familythattravels

Hello - Planning an October trip to the Grand Canyon and can't get lodging in the park. Looking for options - has anyone done the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel? They have a two night package that includes one night at their hotel and the second night at Maswik Lodge. It is crazy expensive and I suspect the lodging is not ideal. Is it worth to get in the park considering that we will not have a car?

If you have done this particular tour I would love to hear your thoughts. Also if you have suggestions for lodging outside the park I am interested in that as well.

Thanks -

jayne1973

We did the same tour last October, but we had two nights in the railway hotel and one at Maswick. The railway hotel is fine and Williams is a neat little Route 66 town to explore. Maswick is very comfortable, close to the canyon rim, and the Pizza Pub in the lodge is great.

In my opinion, this is fun to do for the train experience and would be great with kids, since it includes a "gunfight" before you board, entertainment on the train, and a "train robbery" on the way back.

As others here surely will tell you, it is not the most effective use of your time for seeing the Grand Canyon itself. However, you arrive at Maswick Lodge fairly early in the day and are on your own until about 3 p.m. the next day, which actually gives you quite a bit of time to explore. Our train package included a free one-hour bus tour when we arrived in the canyon, which was OK but you don't have to take it. There are free shuttles in the park that you can take advantage of, as well.

We got up early in the morning and walked a short way from our room at Maswick to Bright Angel Trail and had a wonderful (short) hike a little way down into the canyon. Our only mistake was taking coffee and not a water bottle!

If you decide to book a train package, consider not buying the railway hotel meal packages (or maybe just the breakfast.) The dinner buffet is not great and there are other options in Williams that are surely much better.

steve1218

Keep trying for lodging in the park, it is well worth it. If you absolutely cannot get lodging in the park, stay in Tusayan just outside the park.

familythattravels

Thanks for the replies. I am leaning toward Tusayan at this point. The train ride seems tempting but we prefer to have a car in the park. Also concerned that the hotel & rail may be geared toward younger kids and my kids are 11 & 13.

Considering a trip in November to get there when it is less crowded. Spoke with Xanterra Rep today and she told me the weekend I am looking at is super busy with hikers getting in their last hikes for the season.

jayne1973

Not advocating either way, but just wanted to say that the hotel and railway are not "kiddie" oriented. But I do think kids would enjoy it. There were all ages last October.

MikePinTucson

Self tour with your own car. That is the only way you can see most of the viewpoints along the east rim drive.

Book a refundable room in Tusayan, just outside the south entrance and keep calling for in-park lodging. There are frequent cancellations, so call every day.

Did you check both lodging websites? A lot of people miss checking for lodging at Yavapai Lodge, since it is run by a different company than the other 5 lodges. Yavapai is alos the one most likely to have a vacancy, since it is the furthest from the rim. Here is the link:

http://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/yavapai-lodge

familythattravels

Thanks everyone for your suggestions we got into El TOvar for 2 nights. Fly into Phoenix - arrive in the evening driving to Flagstaff to stay there overnight. Plan is to go to the East gate and slowly make our way to the lodge. Will take our time on the drive back to Phoenix since we will not see much enroute during the first leg.