite (Sep 22–24)