Grand Canyon (& Sedona) accommodation and itinerary help in early Sept
#1
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Grand Canyon (& Sedona) accommodation and itinerary help in early Sept
Hi:
After a number of false starts, we finally seem to be going to Grand Canyon on Sept 11-12. We are looking to fly out of Dallas to Phoenix on the morning of Sept 10th (Saturday), stay over on Sedona or Flagstaff on 11th. Stay in Grand Canyon on the 11th. Travel back to Flagstaff or Sedona (the same city as earlier) on 12 evening. Fly back to Dallas by 13th midday or evening ..
Would love to have some accommodation / itinerary suggestions from you:
- I understand ideally one should stay in a lodge inside the park. But they all seem booked up on the night of 11th (a few seemed available on 10th. But my toddler is not going handle a long drive all the way to Grand Canyon right after the flight very well). What else is a good option for stay? Is William nearby? We have never been Grand Canyon. So I don't think we particularly care if it is North Rim or South Rim! I am sure both are worth visiting
- For Sedona or Flagstaff - What is a good destination that we would enjoy and a two and a half year old can navigate? I understand Sedona is much more atmospheric, but there seems to be enough interesting stuff to do out of Flagstaff too ... (if that is the case, we would probably put up wherever we can find a reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable hotel/motel with a kitchenette)
- Any other pointer you have for the trip is much appreciated.
I do wish we had firmed up our trip sooner so that we could get a lodge inside the park
-Kaushik
After a number of false starts, we finally seem to be going to Grand Canyon on Sept 11-12. We are looking to fly out of Dallas to Phoenix on the morning of Sept 10th (Saturday), stay over on Sedona or Flagstaff on 11th. Stay in Grand Canyon on the 11th. Travel back to Flagstaff or Sedona (the same city as earlier) on 12 evening. Fly back to Dallas by 13th midday or evening ..
Would love to have some accommodation / itinerary suggestions from you:
- I understand ideally one should stay in a lodge inside the park. But they all seem booked up on the night of 11th (a few seemed available on 10th. But my toddler is not going handle a long drive all the way to Grand Canyon right after the flight very well). What else is a good option for stay? Is William nearby? We have never been Grand Canyon. So I don't think we particularly care if it is North Rim or South Rim! I am sure both are worth visiting
- For Sedona or Flagstaff - What is a good destination that we would enjoy and a two and a half year old can navigate? I understand Sedona is much more atmospheric, but there seems to be enough interesting stuff to do out of Flagstaff too ... (if that is the case, we would probably put up wherever we can find a reasonably priced, reasonably comfortable hotel/motel with a kitchenette)
- Any other pointer you have for the trip is much appreciated.
I do wish we had firmed up our trip sooner so that we could get a lodge inside the park
-Kaushik
#2
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What else is a good option for stay? Is Williams nearby?
Williams is about an hour drive south, you're much better off in Tusayan, which is a few hundred yards south of the park entrance, about 7 miles from the rim. Nicer hotels in Tusayan too.
Maybe keep trying on inside-the-park reservations, they often have a lot of cancellations late due to tours booking blocks of rooms and then cancelling, but Tusayan is fine as a back-up.
stay over on Sedona or Flagstaff on 11th
Sedona ...
Williams is about an hour drive south, you're much better off in Tusayan, which is a few hundred yards south of the park entrance, about 7 miles from the rim. Nicer hotels in Tusayan too.
Maybe keep trying on inside-the-park reservations, they often have a lot of cancellations late due to tours booking blocks of rooms and then cancelling, but Tusayan is fine as a back-up.
stay over on Sedona or Flagstaff on 11th
Sedona ...
#4
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bitterbidding.com best deals bidding priceline hotwire for me
Otel.com booking.com also ok usually more
Williams is a dump to far away avoid.
El Tovar is my fav if budget is good and not booked
Phantom Ranch perhaps if vacant or Bright Angel Hike
visitsedona.com great lots of stuff to do for kids
hike red rocks pink jeep tours explore oak creek canyon
area drive up the Mogollon Rim to GC...
Beautiful country have fun!
Otel.com booking.com also ok usually more
Williams is a dump to far away avoid.
El Tovar is my fav if budget is good and not booked
Phantom Ranch perhaps if vacant or Bright Angel Hike
visitsedona.com great lots of stuff to do for kids
hike red rocks pink jeep tours explore oak creek canyon
area drive up the Mogollon Rim to GC...
Beautiful country have fun!
#7
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If there is availability on the 10th, I say book it.
Only you know your child, but driving in a car is a lot easier than even a short flight with a toddler. You arrive in Phoenix in the morning, drive to Sedona (2 hours). Take a break for lunch. Then drive the remaining 2 hours to the Grand Canyon. With a toddler, and with your short time, I would really try to stay in the park.
If you decide to visit on the 11th, keep calling Xanterra for cancellations. I love Sedona, so I would stay there on the 10th if unable to book at the GC.
Only you know your child, but driving in a car is a lot easier than even a short flight with a toddler. You arrive in Phoenix in the morning, drive to Sedona (2 hours). Take a break for lunch. Then drive the remaining 2 hours to the Grand Canyon. With a toddler, and with your short time, I would really try to stay in the park.
If you decide to visit on the 11th, keep calling Xanterra for cancellations. I love Sedona, so I would stay there on the 10th if unable to book at the GC.
#8
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Thanks a lot!
I did keep calling and found a spot at Maswik Lodge at a somewhat ridiculous $186. But its only 0.25 miles from the rim! I read up the prior responses on the lodge and the advise seems to be to keep calling for a room with a view somewhere inside ..I'll give it a shot ...
I did keep calling and found a spot at Maswik Lodge at a somewhat ridiculous $186. But its only 0.25 miles from the rim! I read up the prior responses on the lodge and the advise seems to be to keep calling for a room with a view somewhere inside ..I'll give it a shot ...
#9
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Definitely keep calling, but Maswick would be my next choice after the rim lodges.
I wouldn't drive to Sedona, then to the GC. That adds probably a good 45 minutes to the trip. Just drive to Flagstaff, have lunch there, then continue to the GC. Total time, around 3 1/2 hours.
I wouldn't drive to Sedona, then to the GC. That adds probably a good 45 minutes to the trip. Just drive to Flagstaff, have lunch there, then continue to the GC. Total time, around 3 1/2 hours.
#10
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Maswick is a fine choice: it's no more than 10 minutes' walk (if that) from the rim, and it has a nice cafeteria (which is something I think you'll appreciate, since you're bringing a toddler along). If you can get a room later at Bright Angel or one of the other lodges right on the rim, fine, but don't feel like you're missing out if you stay at Maswik! The only park lodge that's a long way from the rim is Yavapai.
#11
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If you can get one of the rim lodges for the same price as Maswick, take it, but it is an easy walk to the rim and you don't get a view from the rim lodges, except maybe from the top of el Tovar.
Have a wonderful trip.
Have a wonderful trip.
#12
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Maswik has rooms on the 10th for $92 plus tax, I would go with that and do what others have suggested (stop in Flagstaff, then continue on to GC).
Take a flashlight, the lighting around the lodges isn't great and if you want to walk around after dark a flashlight will come in handy.
Take a flashlight, the lighting around the lodges isn't great and if you want to walk around after dark a flashlight will come in handy.