Please help! I'm making plans for our family (2 adults, 2 teens) for our summer trip to see the Grand Canyon and some of the surrounding area. This is our first trip West (from PA) and we have 11 days. We tend to not enjoy spending all our time in the car, so have allowed two nights in most locations. I need help in at least two areas. First lodging suggestions in the Page AZ/Lake Powell area. Also, lodging in Sedona. Our budget is around $100 per night.
I'm including a rough outline of our plan. Please feel free to critique. Is there anything I am missing that we will kick ourselves for later? I wish we had more time to visit places like Arches, Four Corners etc. but I guess we'll have to hope we can come back here another time.

Day 1 Fly from BWI to Las Vegas, pick up rental car and drive to Zion

Day 2 See more of Zion then drive to Bryce.

Day 3 & 4 Finish up in Bryce, then drive to Page. Where to stay? We want to do a float trip on the Colorado River. Who to do it with? Do we need to reserve it now?

Day 5 & 6 Drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We have reservations at Yavapai Lodge. We plan to do some light hiking and just enjoy the sights. I hear the canyon looks different at different times of the day, so we want to experience sunset and sunrise.

Day 7& 8 Drive to Sedona AZ. I've been looking at The King's Ransom or Sky Ranch Lodge as possibilities to stay. Any recommendations? While here we want to see Montezumas Castle, Slide Rock park, and may do a Pink Jeep tour or hot air balloon ride.

Day 9 Return to Vegas for 2 days. We are staying at the Flamingo and seeing a show and plan to catch as many of the "free" shows as possible before flying home on the 11th day.

I would love to hear any suggestions you would have for us. I've learned so much from these forums already. Thanks Utahtea for the driving times you have posted to others. They helped us too!

I think you've prepared a great itinerary based on the info you've given.

Zion NP and Grand Canyon are two of my favorite places. The teens will love the jeep tour in Sedona. My favorite is the broken arrow tour. They should enjoy Slide Rock as well. As far as the hotel in Sedona, I think a first visit there is worth staying right in the town area so you can wander around the town for food, shopping, etc. The views are spectacular. Both places I've stayed are over the $100 budget you mentioned. I've stayed at The Orchards Inn and it's more upscale counterpart L'auberge and had good experiences at both places. You can't beat the views and convienence.

We LOVE Sky ranch Lodge!! It is very reasonable, there's a pool and hot tub, and the view is very spectacular. We usually try to get a room with a view, but a lot of people like the cheaper rooms and then grab their AM coffee and walk to the scenic overlook a few yards away. We have also liked the Best Western across the road from Sky Ranch Lodge. There is also one in town with great views, too. There is a huge Natural Foods store where you can pick up good food to go, take it up to your hotel deck and enjoy!

I'd skip King's Ransom - it's on the main road.

By the way, we did this same trip with our 16-yr-old. The highlight for her was the float trip out of Page, actually Glen Canyon Dam. You can call and book it ahead of time when you are at Bryce or Zion. (We booked ours through Grand Canyon NP, but it involved a bus trip to Page area, so you are doing it a better way). I'm thinking you may be spending too little time at Zion. While there, be sure to take the shuttle to Temple of Sinawava and walk the Riverside Walk. Your teens would probably love the hike into the Narrows, but that takes a major part of a day.
Helpful hint for South Rim: If you stay at Yavapai, make sure you have a couple of flashlights with you. We made the mistake of hiking to the rim to watch the sunset, but when we took the shuttle back, the driver said he was not authorized to make a stop at Yavapai. He let us off in the darkness pretty far from our room - which was one of the furthest and most remote away. We were literally feeling our way in the pitch darkness! Very scary for us, and we are experienced hikers!

When we went to Lake Powell we stayed at the Wahweap Marina http://www.lakepowell.com/lodging_rates.php#resort The view of the lake was incredible. It may cost you more than a $100. I saw rooms listed for about $115.
If time permits, I would take a trip to Antelope Canyon. It would take only a couple of hours.You could do the tour the morning you leave for the Grand Canyon. Words cannot explain this experience. http://www.antelopecanyon.com/index.html

I would suggest doing the Hoover Dam tour while you are in Las Vegas. Hot but well worth it.

If you like nostaglia I would make a stop at the Grand Canyon Caverns on the drive back to Las Vegas.http://www.doney.net/aroundaz/route6...yoncaverns.htm It may look like a tourist trap but it was extremely interesting.

Also in Williams Arizona don't forget to stop and have an ice cream soda at Twisters. http://www.williamschamber.com/

Have a great trip

I really cannot add to what you have already. The Yavapai Lodge is ok as a place to stay. I was there one night just recently and the room was satisfactory.
The cafeteria was not! But there is not much option other than to prepare your own. We got there just before a tour bus rolled up and the line stretched out the door.

I stayed at the Best Western in Page. It was ok. Best Westerns are my usual choice in the West because they usually provide a good place to stay.

I also visited Montezuma's Castle while we were in Arizona last month. It is a very minor attraction. All you can do is stand below it and look up at it. You are not allowed in the ruin itself; in fact, you cannot really get close to it.

Yes, the canyon does look different at different times of the day. I for one don't get all excited about sunrise at the GC. I have done it twice, and the best thing was the absence of mobs of people. Sunset is the same way.
The shadows in the canyon get long, and that is interesting to see.

My favorite viewpoints are along the West Rim Drive. The Park Service runs a continual shuttle service from the Bright Angel Lodge to the end of the road all day long. You can get off and look, walk a ways, and take the next shuttle.

If you walk away from the overlooks, you usually have a good view with fewer people.

One thing I feel obligated to warn people about is the threat of sun burn.
The canyon rim is at an average elevation of 7,500 feet and the air is clear and dry. I have seen many people out there burned bright red by evening because they failed to use sunscreen.

Also, the dryness of atmosphere will dehydrate anyone rather rapidly on a warm day. At Zion, by the time you get there, the temperatures could well be in the 100 range.

Bryce, being about 4,500 feet higher is also cooler, particularly at night.

The one place I can suggest that you visit is Cedar Breaks. Depending on how you go from Zion to Bryce, Cedar Breaks can be on your way. Then, drive up to Brian Head and take the back route to Panguitch and on to Bryce. That part of the plateau is capped with basalt, which is of igneous origin, and you can see palisades of it capping the highest points on the plateau.

True, Cedar Breaks is similar to Bryce, but it is higher, and the main amphitheater to me is more spectacular.

If you want to take a float trip, you might be too late if you don't already have your reservations. I don't know that aspect of your trip, so I am speculating.

We're doing a semi-similar trip in the opposite direction...just click on my screen name and see what info others have given us.
Just booked the float trip a couple days ago and they still had room so you may be okay for that--here's the site, I did ours by phone http://www.riveradventures.com/trips_float_trips.shtml
We only have one night in Page and are staying at the very budget PageBoy motel but it got good reviews on tripadvisor.com. If we had 2 nights we'd have gone for the lakeside lodging.

Barely got in on the 2 hour Bryce horse ride canyonrides.com 435-679-8665
don't know if you've time/interest for that one.

We're in Maswik at the GC. Don't know what your dates are but I took other's advice and ordered the National Park pass online last week, covers entry to all the National Parks and it's $50, well worth it- takes 8-13 business days for delivery.

Glad you posted this since I found more tidbits for our trip!!

You can also buy your National Parks Pass at the entry gate of the first National Park you visit. So, you might as well wait until you get there.

Sedona Area : We enjoyed Montezuma's Well far more than Montezuma's Castle. The Well has no entry fee and it is closer to Sedona. Also, Sky Ranch Lodge is more of a budget-type place; the rooms don't have much appeal, but it is a clean and comfortable place. We stay there for the VIEW and the casual atmosphere. It is high up on a plateau where the airport is. You can walk to the airport restaurant for a decent meal. Despite what you read, there is no spectacular food in Sedona, so save your dining money for Las Vegas.

We are from VA and did a similar trip two summers ago with our 10 and 21 year-olds. As has been suggested, definitely take the Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour; your kids will love it. Ditto for the Colorado float trip. We booked ours at Lake Powell. WE also stayed at Lake Powell and the views are gorgeous, but we probably would stay at the Comfort Inn on the hill if we were to go again.

In Sedona, we stayed at the Orchards Inn, also previously mentioned. When you first drive up, it is not really impressive but the views from the balconies outside your room are indredible. Also, you can walk (or ride the "elevator") down the hill and hike up Oak Creek Canyon. We canceled our $300 reservations at Enchantment to stay there. Originally, the price at Orchards was $140, but when I told them we were changing because we just couldn't afford Enchantment, they reduced the rate to $100. We loved it. Just this morning my older son was saying how perfect a location it was.

Also, the visit to Antelope Canyon is awesome and does not take but about 2 - 2 1/2 hrs. We did that trip at 9:00 a.m. and then did the float trip at 1:00. Great day!

If I could make another suggestion, it would be to keep calling the Grand Canyon to try to get a second floor room at Kachina Lodge with a view into the canyon. I called every day and finally got one. There are no words to describe it.

Have a wonderful trip.

There is only one concessionaire licenced to do the river float trips on the Colorado River out of Page. http://www.riveradventures.com/trips_float_trips.shtml

With the fires in Sedona, you might consider dropping that part of your trip and spending more time at one of the other areas.

Utahtea

You will have experienced many natural wonders of the west before hitting Vegas, full of unnatural wonders! The Flamingo is a good location, we've stayed there several times, and has a reasonably priced buffet, The Paradise Garden, which looks out over their wildlife area of waterfalls, pink flamingos, swans, koi swimming around - the best atmosphere of any Vegas buffet with decent although not spectacular food. You might ask for a room on the Flamingo Road side on an upper floor toward the front corner so you can see the Bellagio fountains, or an upper floor room facing the strip so you can see Caesars and some of Bellagio.) You can wander around at your leisure between the Flamingo, Caesars Palace (catch the free talking statutes show), Bellagio (the fountains, especially at night & don't miss the Chihuly glass in the ceiling of the lobby or the floral displays in the conservatory just off the lobby, or the chocolate waterfall/fountain in the shop near the conservatory), Ballys (nothing to see but the Big Kitchen has a good breakfast buffet in a smaller setting), and Paris (best breakfast buffet in town). Going up the Eiffel Tower is not free, but you can probably get 2 for 1 coupons & the view of the strip is great at night. There are new double deck buses (the Deuce) going up and down the strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) all the way downtown, $5 for a 24 hour pass. Beats trying to drive on the strip. Have fun! You might check out the Vegas Visitor and Convention authority web site at http://www.visitlasvegas.com. You can check out what is happening in Vegas while you are there.

We leave in the morning for our trip! I just confirmed the air tickets. Was disappointed to see the seats we had so carefully chosen (windows for the girls, away from the wings)have been changed and we are now in "bad" seats. I didn't know they could change these on us when we had confirmed seating. Oh well, not going to let this put a damper on our excitement.

We appreciate all your suggestions and will be sure to give a report when we return. We'll be watching the Sedona fires and will probably have to make a decision on that part way through our trip.

Thanks so much for all the help you have given us.

Just returned yesterday from Zion and Bryce--a day in each park was ample for us. Zion was 105 degrees so hike early and take lots of H20. We're not experienced hikers, but found the trails to be do-able. We're 2 couples, ages 45 to 61. At Zion stayed at Quality Inn just outside the gate. Great locn and within walking distance of restaurants and rooms had mt view. Newish, clean, incl b'fast, but no frills. Next morning drove 85 mi to Bryce and did a full day there. Then drove 2 hrs that evening to our next destination --we were headed to Salt Lake City. We loved the parks and the drive inbetween was scenic, too.