Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon Late March 2010 NEED ADVICE!

Are you going to see a spring training game in Phoenix? Any way you can fly into Las Vegas & avoid Phoenix? The rental car rates are out of control there. Maybe the Mariners or the Rockies train in Nevada? I think you would like a Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona trip that incorporates all your mom's interests.

Your plan is reasonable if you want to go to a ballgame in Phoenix. You could stay right at the Grand Canyon, I think there should be plenty of rooms available in March. You do need to keep an eye on weather there. We have been in February when a light jacket was plenty and then in April when it snowed, so it is very variable. If gambling is a priority, then going in and out of Vegas will be cheaper, but the drive from there is longer. You would probably want to stop somewhere along I 40 to help with the acclimating to the elevation issues and to break up the trip a bit. This would also let you see Bolder Dam along the way.

Be prepared for snow and ice around the south rim. I was there in mid March and the parking lots, sidewalks and steps were slick. They did not keep them cleared.

Good plan. I would stay a night in Sedona, and if the weather looks clear then stay a night at the rim of the GC, then drive back to Phoenix.

As for some of the other comments, there is a chance of a snowstorm up high in late March, but probably not. Figure 20% or so. You can see storms coming in off the Pacific a few days in advance so easy enough to adjust your schedule to avoid them.

As for the rental cars, it's true Vegas is cheaper due to the lower taxes. On priceline I see $187 for March 24-31 out of Vegas vs $264 at the PHX airport or $229 off-airport. Probably not enough to make you miss watching the spring training games though.

As for the Rockies and Mariners, they train in Tucson and Peoria (near Phoenix). No teams hold spring training in Nevada. All the camps are in Arizona or Florida.

Have a nice trip. Weather is usually perfect that time of year in the valley and if there are good winter rains the desert will be covered with wildflower blooms. Probably the best possible time to visit.

Thank you for your assistance... I probably was not as clear as I should have been. It's not just a spring training game we are going to, but a Milwaukee Brewers game, as mom is their biggest fan ... so yes, flying into Phoenix is a must. We did Vegas for her birthday for years until she tired of it several years ago; this is going to be a total surprise. She's always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, but for some reason, never did.
I will take the advice and book something on the South Rim for our second night. I had looked into some of the extra special hotels months ago, but found them already booked. Any suggestions would be appreciated and any other advice as well, now that I've clarified our plans a little.
Thank you!

For the Grand Canyon, take the number and call, they get cancellations all the time and they don't always show up on the web site. elTovar is the nice hotel, but the motels on the rim, Thunderbird and Kachina, are located nicely even if they are basic accommodations as are the Bright Angel cabins.

"Any hotel suggestions, restaurant musts, or other places to visit?"

Just a couple more suggestions ... basically I agree with emalloy's post, the best place to stay at the GC is one of the four hotels on the rim, especially with an 88 year old. The best times to view the canyon are at sunrise and sunset and it's of course very convenient to just walk out your door and do the viewing. El Tovar is the fanciest, the others are OK.

If you can't get rim lodging then either Maswik or Yavapai lodges are OK, but are about 1/4 mile from the rim. There are free shuttles but it's still not as convenient as staying on the rim. Here's the lodging link: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging-289.html

For dining, the best place inside the park is El Tovar for a 'special occasion'. You would need to make reservations well in advance to get a table ... here is a link to the site: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/dining-421.html

There are cafeterias at Yavapai and Maswik, kind of like what you would expect at a high school cafeteria. OK in a pinch. Also just south of the entrance in Tusayan the restaurant at the Squire Inn has always been very good when we've eaten there.

Here's a link to the Phoenix area casinos: http://phoenix.about.com/library/blmapcasinos.htm

Since it's your mom's 88th birthday, if you want a suggestion for a special restaurant then I would say Kai at Wildhorse Pass, which is a spa with a Harrah's casino on the grounds. This is # 7 on the map in the above link. One year Kai was rated a Mobil 5 star restaurant, which is typically awarded to fewer than 20 USA restaurants each year, and I see it is one of only three Arizona restaurants to get four Mobil stars this year. Many people think it's the best restaurant in the Phoenix area, and since the menu is mostly southwest themed with Native American dishes it would probably be a new experience for you. If the prices turn you off then they also have a less fancy restaurant at the resort, Ko'sin.

Here's the link to Kai and Ko'sin restaurants: http://www.wildhorsepassresort.com/dining-wild-horse-pass.html

I see it {Kai} is one of only three Arizona restaurants to get four Mobil stars this year.

Correction, apparently Kai received a Mobil 5 star rating for 2009, the only Arizona restaurant to get five stars and one of only 20 restaurants in the US. I'm being treated to a dinner at Kai this week for my birthday, so looking forward to it!

Here's the link mentioning the award:
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/01/22/20090122biz-fivestars0122.html