One of the most economical ways of visiting the Grand Canyon is by bus. However, without proper planning, you could wind up getting an over-priced tour that takes you to the wrong part of the National Park.

From Las Vegas & Phoenix

The first step toward avoiding this scenario is to pick a starting point. Bus tours depart from Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ, every day of the year including all major U.S. holidays. If you heading out from Vegas, you will choose between the West Rim and the South Rim. Those in Phoenix will go to the South Rim.

Vegas visitors going to the West Rim need to be aware of the many side trips that can be added to their package. My favorite is the helicopter ride to the bottom combined with a boat ride down the famous Colorado River. Others will want to stick with just the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Then there\’s the South Rim from Vegas. This trip is incredibly popular and requires a full day to complete (the drive to the canyon is 5.5 hours one way!). It comes with up to 3 hours inside the Park, and you hit all the key sights. Many like to add a rim-to-rim helicopter tour to the mix.

Phoenix travelers can get trips that include a stop in beautiful Sedona, AZ, home of the red rocks. Then it\’s off to the South Rim, which many refer to as the \”official\” national park. Like the Vegas South Rim trip, this one includes plenty of time to explore the canyon and can also include a helicopter ride.

Complete Package

Bus tours are all-inclusive. This means they include free hotel pick up and drop off, lunch, all park entrance fees and taxes and professional guide service. Personally, I like this set up because it allows me to focus on getting the small things together for me and my group (e.g. cameras, cell phones, sun block, snacks and more).

Try to book your bus trip at least as week in advance. I know that sounds like a lot of time but in the end it will nearly guarantee you get a seat. I\’ve heard of solo travelers getting seats within 24 hours of departure but that seems to be the exception. Frankly, I don\’t like the stress of planning a trip while I\’m doing it so I like to tie up lose ends before I get to town.

Buses can transport 40 or more people at a time. If that’s too big of a crowd for you, consider booking a van tour. These customized touring vans come with all the bells and whistles and are limited to 10 people. The benefit to this is that you spend more time experiencing the canyon as opposed to burning time on logistics like the big buses do.

Conclusion

I hope this article on how to plan for a Grand Canyon bus tour proved helpful. Remember, it all starts off with picking your starting point, the best of which are Las Vegas and Phoenix. Then you have to choose which rim to visit. I say go to the West Rim if you like attractions and thrills; go to the South Rim if you prefer natural scenic beauty. Most definitely book this trips in advance, and make sure you do it online. I’m adamant about this because that’s how you get the best prices. Lastly, complete the transaction online in order to get the Internet discount.

Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. When it comes to bus tours, he recommends downloading this free report before visiting his top pick from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonbusdeals.com/paradise-found-grand-canyon-bus-tours.html

Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas. For the best trip at the right price, he recommends this company: http://www.grandcanyonbusdeals.com/paradise-found-grand-canyon-bus-tours.html

Author Bio: Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. When it comes to bus tours, he recommends downloading this free report before visiting his top pick from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonbusdeals.com/paradise-found-grand-canyon-bus-tours.html

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon bus, grand canyon tours, las vegas tours