Travel Answers

I'm just organising a multi centre trip to the US and I am spending 5 nights in Vegas and then I am going to drive to the Grand Canyon and stay 1 night there. I believe you can get to route 66 to from the GC but just wondering how as the driving directions from Vegas all take me to the North Canyon. I know that route 66 is south of the Canyon so how would you join it and how long would it take?
Finally where would be a good midway point to stay for 1 night on route 66 before leaving for LA the next day?

We are visiting Las Vegas in December for 6-7 nights and we want to do the GC as well as Hoover Dam.

I'm starting with a blank, I know it can be done in a day on a tour as I am a UK travel agent and book this often but we prefer to self drive - hate buses and my son is Autistic so doesn't do well with group travel. We can stay overnight if need be but we are not into hiking so the easiest way to get to the best views is the best idea! I believe that there is a viewing platform made from glass? Is this worth a shot?

If we stay over night we could possibly do 2 areas of the Canyon, is this a good idea? Is there anything else in the area?

Finally if we don't self drive is the helicopter worth doing from Vegas? Or even the helicopter from the canyon itself? Is is likely to be busy during these dates?

How long is the drive and if overnighting is it OK to combine it with Hoover Dam?

Any advice would be great!

We'll be traveling with our 17 month old daughter to Tucson, staying with family towards the end of May. We will also be staying for two nights in Sedona. We plan to drive around a lot and see the Grand Canyon, but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for places to see with a toddler (give me strength!). It doesn't have to be kid-focused, but perhaps parks or areas where little toddlers can run around and let off steam. I'm just starting to do research about this trip now so am really open to any and all suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Looking for a good florist in or near Peoria, AZ. Thanks!

Hello all,

We will stay 3 days in Phoenix. Is Phoenix a city worth visiting. What can we do over there and what do we need to say. What is the best area to stay?

Kind Regards,
Ron Ploeg
The Netherlands

Hello all, at the end of august we will visit the Grand Canyon. We doesn't wanna set a date yet. Is it possible to book a helicopter tour when we arrive. What is a relaible and good company. What are the prices? From the forum responds I read the south Rim is the most interesting. Does it have a address for the navigation? Are there interesting places in the neighborhood to spend the night?

Kind Regards,
Ron Ploeg
The Netherlands

Are the shops and restaurants open the Thursday, Friday or Saturday before Easter Sunday?

temp over the next week please

We'll be visiting Tuba City
this coming Friday; primarily to visit the market. Amongst other items on our agenda, we would love to acquire a couple of Indian rugs. Any tips on do'es and dont's re rug purchases and any particular traders/craftsmen we should check out?

Grateful for any pointers.

Two Canuck Snowbirds!

I'm traveling to Sedona in mid April and would like to stay for a week. I am there for a conference but would like to bring my family as well. Does anyone know a good place to stay in a cabin or vacation rental that is reasonably priced and close to everything?

How to get in Eloy by bus from Los Angeles and Tucson? Thank s

Hi! we are a couple of friends from Argentina, traveling to meet the Grand Canyon and the West coast. We arrive at Miami, and the idea is to fly to Phoenix, rent a car, drive to the grand canyon, then Los Angeles and up.

We have tons of questions so any advice is very welcome! Mainly:

1) is phoenix the best location to fly to?

2) how long our stay on the GC should be? For now, we booked 3 nights.

3) it is OK to go with a car? we are unsure about this, if there will be snow, etc, etc

4) I was told to take a look at the hoover dam, sedona, the famous route 66... I just don't know in what order :)

Please, any advice is very welcome! :)

I will be staying at the Grand Canyon Bright Angel March 15, 2013 and will be driving a car. We will be doing 2 day hikes. Do you recommend buying the entry pass at the gate or at another location?

What are some of the best restaurants in the Northeast area of Tucson?

In June, my husband and I will be driving from the North Rim to Flagstaff on highway 89. We plan to stop at Cameron Trading Post and then drive the circle to Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monument. We'll probably leave the North Rim late in the morning and don't want to rush. Where is a good place to stay the night? In Cameron, then drive to Sunset Crater and Wupatki, then back to Cameron? Or continue to Flagstaff? Is it necessary to book in advance? Are there any motels/hotels on this stretch of the 89? Thank you for your help.

My husband has always wanted to take a helicopter over the Grand Canyon. He will be 67 and I am hoping to surprise him with a trip in May 2014. I need suggestions for places to stay, activities that do not require a lot of walking and suggestions on air tours. I am thinking a budget of $3000 for the trip from Michigan.

Hi all, I'm about to drive from Las Vegas to G.C. shortly. I'm quite confused trying to plan how much time I will need. My pland is basically this: day 1: leaving LV early in the morning, driving to GC, enjoying the GC 'till sunset, staying overnight day 2: driving around towards Page day 3: visiting Antelope Canyon day 4: driving back to LV and flying out in late afternoon.

Got some questions: - where to spend the first night? GC village or somewhere else? Or could I be able on the same day to drive towards east a bit more or even to Page saving one night? - if I stay the last night in Page, can I leave early in the morning to be in LV on time to catch my flight around 5pm or is it too much?

We're not hiking so we'll spend time slowly driving around stopping all the times we'll like or using the shuttle bus service.

Will be traveling from Grand Canyon leaving via east gate to Zion & Bryce NP via Kanab in mid May. Which hwy would be the most scenic 89 or 89A, In no hurry will likely overnight around Marble canyon. Also any interesting things to look for. Thanks

Finally knocking one off my bucket list. A photo weekend in Sedona, AZ. I've got Tlaquepaque, Bell Rock, Courthouse Bute, Red Rock Crossing, Holy Cow, Airport Mesa and Gold King covered but am looking for any advice from folk that have been there or live there for "insider must do" activities or places to photograph. In looking at past VT comments Montezuma's Well seems to come up. Still researching what I can cover in the limited long weekend I'll have there in early May this year.

Hello, We are planning to drive from Dayton, Ohio to the Grand Canyon this summer. There is so much to decide, and I know that we need to get rooms reserved ASAP, so I thought that I'd start by asking for advice here. It will be me, my husband, and 2 of our children - ages 9 and 11. We will have around 16 days for this trip. I would like to consider taking different routes there and back. Possibly to St. Louis and then SW through OK into AZ one way, and then I70 into CO the other way. It doesn't have to be that way though. We have a son that lives in Phoenix, so would like for him to be able to drive up to meet us at some point along the way too. I'm the only one that has seen the Grand Canyon or any of the other sites around there. The kids want to see it, Mesa Verde, and the Four Corners. I want to hit Zion and Bryce too, and have seen other places suggested here that sound interesting. They also want to take a raft trip (believe that I did one out of Durango, CO years ago). Would love to hear your ideas on what all to see. It's hard to know how much time to spend at any location. We will want to spend a couple of days there and back to break up the driving time, so any ideas of what to see or do along the way are also appreciated. This might be crazy, but I'm also toying with the idea of extending our trip on either end. Husband can only take 2 weeks, but kids and I are free longer. Wonder if we could leave early and have him fly one-way to meet us along the route. Could take longer getting there that way and see more sites along the way. Or, send him home after 2 weeks by plane, and take extra time on our way home. Would have to add enough days to be sure that my solo driving time is limited each day. Not up to 7-8 hours a day by myself! Can do 4-5 though. Finally, when should we go? Potential dates are last 2 weeks of June (up to July 4th weekend), first 2 weeks of July (leave July 4th weekend), or 2 of the first 3 weeks of August. Thanks in advance for any suggestions of what to see, routes to take, and especially how long to spend at each location! Jan

Have been to the South Rim a few times. Going again and staying overnight. Where would you recommend staying? Have seen mixed reviews about both El Tovar & Bright Angel. Any other tips on the GC would be appreciated. Just starting my research. Will be going with a 4 yr old. Haven't decided what time of year yet (I realize that accommodations inside the park need to be booked months in advance.) Thanks!

We enjoy antiques and staying in a b&b that isn't a cookie cutter style motel. Any suggestions for places in Phoenix, Glendale, Springerville or near Grand Canyon? We are newly retired, non smokers.

Hi VT friends, I've been stuck at home for a few years now but I have friends embarking on a trip on 27th landing in Phoenix, driving to Grand Canyon and then to Vegas - airport hotel on arrival then night at GC then Vegas for a week for an event. Can you help them with some advice re conditions at this time of year please? If it is feasible they would like to drive up through Presctt Valley and Sedona on the way to the GC (early risers so a coffee break maybe in the Prescott area? and lunch with some shopping in Sedona?) I have suggested they drive then through Flagstaff to the East approach hopefully arriving with good daylight to at least check out Desert View (is that the one with the tower?). They will then have a full day there - will the shuttle buses be running at this time of year? The final day they will drive south down 64 to Williams to join I40 with the day to drive to Vegas, maybe a stop at Hoover Dam. Is it worth getting off I40 to do Route 66 ? I have only visited in April and May and am a bit worried about the driving conditions and possible bad weather, any advice would be appreciated.

My wife and I are visiting Arizona in March and want to do some moderate hiking. Our first few days are in the Tucson area - we have already booked a B&B on the eastern edge of town - but we are then footloose and fancy free for the next 15 days hoping to see some desert in bloom and experience the great Arizona outdoors. [We will be fleeing the cold, grey European winter.] We don't want to drive around too much - we think that we may not venture further north than Cottonwood/Sedona. We are both in our mid-60s and usually consider a 10 - 12 mile hike about our limit depending on the amount of ascent/descent. We like day walks so we don't have to carry our bedding! Suggestions or any kind would be most welcome. Thank you

Can we take our 34' motor home on the road down to the river?

We are looking to drive from Las Vegas in the 1st week of January. We need to know a few things... Which is the best rim to visit or that we can visit in January (driving from Las Vegas)? Would it be worth a helicopter tour from Las Vegas? Do they still offer bus tours in January? We are very used to the weather conditions coming from Edmonton, Canada but realize that things may close due to this in the Grande Canyon area so we just need perhaps a locals or experienced travelers opinion. Thanks :)

We will be travelling from Phoenix to Grand Canyon Village on December 27th and are planning on going from Flagstaff along East Rim Drive. There appear to be a lot of lookouts along the road. Should we go to all of these or, if not, which ones should we concentrate on?

will be traveling from Grand Canyon to Zion & Bryce NP via Kanab in mid May. Which hwy would be the most scenic 89 or 89A, In no hurry will likely overnight around Marble canyon. Also any interesting things to look for. Thanks

Hi!! We are planning to travel to Grand Canyon during the Thanksgiving long weekend. Traveling with family (2 adults & 2 kids) for the first time to Grand Canyon. My questions are - 1. Will the wether be too cold? I have checked weather.com and it doesn't look bad but wld like to know from someone who has been there in Nov. 2. Is there any advantage in staying in the Grand Canyon versus outside? 3. Which is the best view point for Sunset? I have heard Hermits or Desert View, please suggest. 4. We have 2 days and 1 night at the Grand Canyon, will that be enough? We wld like to explore east rim and west to Hermits. Hope to hear from the travellers soon Thank you -D

Hi. Just wanting opinions. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 teenage girls travelling to the US in December. We are flying from New York to Phoenix on December 27th arriving in Phoenix at 10.30am and plan to drive straight to Grand Canyon National Park. Assuming we will get there mid afternoon we will get to some time to see the canyon that afternoon, see the sunset and stay overnight to see the sunrise the next morning. The question is, we can either stay another night at the Grand Canyon giving us a full day there then driving to Las Vegas and having 3 nights in Las Vegas. Or we could spend most of the day at the Grand Canyon then drive to Las Vegas later that day and have 4 nights in Las Vegas. Things to keep in mind are that the children do not like hiking but the adults prefer country regions to city ones.