Arizona and Utah Help

[Diane0977]

Hello!
I am with my family in Phoenix tonight, as our adventure starts tomorrow. Apparently, I screwed up and left a piece of documentation at home, because the spiral bound book does not say what time to meet our group at the airport tomorrow. We called the emergency number, but he didn't know either.....someone is supposed to call us back. Does anyone know what time we need to be at the airport tomorrow? I'll of course wait for the official answer, but figured someone here would have an estimate so I can plan our morning. Thanks everyone! We're excited to start!
Diane

 

[sayhello]

Hello!
I am with my family in Phoenix tonight, as our adventure starts tomorrow. Apparently, I screwed up and left a piece of documentation at home, because the spiral bound book does not say what time to meet our group at the airport tomorrow. We called the emergency number, but he didn't know either.....someone is supposed to call us back. Does anyone know what time we need to be at the airport tomorrow? I'll of course wait for the official answer, but figured someone here would have an estimate so I can plan our morning. Thanks everyone! We're excited to start!
Diane

When I did the trip, it was 1pm. But that was six years ago. It may have changed. I got there around 12:40pm, and I was the last one there. I think it depends on what time folks' flights are, because there's only one transfer for everyone from Sky Harbor.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Flight Information:
When booking air for your vacation, note the following requirements:
• Arrive on your first day at Phoenix/Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) Prior to 12:00 PM
• Depart on your last day from Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) Not prior to 11:00 AM

I think some people arrived later than 12:00PM for our tour, but maybe their flights were delayed. The guides suggested everyone pick up some sandwiches for the bus, so that gave us something to do while we waited for everyone to arrive. And you can always hangout at Starbucks.

 

[alagille]

We had a flight scheduled to arrive shortly before noon on Day 1. It got changed by the airline to arrive slightly after noon and ABD said this was fine. Well, the airline, thru a series of small mishaps, equipment failures, a plane change later, got us to Phoenix at about 1:30pm. I had called the ABD emergency number they give you and had spoken to Doug, our guide directly at about 11am Salt Lake time when I realized the problem and potential delay. ABD chartered a car (God bless them!) that caught up with the bus at Montezuma's castle where we met everyone else. We missed the opening talk on the bus and a photo stop at a Saguero cactus. The irritation factor alone is worth arriving a day early. I've read it many times on here and work schedules dictated us flying from the east very early that same morning. Lesson here? Arrive a day early if in the same country (2 if international), even if it messes up your job's idea of your vacation. It's your vacation to enjoy, not stress over. First and last time I'll ever try that again.

 

[sayhello]

We had a flight scheduled to arrive shortly before noon on Day 1. It got changed by the airline to arrive slightly after noon and ABD said this was fine. Well, the airline, thru a series of small mishaps, equipment failures, a plane change later, got us to Phoenix at about 1:30pm. I had called the ABD emergency number they give you and had spoken to Doug, our guide directly at about 11am Salt Lake time when I realized the problem and potential delay. ABD chartered a car (God bless them!) that caught up with the bus at Montezuma's castle where we met everyone else. We missed the opening talk on the bus and a photo stop at a Saguero cactus. The irritation factor alone is worth arriving a day early. I've read it many times on here and work schedules dictated us flying from the east very early that same morning. Lesson here? Arrive a day early if in the same country (2 if international), even if it messes up your job's idea of your vacation. It's your vacation to enjoy, not stress over. First and last time I'll ever try that again.

AMEN!!! I'm sorry you had such a hard time of it, but glad you were able to get caught up. I hope that irritation disappeared once you were with the group!!!

Sayhello

 

[alagille]

AMEN!!! I'm sorry you had such a hard time of it, but glad you were able to get caught up. I hope that irritation disappeared once you were with the group!!! Sayhello

Ah, yes. After traveling for that many hours, honestly, the idea that we might just meet them at the resort and have a chance to chill before dinner sounded heavenly. I'm glad it worked out the way it did, or we would have missed Montezuma's castle and the intro info to Sedona. They drove us around town first then looped back to the resort.

Do the trips typically have an "information" guide and a "people-person" guide combination? I would have to say that thinking at our guides, Doug was the facts man and Pamm, our friendly, energetic more people focused one. Doug was plenty friendly, he just seemed more information focused.

 

[carpenta]

We had the same problem when we did our trip to the SWS. We arrived 3 hours late and ABD had a driver and a CADILLAC ESCALADE waiting for us. We drove straight to the resort and met the group for dinner. Mike (our guide) did a great job of helping us out. Talking to some others on the trip they were not too impressed with the stop to the castle. I HATE Chicago for every time we fly through we get in trouble. As someone who has experienced the same problem, sit back and enjoy for it is "all good" after this. Still jealous not being there.

 

[sayhello]

Ah, yes. After traveling for that many hours, honestly, the idea that we might just meet them at the resort and have a chance to chill before dinner sounded heavenly. I'm glad it worked out the way it did, or we would have missed Montezuma's castle and the intro info to Sedona. They drove us around town first then looped back to the resort.

Do the trips typically have an "information" guide and a "people-person" guide combination? I would have to say that thinking at our guides, Doug was the facts man and Pamm, our friendly, energetic more people focused one. Doug was plenty friendly, he just seemed more information focused.

Yes, the "approach" to Sedona is pretty cool. And personally, I really love Montezuma's Castle. And it was a nice way to break up the drive, get to know your fellow travelers & the Guides.

The dynamics between the Guides really changes from trip to trip and based on the pair. On a lot of the international trips, you have one who is from the US, and one who is local, so the local Guide may end up giving out more info. But I don't know that I've seen the "information" vs the "people-person" on every trip. I really think it just splits up based on the personalities of the Guides, how familiar they are with the area, their strengths, etc. On my most recent trip (Greece) we had Landon, from the US, and Elena, who is Greek. BOTH were amazing people-persons. But Elena actually acted as our local guide at all the stops, and new TONS. So she was more the "information" Guide. But they were both fantastic with the people. And Landon new a lot, and gave out a lot of info, too. So, no, in my experience, I would say that 'normally' there isn't that sort of separation.

We had the same problem when we did our trip to the SWS. We arrived 3 hours late and ABD had a driver and a CADILLAC ESCALADE waiting for us. We drove straight to the resort and met the group for dinner. Mike (our guide) did a great job of helping us out. Talking to some others on the trip they were not too impressed with the stop to the castle. I HATE Chicago for every time we fly through we get in trouble. As someone who has experienced the same problem, sit back and enjoy for it is "all good" after this. Still jealous not being there.

That's interesting. It seemed like everyone on my trip loved Montezuma's Castle and really had fun at that stop. I guess every trip is different!

And I am SO with you on Chicago. I avoid it as a connecting airport whenever humanly possible!!!!

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

Maybe the group said that we did not miss much just to make us feel batter. I wouldn't put it past our group. It was a great group to travel with as all the trips we have taken with ABD. Well now we may have to repeat a trip just to get the full tour......

 

[sayhello]

Maybe the group said that we did not miss much just to make us feel batter. I wouldn't put it past our group. It was a great group to travel with as all the trips we have taken with ABD. Well now we may have to repeat a trip just to get the full tour......

Oh, that's sweet!

There's a couple of trips I'd like to repeat (Arizona/Utah & Alaska) but there are so many new places to explore...

Sayhello

 

[disneycrazycatlady]

For the Arizona and Utah tour, if one was to arrive a day early in Phoenix, is there any hotels you recommend near the airport? Thanks

 

[Bobo912]

For the Arizona and Utah tour, if one was to arrive a day early in Phoenix, is there any hotels you recommend near the airport? Thanks

Based on recommendations I received on the Disboards before I took this trip in 2011, we stayed at the Embassy Suites Tempe. They have a free shuttle to/from the airport. It's a nice hotel with very friendly staff. The food at the manager's reception was substantial enough to serve as dinner. We were there on the 4th of July though so it may have been a little different than the typical manager's reception. I would definitely recommend it.

 

[kristilew]

For the Arizona and Utah tour, if one was to arrive a day early in Phoenix, is there any hotels you recommend near the airport? Thanks

We have stayed at the Sheraton Tempe and found it perfectly nice. They have the free shuttle, and our room was super clean. If you have starwood points, you can be upgraded to the club floor and the breakfast offered in that lounge was pretty good. They have a good bar downstairs, to start your vacation off right