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Grand Canyon (& Sedona) accommodation and itinerary help in early Sept

Grand Canyon (& Sedona) accommodation and itinerary help in early Sept

Old Aug 8th, 2011, 04:27 PM
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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
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Old Aug 8th, 2011, 04:35 PM
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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 ...
Bill_H is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2011, 07:46 PM
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Thanks a lot for your response Bill.
I'll keep an eye on the inside-the-park lodges too ....
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Old Aug 9th, 2011, 02:52 AM
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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!
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Old Aug 9th, 2011, 07:34 AM
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Phantom Ranch perhaps if vacant

Phantom Ranch? WTF ... they are going to be at the GC one night with a toddler, no way can or should they hike down to Phantom Ranch.
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Old Aug 9th, 2011, 08:28 AM
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Phantom Ranch is not a reasonable suggestion at all. Ignore that advice.
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Old Aug 9th, 2011, 11:49 AM
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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.
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Old Aug 9th, 2011, 12:35 PM
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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 ...
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Old Aug 13th, 2011, 08:36 AM
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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.
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Old Aug 16th, 2011, 12:30 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 16th, 2011, 01:42 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 16th, 2011, 03:27 PM
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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.
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