Family Trip to Grand Canyon/Sedona

[HelloChum]

Trying to plan a summer family trip to Grand Canyon. We have never traveled to this area--i'm a bit overwhelmed and looking for some advice.

We were thinking of flying into Vegas--taking in Hoover Dam, etc. and making our way to Grand Canyon, Sedona,....and flying out of Phoenix.

We are a family of 5--DH and 3 DSs (16, 14, 11) and me--

Should we stay overnight in Vegas--we have never been and are wondering how family friendly it would be. Any family friendly hotel suggestions? It seems as though we will need 2 hotel rooms from checking online--any hotels with family suites? Any places/areas to definitely avoid?


Is this a "typical" Grand Canyon itinerary? Any suggestions for additional stops or sights? Any suggestions for hotels along the way?

Many thanks for any replies or suggestions!

 

[CPT Tripss]

I won't say it's a typical itinerary, but it's what we did. I can't speak to 5 in a room in LV, you might want to google "travel2lasvegas" for a message board devoted to LV.

Assuming the air fare is the same arriving LAS leaving PHX as the reverse - arriving PHX leaving LAS, check the price of rental cars originating at each location. Be sure to include drop off charges. A couple years back, I was surprised at the price difference . . . to the point that we did an RT LAS.

Doing an RT PHX will involve less driving . . . and, if you want to see a big dam, you can go to Page (about 150 miles from the Grand Canyon) and see the Glen Canyon Dam.

 

[HelloChum]

I had also posted my question on the budget board...decided to fly in/out of Vegas--had convenient non-stop flights both ways, PHX did not.

Here's my update from budget board thread:
I was able to make some ressies for this summer afterall!

Started with finding 2 nights within GC NP and worked backwards from there...

Fly into Vegas and stay 1 or 2 nights (need to decide)

Zion Lodge (in NP) 1 night

Bryce Canyon (2 nights just outside NP--all hotels heavily booked--this was my toughest reservation to make) Hope to get ressies for 1/2 day Canyon horseback ride here too...reviews were great for canyon ride...would love tix for full moon hike, but only 60 FCFS

Lake Powell Resort 2 nights...have ressies for Rainbow Bridge Cruise/hike...

Grand Canyon South Rim 2 nights at Yavapai Lodge--wanted El Tovar--just happy to be in park at this point!!

Sedona 2 nights Sky Ranch Lodge...views look amazing...on way here/while here plan to check out Wupatki/Sunset Crater/Walnut Canyon/Petrified Forest/Painted Desert/Montezuma Castle/Tuzigoot and Slide Rock State Park...okay maybe that is too ambitious

Route 66 -> Stay 1 night in Kingman @ Hampton Inn (couldn't resist checking out Rt. 66 after seeing Cars...any thoughts??)

Hoover Dam on way to Vegas -> stay one night at Vegas airport hotel

Fly home!


We had toyed with heading out to the 4 Corners--just to say we were there--but, realistically there is no easy east-west route, so we're skipping it!

Thanks for all your previous replies!! Any suggestions for must sees to add to the above??

Hello Chum

 

[CPT Tripss]

Here's my two cents.

Skip Kingman, add a night in Zion. Don't be too concerned with staying in the park, there are a lot of nice places in Springfield.

on way here/while here plan to check out Wupatki/Sunset Crater/Walnut Canyon/Petrified Forest/Painted Desert/Montezuma Castle/Tuzigoot and Slide Rock State Park

Ayup, that's ambitious . . . get a good map and make some priorities.

Depending on the Rainbow Bridge Cruise hike schedule, you might get by with just one night at Lake Powell.

In Sedona do at least one, if not two jeep rides . . . sunset and one that gets you up on the rocks. Several outfits run them and they all seem good - we did "Pink Jeeps" and the "cowboy" one.

You are buying a National Park AP, right? Check carefully if you are looking to do any AZ state parks . . . those cheapskates are closing a bunch. Stop in a local Target on the way out of LV and stock up on water bottles/jugs.

 

[CPT Tripss]

If you live at sea level, as I do, do know that you will be up pretty high and any breathing problems you have will be magnified by the thinner air.

 

[HelloChum]

Great suggestions--will look into jeep rides. Thanks for the heads up on breathing problems, too.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Check this offer . . . just got it from Kayak. it's a capture, so you need to go to their (lake Powell) website on your own.

 

[HelloChum]

Wow--thanks so much--just went to the website and put in the code--it would save us close to $300 for the 2 night stay!! However, when I click on complete transaction--it comes back saying there is less than o units available!! Thought it might have been because there is already a reservation in my name--so my DH tried with his email and it still did not work--oh well--definitely worth a try. I truly appreciate you're posting it!!

Thanks a million

 

[AZBeth]

We are going to some of the same places you are this summer (LP, Zion, Bryce and North Rim of GC). You might want to look into visiting ANtelope Canyon while in LP. It is a slot canyon about 5 miles outside of Page.

I already have reservations at Lake Powell Resort but I am going to give the Kayak code a try and see if I can get the discount.

 

[Brancaneve]

We will be at Sky Ranch in Sedona as well, but a little nervous about the very mixed reviews. But the location and views seem astounding! Otherwise, a reasonably priced hotel was really hard to find in Sedona

We will be in GC on June 2 and end up in DL on June 4! Have to cap off any vacation with DIsney

Anyone know about coupons or discounts on the jeep rides?

 

[HelloChum]

I already have reservations at Lake Powell Resort but I am going to give the Kayak code a try and see if I can get the discount.

Just curious--did the kayak code work? I tried again today...no luck

I feel silly...but I just figured out how to get to these forums directly (I originally found this board/forum doing a thread search...to get back to the California & West, I kept trying from the "regular" Disboards by clicking the Disneyland link in the left-hand menu, but could not get here--or find California & West. Now I know I click on DisneyLand at the top of the screen and there is a whole new world of boards!!

Thanks!

 

[CPT Tripss]

All y'all made me feel guilty. I just checked for 7/20-22 (random dates) and could get availability at the special rate. Needed to put the code in before giving any personal info.
Did you go to http://www.lakepowell.com/accomodations/wahweap-resort-accommodations.aspx ?

 

[HelloChum]

Did you go to http://www.lakepowell.com/accomodations/wahweap-resort-accommodations.aspx ?

Yes! Just tried again. Room comes up with extremely discounted rate and I am able to select it. Then I put in personal info/credit card and click complete transaction and this message comes up: Unit Type availability is less than zero

Were you able to book it? I am trying for 7/28-7/30...oh well...guess the deal is sold out for my dates! It would be an incredible savings though!

Thanks!

 

[CPT Tripss]

I wasn't looking to stay, so I stopped when it showed availability. Maybe give them a call? At other NPS concessionaires I found that they had inventory when I called that did not show at their website.

Sorry - it looked like a great deal.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Sedona 2 nights Sky Ranch Lodge...views look amazing...on way here/while here plan to check out Wupatki/Sunset Crater/Walnut Canyon/Petrified Forest/Painted Desert/Montezuma Castle/Tuzigoot and Slide Rock State Park...okay maybe that is too ambitious

Okay, you want to do Wupatki/Sunset Crater/Walnut Canyon on the way down to Sedona as these are just east of Flagstaff. There is a bit of driving to get to Wupatki.

Tuzigoot and Montezuma's Castle are just south of Sedona so you can do those on one of your days in Sedona. Slide Rock State Park is in Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona so also easy to do on your way to Sedona or one of your days in Sedona.

We will be at Sky Ranch in Sedona as well, but a little nervous about the very mixed reviews. But the location and views seem astounding! Otherwise, a reasonably priced hotel was really hard to find in Sedona

I haven't seen the reviews, but we stayed at the Sky Ranch in Sedona and were very pleased with the accommodations and the views cannot be beat!