RCI-Exchange: The Cliffs at Peace Canyon - Las Vegas

[joihan777]

Hello fellow DVC'ers,
This summer we will be "off park" and try a little southwest adventure. We have booked a suite at The Cliffs at Peace Canyon[/URL] in Las Vegas. Since we're not too big on gambling but enjoy good restaurants we'd thought we'd use that as a homebase.

We plan on checking out Hoover Dam and an overnight camping trip to Grand Canyon.

Has anyone stayed here before? We are looking for activity ideas. We have elementary aged kids and a toddler.

Thanks!

 

[ldo]

it's only 2 hours to Zion--sort of a long day trip, but a nice overnight.

 

[joihan777]

Zion.... cool. Two hours seems OK, especially for a day trip. Thanks!
(We'll be sure to hit the buffets on our way back!)

The AAA Tour Book has LOADS of info too!

 

[Dean]

I haven't stayed there but own at a sister property (Grandview). Here's the Website. The resort is maybe 8 miles (25-30 minutes) west of the strip if I recall. It's a nice resort overall. I think you'll find it's a little understated compared to Marriott's, Hilton's and DVC but it's fine. I believe it was a condo complex originally. It is fairly representative of the Daily Management resorts I've seen. Vacation Villages near Arabian knights is a good example of their resorts that I have seen.

 

[JimMIA]

Zion.... cool. Two hours seems OK, especially for a day trip. Thanks!
(We'll be sure to hit the buffets on our way back!)

The AAA Tour Book has LOADS of info too!

Zion is a little more than 2 1/2 hours NE from downtown LV; I'd probably figure on 3 hours one way. Very pretty drive. It's a beautiful park and there is a nice lodge right in the middle of everything. You might get lucky and get a reservation at the lodge. The park website is www.nps.gov/zion

Death Valley is about 2 1/2 hours west of LV and is also an interesting place to visit in any season. The website is www.nps.gov/deva

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is about 5 hours one way, which makes it a real tough day trip. There are several lodges at the South Rim and a number of motels just outside the park. Unlike most western parks, offsite at the South Rim is actually pretty close. Park wabsite: www.nps.gov/grca

 

[joihan777]

Thanks for everyone's input. I will do some type of report when we return. My hope is other DVCers can learn from our experiences. I've heard the DVC-RCI relationship isn't the most beneficial for DVCers. When we tried to book in San Diego there was NOTHING available... it's as if RCI didn't even exist!

Vegas was our plan B.

Hopefully the southwest will be nice. I've been to some of these destinations before so I'm not going in completely blind. As wonderful as Vero Beach, Hilton Head & Aulani sound... airfares are too stiff at the moment (I JUST finished my degree work!). I still wish DVC would make a family resort in San Diego. Families will STILL go to the zoo, legoland & safari, Disney may as well get in on that market! (I posted somewhere else about a Route 66 oriented resort).

If anyone has specific questions to the "Cliffs At Peace Canyon" I'd be happy to help.

So far our itinerary contains: Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Zion Nat'l Park, an overnighter in Grand Canyon, Stratoshpere, Circus Circus, Bellagio Botanical Gardens and several Las Vegas museums. Of course, we will be hitting the preferred buffets as well!

 

[Brian Noble]

RCI has very little inventory in most urban locations; that's just not where timeshares are built in large numbers, and most people who own there use their time or rent it rather than exchange it.

For those who are interested in exchanging, it is worth joining TUG (www.tug2.net) for access to their substantial review database. It's very inexpensive, and would be more comprehensive than trying to create a set of reviews here.

 

[JimMIA]

...an overnighter in Grand Canyon

Wherever you are staying at GRCA, keep rechecking with the concessioner (Xanterra) periodically to see if you can improve your reservation. Their cancellation policy is the most lenient I've ever seen in a national park -- 2 days prior to checkin! (at most parks, it's more like two weeks)

So, even if you couldn't get what you wanted on your first few tries, you may be able to snag something very late. You'd be amazed how many people make reservations a year and a day out and then cancel at the last minute. We've been very lucky getting last minute stuff when I really didn't think there would be anything available.

I'm taking my whole family (11 folks) to Sedona next summer, and GRCA will be one of our overnights. I'm just in the early throes of that adventure!

Sounds like you have a great trip planned -- have fun!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for everyone's input. I will do some type of report when we return. My hope is other DVCers can learn from our experiences. I've heard the DVC-RCI relationship isn't the most beneficial for DVCers. When we tried to book in San Diego there was NOTHING available... it's as if RCI didn't even exist!

Vegas was our plan B.

Hopefully the southwest will be nice. I've been to some of these destinations before so I'm not going in completely blind. As wonderful as Vero Beach, Hilton Head & Aulani sound... airfares are too stiff at the moment (I JUST finished my degree work!). I still wish DVC would make a family resort in San Diego. Families will STILL go to the zoo, legoland & safari, Disney may as well get in on that market! (I posted somewhere else about a Route 66 oriented resort).

If anyone has specific questions to the "Cliffs At Peace Canyon" I'd be happy to help.

So far our itinerary contains: Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Zion Nat'l Park, an overnighter in Grand Canyon, Stratoshpere, Circus Circus, Bellagio Botanical Gardens and several Las Vegas museums. Of course, we will be hitting the preferred buffets as well!

High demand locations need advance planning, like a year or more out. Sometimes they come available later but then they go to wait lists. The other time to do pretty well at times is last minute though this has worked better for me for II than RCI.

 

[joihan777]

Wherever you are staying at GRCA, keep rechecking with the concessioner (Xanterra) periodically to see if you can improve your reservation. Their cancellation policy is the most lenient I've ever seen in a national park -- 2 days prior to checkin! (at most parks, it's more like two weeks)

So, even if you couldn't get what you wanted on your first few tries, you may be able to snag something very late. You'd be amazed how many people make reservations a year and a day out and then cancel at the last minute. We've been very lucky getting last minute stuff when I really didn't think there would be anything available.

I'm taking my whole family (11 folks) to Sedona next summer, and GRCA will be one of our overnights. I'm just in the early throes of that adventure!

Sounds like you have a great trip planned -- have fun!

Thanks! We found a great spot (I hope) already... right now the campground is about 20% vacancy still =)

We have little ones so trekking to the bottom isn't in our plans. With little ones in tow, the simpler things are what we seek!

I'll try to do a write-up when we get back. That TUG site mentioned in a previous post looks interesting but not worth $15 just to read a review!

PS- Can't wait to try out that skywalk! =)