I have a morning flight into PHX the first week in October, and plan to rent a car for drive up to Grand Canyon. I plan to make it in time for sunset that evening, spend the night, then take pictures of sunrise - a quick hike, then make my way south to Sedona, then Scottsdale for a few days of R&R in the sun...

Since I'm just spending one night, i figured i'd want to stay on the south rim. Much to my surprise (& i *thought* i was planning far in advance) the only lodging available is Yavapai Lodge. All the rest in the park are sold out.

Should I book the Yavapai Lodge, or stay at one of the motels just outside the park? I've read many reviews of Yavapai on tripadvisor.com and none are very flattering. The Yavapai accomodations sound like glorified dormitories, and it's not all that close to the rim for the early sunrise pictures.
(I don't need fancy digs for one night - but if i'm NOT going to be a stone's throw from the Rim, should i choose something like Holiday Inn to get more "value" for my money)

Any insight or feedback would be GREATLY appreciated.

Make the reservation and continue to look for a cancellation at one of the better places. But in truth it probably doesn't matter. You can stay at Maswik Lodge if you take the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams, but it's more expensive that way (esp. if you are alone). People make reservations at the Grand Canyon up to a year in advance to get El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge, so you shouldn't be surprised at the lack of reservations. But there are a lot of cancellations because people have made their reservations so far in advance.

We did something similar in 2005. BEST part of the trip was the sunrise and Sedona, even if we had to get up SO early. Sunrise was peaceful and beautiful and just watching the colors change is amazing. We stayed at the Holiday Inn for our trip. I recall that breakfast is included (always a plus) and we had a very nice meeal at the Best Western (really!). It's only a 15 min drive from there into the park and to the rim. We saw the sunrise from Yavapai point and then walked a bit on the Bright Angel Trail. Sunset from Hopi Point was more of a mob scene of people and the low clouds didn't make for a show stopping experience, like the sunrise was (someone's head in every shot) The road into Sedona from GC is ... steep and windy at one part but worth it. Just don't look down. Sedona - amazing - unique - wish we had more time there. I'll have to search for the name of the restaurant we LOVED.

I just returned from bryce, Zion, GC and Sedona.

I got some reservations and others were fully booked. I kept calling a couple of times a day and eventually I ended up with all of my reservations.

Bryce, Zion and GC (Bright Angel cabin about 50 yards from the rim).

I understand that tour operators book blocks and then in the last month cancel those not sold.

It got to a point I was on a first name basis with some of the Xanterra operators.

- - - -
Sedona restaurants.
Had good meals at Picassa (gourmet pizza and salads) in West Sedona, Oak Creek Brewery at the Thal(sp) and Cowboy Club in uptown. All very good.

I would stay at Yavapai. It's only about 1/2 or 3/4 mile from the rim, so you'll be able to walk at sunrise, instead of taking your car and lining up at the gate--yes, there can be lines to see the sunrise, although October isn't the peak season -- to get into the park. We stayed at Yavapai once, and while the rooms are basic, they were OK, especially since you're only staying one night.

When considering lodgings in Tusayan, I would suggest Red Feather Lodge, http://www.redfeatherlodge.com/. We stayed there in November and had a delightful experience.

Slan Beo,

Bit Devine

Forgive me for correcting the Fodors Editor, but the Maswik lodge is IN Grand Canyon Village, 5 min. from the rim. I just stayed there last week. It is not in Williams. Our room was nice, and it's close enough to walk to catch a sunrise, so if there are rooms there take one. And, do take the advice to keep trying to get the lodge you want, as there will be cancellations.

Maswik Lodge is not in Williams, but the Grand Canyon Railroad, which books blocks of rooms for its passengers originates there. To take advantage of the deal, you have to take the railroad's trip into the Canyon and then stay over in the lodge.

I wouldn't hesitate to take Yavapai lodging. We've stayed outside the park once (first trip), Bright Angel once, and Yavapai once (3rd trip when Bright Angel was already booked). I would prefer to be right at the rim in Bright Angel, but Yavapai rooms were just fine: clean, modern furniture, and not that far off the rim and in a quieter area than the others. It's a motel, that's all, but none of the lodging in the GC is terribly luxe! That isn't what the GC is all about. By far and away, the least preferred stay would be outside the park.

I've also stayed in Yavapei. Not fancy, but clean and acceptable. Within walking distance to the rim - enjoyable actually. The night we stayed our room looked out over some pines and was quite peaceful really.

It really is wonderful to stay in the National Park and take advantage of the time you will have w/out some of the others there.

And the editor is right. If you call persistently during September, you'll probably find that there will be cancellations in the other lodgings. I just got back from Yellowstone and had planned six months ahead. About three weeks before we got there I was able to rearrange the trip with different accommodations due to cancellations.

Have fun!!!!

Cobbo, Yavapai Lodge is OK for one night, it's nothing like a dormitory, more like a basic cheap motel but then so are most of the other hotels/lodges inside the park except El Tovar. All are older properties and given that it's basically a monopoly they don't spend much on repairs or renovations.

There's a free shuttle bus from Yavapai Lodge that can take you to the rim early (I think they start one hour before sunrise) or you can just drive the short distance to Mather Point or similar. Or walk it in about 15 minutes.

Lodging at Tusayan just outside the entrance tends to be better since many of the hotels were built recently (and the food is better too). Our favorites at Tusayan were the Squire Inn (Best Western) and the Holiday Inn Express. The dining room at the Squire has the best food in the area except for the formal dining room at El Tovar, which is typically booked solid by Tovar guests so not available unless you're staying there.

I would suggest NOT taking the train from Williams as this is very slow and expensive and the scenery is boring during the ride up and back, then you don't have a car when you arrive. Maswik is similar to Yavapai, probably worse (I've stayed at both several times).

Bill