Travel Planning for the Grand Canyon

If you've already read the "Plan B" blog entry you know that my husband and I are planning a trip to hike the Grand Canyon.  In that plan I eluded to the fact that it is difficult (to say the least) to get reservations at the Phantom Ranch (cabins at the bottom).  Now, there are other places to stay........campgrounds in the Canyon, hotels and campgrounds around the Rim(s), etc., but the biggest challenge is trying to coordinate ALL of them!

What do I mean by that?  Well, I'll tell you.  Phantom Ranch, as well as most of the South Rim lodges located within the Grand Canyon National Park, are operated by Xanterra, but the campgrounds located within the Canyon itself are run by the National Park Service. 

I am by no means trying to make disparraging comments about either Xanterra or the National Parks Service, they are both EXCELLENT organizations, but they both make it very difficult for the consumer to plan a trip.

I will take you step by step through my experiences in this.  Again, I don't do this to prove that these organzations could do things differently, but to educate YOU should you decide to try this yourself.

I'm going to start my timeline of events here, but as the process evolves I will be adding separate blog entries dedicated to just the travel planning of this!

Sunday, May 21, 2006.......8pm-ish

The scene - Darren and I at home, on the couch, glass of wine in hand, laptop fired up and ready to make reservations.  We've made the decision to hike the Grand Canyon and we're going to do it in November...therefore just extending our Thanksgiving vacation.

The starting position is the Xanterra website to 'request' the dates.  By 'request' I mean request....you take your calendar decide what dates you intend to be hiking/staying inside the Canyon.  For us this means we're looking at November 14-17.  Why then?  We'll fly to Phoenix on 11/13 and drive to the Canyon and spend the night at one of the hotels at the top.  Hike down in on 11/14, spend 2 nights at Phantom Ranch, 1 night at Indian Gardens campground, hike out on 11/17, drive to Sedona to meet the family.  At least this is what we are 'requesting'....

I fill out the Request form....how many male hikers/female hikes, how many meals we need, etc.  Don't forget to enter your credit card info!  Now, the Request Form is just that.  They do not make online reservations, essentially you are sending an email request to see if there is availability.  Once you've completed the necessary fields and click 'submit' you will receive a "Thank You" message which tells you that you should receive an email or phone call within 72 hours to inform you whether or not they can accommodate your 'request'.  (there's that word again)

Okay...I've done my Phantom Ranch 'request', now I've got to find us a hotel for the first arrival night, 11/13 and I still need to reserve the Indian Gardens campsite.

Since we are hiking where Darren wants to go and staying where Darren wants to stay (i.e. Indian Gardens campground-if you've read my other blogs you already know I'm not a big fan of camping.  Also, Phantom Ranch isn't what one would call luxury accommodations, they are dorm style bunks) in the Canyon I am going to choose where we stay at the top! 

I've chosen El Tovar!  Surprised?  Neither was he!  Anyway, I said if I have to go camping then I'm going to at least make myself happy by staying at the highest-end lodge at the top!  El Tovar is an historic hotel and it is hard to get reservations for (as is everything within the park), but lucky for him they have availability!  Why is it 'lucky for him'?  Because I would be a royal bitch otherwise!  

TIP - Oh, and by the way, read the fine print before you make the reservation.  You have to enter a credit card, of course, but your reservation is guaranteed via prepayment of at least one night's room + tax.  No big deal, right?  Be aware that the fine print reads that the rate you are quoted (and just paid at least one night of) is NOT guaranteed!  They reserve to change the rates and you are subject to the change.  There, you've been warned.

Okay, we're on a roll tonight.....Honey, pour me another glass of wine while I work on the Indian Gardens reservation!

Now that the first 3 nights are taken care of (or so I think) it's time to work on the last night.  We've decided that it would be easier on us physically to stay at the Indian Gardens site on the way back up as that is about the halfway point on the trail.  We know that we'll already be tired and sore from the hike down so why push it?  Besides, how often does one get to be inside such an amazing place....might as well soak up as much of it as you can.

To make reservations for any of the actual campsites within the canyon you have to jump over to the National Park Services website.  Here you cannot even do the 'request' as you do with Xanterra.  You can only print out the 'request form' to complete and then either mail or fax it in.  Ugh......I can't deal with that tonight, I'll look at it again tomorrow.