Lorio

I am planning a trip to Vegas next year and we want to take 2 or 3 days to visit the Grand Canyon - never been before. Can anyone give me recommendations on hotels that are unique and close to the Canyon - not to expensive. Also we want to do two activities.

1. Helicopter Tour of the Canyon
2. Witewater Rafting/river Trip - just a day or half day trip.

Can anyone give me recommendations and feedback on hotels, helicopter and rafting trips.... along with pricing....

Thanks so much!

Lori

placeu2

Lorio,

Not to be a wise guy but your criteria for lodging does not exist depending on the definition of "close and not too expensive".

Most of the big tours and heli rides are on the South Rim area. There is a 1/2 day calm river raft trip just below Hoover Dam. There is also one below the dam at Lake Powell. Both of the main rim areas are not easy (if any) access to the river.

Earlier this year, I read the book: Death in the Grand Canyon, after that you couldn't pay me to do a helicopter ride in that area. But..hey, ya only go around once!

Syv

If you type Grand Canyon in the search, lots will come up about this topic.

Also go to the website

http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/
south-rim/index.htm

& read up all about the Grand Canyon & what to do / where to stay.

Reservations for anything (whether expensive or not) need to be made NOW!

I did the smooth water float trip that leaves from Page(?), AZ (actually outside the "national park"). Wilderness River Adventures. www.riveradventures.com
You are picked up at the south rim (Grand Canyon Village) and taken by bus to where the ride begins. It was a very good day. Tour guides & bus driver told amazing stories/facts.

I stayed in the campgrounds so can't offer you any info about hotels. I'd assume you'll want to be right in Grand Canyon Village. You'll find this info on the national park website (above).

Here's the lodging at the South Rim --
Bright Angel $55 - $130
El Tovar Hotel $129 - $291
Kachina Lodge $125 - $135
Thunderbird Lodge $125 - $135
Maswik Lodge $77 - $124
Yavapai Lodge $96 - $113

You will want time to drive &/or take the shuttle bus along the south rim and get on/off at each Lookout Point to enjoy the view, take pictures.

Have fun planning!

lyntom

We stayed at Kachina Lodge at the Grand Canyon in June and loved it. The price, including tax, was $143 for 3 adults and 1 child. A wonderful view from our second floor canyon-side room. If you don't want the canyon view it is less.

We also did the smooth water float trip from the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell to Lees Ferry. Left at 1:30 and returned back to the Wilderness River Adventures headquarters at about 6:15. In the summer, you can board the bus at 7:30 and return around 12:15. They do want you there about 30 minutes before departure. If you go to Lake Powell/Page, be sure to do a tour of Antelope Canyon. We did the 9:30 a.m. tour before the float trip and is most memorable. Really impressive and awesome. Hope this helps.

Lynda

PaulRabe

Two things to know about white water river trips in the Canyon:

1) none shorter than three days go through the national park. A one day trip through the Hualapai Reservation costs (last year, at least) $250 per person, and requires you be at their dock early in the morning -- thus you either take a helicopter(adds $350 per person to the cost) or spend the night at their lodge.
2) trips through the national park are sold out over a year in advance.

As noted by others, there are some trips that neither involve white water or take into the national park. You will probably have to settle for that or a trip with the Hualapai.

Lorio

Thank you everyone for your responses. We are from Canada and been to Vegas a few times but not the Grand Canyon - so we are taking a detour for two nights....

I have a year and a half to plan so I'm sure if I make my hotel reservations within the next few months I should be fine - are they really sold out one year out???

I'll try the Wilderness River Adventures... I was hoping for a whitewater trip but it sounds like that's not possible unless going further into the park or making it a two or + day trip.... we just want a one day trip.....

Again, is this rafting company sort of located in the area we would be driving from Las Vegas... again, not really that familiar with the area so any advice appreciated.

Thanks again.

Lori

utahtea

Lori,

I highly recommend the Colorado float trip from Page, AZ. You can book the float trip from Page, AZ or you can book it from the Grand Canyon. From the Grand Canyon is a lot more expensive because they bus you up to Page, AZ which is about 140 miles away (less than 3 hour drive)

If you were going to do the Colorado float trip and drive yourself to Page, AZ then I recommend spending the night in Page and taking Hwy 89, Hwy 9 thought Zion National Park and then I-15 back to Las Vegas. (280 miles)

My pictures taken on the float trip last August.

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/vacation2003/float.htm

Utahtea

Lorio

Utahtea

That sounds great and the pictures look awesome... so a silly question.... we would then drive from Vegas to Page... then to where to take this trip? where is page ( I know, I need to look at a map) What company is the float trip with?

Another poster mentioned the Wilderness River Adventure Company... I can't seem to find their website? So if anyone has the link?

Although we had our minds set on white water rafting but realize now, we can't do that just in a one day trip... we live in the Canadian Rockies so whitewater rafting is "huge" here...

Thank you for your help!

Lori

utahtea

Wilderness River Adventure is the only Colorado float tour.

http://www.riveradventures.com/trips_float_trips.shtml

You really need to look at a map. Here is a link to an interactive map of the southwest. Click on a state.

http://www.americansouthwest.net/map.html

You can drive to Page, AZ from Las Vegas and then you would take Hwy 89 south to the Grand Canyon OR you could do the Grand Canyon first and then drive to Page. If you decided to do the float trip from Page, AZ you will be making a circle.

From Las Vegas take Hwy 93 south to Kingman, AZ. Interstate 40 east to Williams, AZ, then north on Hwy 64 up to the South Rim and Grand Canyon Village. When you leave you will exit going east on Hwy 64 to Cameron, AZ. Then north on Hwy 89 to Page, AZ.

You sign in at the office in Page, AZ for the float trip and they bus you in very nice grayhound type buses to throught a long tunnel to the bottom of the dam. You can not take personal vehicles down. These same buses are waiting for you at Lee's Ferry to bus you back to Page, AZ once the float trip has ended. When you head back to Las Vegas you will keep on Hwy 89 going northwest to Mt. Carmel Jct. Then take Hwy 9 though Zion National Park and on to Interstate 15. Then southwest on I-15 back to Las Vegas.

Utahtea