ellen_griswold

Hi Starrsville! Loved your report, sounds like you had a great time.

We too loved staying at the Wigwam Motel a few years ago, the epitome of Rt 66 kitcsh! Also enjoyed the North Rim for the first time this summer and must agree with your sister; our cabin also felt like being at camp. And then some LOL

So where did you go on the business part of the trip?

ellen_griswold

Never mind, just realized i already know - phoenix (its been a L O N G day...)

SpeedBuggy

Great report, Starrsville! Thanks for posting. We went to the North Rim 2 years ago and loved it. Our meal was great in the dining room the one night we ate there, and we stayed in a "motel" room. Slept with the windows open, but thankfully everyone was quiet in the motel, so we were able to get some rest each night.

starrsville

Thanks, y'all. It really was a very good trip. Short and sweet.

The work part of the trip was in a Phoenix resort. Not much to share since we went from dawn to dark. I kept the car in case I could get over to Taliesin West or catch up with an old boyfriend in Candler - but there wasn't time for either. Enjoyed my mani-pedi in Chandler after I dropped my sister off at the airport.

Here are planned drive times (the Chinle drive day was actually longer). These are Mapquest distances - which turned out to be very accurate. I'm posting this because this was by design a mostly driving vacation. Having said that, I would NOT recommend driving more than this in a day - at least for me. Folks have a tendency to feel rushed and get grouchy.

This worked for us -
Arrive in Phoenix - drive to Cameron (actually a bit longer due to the detour through Sedona) -
201 miles - 3 hr, 23 minutes

Drive to North Rim from Cameron -
155 miles - 3 hours, 24 minutes

Drive to Chinle - from North Rim
(our route was actually longer because I headed NW before going SE) -
303 miles - 6 hours, 10 minutes

Drive to Holbrook from Chinle -
123 miles - 2 hours, 9 minutes

Drive to Phoenix airport via Payson from Holbrook -
239 miles - 3 hours, 29 minutes

starrsville

In case this is helpful - lodging costs (It was a budget trip because I thought I would be going solo - my friend who wanted to go to the North Rim had a conflict and could not go)

Priceline airport hotel in home city -
$58.74 (I was NOT going to start the trip stressed due to rush hour traffic!)

Cameron Trading Post - $99

Frontier Cabin at North Rim - $103

Best Western Chinle - $89 plus taxes

Wigwam Hotel - $52,29

Couldn't beat the rates, and we stayed in places I actually wanted to stay!

SpeedBuggy

You did good, Starrsville! I need you to help me with budgeting because I always seem to break the bank! I always tell my wife and kids, "We're on vacation!" Translation: spend, spend, spend.

starrsville

Thanks SpeedBuggy! There are years where I've been able to splurge. This year is not one of them. I'm renovating an old house. There's a constant conversation in my brain - Tuscany? New windows? Tuscany? New windows?

Right now, the windows are winning

Gilbert

starrsville,

EXCELLENT report.
We will be at Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly in December. We will be at CdC on Christmas Day - hoping there will be tours into the canyon then.

Gilbert

starrsville

Thanks, Gilbert. It was a great trip. I've been to the SW in almost every season, but not in December. I did go to Durango and Mesa Verde in Feb. though.

I'll pull the card of the guide company. I strongly recommend them. I also strongly recommend getting a PRIVATE jeep tour with a pickup at the Best Western or Holiday Inn. What a huge difference to be in our own jeep instead of spending 3 hours on the "Shake and Bake" truck! $15 (difference) well spent!

Gilbert

starrsville,

Thanks - I would really appreciate the name of the guide company.

We were in CdC March 2005 and did the full day tour with Thunderbird Lodge - although at that time of year it was more like "shake and shiver" - they did provide blankets though. The day trip was FANTASTIC and we had a great guide. But for this trip I am hoping to go on a private jeep tour.

Thanks
Gilbert

starrsville

topping with the answer posted elsewhere to Gilbert

and also in case this TR would be helpful to maria -

http://www.tseyijeeptour.com/Index.html

They have a web site! Who knew?

Our guide was the owner's niece. She was GREAT - but she was headed back to university soon.

They pick you up at the Best Western.

Click on the Best Western link for gorgeous photos of the area and more info - and nice music too.

Talked to my uncle yesterday. He saw a farmer plowing his plot with a mule last time they were there (from the rim). The guide's clan still have weekend and summer homes in the canyon - but for farming, not recreation (per se anyway). When school starts, most families move back up to the rim.

Absolutely fascinating. Hope you enjoy!

starrsville

topping

BayouGal

Starrsville, I can't believe I missed this great trip report. Thanks so much for topping. Guess a lot of Fodorites were traveling while you were posting. So very glad you brought it to the top.

We were there 2 summers ago, and I can't wait to go back after reading about your experiences. You sound like a patient, tolerant travel companion - don't know how well I'd do with my sisters! ;-)

maria_so

Hiya starsville!

Great trip report. I'll be leaving this Friday for Phoenix and we'll be in Canyon de Chelly for one night. Have a few questions for you. How long do you think the drive is from Sedona to CdeC? A guesstimate would be good. I know you gals stopped for shopping - which we won't do but maybe stop by the meteor crater or something like that. What was your experience with the time difference between AZ time and Navajo land? Is there a difference right now? (Is that a silly question?)

We have reservations for Thunderbird lodge but I don't particulary remember it to be really anything spectacular and I can't remember why we chose Thunderbird last time we were there. Is the BW that much farther out than Thuderbird to the canyon itself? We have BW membvership cards and wouldn't mind getting more points. Also, the price you mentioned for the tour - was that for both of you or each? We were planning on the half day tour for $45 each since we need to leave early-ish to get to Monument by 5pm to meet our overnight tour guides (we're camping in the canyon with the navajo indian guides!!!). Incidentally, do you know how long of a drive that is (CdeC to Mon Valley) and also Mon Valley to Lake Powell? Is there a time difference again?

You also mentioned a shopping experience in Oak Creek - what is it? A store? An area for open market?

Thanks much! I loved reading all of your posts re this last trip and I'm excited to get mine started!!!

P.S. We wanted to get groceries before heading out to Sedona (in Phoenix). Did you happen to see any grocery store type places maybe even farmer's market type places where we can get some snacks, fruit, coffee, beer, wine, etc?

Many thanks!

starrsville

topping for maria

LoveItaly

I have not seen this report starrsville until right now. I am going to read it tomorrow. I had wondered why you hadn't posted one. I don't know how I missed it because I do not just look at the first 50 threads. How confusing! But anyway, what a great read it will be tomorrow..I need to keep "tabs" on you, lol!!

starrsville

maria, I didn't even see the questions on this thread!

Going from Sedona to Chinle, I would definitely stop at Meteor Crater and also Petrified Forest NP.

The shopping area in Sedona is Tlaquepaque. Here's the website -
http://www.tlaq.com/
I never can pronounce it, so I call it "Take your pocketbook"

Be sure to do a Pink Jeep tour. I've always liked the Broken Arrow tour, but we really enjoyed the Scenic Rim tour this time.

Be sure to leave via Oak Creek Canyon before 5pm so you can stop at the Dairy Queen to shop from the vendors. I always buy some kind of silver jewelry there.

We planned to stop on the way from Sedona, but didn't. If you are going through Flagstaff, there is everything there - including Target. We liked Basha supermarkets. There are other supermarkets in Sedona - really a little west of town.

I answered the time zone questions on the other thread.

starrsville

Here's the link to the tour company the girl at the BW set up for us -
http://www.tseyijeeptour.com/Index.html

The 3 hour tour is $125 for 1-3 pp. It was very much worth the difference to us to go on a private tour (just the two of us) in an enclosed Jeep
Wagoneer. We could set the time we wanted to be picked up. Just liked everything about it.

PS - We went on a late afternoon Pink Jeep Tour and we happened to be the only 2 on that tour too.

Have fun! I love that part of the country. Tip = buy a flat of water and keep it in the car. Keep hydrated.

starrsville

IMPORTANT TIP = Try Navajo Fry Bread. Eat with butter and honey. Zero calories 'cause you are on vacation

starrsville

Did I tell y'all that my sister sent me a thank-you gift? A week later, I received a Navajo rug (using it as a wall hanging) in a pictoral pattern. I was thrilled - and surprised. I guess the "glitch" wasn't that big of a deal to her.