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| - I'm very glad I booked with Grand Adventures. Alfonso was a great, personalized guide for a day seeing one of the most beautiful natural sights in the entire world.
The short review:
Grand Adventures is as advertised--a small, super friendly, and extremely knowledgable tour operator who've been taking small groups of people from Vegas to the Grand Canyon for more than a decade (or longer?). They're responsive, experienced, and have figured out how to make a very long drive and very long day as fun, educational, and comfortable as you can fairly expect. Alfonso is friendly, good-humored, and an absolute expert on the history of the Grand Canyon, Hoover dam, Las Vegas, and every other place you'll go through. It's still a guided tour, so if you're in it for hiking, or want to do whatever you want at all times, maybe rent a car and go yourself. I'd probably do that next time. But for everyone else, and for first time visitors, Grand Adventures is the way to go. I highly recommend them.
Additional things to know:
- pickup time is always super early, but especially early in winter (6am), so get a good night's sleep beforehand, and be ready at your pickup time.
- absolutely bring a pillow for the ride (got that tip here). Even if you're like me and never sleep in cars, it's a nice amenity. If you go to the South Rim, you'll be doing 600 miles in a day. Bring anything to make hat more comfortable for yourself--there's plenty of room in the van.
- about that van--as promised, they leave every middle seat empty, so you end up with a small group and everyone has plenty of room.
- bring snacks and water. Alfonso gave us as much water and snacks as we wanted, but you'll want to supplement with things that you like. I ate breakfast before my pickup and didn't regret it--I just saved the fast food breakfast for an elevensies snack. You also might want extra food for the drive home, as you'll only have had lunch and will arrive back as late as 10-11pm in the winter, if things go late.
- be friendly and talkative with your group mates! Seriously, everyone is there for the same reason, they're all excited, and it makes the trip way better to make some road trip friends. Alfonso did a great job of introducing everyone, lightening the mood, and helping everyone be comfortable together.
- if you're going solo like I did, I highly recommend sitting up front or taking the way back seat in the van--I sat in the last row going, and had the entire row to stretch out and relax, plus I made friends with the couple in front. There's also secret windows back there (and nowhere else in the midsection). I sat up front with Alfonso driving back, because I was bolt awake, everyone else was sleeping, and he's a very interesting guy to talk to. Plus, it helps make his ride more fun to have someone to talk to on the 4-hour drive back to Vegas in total darkness.
- use every single bathroom at every stop, even if you don't have to--I stupidly chugged a large tea at breakfast and was about to explode for the next hour. Don't be the one who forces and unplanned rest stop because you were bladder-cocky and restroom-foolish.
Oh, yeah: the Grand Canyon is probably the most beautiful sight I've ever taken in. The money, planning, drive, late night, and minor discomforts all vanish once you stand on the edge of the most impressive abyss our country (nay, the world) has to offer us. You will be awed.
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