Grand Canyon via Vegas

[JEDI]

I'm going to Vegas in mid-March and want to visit the Grand Canyon.

I have a rental car but since it's a 4hr drive each way, I'm think of one of these:
1) take tour bus
2) helicopter ride
3) airplane fly-by

Yes/No?

Also, If you've been to the Grand Canyon, what are your tips + suggestions?

Thx

 

[XZeroII]

Drive there the night before and get a hotel nearby. Visit and hike down the next day and drive back at night.

I did that from Scottsdale during a conference. It's about a 3 hour drive from Scottsdale and it wasn't too overwhelming. Just remember, it's just a big hole in the ground. Unless you're planning on actually doing something there like hike down it or something, it's not worth it.

 

[nickbits]

I took a tour bus. No complaints.

 

[Ns1]

I would have done the helicopter ride. You can get a 2 for 1 by renting a hotel room from Expedia.

 

[ultimatebob]

The helicopter ride where you get to land in the canyon is awesome... I've done it twice!

 

[JEDI]

The helicopter ride where you get to land in the canyon is awesome... I've done it twice!

how much?

link?

 

[EagleKeeper]

The helicopter ride where you get to land in the canyon is awesome... I've done it twice!

how much?

link?

Most every hotel in the Las Vegas area has promo brochures for flights.
They will usually fly out of either the North Las Vegas airport, McCarren or Boulder City.

There are 4-6 companies that are setup.
You may find more via search links; but they may be shells for the actual flights.

 

[thegimp03]

I have a friend that did it with a group of her friends and they did the bus route to save money. She told me when she got back that they should have paid the extra for the helicopter trip instead - as being hungover from being out at the clubs all night made for a shitty bus ride. I think one of the companies that runs helicopter tours is Papillon.

 

[ultimatebob]

how much?

link?

http://www.papillon.com/

I did the Grand Celebration Tour with the Vegas strip add-on. It cost a small fortune, but hey... I was on vacation

 

[JEDI]

http://www.papillon.com/

I did the Grand Celebration Tour with the Vegas strip add-on. It cost a small fortune, but hey... I was on vacation

wow.. $309

how long did it take? how many hrs?

 

[Ns1]

wow.. $309

how long did it take? how many hrs?

Sorry the 2 for 1 is no longer on expedia, but if you book with them you can get this:

Receive a $50 gift certificate for use on any helicopter excursion to the Grand Canyon or over the Las Vegas Strip with Maverick Helicopters, Maverick Airlines or Mustang Helicopters. Daily flights departing from the Las Vegas Strip or the South Las Vegas Valley. Half-day or full-day excursions available. Tours start as low as $109 USD.

 

[ultimatebob]

wow.. $309

how long did it take? how many hrs?

I think that it was a bit more than that with the strip upgrade. It probably varies on the season.

The trip is about 3 hours total. The bus picks you up at your hotel, and you check in at the airport where they do a safety briefing and take some pictures. Then it's a 45 minute flight there, about 40 minutes for pictures and lunch at the canyon, and about 45 minutes back including the strip tour.

The trip back seems quicker... probably because they take a straight shot back instead of meandering around Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

 

[Chess]

its a long ride on the bus if you do it... grand canyon is cool to do... it is worth checking out

 

[pyonir]

Just remember, it's just a big hole in the ground. Unless you're planning on actually doing something there like hike down it or something, it's not worth it.

I disagree completely. I've been there 3 times and haven't hiked into it any of the times and it was still very much worth it. Anyone should be able to appreciate the beauty and enormity of it from the edge.

If someone wants to do a heli ride, hike into it, etc, the more power to them, but to say it isn't worth viewing unless you do those things, IMO, is completely ridiculous.

 

[XZeroII]

I disagree completely. I've been there 3 times and haven't hiked into it any of the times and it was still very much worth it. Anyone should be able to appreciate the beauty and enormity of it from the edge.

If someone wants to do a heli ride, hike into it, etc, the more power to them, but to say it isn't worth viewing unless you do those things, IMO, is completely ridiculous.

I disagree. I just viewed it the first time and thought it was amazing. I hiked it the next time and it was so much better. You don't have to hike the entire thing like I did. Just a few miles down to the first or second camp site is more than enough to get some really cool views.

 

[JEDI]

Sorry the 2 for 1 is no longer on expedia, but if you book with them you can get this:

Receive a $50 gift certificate for use on any helicopter excursion to the Grand Canyon or over the Las Vegas Strip with Maverick Helicopters, Maverick Airlines or Mustang Helicopters. Daily flights departing from the Las Vegas Strip or the South Las Vegas Valley. Half-day or full-day excursions available. Tours start as low as $109 USD.

got a link? cant find maverick on expedia,much less the $109 deal?

 

[ultimatebob]

Come on JEDI... you're going to Vegas! It's time to party like you're a 1%'er

 

[Triumph]

Drive there the night before and get a hotel nearby. Visit and hike down the next day and drive back at night.

I did that from Scottsdale during a conference. It's about a 3 hour drive from Scottsdale and it wasn't too overwhelming. Just remember, it's just a big hole in the ground. Unless you're planning on actually doing something there like hike down it or something, it's not worth it.

I agree and disagree with you. If all you think it is, is a big hole in the ground, then don't even bother going at all. But if you're going to go, going into it is one of the greatest things ever, and it takes more of a commitment than many simple tourists are going to make. Hiking in and out of the canyon was one of the highlights of my life.

That being said, I'd take a bus if I didn't want to drive from Vegas. To me, flying a helicopter into the canyon is kinda spoiling the natural beauty of it. One of the most attractive things about it is how remote and generally inaccessible it is. Then you go flying right into it with a helicopter, kinda spoils that aspect...But whatever.

 

[Wyndru]

On our honeymoon, we took a tour that flew a small prop plane out of vegas right to the canyon, and we got out and walked around on top of the canyon. It was ok, but the single prop plane was scary, and the first plane we took had to turn around and land in vegas again because it overheated partway over there. The second plane was a better ride though, and I got to sit co-pilot which was neat.

I've heard good things about the helicopter rides though.

 

[DesiPower]

Drive, stop by Hoover Dam and SkyWalk, reach Williams by evening, stand night there, next day spend at the Grand Canyon and head back late evening.

 

[Bashbelly]

Take a small telescope (or a big one) with you. If not possible get some 15x70 binoculars. Night sky at grand canyon is something unreal.

 

[rcpratt]

I'm going to the Grand Canyon from Scottsdale in April. We gave the helicopter thing some thought, but I think we're going to end up doing the south rim mule tour.

 

[JEDI]

I'm going to the Grand Canyon from Scottsdale in April. We gave the helicopter thing some thought, but I think we're going to end up doing the south rim mule tour.

mule rides sound awesome!

guess i'll be driving there since google has failed me in transportation to grand canyon/mule tours combo.

tours are given by the park itself for $120 south Rim 3hrs.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/mule_trips.htm

 

[EagleKeeper]

North rim by the Valley of Fire also has mule rides. The Skywalk is there. Closer to LV and IMHO nicer. Less touristy.
Google "mule rides grand canyon north rim"
3-4 outfits from 1 hr to half/full day trips.

While stationed at Vegas/Nellis, I experienced both rims. Never made it info the canyon itself

 

[JEDI]

North rim by the Valley of Fire also has mule rides. The Skywalk is there. Closer to LV and IMHO nicer. Less touristy.
Google "mule rides grand canyon north rim"
3-4 outfits from 1 hr to half/full day trips.

While stationed at Vegas/Nellis, I experienced both rims. Never made it info the canyon itself

North Rim is closed during the winter:
Season: May 15 thru October 15