subject: Tips to Purchasing a Grand Canyon Bus Tour from Las Vegas [print this page] Tips to Purchasing a Grand Canyon Bus Tour from Las Vegas
Prices for bus tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas are all over the map. The reason behind this is how operators market trips as all-inclusive. Some trip packages come with everything. Others are so basic that the most you can count on is a seat on the coach. Let's get you the right deal. That starts by understanding what makes up the standard bus trip. Here are the basics:
1. Round-trip transport
2. Luxury buses
3. Pullouts and comfort breaks
4. Meals
5. Time spent at the Park
Now let's look at this in more detail...
Round-trip means many things to a lot of people. For you, it includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. This might look like quibbling over the details. However, the very 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.
Motor coaches come in all shapes and sizes. 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). However, some operate blended fleets of new and older models, and others are driving "gently worn" ones. Quality makes a difference, especially when it comes to tackling the final 10 miles of dirt road to Grand Canyon West or putting in nine hours of road time to the South Rim. Do yourself a favor: Book yourself one of the newer models.
The journey is as important as the destination. The route to the West Rim and the South Rim starts the same: Follow Highway 93 South out of Vegas, skirt Lake Mead and cross the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge, where your driver-guide should pull over for a photo-stop of the dam. Not every tour does this. It is advisable to book a tour that does, as looking at the Dam from a bus window won't do it justice. Lastly, if you are headed to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, make sure there are scheduled rest stops as one-way drive time is five hours.
Seeing the Grand Canyon the very first time is a magical experience. You'll want to spend as much time as you can at each rim. Most tours give you two hours. The best ones give you three hours. You want the tour that gives you the most time, especially if you are visiting the South Rim, which has the best lookouts, gift shops, and museums.
That's the basics. Here are a handful of upsells that I characterize as "gotchas:"
1. Meals - Mandatory for South Rim tours. Operators cut meals so they can offer a low-priced tour that they can upsell on.
2. Park Entrance Fees - Both Rims have an entrance fee. The best companies include it in the price of your tour. The so-so ones pass it on to you.
3. 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.
The majority of the reputable Las Vegas-based tour companies have a website on which you can purchase your tour. I highly recommend that you book through the Web. Online savings can reach up to 35 %. 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 an incredible value. But you have to buy it smart. Pay attention to the tour descriptions and what they include. Consider what you want out of the tour. Then book online and put the money you saved toward souvenirs or a night at the Blackjack tables.
