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| - We booked the bus our to the west rim of the Grand Canyon for the first week of January.
We found a great deal online (around 140 USD per person), including a morning snack, lunch, bus from and to Las Vegas, as well as tickets for the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon.
The booking process was very easy online, and about 2 days before our tour we called in to confirm the pick-up time. We were told to be at a neighboring hotel (ours wasn't on the pick-up list, but another hotel was just across the street) at 6:05am. We arrived there on time, but were told by the hotel staff that "the bus is usually 20 minutes late". Not great to hear that, especially not, when you had to get up at 5:15. Around 6:25am, the bus arrived indeed, and I thought that would be the one taking us to the Canyon. I was mistaken though. The first bus only took us out of downtown Las Vegas, and brought us to a collective station where all travelers to west and south rim that booked with the company were gathered. A friendly staff member explained the further procedure to us: we would split up in two groups now (one west rim-travelers, others going to the south), then check-in (a process that only takes half a minute getting us stickers for the appropriate bus as well as the skywalk-wristbands), then have a quick breakfast, and then (finally!) leave for the Grand Canyon.
I have to say that part of the day annoyed me, since it seemed like a long waiting period, and all I wanted is to get on the bus.
The breakfast snack was ok, a small orange juice and coffee as well as a danish was provided for free. After having food, the west rim travelers were asked to queue for their buses.
This is when the tour really started to be great fun.
First of all, the buses are really comfortable, clean and modern. They are equipped adjustable back-rests, air conditioning and on-board toilets (which I didn't use but assume was clean like the rest of the bus).
Our driver was by far the best driver EVER, highly entertaining and with his sympathetic jokes and laughs almost better than the canyon. All passengers were amused by his funny stories. Dwayne, most handsome of all bus drivers, we love you and we would take the tour anytime again just to hear your Sesame Street Ernie laugh! =)
But let's get back to the tour itself: There was a 15-minute stop at the hoover dam, which we could photograph from the newly constructed bridge. Great bonus, since not all bus companies stop here.
Another short stop took us to an Indian gift shop/supermarket in Arizona, and the last stop about 40 miles before the canyon was mandatory to change buses (the expensive buses can't go on the dirt road to the canyon, understandable).
After about 4 hours in total (including the stops), we arrived at the canyon's visitor center. There, we hopped on the buses that drives a loop from the Eagle Point to Guano Point back to the visitor center.
We stepped out at the Eagle Point (where the Skywalk is located), and spent about 80 minutes there. Be aware that the canyon is not secured, so if you take a wrong step, you might actually end up at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Don't be a daredevil here!!! I would recommend to go to the South rim if you're planning to take children, we were told that it's more secure.
The Skywalk was pretty impressive, and I recommend it for new visitors, since there you can truly look down, and the photographers will take great pictures of the visitors.
The Eagle Point is also displaying some Native American Tipis and typical housing. Native American dances were announced, but not ongoing while we were there, so I can't report.
Next stop was Guano Point, the nature there was even more impressive, and the views more stunning than before. We also had food there (which is included in the trip), that was pretty good.
Our group was meeting at 3:30pm at the bus (we had about 4 hours at the canyon), to be taken back to Vegas (one stop to change buses). We arrived around 7pm.
It was a great day!
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This is a review for http://www.allgrandcanyontours.com
All Grand Canyon Tours
4285 N Rancho Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89130
United States
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