Okay, so I want to relax and travel...?

Question

Instead of joining the tour, let's say I and my family want to go to visit grand canyon, how would you recommend me to do?

1. book the hotel/air ticket and join tour from there or find all the information here first before we fly over there.
2. Join tour here (which I don't think I would)


So, that leaves no. 1 the answer.. How do you recommend me to find a hotel that has local tour or should I get a package deal from here in the state I am in first

Answer 1

What sort of tour are you talking about? Are you from outside the USA and not able/comfortable with renting/driving in the US?

Unless you need to for logistical or expense reasons or because it is part of some larger package tour of the area, I would NOT recommend using a commercial tour group if you are just visiting the Grand Canyon. Just fly into Phoenix (Sky Harbor), rent a car, and drive up to the canyon. You can make all of your reservations (including the Grand Canyon lodges) online.

The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder and spiritual inspiration best experienced on your own time, at your own pace, and on your own terms. If you go on your own, you can choose where you want to go, how long you want to stay and what you do. You will also have the option of wandering along one of the rim trails to get a little solitude away from the developed overlooks or even hike a little ways down into the canyon (the best way to experience it, in my opinion).

If you go with one of the tours, than you are going to get herded around with a larger group of people (giving you no sense of solitude or personal connection with the canyon), you likely will not get to do any hiking and you will probably be forced to take long breaks at cheap tourist stops on the way to the canyon that have a comission contract with the tour company.

Driving up to the canyon from Phoenix is pretty easy (about 3-4 hours on Interstate and State highways) and there are many interesting little spots to stop along the way if you have the time (Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument, Montezuma Castle ruins, Sedona, historic downtown Flagstaff).

Another neat option would be to drive to Williams (just west of Flagstaff) and then take the railroad up to the canyon.

See below for related links.