Travel Answers

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!

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

temp over the next week please

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?

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 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 :)

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

Hello! We are two Canadians who planned most of a trip to the Grand Canyon, but screwed up on permits. We are looking to share someone's permit on Thursday November 8 and Friday November 9. We spoke to the visitor centre and they said this is ok - 6 people per permit (all people need to be listed at pick up). We'd be happy even to pay for the whole thing. Also, we have one for Saturday the 10th and are happy to share. Please help us - this is our dream and we feel so foolish that we might have ruined it. This would definitely give you good karma at least up until the winter holidays! Please email Danielle: dn492316@dal.ca Thanks! Julia and Danielle

I am trying to find one or more people who would like to share a mule ride up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from Phantom Ranch on October 11, 2012. I have reserved a one way ride from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim. The problem is they require you to pay for 5 mules even if you only have one rider!! I have one other person who may join me on this ride, so there are either 3 or 4 mules available. This is a great way to get from the Colorado River to the Rim of the Grand Canyon for someone who doesn't want to do the strenuous hike up out of the canyon or prefers the view from a mule. If you are interested, please contact me! I will need to hear from you before October 4, 2012 to add you to the trip. If you have other suggestions on how to connect with people who may want to share this service, I'd appreciate those as well. Thanks, Carolyn

Hello! Okay, so basically I'm going insane trying to choose a grand canyon tour (4 of us are traveling together and everyone keeps changing their mind-sigh!) We have decided we definitely want a south rim tour from Vegas, and preferably one that flies you there, has a bus tour around the lookout points with time to get out and taker photos and then flies you back in the one day (we don't have time to stay overnight). We have beenlooking at 'grand canyon tour company' and 'grand canyon fun trips' both of which offer a 'air and ground tour' that does what we want and is fairly cheap at249 each. Has anyone had experienceon these tours? I know lots take you down into the canyon but we would rather get the views from up top. Any advice would be so appreciated...we have been trying to book one for weeks

Hello, me and my friend acquired a permit to hike into the grand canyon and camp overnight (one night) at Indian Garden Campsite, on the Bright Angel Trail. I would like to ask for recommendation for the best 2-days hike under these circumstances. I was thinking getting down from the South Keibab trail, heading to the Colorado river, and then go back up to the camp (first day), and the second day to go back up through the Bright Angel Trail. Is that a good idea?

Has anybody heard about a new company that will throw your jeans into the Grand Canyon and ship them back to you? Sounds like an awesome souvenir but I can't remember the company doing it.

Hi - we're two Aussies new to Virtual Tourist. We're enjoying reading everyones response to the various questions, but still have a few questions. We're going to Salt Lake City for a work event late June, followed by 5 to 6 days of exploring on our own early July. We're hoping to hire a car and travel from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon, overnight stay here, then to Monument Valley for 1 night, then to Grand Canyon South Rim for 1 night, then to Vegas for 1 night, before flying home the next day. Our questions are: Is this an agenda that will cover the basics and will we have enough time to travel this agenda without rushing too much? We know we won't have time to do a lot of hiking, but mainly want to view the various areas, and take lots of photos. Are we able to drive a hire car on all roads in this area - our main concern is the road into Monument Valley [hoping to stay at The View] as we've been told it is a dirt road. Do you need a 4x4? What is the best type of vehicle to hire for this trip? Will hire car companies charge additional fees? And yes, we know we need to book accommodation as soon as possible. Have only just found out that we will be doing the trip. Any help will be greatly appreciated! We really wish we had more time to see everything, but I guess we'll just have to come back again.

Just moved to Tempe, AZ. Want to plan a weekend trip to the Grand Canyon but am unsure where to even start. Most of the web sites seem incomplete. I am wanting to stay somewhere that has a good view of the canyon or at least close to where we could walk there easily. Someplace that has plenty of access to the tours, trails, and views. I have seen a lot of sites offering guided tours via helicoptor, jeep, ATV, or horse/mule. I want to do some of the hiking on our own but wouldn't mind a tour as they would know the best places. I was looking at the Holiday Inn on the south rim or the lodge to have access to the skywalk, but am unsure what else is available from those points. I have spent a hours on the internet trying to find my answers and sent several emails to no avail. Coming back to a pool after the day would be nice.

My husband and I will be vacationing in Las vegas in May and are planning an overnight visit to the Grand Canyon. Any travel tips would be appreciated. We were thinking of trying to stay in one of the cabins..Anyone ever stay in one? Any lodging suggestions? Best place for sunrise and sunset??? How about the helicopter ride?? dining options?? What to wear?? Easy hiking trails?? Thank you in advance for your input!!! If you have any recomendation for Vegas I would love those tips also..

Hello! My husband and I are planning a "last minute" trip to the Grand Canyon for our family -- 3 kids (14, 14, 10). They are road warriors and love the national park trips. We are going the first week of July (Friday to the following Sunday) and have just made the decision, so there has been no chance, unfortunately, to pre-plan lodging, etc. We will leave from Missouri and would like to hit the following areas in a large loop -- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyons, Las Vegas, Monument Valley/4 corners. We would probably make a large circle including Denver/Grand Junction to the north on the way out and either Albuquerque or Santa Fe if time on the way back. My questions are this: is this a realistic route? is any lodging (not camping) still available anywhere?! What are we missing? What is included that could be missed? I have read some posts on this site and have found them very helpful, but still have these questions. Any and all help would be appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Does anybody know if there is a company that does a day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon that involves flying by plane or helicopter one way and by bus the other? Alternatively is there one that flies in, includes a helicopter flight into the base of the canyon but also includes some viewing from the South Rim. The only one I could find included viewing from Guano Point which I understand is on the West Rim.

I should have clarified our plans a little more. (Sorry I am new to this, but am so thankful for the great information already! We are driving from New Orleans, so I am thinking of Santa Fe as the launching point for our "out west" explorations. I was thinking we'd be there for 1 1/2 - 2 days. I remember loving Mesa Verde on a childhood trip, but Bandalier seems to have some cliff-dwellings as well. So are those cliff-dwellings enough? Should we thus plan to head directly on to Bryce/ Zion for a couple of days before heading on the Grand Canyon? Also, does anyone have any advice about whether we should see both Bryce and Zion canyons or focus on one? The advice about North Rim/ South Rim was very helpful. I think the North Rim sounds much better in terms of avoiding crowds. Any advice about lodging? I think we might even be up for some camping. Thanks again for all the great advice.

Planning to camp at the Havasupai Indian tribe campgrounds, taking the helicopter down, to save our hiking experience for the waterfalls once down there. Wondering about the actual camping experience down there. Some reports say no campfires, do we pack a small grill? How far to campsites from where helicopter lands. We do have reservations but that was hard getting someone to answer the phone, and they weren't overly helpful, must have been a bad day.Any other advise would be helpful. Thanks looking forward to a great trip!

We will be traveling to the Grand Canyon later this summer. We probably have about 5-6 days to explore the area. While the Grand Canyon is a definite, we are also considering the following: Santa Fe (and Bandalier National Park), Mesa Verde, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon. We have 3 kids (12, 9, and 7) who are fairly enthusiastic travelers. I'd like to see as much as possible, but not overdo it to the point that my kids (and more likely, my husband) are miserable. What should our priorities be? Any advice about whether we should consider the North or South rim? Thanks!

A friend of mine told me that a special helicopter takes groceries down to folks along the river. Though not officially a "tourist helicopter", one can apparently still ride along, and for much less money. Might anyone know of this and be able to provide contact info? Thanks, Robert W.

I am taking a West US 9-10 days summer trip. My first intention is spending the weekend in Vegas and then renting a car and visiting some of the most important National Parks for 6-7 days in Arizona-Utah. What are the usual 6-7 days road trips involving the grand circle? I am planning on visiting Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. Besides I was also interested in Arches National Park but I am afraid that it may be a way too long route for just only 6-7 days. What do you think? Thank you

Which Los Angeles tour company would you suggest for a 1 or 2 or max 3 days trip to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley? I would like to visit GC Skywalk and Monument Valley if possible. Thanks in advance.

Me and my familiy are going to the States this summer (we're from Norway), and I was wondering where to stay, what to pack, where to go, trails to hike, any special information etc. Should we reserve hotels, guided tours(if there are and if it is recommended) or just find something when we're there? I don't think we'll be camping, but we will most definetly spend a whole day hiking perhaps two if there are lodges to stay in.

Hello, I'm planning a 5-day trip to Las Vegas on Memorial Day weekend, and my boyfriend and I want to spend two days out in the Southern Utah area. So far, we're thinking: drive from LV early, get to Zion ~10, shuttle and short hikes, leave for Bryce ~3, stay at Bryce until it gets dark. Definitely GC the next day, some hike, then drive back to LV. The part I'm not sure is where we should stay for the night. I'd prefer to drive to Grand Canyon Lodge so we're closer to GC by next morning, but unsure about the drive at night (especially since we would have been out on the road and hiking for ~12h at this point). Any suggestions would be welcome. I know it's a travesty to spend so little time at each park, but we have very limited vacation time, and we're also spending another day at Death Valley. I'm not from the US and I'm leaving later this year, so trying to see as much as I can with the time I have. Also, does anyone know what the weight limit is on mule or horse rides down the canyon? My BF is an ex-football player (6'4", ~250 lbs) and usually requires 'special' horse for just regular horseback riding, so I don't know if canyon hike mule ride is even possible. Thanks!

My wife and I have only 3 nights to do some touring from Las Vegas in mid May. We have decided to hire a car and was wondering what are the best options. We are keen to at least see the South Rim and Bryce Canyon. The following is what we were thinking: Day 1: Drive to Bryce Canyon. Spend the day. Stay 1 night. Day 2-3: Drive to South Rim with stop at Paige (Antelope Canyon). Stay 2 nights South Rim. Not sure if we have time to explore Zion National Park. We are not into hiking, but don't doing a few short walks to the sights. Any suggestions is much appreciated.

Hi. I am planning to visit Grand Canyon with my family (2+2) in June this year. My base would be Las Vegas. I need guidance regarding the following. 1. Which is advisable- going by bus or driving by a rental car from Vegas? 2. Is one day enough or two days? 3. What are the must see attractions at G'Canyon? 4. If driving, which is a comfortable place (at reasonable price) to stay overnight? 5. Is there any hassle of parking our cars? Highly appreciate if any member can guide me. -RSPK