Arizona/Utah June 2nd, 2021

[Grotto]

We did receive a call from AbD yesterday. Just wanted to give an update in case anybody is interested.

It appears the trip is a go. As of yesterday, there was availability on the website. Today it says waitlist only. Not sure if that is significant. The next 9 trips after ours are also waitlist only. So maybe they are all booked. I was assuming some were likely being cancelled for lack of interest.

There are 36 guests booked on the tour. 14 are children (10 between ages 13-17, 4 between 6-12)

They called to inform us of the following changes will affect our itinerary:

1) The spa is closed at Enchantment Resort in Sedona
2) The "Wild Ride" is not operating at the Bearizona Park. They will do some other type of coach tour there.
3) The usual Monument Valley Tribal Park tour is closed. They will "tour" Monument Valley from a different point.

So no dramatic changes. We still have to figure out where to get COVID tested in Tucson or Phoenix before joining the tour.

 

[sayhello]

We did receive a call from AbD yesterday. Just wanted to give an update in case anybody is interested.

It appears the trip is a go. As of yesterday, there was availability on the website. Today it says waitlist only. Not sure if that is significant. The next 9 trips after ours are also waitlist only. So maybe they are all booked. I was assuming some were likely being cancelled for lack of interest.

There are 36 guests booked on the tour. 14 are children (10 between ages 13-17, 4 between 6-12)

They called to inform us of the following changes will affect our itinerary:

1) The spa is closed at Enchantment Resort in Sedona
2) The "Wild Ride" is not operating at the Bearizona Park. They will do some other type of coach tour there.
3) The usual Monument Valley Tribal Park tour is closed. They will "tour" Monument Valley from a different point.

So no dramatic changes. We still have to figure out where to get COVID tested in Tucson or Phoenix before joining the tour.

Wonderful to hear! I've been hearing that domestic travel is flying off the shelf these days as vaccinated people who are chomping at the bit to travel, want to go *somewhere*, and right now, domestic is the best bet. So I'm assuming those tours marked waitlist only are Sold Out, or close to it!

I was looking at domestic trips with another operator, and 90+% of their trips are sold out for the summer and early fall.

Sayhello

 

[Bobby D]

did they say anything about the rafting in Moab? i heard the March 15th trip did not have it, but have not heard "officially " from ABD- we are on June 16th trip so would love to hear your thoughts after the fact

 

[Grotto]

They did not say there was any change to the rafting schedule.

We are going to stay in Colorado a few days after the AbD trip. I am in the process of scheduling a white water rafting trip in Colorado. Those trips run between May and August as the water flow in the rivers relies on snow melt. So I suspect that either there was not enough water flow in March to make a trip viable or else it was too cold to make it enjoyable.

 

[Bobby D]

Makes sense - I was thinking from more of a "social distancing" standpoint Thanks for the reply - have a great trip!

 

[Grotto]

That definitely could have been the reason, too......

I was really hoping someone from that tour would post a trip report here.

 

[Bobby D]

here is post in FB ABD of someone who went on March 15th trip

oops- disboard wont let me upload FB link search FB for ABD insiders and look for post by Melissa Hove Bernhardt

We have booked dinner @ EL Tovar (first night @ Thunderbird) and are looking into Razor/ATV rentals in Moab.

 

[alpowe01]

Thanks for posting. We leave the week after you -- on the AZ/UT June 9 departure. My understanding is that the spa building at Enchantment is closed, but that they are still providing spa services either in the main building or in other areas on the resort. So maybe my hopes of getting a facial or a massage or whatever could still happen!!

I also understand that the rafting trip on the Colorado River has also been suspended at this time. Big bummer -- my family is going to be super-disappointed when I break the news about that part.

I'm so excited about just getting to go on an ABD trip (our first one ever!), but I wonder if we'll get a very odd first experience thanks to COVID!!

 

[Bobby D]

We are on the June 16th trip- so we go after you.. Yes. .I called the Enchantment Spa and they said that they are doing treatments in some of the rooms/Casitas. I also called the Rafting company about 3 weeks ago and the owner said that they did have a contract with ABD for this season and he was hopeful that the would resume soon- fingers crossed. We are thinking of Razors/ATV's in Moab- last year ( we were originally scheduled for this trip in March 2020) when I called Gouldings to ask and they said ABD makes the reservations.. I will call again soon to enquire if that is still the case.

 

[Grotto]

Just received a call from AbD today. The Day 6 rafting trip is being replaced with a 2 hour horseback ride

 

[Bobby D]

HI Grotto: Hope all is well and you enjoyed the trip.. any trip reports/advice in the future? we leave next wed-THX

 

[scottmel]

Just received a call from AbD today. The Day 6 rafting trip is being replaced with a 2 hour horseback ride

In the blazing heat? They are insane