Here we are bounding into February and before you know it the crush of Grand Canyon tour reservations will be coming in. Happens like clockwork. Or, as my hunting buddy says, "Like a flock of migrating ducks."

In order to get everyone prepared for their upcoming helicopter rides, I put together these five tips on how to get the best trip possible. Of course, there are more tips and I might right a follow up article, but for now these are the essentials.

First tip is the most critical: Which rim do you want to visit? You can go to the West Rim or the South Rim. I'd let you stew on the matter but this is really determined by your starting point: Las Vegas, NV, or Tusayan, AZ (a/k/a South Rim).

So let's start with Las Vegas. Which rim is dependent on the kind of tour you want. Helicopters, for example, ONLY go to the West Rim. Airplanes and bus tours go to both while rafting is to be had only at the base of Hoover Dam.

As for Tusayan/South Rim. This is the prime destination for folks traveling from Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff and Williams. I get asked all the time about travel to the West Rim and I usually try to talk people out of it because it's too far to really enjoy in a day. Anyhow, South Rim helicopter, airplane, rafting and jeep tours stick solely to that area.

Here's an article about South v.s. West

RSVP

My next tip is to always buy your tour ahead of time. Or, to rephrase, before you get to your destination. Sure, some of you might have gotten away with that during winter when business slows down but summer is an entirely different ballgame.

From March through September, trips sell out often and that's why I'm recommending you book your adventure at least a week or two before you get here. Not only will this nearly guarantee you will get seats but it means you'll get a better price. Here are more reasons to RSVP

This brings me to my next tip: Getting deals. Yes, they exist but remember that in summer demand outstrips supply so tour operators are really under no pressure to knock the price down. That doesn't mean throw in the towel. Instead, purchase your trip online and in advance and you'll ALWAYS get a fair price.

Window Seats

This tip is for travelers interested in air tours. Put in a request for a window seat. When it comes to helicopters and airplanes, seating is dictated by the overall weight of every passenger. Thus seats are assigned at check in. This is the time to ask. Or better yet, request it during the online checkout process.

Window seats on helicopters run an extra $50 while for airplanes it's an additional $10. That's a pittance compared to the awesomeness of being at the window. However, I understand that air tours aren't the cheapest travel option, so if asked if you want the window, you can always decline. My suggestion is at least give yourself the option of saying "no."

My final tip concerns the tours themselves. These are tours I categorize as optional trips and they are a huge hit with travelers because they put you in control. Perfect example is the West Rim bus tour with optional Skywalk. The glass bridge isn't for everyone and if that's you then it's best to take the "option" trip and buy a skywalk ticket on-site if find you want to do it. Of course, this tactic costs more than if you did a package that included the bridge but at least you have a choice.

Conclusion

So there you have my hot 5 tips for Grand Canyon tours. If you need more info on certain tips, click the links in the article. They'll take you to pages packed with specifics. For now, the suggestions above will get you to the tour you want quickly and effectively. And if you find you still have questions, email or call me. I'm always happy to help.

Click Here for Grand Canyon Tour Prices & Availability

Travel on!

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