Kazza3013

Hi, I’ve just booked 2 nights at the Sth rim Grand Canyon, 1 x Kachina Lodge & 1x Grand Hotel, October 2018. I had no idea that El Tovar, Bright Angel and Maswik lodge would all be closed. This is all that was left and the lady said cancellations rarely occur. My question is, do you recommend that I keep calling (from Australia) to check cancellations? Anyone had luck....Neither of these hotels get great reviews, anyone stayed at either? How did you travel into the park from Grand hotel?
Thank you

WhereAreWe

When you say the hotels are closed....I believe you mean the hotels are booked and have no vacant rooms for your dates. Closed implies the entire hotel is shut down.

Keep checking online every day. Of course there are cancellations, especially since you are talking about a year from now.

As for how to get from Grand hotel to the Grand Canyon....how are you getting to the hotel in the first place? If you're renting a car, just drive into the park. But this shouldn't be an issue since you will be able to find open rooms inside the park if you keep trying.

janisj

I'd keep calling but not for a few months. The tentative construction schedule at at least El Tovar is supposed to be complete by October. But it is totally subject to change. It won't do any good to keep calling now. They will know more after it actually starts after the first of the year.

Have no idea about the Grand, it looks fine . . . In October I think you'd have to drive or take a taxi to the park.

janisj

>>When you say the hotels are closed

janisj

>>When you say the hotels are closed....I believe you mean the hotels are booked and have no vacant rooms for your dates. Closed implies the entire hotel is shut down.

Kazza3013

They are actually closed for renovations....
Yes we will have a car. Actually, there may be lots of parking spots free due to 3 hotels having no guests.

WhereAreWe

Ok. El Tovar is closed but will likely be reopen by then. Bright Angel is not taking reservations for October 2018 presumably because they are next in line for renovations.

Maswik is not closed. I checked a few different dates in October 2018 and Maswik North had availability. Maybe not on your date, but they are taking reservations so they are not closed for renovation.
I didn't really think they would close 3 properties at the same time, so thanks for clarifying.

In any case, my advice still stands. Keep looking online every day for your dates and something will open up. In the meantime, keep your Grand Hotel reservations. You can also look at Yavapai lodge, it's operated by a different concessionaire. It looks like Yavapai only takes reservations 12 months in advance so you may have to wait a few days/weeks for your date to open up. Currently they have openings through 10/4/18. Their system says 13 months but it seems odd they have openings all of September and through 10/4 but then it just stops...

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

janisj

>>Ok. El Tovar is closed but will likely be reopen by thennow -- it will close early next year and at the moment the estimate is it will re-open in October 2018. Exact date unknown. Thus they will not take reservations.

Thus placing a lot more pressure on the other properties.

So keep your current bookings and try again after the first of the year. Calling now won't do much good IMO/IME since people who cancel don't do it a year out.

WhereAreWe

Doesn't hurt at all to look online once a day or several times a week starting now. The first of January isn't a magical date where people start deciding to cancel or change their travel plans.

I'm guessing Yavapai will have openings for the entire month of October if the OP just checks later this month.

janisj

I didn't mean in 'January' as some magical date. I meant -- Next year. I travel to Yosemite frequently and the Grand Canyon once in a while (similar popularity, occupancy rates and booking procedures)-- and from my experience most cancellations happen in the last 2 or so months prior.

But sure there can be a cancellation anytime . . .

So if you want to check every day -- go ahead. But IME relax and try in a few months.

J62

I agree with janis 100% - no need to check daily right now, or to panic. But whatever you do, you should stay right in the park in one of the hotels there at / near the rim. Any of these is preferable to any hotel outside the park, despite what you read on reviews. It is location you are looking for, not fancy.

I was in Yosemite a few weeks ago and was surprised to learn that they had rooms avail at the Yosemite Falls Lodge for walk up/same day stay even though everything was showing as fully booked just a few days earlier.

Ditto for Grand Canyon around 4th of July a few years ago.

Kazza3013

Thank you all for your advice, I will keep checking regularly....

RVvagabond

End the stress and make a reservation at the town of Williams.
Internet search for: williams arizona hotels

With that settled, you can continue to peck at Grand Canyon hotels.
If you find one, then cancel your Williams motel.

Personally, I like Williams. Very good Mexican Restaurants there.

Less stress is to take the train to GC. Some complain about it, but most enjoy the historic ride. Select which class of cabin you want. They also have hotel/train combo packages
https://www.thetrain.com/the-train/schedule-routes/


Vaga

Kazza3013

Thanks Vaga, I’ll take a look

WhereAreWe

No to Williams.

Why in the world would someone book 2 nights in Williams when they already have a night in the park and another night right outside the park? The train is a tourist trap and it's not a good reason to willingly stay that far from the park.

RVvagabond

Wherweare
It appears they are not happy with their GC reservation.
Quote:
"Neither of these hotels get great reviews, anyone stayed at either?"

Just trying to help the people with options
Did not intend to offend you

The Train to Grand Canyon
Yelp has 328 reviews with 4-star as average. This is very commendable.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-canyon-railway-williams


Vaga

janisj

Sorry, but staying in Williams (train lover or not) makes no sense when one has already nailed down accommodation in the park. The reviews of most any national park properties suffer -- 'city folk' who post reviews expect posh for the amount of $$$ they are paying. Whereas most of the cost is for location/location/location.

Podie

I strongly suggest you do NOT stay in Williams. Also, are you aware the Grand Hotel is not in the park itself and will require a 10-15 minute drive to get to the South Rim? People cancel reservations all the time. If you can get all your stay at Yavapai Lodge, that will be perfectly fine. I like staying there as it's next door to the Marketplace, on the shuttle line, and there are lots of elk there every afternoon.

Family_5

Hello Kazza3013, we also plan to visit Grand Canyon in May 2018. And just a few days ago, I called Xanterra to check on lodging & learned that El Tovar hotel renovation got delayed 'til July 2018. So surprisingly we got more lodging choices in the park now. So my suggestion is either check on line every week, and maybe call once every few months if you can! Best of luck!

Kazza3013

Thanks, I actually managed to get in to Thunderbird Lodge, we go in September.