jtred

I am planning an AZ trip in May and would like some advice. We fly to PHX Wed noonish, drive to GC and stay there two nights. Only accomodations in the park are Yavapai lodge or Maswik, so I picked Yavapai. Get up early Fri for what I think will be an all day drive up to Monument Valley and around to Chinle. Spend Fri night in Chinle at the T-bird, up early the next day for the 1/2 day guided tour, take off for petrified forest, go as far as we can (Holbrook? Winslow? Flag?) and spend Sat night. Sunday, off to Sedona, tour, shop, eat somewhere fabulous and stay somewhere nice and upscale with soft beds since we will be worn out by this time. Monday am, drive to PHX to fly out.

Here are my questions:
1. Is Yavapai lodge ok? Is Maswik any better? Is there ever a chance to get in at the Bright Angel or El Tovar at the last minute?
2. Can we make the run from GC to Chinle in a day and still see enough of Monument. Does anyone know anything about that little road that goes to Chilchinbito to Many Farms? Would that be a good shortcut?
3. Is there anywhere interesting to stay between Chinle and Flagstaff?
4. What are the nicest places to stay and eat in Sedona?

Any thoughts you have (especially about that shortcut to Many Farms) would be appreciated!

gwburk

The best time to view Monument Valley is morning or evening. Will you be driving the 15 mile road thru the valley? This will take 2-3 hours depending on how much gazing you want to do. In 2003 it cost $5.00 a person (free if 10 or under)to enter the parking area regardless if you go on the self guided drive (highly recommended). Can't speak on Canyon De Chelly - we will be there for the first time this summer. Hope this helps.

utahtea

Sounds like a well planned out itinerary.

I've never taken the road from Hwy 160 to Hwy 191 though Chilchinbito to Many Farms and we always camp. The half day tour at Canyon de Chelly is a lot of fun! We did it in May too.

Utahtea

joannelyn

We just returned from Sedona and stayed at The Briar Patch Inn. It was absolutely wonderful. It is a Bed and Breakfast but the accomodations are in cabins. Highly recommend it. Also ate at Dahl and Deluca which was superb.

justme22

although your days will be a little long, sounds doable. the highway speed is 65 to 75. i've never been on the road you mention but most roads if paved are ok. you will find placess to stay in holbrook, winslow or flagstaff, i bet you can make it to flagestaff if you try, push the extra hourfrom winslow to give yourself a nicer day in sedona. take the time to stop and shop for native american jewelry on your way into monument valley (have cash) barter a little. these prices will beat sedona jewelry store prices. you are going to some beautiful places. enjoy

luugis

We planned a similar trip last July and were only able to get Yavapai..the ones without A/C. We were concerned since it was July, but it turned out great. Very clean, spacious room, with extra twin bed for our 3rd child. We were only there for a little over 24 hours, so it was perfect. We had a nice dinner at Bright Angel Lodge, and breakfast at Maswick Lodge.

MarciaK

My husband and I stayed at The Apple Orchard Inn in Sedona last October and loved it. Nice place, reasonable rates and great location! Our favorite restaurant was The Heartline Cafe. We also like Shugrues Hillside Grill.
Have Fun!!

Krissie

We're staying at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook. See

http://www.cybertrails.com/wigwam/

check out the reviews on Trip Advisor.

kaudrey

I stayed at Yavapai last fall, and it was fine. Basic, but clean and comfortable.

seniormsuedu

i have taken the road through chilchinbito to chinle and it is a fine road. you can see to the end of the earth. i would recommend it. i also would recommend the all-day trip in canyon de chelly and skip petrified forest - not much forest left. you can see the painted desert from a short loop north off 40.

its an easy drive from chinle to flagstaff, a very nice small college town with lots of accomodations. then you can drive the next morning to sedona.

you will be traveling on the navaho indian reservation, mind the speed limits. some very good novels on that area are by tony hillerman.

ellen_griswold

You're getting some good advice. I second the idea of skipping petrified forest. It's woefully lacking in wood.

If you can, it's worth staying at Goulding's Lodge *IN* Monument Valley. Built into the mesas, it has glorious views from all angles, especially sundown and sunset. Also, it's where countless westerns were filmed.

I also second staying at The Wigwam Motel! We stayed for one night and had a blast. Afterall, anyone can stay at a Holiday Inn!

utahtea

I don't know what stops at the Petrified Forest that you guys stopped at, but there is plenty of beautiful petrified wood in the park.

Utahtea

gail

Several people here have said they had success calling Xanterra closer to date of travel for cancellations.

lbaboyd

You'll love the trip no matter which routes and stays you elect. But here's my $.02. 1. Driving from GC to Chinle with trying to visit MV enroute would be a bit much. Once you see MV, I think you'd wish you had given it more time. Staying at Goulding's Lodge and seeing the sunrise over MV in the a.m. is priceless. You can drive into the valley (the information center there is very helpful), but the Goulding tour adds some things you can't do yourself. 2. Canyon De Chelly is certainly worthwhile -- not a MV, but another interesting perspective of Indian history and sites. We enjoyed driving along the S. Rim to Spider Rock (stop at the Visitor's Center which is nice)and also taking the Thunderbird 1/2 day tour -- some say the full day would be even better, though it might be a bit long IMHO. The T-Bird Inn was nothing special (you don't have to stay there to take their CDC tour). Holiday Inn is not very far away and offers more amendities, like a pool. 3. Petrified Forest -- we thought it was worth the drive through there with a couple of spots to stop. They also have a real nice Visitor's Center, including a 20 minute video presentation that we enjoyed. 4. Sedona -- a rare scene and place to visit. Most all the places to stay there are located where you get an appreciation of the view. We stayed at the Orchard Inn, right in town - no better view of the Red Rocks right from your balcony. Depends on what you mean by "upscale" -- it's not new, but is clean, comfortable and very nice with all the conveniences you'd expect. Enjoy your trip.

alzaloum

My husband and I just did a similar trip 2 weeks ago. We flew into phoenix and drove up to Sedona where we stayed 2 nights at the Days Inn (very nice, clean, new). Hiked Boynton Canyon the first day, Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock the second, and Long Canyon the third. Gorgeous scenary. We at the Cowboy Club which was awesome. We ate in the Silver Saddle room which is a little quieter. Make reservations in advance.

Then we drove up to Grand Canyon in time to look at some of the view points. Stayed 2 nights at the Holiday Inn which was fine (GC lodges where booked). We did some of the Bright Angel trail the next day, and some of South Khaibab the day we left. Then drove to Canyon de Chelly from GC. Stopped at a store on the Hopi Reservation and bought a pretty silver necklace.
Got to Canyon De Chelly at around 6pm. Checked out some view points. Stayed at the Holiday Inn there which was very comfortable. They also have room service which was a nice treat. We did a 6 hr horseback ride the next day with Tontsii ranch. A beautiful way to see the canyon.
The next day we left, drove through the Petrified Forest. Basically looks like desert with a bunch of logs. Not much to see, but if we hadn't gone I'd always wonder what it was all about. We drove back down to Phoenix which took all day, didn't get in until 7:30 pm or so. Had dinner in Scottsdale and flew out the next day.

emd

alzaloum, when you hiked Long Canyon, did you have any construction noise from Secret Canyon resort construction? I wanted to hike that trail in Feb. but it was too noisy at the start, and I wondered if the noise would get worse as I got into the hike (since the area is so open at the start) or if it would fade. I want to hike it w/my son on the next trip if it isn't noisy.

Vera

I agree with those who say an overnight will increase your enjoyment of Monument Valley. And if you really want to stop before Flagstaff, there is an historic railroad hotel, La Posada in Winslow that is definitely worth consideration.

I wonder if the people who did not like Petrified Forest ever got out of their cars and hiked back in some of the little canyons? It is true that our forefathers stripped the once littered landscape of most of the pieces of petrified wood, but in more off-the-road places you can still see some.
Vera