lincasanova

I am toying with the difference between staying in Williams, already far from the canyon entrance.. or actually in Sedona or Flagstaff ( seems like nicer accommodations possible) on a trip from San Diego ( non stop) to the Canyon, spend two nights somewhere " nearby" , and then continuing ( non-stop) to south eastern Arizona to visit friends.

I am thinking of getting a cancelable reservation at W. S. or F. and keep trying for Tusayan ( but not he Grand Hotel which is over$200).

These will be the worst driving days of the whole trip. A shame we were unable to finalize our plans earlier.

Any suggestions or lodging B+B's, private rooms, that don't come up on standard search engines?

Myer

I don't know when you are going. However, many rooms are booked way in advance by tours and then in the last month they are released as the bookings are finalized.

Just call everyday in the last 6 weeks.

lincasanova

thanks. will definitely do that to try to be as close as possible.

lincasanova

Forgot to say it is for the busy month of July.

Bill_H

1) There is one and only one small hotel in Tusayan that does not accept reservations, meaning if you get there early in the day you can always find a room since so many visitors are there for just a day. In July this has meant 9 AM the two times I've done this in July (gone up w/o reservations to catch a storm or whatever), which you won't be able to make from San Diego in a day of course, but still an option for the other days.

2) The Cameron Trading Post has a nice hotel, better rooms than most of the GC lodges, better than about half the Tusayan hotels, not too expensive. This is about 30 minutes from the east entrance to the GC (unfortunately the far side if coming from San Diego), about an hour from the main GC visitor center area. Nice restaurant there too ... if you leave SD early you'll have time to drive to the GC from the south before sunset, drive the east rim road late when the light is good and then drive to Cameron for dinner and a hotel room. So that's a possibility.

Seems like a lot of tour busses stay there so perhaps they are filled up too, but generally easier to score a room here than in Tusayan.

3) Three extremely mediocre hotels (all managed by one hotel) in the village of Valle, which is half-way between Williams and Tusayan where 180 and 64 intersect, about 23 minutes from the GC south entrance. Here's their web site: http://www.grand-canyon-inn.com/ ... I only stayed here once, when I was driving up late at night planning on sleeping 6 hours outside south of Tusayan in the National Forest and getting up at 4 AM to hike but it was raining very hard, so I got a room at the cheapest wing here, which was a pre-fab building that rocked in the storm. So don't expect much, but still you are closer than Williams, etc and it's OK for one night.

4) Of the three towns you mention, Williams is an hour drive and has a few OK hotel options, Flag has many hotel options and is about 90 minutes drive. Sedona of course is a nice tourist destination but is about 2 hours drive and for just an en-route overnight I'd prefer being closer.

Bill_H

... to add one more option to my previous post ...

5) Gray Mountain, which is not even a town, just a store and a couple of hotels, is located 8 miles south of Cameron. Stayed there once in a heavy snowstorm on the way back from Moab and it was OK. Inexpensive (web site says $60-$70 + tax). Probably be better off in Williams or Flag coming from California, but it's still a viable option if everything else is filled (or for people coming from the east).

http://www.anasaziinn.com/graymountain/index.html

MikePinTucson

I would keep trying for one of the lodges inside the park. There are usually cancellations, so check the website at least twice a day. Also, call Xanterra once a day to ask about availability.

http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lod...88750-411.html

Dayenu

My choice would be: make a refundable reservation in Sedona and call for cancellations at the Canyon. We stayed at Sedona and loved it, but the commute is a bit too long if you want to do it for 2-3 days.

If you can, make Sedona your planned stop, it's beautiful.

lincasanova

Thanks for the suggestions. Looking a bit grim but will keep trying.

lincasanova

Good to know about those other options.. just checked out the cameron lodge.

Bill_H

just checked out the cameron lodge

If you book here ask for one of the rooms overlooking the Little Colorado River gorge, these are very quiet and peaceful, with nice views ... rates here are about half what you pay in Tusayan and the rooms are nicer than in most of the T lodges.

lincasanova

thanks , Bill_H

starrs

Another vote for Cameron

MikePinTucson

From me, too. And at their restaurant, order the Navajo taco. But, unless you have a huge appetite, order the medium one.

starrs

I'm back on a computer and can write more. If a basic hotel room is okay with you, I recommend the Cameron Trading post. My sister and I drove in VERY late and weren't really sure when we got there - but I kept on saying that a Fodors Friend assured me it was okay. The restaurant/ main building was closed and we were checked in at a tiny office in the parking lot with old fashioned hotel registration cards and real key! Our room was at the back of the complex and we were thrilled to open the door and see the view Bill describes above.

As Mike says, the restaurant/diner is VERY good and their Navajo fry bread (with honey) was my favorite food item on the entire trip.

I'm not sure how, but my sis found a way to keep busy for HOURS in the gift shop. I think she looked at every rug in the place. Oh well, it gave me time to take a scientific survey

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ific-study.cfm

starrs

Here's a description from a (more than 2 year old) trip report -
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-north-rim.cfm

Damn, I miss speedbuggy.
Gilbert hasn't been around in a long time either.

Gilbert56

I'm still here.
Cameron Trading Post is a good place to stay. In fact DH and I will be staying there again this coming October prior to our trip to the Grand Canyon. The drive from the Trading Post to the east entrance of the GC is a good one and then your first view of the GC will be Desert View Watchtower. Excellent!! Then on the drive to GC Village it's easy to do a right hand turn into the various viewpoints along the way.
I can definitely recommend the Cameron Trading Post !!
Gilbert

starrs

Good to know you are still here, Gilbert

MikePinTucson

We ALWAYS enter through the east entrance because Desert View is my favorite first view of the GC, even though the canyon may not be as deep as further west. Here it is.

http://mikepintucson.shutterfly.com/418

lincasanova

but coming non stop from san diego?? this is my concern