Grand Canyon Trip Help Needed Please!

[champagne27]

Hi All -

My parents (dad age 70 and mom age 60) want to go to the Grand Canyon next spring. As they are not internet savvy, they asked me to research some packages for them.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a good tour package/company for them?

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[golfgal]

Do they want to do the donkey tours into the Canyon or just see the canyon? I would recommend going to Phoenix and driving up to the canyon for a day or two. You don't really need a tour company just to see the canyon. They have very easy to use maps all over the parks and the roads pretty much only go to the various lookout sites. Other then a couple rest stop places that you can catch something to eat there isn't anything to "do" at the Grand Canyon other then look at the canyon and the surrounding park. Unless you are into hiking/camping it isn't a place you would go for say a weeks vacation.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

The above poster is right, unless you do some of the more strenuous hikes or mule trips, there really isn't much to do other than visit the lookout sites. We just visited the Canyon last week. We stayed in Williams, AZ. Williams is a very cute town, and call itself the "gateway to the Grand Canyon". Almost every building in old town is a historical landmark and old Route 66 runs right through the center of it. There are lots of cool shops and good places to eat, and there is a daily western street show. We stayed at the Holiday Inn, and took the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the canyon. That was a blast - it's an old steamer train with several classes of cars. It's about a 2 hrs 15 min. ride to the canyon, and there are one-way tickets are available if you plan on staying at one of the lodges at the canyon. It also gets "robbed" on the way back - my kids loved it! There are plenty of hotels in Williams, including the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. It's right next door to the train depot, and they offer canyon tour packages. Old town is a very short walking distance from the depot and hotel. We didn't do any bus tours because being in a cramped bus with 100 others tourists isn't our thing! But lots of people rode the train to the canyon, then met their bus at the depot there. After you arrive at the canyon, you have 4 hours to visit until the train departs back to Williams. Near the train depot is a nice 5 star restaurant/hotel called the El Tovar. Lunch is very reasonable, and very good! There is also a nice restaurant at the Bright Angel Lodge. Both of these are just a short walk away from the train depot, and right on the South Rim of the Canyon. The views from this area are excellent, and there are a few historial buildings you can tour, such as the Hopi House. We were able to take lots of pictures, and saw lots of California Condors. Condors are endangered and only around 130 of these birds exist in the wild. I think we saw at least 6 of these cool birds! Anyhow, good luck planning your vacation! Below is a link to the Grand Canyon Railway:

http://www.thetrain.com/packages_railwayget2night.cfm

 

[monkeyboy]

Last time I went there I met up with a young native American boy and gave him beans I had kept in my flashlight

 

[champagne27]

Thanks so much for the information. I wasn't sure how "friendly" it was to do on your own and mom is afraid of heights so I'm pretty sure the mule ride is out for her!!

 

[golfgal]

Thanks so much for the information. I wasn't sure how "friendly" it was to do on your own and mom is afraid of heights so I'm pretty sure the mule ride is out for her!!

If your mom is afraid of heights, she won't like the Grand Canyon. It is a LONG way down where ever you are!
This is even with my zoom! See the houses down there. They looked like pieces of legos without the zoom.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I hate heights and we're going in a few weeks. It's one of those obligatory family trips...see the Grand Canyon!...that we feel compelled to take before DD goes off to college in September.

I refuse to do a plane tour. We are doing some sort of raft ride...not too fond of water either...but DH promises me it's tame. Yikes...better be.

We're staying at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and doing the train ride. He said the robbery thing sounds hokey...I'm sure I'll love it!

We're doing Vegas too, before and after, since we're flying to and from there. We still have a couple of nights to book somewhere along the way, but I haven't even looked at the itinerary...this is DH's trip to plan, and he went so far and stopped! So the rest is up to me. Tomorrow.

I printed out your info, ChrisnSteph. Thanks!