Tour companies for National Parks (Western)
Oct 21st, 2009, 06:31 AM
#1
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Tour companies for National Parks (Western)
Want to do a National Parks tour next summer with the family (before the kids, 11 and 14, get to the point where don't want to hang around with us parents anymore) but I'm not up for all the driving. My wife always talks about a National Parks tour she did as a kid so we were thinking about doing it with our family. Has anyone taken the 12-day National Parks tour with GoAhead Tours? Fly into Santa Fe, it starts with Mesa Verde (SW Colorado) then onto Grand Canyon (via Monument Valley), Zion, Bryce, Salt Lake City, Grand Teton then ending in Yellowstone. I've looked into several tours and this one looks like you actually get to spend some time at the major parks (Grand Canyon and Yellowstone) and it's not just a "drive-by" tour like some others I've seen and heard about. Would love to hear other people's experiences with a National Parks tour. Thanks.
Mark
Mark
Oct 21st, 2009, 12:14 PM
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Unfortunately, I can't answer your question about a specific tour, but I'm going to give you some unsolicited advice. Skip the tour and break this into smaller trips. My children are close in age to yours and they would hate being cooped up on a bus with most likely a bunch of grandparents. I looked over the itinerary for GoAhead Tours and it really is a drive-by tour.
My family has been to all of the places on this tour (except Monument Valley) and what makes these places so special is getting out of the bus or car and exploring. One day in Yellowstone won't even scratch the surface, especially on a tour guide's schedule. It is easy to spend days walking the geyser basins, watching the mud pots, discovering wildlife, attending ranger programs and taking short hikes.
What does the Mesa Verde tour actually entail? The itinerary mentions "viewing" the cliff dwellings, but does it include a ranger guided tour into the cliff dwellings? Climbing ladders into the dwellings and and crawling through short tunnels was a highlight for my children.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisi...activities.htm
I've seen the tour buses at Yellowstone, Zion & Bryce. Most make a stop at the main attractions, the passengers hop out and take a few pictures, get back in and then it is on to the next destination. You'll view the highlights but you really won't see anything.
If this is what you really want to do that is fine, but $10,000 is a lot of money to spend on a trip when you may only see a little of each park. Maybe you'll consider some other options.
Good luck.
My family has been to all of the places on this tour (except Monument Valley) and what makes these places so special is getting out of the bus or car and exploring. One day in Yellowstone won't even scratch the surface, especially on a tour guide's schedule. It is easy to spend days walking the geyser basins, watching the mud pots, discovering wildlife, attending ranger programs and taking short hikes.
What does the Mesa Verde tour actually entail? The itinerary mentions "viewing" the cliff dwellings, but does it include a ranger guided tour into the cliff dwellings? Climbing ladders into the dwellings and and crawling through short tunnels was a highlight for my children.
http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisi...activities.htm
I've seen the tour buses at Yellowstone, Zion & Bryce. Most make a stop at the main attractions, the passengers hop out and take a few pictures, get back in and then it is on to the next destination. You'll view the highlights but you really won't see anything.
If this is what you really want to do that is fine, but $10,000 is a lot of money to spend on a trip when you may only see a little of each park. Maybe you'll consider some other options.
Good luck.
Oct 21st, 2009, 03:03 PM
#3
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AdventureBus does a "Best of the National Parks" tour that covers the following in approximately two weeks time:
-start in Salt Lake City, 1 day
-Zion, 1 day
-Bryce Canyon, 1 day
-Grand Canyon North Rim, 1 day
-Monument Valley, 1 day
-Arches, 1 day
-free day, Moab UT, 1 day
-return to Salt Lake City, 1 day
-Yellowstone, 2 days
-Grand Teton, 2 days
-free day, Jackson WY, 1 day
-return to Salt Lake City, 1 day
Note that this is a "roughing it" tour to some extent, as:
-you sleep outside or lying down in the bus (the latter sometimes while being driven overnight to a destination), not in a hotel/motel.
-you shower at campsites where the bus is parked, and you get a chance to do laundry at allied facilities about once a week.
-a flashlight for after dark and a sleeping bag are a must.
-the people running the tour cook breakfasts and dinners for you campfire style.
What's really good about this tour is that you can and do get out and hike trails a good bit, and on the days off you have options to do anything ranging from from river rafting to town strolling. You don't just roll up, step out of the bus, take a couple pictures, then climb back on the bus again. Also liked the people who ran the tour -- I found them very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly.
They have other tours as well listed on their website. Also, this two-week tour can be done as a "one or the other" single week trip. The listed price this year for the two-week version appears to be $1495 plus tax plus tip per person.
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I went (did the two week version) and would enthusiastically recommend this tour. Their website is here:
http://www.adventurebus.com/ap_home/index.asp
-start in Salt Lake City, 1 day
-Zion, 1 day
-Bryce Canyon, 1 day
-Grand Canyon North Rim, 1 day
-Monument Valley, 1 day
-Arches, 1 day
-free day, Moab UT, 1 day
-return to Salt Lake City, 1 day
-Yellowstone, 2 days
-Grand Teton, 2 days
-free day, Jackson WY, 1 day
-return to Salt Lake City, 1 day
Note that this is a "roughing it" tour to some extent, as:
-you sleep outside or lying down in the bus (the latter sometimes while being driven overnight to a destination), not in a hotel/motel.
-you shower at campsites where the bus is parked, and you get a chance to do laundry at allied facilities about once a week.
-a flashlight for after dark and a sleeping bag are a must.
-the people running the tour cook breakfasts and dinners for you campfire style.
What's really good about this tour is that you can and do get out and hike trails a good bit, and on the days off you have options to do anything ranging from from river rafting to town strolling. You don't just roll up, step out of the bus, take a couple pictures, then climb back on the bus again. Also liked the people who ran the tour -- I found them very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly.
They have other tours as well listed on their website. Also, this two-week tour can be done as a "one or the other" single week trip. The listed price this year for the two-week version appears to be $1495 plus tax plus tip per person.
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I went (did the two week version) and would enthusiastically recommend this tour. Their website is here:
http://www.adventurebus.com/ap_home/index.asp
Oct 21st, 2009, 03:16 PM
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12 days from $2,249 - $4,500 for 2 people, are you ready to spend $9,000 for 4 people, mostly breakfasts only included.
Sorry but to me this tour looks awfully overpriced.
And it's not just the money. The Best Western at the Grand Canyon is in Tusayan - nowhere near the rim, not in a walking distance. With only one night there, it's not where you want to be. Best Western in Zion - the same, only close to the park.
I was on a similar only budget tour with Cosmos. Being a budget tour, it had more young people, not just 60 and over.
I would keep looking, depending on how much you can spend. I found "AffordableTours" website helpful where you can sort the tours by budget, first class, luxury.
Sorry but to me this tour looks awfully overpriced.
And it's not just the money. The Best Western at the Grand Canyon is in Tusayan - nowhere near the rim, not in a walking distance. With only one night there, it's not where you want to be. Best Western in Zion - the same, only close to the park.
I was on a similar only budget tour with Cosmos. Being a budget tour, it had more young people, not just 60 and over.
I would keep looking, depending on how much you can spend. I found "AffordableTours" website helpful where you can sort the tours by budget, first class, luxury.
Oct 21st, 2009, 04:59 PM
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mdv86,
If you take your kids on this tour, they will want to stop spending time with the parents much, much sooner! That's as nicely as I can possibly put it.
As suggested, spend much less, drive yourselves and cut the destinations in half. You will all love it!
If you take your kids on this tour, they will want to stop spending time with the parents much, much sooner! That's as nicely as I can possibly put it.
As suggested, spend much less, drive yourselves and cut the destinations in half. You will all love it!
Oct 21st, 2009, 05:20 PM
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I agree. Don't spend all your time driving (whether you or on a bus). Pick 2 or 3 spots and you can find enough there to do over 10-14 day period.
I would do a 4 corner trip (arches/canyonland/Mesa Verde/Monument Valley, if you are doing it early in the summer. July and August is hot.
I would do Grand Tetons/Yellowstone/Mount Rushmore/Wind Cave/Badlands or Grand Tetons/Yellowstone/Glacier after June 15.
Yosemite/Sequoia/King Canyon is another possibility after june 15.
Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon is another great possibility.
Really do your homework on hiking and things to do. Get you lodging ASAP whatever you decide to do.
Spend quality time in each park. I would imagine the tours are hit and miss(mostly miss). I can give you a list a mile long for things I have done in the parks and things I want to do.
I would do a 4 corner trip (arches/canyonland/Mesa Verde/Monument Valley, if you are doing it early in the summer. July and August is hot.
I would do Grand Tetons/Yellowstone/Mount Rushmore/Wind Cave/Badlands or Grand Tetons/Yellowstone/Glacier after June 15.
Yosemite/Sequoia/King Canyon is another possibility after june 15.
Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon is another great possibility.
Really do your homework on hiking and things to do. Get you lodging ASAP whatever you decide to do.
Spend quality time in each park. I would imagine the tours are hit and miss(mostly miss). I can give you a list a mile long for things I have done in the parks and things I want to do.
Oct 21st, 2009, 06:11 PM
#8
Agree w/ almost everything said above. IMO, that would be a deadly awful trip w/ 11 and 14 yo's. Just dreadful. Think about it -- hours and hours in a bus seat almost every single day. A lot (LOT of money for the privilege of having your bags out in the hallway at 7:00 or 8:00 every morning. How do your kids deal w/ very early starts every day?. You get to see some of the sites from the moving bus - w/o even stopping/getting off. Note in tour brochure-ese -- "see" means exactly that. Not "visit".
If you don't like driving - then cut the destinations in half or more and concentrate in parks that are nearer each other.
(I am not always anti-tour BTW. But families w/ kids don't fit that well on many tours. They are either aimed at seniors and the kids could be bored silly - or they are aimed at young adults and you might not enjoy the party scene)
If you don't like driving - then cut the destinations in half or more and concentrate in parks that are nearer each other.
(I am not always anti-tour BTW. But families w/ kids don't fit that well on many tours. They are either aimed at seniors and the kids could be bored silly - or they are aimed at young adults and you might not enjoy the party scene)
Oct 21st, 2009, 06:54 PM
#9
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I agree that you can see these wonderful sites on your own with a better time had by all. You can do what you want, when you want. Tour packages are great for some people, perhaps seniors and those who may have physical limitations, especially a drive by tour which lets people see the sites but not actually get involved.
If you are going to go ahead with this -- or something similar, you may be better to fly into Albuquerque. There are few flights into Santa Fe.
Deb
If you are going to go ahead with this -- or something similar, you may be better to fly into Albuquerque. There are few flights into Santa Fe.
Deb
Oct 22nd, 2009, 06:13 AM
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Thanks all for the recommendations/advice. I asked, and was told by the Tour Operator, that my kids would definitely be the youngest in the group and my wife and I probably the next youngest. That doesn't sound appealing at all--to me or for the kids. I think I will definitely look into driving it ourselves and visiting fewer parks, closer together (distance-wise) and spend more time at each.
Thanks again,
Mark
Thanks again,
Mark
Oct 22nd, 2009, 01:37 PM
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Yes, Good Decision
Our neighbors just did a trip somewhat like what you describe. They are 70's and had a great time. I think I would enjoy a tour/group thing when I am that age, but not now. You will have a great time and actually experience what an area has to offer.
Our neighbors just did a trip somewhat like what you describe. They are 70's and had a great time. I think I would enjoy a tour/group thing when I am that age, but not now. You will have a great time and actually experience what an area has to offer.
