subject: How To Buy A Grand Canyon Bus Tour Like A Travel Agent [print this page] Shop the Web and you'll notice that pricing for Grand Canyon bus tours are all over the map. The reason is because each tour broker has a different idea of what "all-inclusive" means. To get the right tour at the right price, you need to know what makes up a bus tour. Here are the essentials:
1. Round-trip transportation
2. Luxury buses
3. Side-trips & rest stops
4. Meals
5. "Ground time" at the Canyon
Now let's separate the wheat from the chafe...
The term "round-trip" means a lot of things to a lot of people. For you, it comes with free hotel shuttle service. This may seem like "dickering" over the details. However, the last thing you want to do after spending a day at the Canyon is figuring out how to get from Resort "X" to your room several miles down The Strip. Get it.
Not all luxury buses are created equal. Most Las Vegas tour companies are running new fleets with all the bells and whistles (oversized seats, tip-top climate control, on-board TV's). That said, some companies operate fleets that consist and new and old buses while others drive only "gently worn" ones. The final ten miles to the Skywalk is on dirt road, and, as regards the South Rim, you can expect to put in a total of nine hours on the road. Do yourself a favor: Book yourself one of the newer models.
Remember, getting there is often just as memorable as getting there. The route to the rims starts out the same: Go south on Highway 93, pass Lake Mead, and across the Hoover Dam bypass bridge, where your driver pull over for a photo stop. Not all do. I suggest you book a tour that does, as looking at the Dam from a bus window won't do it justice. If you are headed to the South Rim, the number of rest stops make a difference - drive time each way is five hours.
The Grand Canyon is a magical experience: You will want to spend as much time there as possible. Most tours give you two hours. The great ones give you three. Choose the later, especially if you are headed to the South Rim, which has some of the best views in the National Park.
Those are your basics. Next up: A plethora of upsells that I refer to as "gotchas..."
Meals - Mandatory for South Rim tours. In order to offer the lowest-priced tour, some operators leave out meals so they can upsell it later.
Park Entrance Fees - Both Rims have an entrance fee. The good operators pick it up. The so-so ones pass it on to you.
Fuel Surcharge - This was added into the package during the 2009 gas crisis. Gas is no longer $5 a gallon. The surcharge should be dropped. If it's still there, it's found money for the operator.
There are plenty of reputable tour companies in Vegas where you can buy your tour online. I strongly suggest you do this. Online savings can reach up to 45 percent. I've booked tours with the key players and can attest that they're sites are secure, safe, and efficient - after your transaction you'll receive a trip voucher in your inbox in a matter of minutes.
Getting to the Grand Canyon by bus, be it the West or the South Rim, is a snap from Las Vegas. It's also one of the best tour values you will find. Play it smart, though. Read the tour descriptions. Think about your needs. Then book online and put the money you save toward souvenirs or a night at the Blackjack tables.
