I am thinking about booking a tour through this company. Has anyone been on this train tour before from Williams to GC?

Thank you.

Haven't taken the train or tour, but I do know that you do NOT see the canyon from the train. So be forwarned.

Utahtea

Thanks utahtea.

After reading your post on my other thread, I think I will drive instead.

Do you have any suggestion of a place to stay in GC?

Thanks again.

Depending on when you want to go and how far in advance you book your options may be limited. In park GC lodging can fill up 1yr in advance. It also depends on who you are (couple, family, etc).

The location of the on-rim lodges can't be beat. El Tovar, Bright Angel, Kachina & Thunderbird.

El Tovar is the historic lodge and higher end.

I recently stayed at Yavapai lodge - 2Q room w/ AC was perfect for family. Shuttle bus got us to rim area quickly, so location was just fine. It was a definite plus to stay inside the park. Big crowds left by 4 or 5pm on the train back to Williams, so by that time the park was quiet & uncrowded. The best time in the park was early am and sunset, when all the train visitors were chugging through the desert on their way to/from the park.

Many people insist you MUST stay on the rim, but you'll be spending so much time on the rim that even the off rim lodges (Yavapai and Maswik) are just fine.

See the website xanterra.com for more info & booking.

Also, even though rooms book up 1yr in advance, there are frequent cancellations, even up to the last minute.

The week days I was there in late June Yavapai Lodge actually had rooms available for walk-ins. I suspect tour operators book blocks of rooms then cancel what they don't need at the last min (72hr) notice.

Thank you for all of your tips.
By now I have located the Xanterra website and was lucky enough to book the Yavapai Lodge for two nights. I don't know if they have parking at Yavapai Lodge or not?


I read there is free shuttle according to the site w/ the shuttle stops near the Lodge.

I will try to drive now and skip the train.

Thank you so much for all of your help!

There is plenty of parking at Yavapai Lodge. Before 8am and after 5pm there is also plenty of parking right at the rim at Bright Angel. The shuttle is very handy, but so is private car right from your door step to the rim.

Be aware that there the East and West sides of Yavapai - the East are newer, larger, 2story hotel bldgs, and have A/C. Be sure to ask for an upstairs rm so you don't hear the pitter patter above you.

If you want a better room (i.e. one of the rim lodges) then be sure to check back from time to time as your stay approaches to see if anything frees up.

Hi JC2.
Thanks for the tip.

I did book the east room. I didn't know the difference at first but since the price is about $20 higher, I figure it is better than the lower rate.

I am still shopping for lodging in Sedona. I am heading from the airport then straight to Sedona for a night before going to GC. There are so many hotels to choose from and in the high $140 range for the BW Inn. (adding $10 for extra 3rd person comes out to about $180/nite)

I wonder if it is worth paying this high price for just a one night stay?

Do you have any suggestion on the way back from GC to Phoenix where we should stay?

Thanks.

In my opinion, location really doesn't matter for 1 night in Sedona. It's a compact town, and it's all about the red rocks surrounding the town anyway.

The $45 at Hyatt requires sitting through a time share promo - 90min. We didn't do that, but got that pricing info from the Hyatt vacations booth in town I happened to stop into while family was shopping. I don't know if it was a walk up special, or avail in advance. I'll see if I still have the brochure w/ phone #.

I noticed 2x BW and a Hampton Inn, as well as other local hotel chains.

We booked condo in Sedona through Krazy Kyote (krazykyote.com) - they are an activity/lodging broker and may be able to get you 1night somewhere for a v. good rate, even at the last minute.

We also stayed at Yavapai when we visited the Grand Canyon two years ago. It was fine. The shuttle service is very efficient. There are many parts of that area of the south rim that are only accessible by shuttle or hiking.

The Grand Canyon Village area gets crowded during the day but was almost deserted in early mornings when I walked along the Rim trail there (and when the rest of my family left early for a hike down to Phantom Lodge.)
Sunsets at the rim are beautiful as are sunrises. The latter are much less crowded
The ranger led programs are varied and excellent

Unfortunately I have to say the cafeteria food was awful. There is a deli at the market store that had better light stuff.

there are several motels (Days Inn, etc) at various exits around Camp Verde. That's where I stay when I am in the area.

Thanks J62, bigtyke, utahtea,& Vttraveler for taking your time to write back.

I copied all your suggestions and will study further for my trip.

So far, I have learned a lot from reading yours and others on the Fodor's forum.

Glad we could be of help. Feel free to ask more questions if they come up.

Utahtea

one other thought about the GC: the drive along the southern rim between Grand Canyon Village and the eastern entrance is very beautiful and much less crowded than GC village. If you can go in or out that way you will get some spectacular views of the canyon.