Grand Canyon on our bucket list...

[Coach]

Hi everyone,

My DW and I are seriously thinking about vacationing in Arizona next spring, around this same time next year. We would like to visit the Grand Canyon...It's on my DW's bucket list. Could anyone help me as to which DVC resort in that area you would recommend and how do I find it on DVC's website?

Thanks,

Coach

 

[BNM]

hi everyone,

my dw and i are seriously thinking about vacationing in arizona next spring, around this same time next year. We would like to visit the grand canyon...it's on my dw's bucket list. Could anyone help me as to which dvc resort in that area you would recommend and how do i find it on dvc's website?

Thanks,

coach

lol

 

[DenLo]

Don't we wish there was a DVC resort near the Grand Canyon.

 

[BNM]

FWIW the Grand Californian reminds me of the Bright Angel Lodge on the canyon rim... All of the lodges in the park are owned by the National Park Service. I understand the accommodations are basic, but someday when we take the kids we will try to stay at one of those grand old lodges.

 

[MouseMomx2]

When we visited the Grand Canyon we paid cash for a couple of nights at one of the rim lodges and then spent a week in Sedona. We exchanged into Los Abrigados and it was very nice. This was 8 or 9 years ago so I don't know how it is now, or even if it is still possible to exchange into it, but I would definitely recommend looking into Sedona for an exchange. It is a bit too far away for a day trip to the GC, plus there is noting like staying right at the rim, so I would suggest doing those as cash nights as we did.

 

[fortheloveofminnie]

Lucky me! I live just a short 1+ hr away from the Grand Canyon and we go several times a year with the kids, just for fun. I tell you what -- that $50, two family, no blackout date Grand Canyon annual pass looks cheap after dealing with Disney prices!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The closest DVC resort to the Grand Canyon is the Grand Californian Villas at DLR in Anaheim, CA. You are probably thinking of RCI resorts which are not DVC resorts at all, but DVC can trade into them.

You might check Redweek or one of the other websites where owners rent out their timeshares and condos. Or even check out Trip Advisor.

 

[bwvBound]

Google Maps recently released panoramic images of Grand Canyon trails. Might be fun to explore via Google as you research your trip?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/exploring-grand-canyon-on-google-maps.html

As for resorts booked through DVC>RCI, it looks like the Wyndham Flagstaff location might be closest (2 hour drive)?

 

[fortheloveofminnie]

As for resorts booked through DVC>RCI, it looks like the Wyndham Flagstaff location might be closest (2 hour drive)?

It's really only about a 1 hr 20 min drive from Flagstaff, regardless of which Park entrance you choose (east or west). About 80 miles either way. The Wyndham in Flagstaff looks pretty nice from the outside and they share amenities with my country club, which are very nice. If you want to visit more places in northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a very central location and you can day trip almost anywhere (including Sedona, Meteor Crater, Wupatki National Monument, Phoenix). I would stay at one of the park lodges if my goal was to simply visit the Grand Canyon, even if you can't reserve it on the exchange. If you want to experience the red rock areas of Sedona and the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon, then stay in Sedona. But it would be a very long day trip to the Grand Canyon.

 

[ccigliano]

I highly recommend staying at the El Tovar right on the south rim of the Canyon for a few nights and pay cash so that you can explore the Canyon and see sunrise from the rim. We've done the GC a few times and love this resort. It reminds me of the Wilderness Lodge and has a warm clay feel with a huge fireplace for cold evenings. If you can get a room with a balcony view of the rim that would be great. Sedona is also a great destination to visit.

 

[Brian Noble]

When we visited the Grand Canyon we paid cash for a couple of nights at one of the rim lodges and then spent a week in Sedona.

We are planning for 2014, and this is what I will do as well---either one of the Sedona resorts, or Wyndham Flagstaff.

 

[DenLo]

Google Maps recently released panoramic images of Grand Canyon trails. Might be fun to explore via Google as you research your trip?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/exploring-grand-canyon-on-google-maps.html

As for resorts booked through DVC>RCI, it looks like the Wyndham Flagstaff location might be closest (2 hour drive)?

How cool is that.

To the OP good luck getting your reservation. We had problems getting into the lodges at the park as they book up quickly. Had to stay in a nearby town that was less than 15 minutes from the park. But the hotel was just ok, IMO. The town was called Grand Canyon, AZ. But it did give us easy access to the park for a few days.