Hi all,

As my husband I just returned from an amazing trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, we've decided it's time to explore our own country even more and finally make our way to the Grand Canyon. That being said, I could use some assistance with the logistics.

Our travel dates, based on hotel availability, are May 2 - May 7. We're coming in from Atlanta and have two choices: 1. Fly direct to Phoenix or 2. Fly, with a stop in Phoenix, to Flagstaff.

The same would be true on the return flight home.

From what I've read in several reviews, it sounds like we're going to be in love with Sedona. We're are NOT avid hikers, in fact, the easier the trails, the better. What we do love is to take beautiful pictures and enjoy wine with a view. For example, in the Grand Tetons, we stayed at the Signal Mountain Lodge, got their best room (IMHO), brought portable speakers and sat on our porch each night with beer/wine and just enjoyed the sunset. This was heaven to me. So I'm looking for a similar experience, with a very different view!

Here is what we're considering:
Fly nonstop from Atlanta to Phoenix, arrive in Phx at 3:00pm. Drive immediately to Sedona. Spend two nights and leave early Friday morning for Grand Canyon. Spend two nights in the Grand Canyon. Our biggest question is what to do on the last night: Do we spend one more night in the Grand Canyon and drive all the way back to Phoenix Monday morning before our flight (our flight would leave somewhere around 1pm, so it's doable we suspect)? Do we leave the Grand Canyon on Sunday, drive back to Sedona for the last night, and have less of a drive pre-flight on Monday? Or do we leave the Grand Canyon, drive back to Phoenix and stay somewhere closer to the airport for the last night? Not an airport hotel necessarily, because I think we'll have more time than that, but maybe a nice Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale hotel? Is there anything we need to see while out there? Or do we need to scratch that plan and simply take the extra flight to/from Flagstaff?

Even more logistics: El Tovar has availability on those dates (the first thing I looked at), so we're fairly certain that based on reviews, we need to stay there. Anyone see a problem with that or have a better suggestion? Nothing is booked at this point, but I'm planning on making the reservations asap.

For Sedona, we've been thinking Enchantment Resort the whole time, but today I think Orchards Inn looks nice too, but with a much better price tag. We aren't afraid to spend the money if everyone feels like it's the absolute best place to be, but the price difference would allow us to feel like we could leave the resort to explore a lot more - instead of planning on seeing the resort all day (we would not partake in the spa services or any of those extras). We love, love, love food and want to eat at great restaurants - if Sedona is anything like Atlanta, the amazing restaurants are not necessarily within a hotel (some are, I know, I know). We would also be booking the standard room at Enchantment versus the deluxe room with private balcony at Orchards Inn. If the view is equally good, then I think we need to stay with the private balcony. Input?

In case it helps paint the picture, we're in our late 20s, but we travel much differently than a lot of our friends the same age.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Sorry for such a long post!

visitsedona.com was great when I did this

Tonnes of great food of all kinds in the town

btterbidding.com nice hotels for us

We flew into Sky Harbor rented a car carrentals.com

did flight nights in sedona...splurged for a couple of nights

at the El Tovar on the rim it was awesome.

We had a great time drive was pretty easy and pretty

up down the Mogollon Rim through Oak Creek Canyon.

Happy Planning!

Stayed at the Hilton Sedona $70 or so bidding priceline.com

Got a club floor upgrade free as an HHonors.com guest join up

www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=4969&

bet deals for us usually.

Arizona is certainly very different from Wyoming, but I think it's beautiful there. If you want, you'll be able to find plenty of easy hikes in Sedona (more like strolls, really).

I personally would linger in Sedona for Friday night, and maybe Saturday night too. I've ranted about the Grand Canyon before, so I won't do that again. I don't think it's worth more than a day and a night, but your mileage may vary -- I wasn't staying at El Tovar. Particularly if you're not doing strenuous hiking, I think you'll get tired of looking at the same canyon after a day. And I found the South Rim to be unbearably crowded and annoying to get around in.

The Phoenix airport is also a bit annoying. All of the car rental facilities are off-airport, and require a relatively long shuttle ride (maybe about 15 minutes) to travel to the airport terminals. Also, the airport hotels aren't so close to the airport. So if you are planning to sleep in an airport hotel and drop your car off in the morning, you'll need to factor in maybe 40 minutes of extra time to shuttle bus over to the car rental place, and then shuttle bus over to the airport. That might make it relatively less unappealing to just drive all the way to PHX on the day of your departure.

I can't comment on the Flagstaff airport, because I haven't been there. In general, I try to choose the nonstop flight in situations like this, when one segment is short enough to drive comfortably instead, because (1) it decreases the chance of having problems if one flight is canceled or delayed, and (2) it decreases the chance of my luggage getting lost. Number (2) isn't such a big deal when flying homeward, but you might still consider (1). I'd also mention that you'd probably save money on the car rental if you bring it back to PHX instead of FLG.

The Grand Canyon is one of my favorite spots to visit on this planet -- and I fully agree with Hawksbill on how long I recommend that you stay there. Unless you're willing to do one day of STRENUOUS hiking -- something I do recommend at The Canyon -- even two days would be more than you would need for a visit.

Forget the Flagstaff airport. By the time you factor in the layover and flight time you could just drive and get there in the same amount of time.

Make the reservations for El Tovar now to ensure you get those dates. But do some research on the rooms/views, almost everyone prefers to be outside at various viewpoints for sunset rather than at El Tovar. Viewing the canyon is different than the mountains or even Sedona where I think sitting outside your room would be great. You'll want to be outside at the rim for a 360 view.

2 days at Grand Canyon for a couple that likes easy/flat hikes is probably too much? Most people get bored unless they are doing a longer hike into the canyon.

I got on line for the North Rim. It opens on May 15. They do have availablity for the 15, 16, 17. It is operated by a different company than the south rim. http://www.grandcanyonlodgenorth.com/

So, if you could go a few days later that would be an option. Perhaps stay at both places. The north rim is different than the south and receives far fewer visitors.

There are 4 or 5 cabins at Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim that might be better than El Tovar. But that would be up for debate. They aren't as nice, but might be a better location. Those are probably gone, but you could ask. Sometimes they have a cancellation. In me experience with xanterra, they seem to have more available when you call them than what show up online(sometimes).

You might do a helicopter tour on the south rim. There is horse/mule rides(just along the rim) on both sides.

Personally, I would just fly into Vegas or Phoenix if you have a direct flight.

Go ahead and book all your lodging ASAP. I don't think xanterra charges anything to cancel. I don't know about Forever Resorts cancellations though.

stonest, just a few thoughts. I would spend the lions share of your trip at the Grand Canyon. El Tovar is overrated but historic and the best hotel option. Sedona is pretty to look at, pretty sedate and closes down at 10:00 pm. You are going to have a hard time finding great food on this trip. We drove to Phoenix on our departure day and had no problem making our 1:00 flight. The hikes on top of the rim are easy hikes, and different times of the day give different color perspectives. I would consider another site to see spending, one to two days at Sedona and two to three days at the Grand Canyon and then ??? I agree with the above posters in making your El Tovar reservations as soon as you can.

I'd recommend flying into Phoenix. Flying into Flag won't really save you time due to layover time, etc, plus it would be a tiny plane. You could drive from Phoenix to Sedona in less than 2 hours (maybe an hour and a half) or the same amount of time from Phoenix to Flagstaff.

Go ahead and book some lodging. Check cancellation policies; most likely if you find something else you like better, you will be able to cancel one to two weeks prior without penalty.
In Sedona, check Garland's Oak Creek Lodge as a possible alternative to the other places you are considering. http://www.garlandslodge.com/

Thanks, all!

I booked at El Tovar last night, so we're all set there.

After all the input, we will definitely just fly in and out of Phoenix.

Last question (for now!): where should we stay for the last night? Is the Biltmore in Phoenix worth spending a night at?

I would recommend highly L'Auberge de Sedona it is amazingly beautiful and closer to the pink jeep tours, horse ride tour operators, trolley tours of Sedona etc.. without you noticing all are just a short walk away to the main Sedona road and close to restaurants and coffee/ sandwich shops. Enchantment Resort is certainly the highest star rated accommodation in Sedona but when we saw it on the trolley tour it seemed out of the way (at least 2 miles from central Sedona) and looking on the website the properties seem close together, I have not stayed there but my friend has. L'Auberge has a magical setting by the creek and we could not find fault with the wonderful service and food (Sunday brunch is the best!) during our recent stay this past September.

stonest,

I can't seem to find your trip report for Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.

I'd love to read about it.

I haven't stayed at the Biltmore, so can't comment. Another idea is to stay at the Boulders, which is actually north of Scottsdale, so your ride from the GC or Sdna will be shorter. Nice resort, with a spa. There are a few nice restaurants and wine bars in neighboring Cave Creek. It's an easy, mostly straight ride from the Boulders to PHX, maybe about 45 mins.

Am glad you've decided not to spend your last night at the Grand Canyon - just too much mileage between it and the Phx airport to do comfortably. Sedona is doable but would recommend that you stay in Phoenix your last night. No need to stay at or near the airport, it's not a particularly attractive area and you have plenty of time to get there on your departure day.

I agree that L'Auberge in Sedona is a fantastic hotel.

As for Phoenix, The Biltmore is fine but may be a bit stodgy for two young people. The Buttes (a Marriott resort) is a good location and a great place for evening cocktails to watch a beautiful sunset.

Myer, I actually didn't do a trip report, but I could talk about it for days. I adore the Grand Tetons - ADORE - I had no idea Wyoming would so quickly become my favorite place in the world (but please don't tell Italy).

Maybe I will eventually do a trip report, but seeing as though I haven't even had a chance to go through the pictures (we took 2300), it's not likely. If there's a way to message me, feel free to do so if you're after anything in particular.

Thanks for the additional suggestions! Looking into The Buttes and L'Auberge.

Question about L'Auberge though - the website shows that most of the beauty is the creek. Is that true? We have beautiful creeks and mountain terrain in north Georgia, so I'm definitely looking for something different.

Thanks again!

L'Auberge is very nice but it doesn't have canyon views. The very luxurious cabins are in a creekside setting. The setting for the Enchantment Resort is spectacular in Boynton Canyon. I can't figure out how the resort got such a fabulous location--it looks like a National park. If you don't stay there, be sure to drive out and eat lunch on their outside patio. Enchantment is outside the town--a beautiful drive.

We visited in February so we got a great off season rate. I think it is way over my price range in season. We stayed in the room (Ithink they call them casitas) with the kitchen, living room, Murphy bed and giant patio--it was a great room--and what a view---we totally enjoyed our stay there. We actually extended our stay 2 days because of snow at the Grand Canyon--the road was closed.

We also stayed at the El Tovar (on our next trip out)and were pleasantly surprised with our accommodations. I guess I had really low expectations but we had a room that had been recently renovated. I'm an early riser so I walked the rim all alone in the morning, watched the sun come up--very peaceful.

stonest,

Let me understand.

You "just returned from an amazing trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons", can't be bothered to write a report that would help others who haven't been there plan their trip and are now asking for help in planning your next trip.

Do I understand this correctly?

You do understand that correctly. I am happy to answer questions, but I haven't read anywhere on Fodors that it's required to post trip reports in order to ask questions.

I'm not a writer, nor am I a travel agent. I am aware of where my strengths are and summing up my vacations for others to read is not one of them. To my best friends all I even said was, "Breath-taking! You should go." And then we move on in conversation. I'm great at asking questions. I'm great at listening to ideas. Therefore, I use this site to do what I'm great at.

If you have a specific question, by all means, ask away, I might have an answer.

stonest, I didn't stay there, but I under the Best Western in the new part of Sedona ('uptown') has spectacular red rocks views from the back balconies.

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest...electedHotels=

Look at the 8th picture in the "Traveler's Pictures" on Tripadvisor for the Best Western Arroyo Roble. Fabulous view from a room balcony.