If you\’re visiting Las Vegas this summer, remember that the Grand Canyon is just 120 miles away. This proximity is ideal for those who want to take a Canyon air tour. However, in order to get the flight that\’s right for you, there are few \”rules of the road\” to follow.

I\’ll start by resolving the primary issue, which is to go by helicopter or airplane.

First, helicopters cost more than airplanes. This is because they only hold six people versus 19 people for planes. If you want to be part of this exclusivity, you\’ll have to pay for it.

Limited Seating

Further, because seats are limited on helicopters, you\’ll often find them sold out. This situation comes up a lot if you\’re a group of four or more. If you find yourself in this situation, go with an airplane tour because there\’s more capacity.

Helicopters hover while airplanes fly. Hovering can come in handy, especially if you want to check out Hoover Dam or the Skywalk. And helicopters also fly at a lower altitude, which means you\’ll get a better look at the landscape below.

In the case of Las Vegas helicopter tours, you\’ll be able to fly under the rim and land at the bottom if you so choose. In fact, the most popular Vegas tour is the one that goes to the base for a Champagne picnic (this can even be extended to include a Colorado River boat ride).

Bottom Landings

Please note that South Rim helicopters are not allowed to fly below the rim and land as the National Park Service bans it. Thus at South Rim, you\’ll have to pick from two terrific air-only flights, and in this instance, I strongly recommend the 50-minute package.

Unlike helicopters, airplanes can\’t land at the bottom. If you want to land, you\’ll do it at the top of the rim. At West Rim, which is just 120 miles from Las Vegas, you can add a helicopter to the bottom and a boat ride to your package. South Rim only has air-only tours from which to choose.

Then there\’s the type of aircraft itself. In the case of helicopters, you can choose from a Bell Ranger or an EcoStar 130. The Bell is the more basic of the two and sometimes comes with a rear-facing jump seat. The EcoStar, on the other hand, is 25 percent bigger and is equipped with stadium-style seats and a 180-degree wraparound windshield.

Too Popular

Air tours are extremely popular, especially during the summer months. As noted earlier, sellouts are common, and they happen more on helicopter rides than airplane flights. To avoid getting left on the tarmac, I recommend booking your flight at least a week or two prior to your desired departure date.

Many travelers tell me they delay their booking until they arrive at their destination. Don\’t do this. In most cases, you a) won\’t get the flight you want; b) you won\’t get a flight at all; or c) you\’ll end up paying a premium to get a flight that you\’re not totally happy with.

In combination with booking ahead of time, I strongly recommend that you book online. This is usually where the best deals are. In the case of certain helicopter tours, you can save up to 35 percent. Concerning airplanes, there\’s an opportunity to save up to 25 percent, oftentimes even more!

So there you have it. I hope this article helps you pick the Canyon air tour of you dreams. Bon voyage!

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ that makes these helicopter rides much cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/papillon-helicopters/

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ that makes these helicopter rides much cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/papillon-helicopters/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ that makes these helicopter rides much cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/papillon-helicopters/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon tours, grand canyon flights, grand canyon helicopters, las vegas tours