How to Buy an All-Inclusive Grand Canyon Bus Tour

Prices for bus tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas are all over the map. The reason for this is how operators market trips as all-inclusive. Some are comprehensive, while others are bare bones. To help you get the right deal, let’s look at what constitutes a standard bus tour. Here are the basics:
Round-trip transportation Luxury buses Side-trips & rest stops Meals “Ground time” at the Canyon Now let’s separate the wheat from the chafe…

Round-trip means a lot of things to a lot of people. For you, it includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. This may seem like “dickering” over the details. However, the last thing you want to do after spending a day at the Canyon is figuring out how to get from Resort “X” to your room several miles down The Strip. Get it.

Not all luxury buses are created equal. Most Las Vegas tour companies are running new fleets with all the bells and whistles (oversized seats, tip-top climate control, on-board TV’s). However, some operate blended fleets of new and older models, and others are driving “gently worn” ones. The last ten miles to the West Rim is on a dirt road, and, when it comes to the South Rim, expect to put in nine hours on the road. Do yourself a favor: Book yourself one of the newer models.

The journey is as important as the destination. The route to the Rims starts out the same: Take Highway 93 South, past Lake Mead and over Hoover Dam, where you driver should stop and let you sightsee the Dam. Not all do. I suggest you book a tour that does, as looking at the Dam from a bus window won’t do it justice. Also, if you are bound for the South Rim, rest stops matter – drive time each way is five hours.

The Grand Canyon is a magical experience: You will want to spend as much time there as possible. Most tours give you two hours. The great ones give you three. Take the later, especially if you are going to the South Rim, which features some terrific lookouts and a handful of great gift shops.

Those are your basics. Now comes a series of upsells that I call “gotchas…”

Meals – Mandatory for South Rim tours. Operators cut meals so they can offer a low-priced tour that they can upsell on.

Park Entrance Fees – Both Rims have an entrance fee. The good operators pick it up. The so-so ones pass it on to you.

Fuel Surcharge – This was added into the package during the 2009 gas crisis. Gas is no longer $5 a gallon. The surcharge should be dropped. If it’s still there, it’s found money for the operator.

Most of the reputable Las Vegas-based tour companies have websites on which you can purchase your tour. I strongly suggest you do this. Online savings can reach up to 45 percent. I’ve booked tours with the key players and can attest that they’re sites are secure, safe, and efficient – after your transaction you’ll receive a trip voucher in your inbox in a matter of minutes.

Getting to the Grand Canyon by bus, be it the West or the South Rim, is a snap from Las Vegas. It’s also one of the best tour values you will find. Play it smart, though. Read the tour descriptions. Think about your needs. Then book online put the money you saved toward souvenirs or a night at the Blackjack tables.


Luxor Hotel Casino