Grand Canyon Accomodations Tips

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What's so special about the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon?

The El Tovar Hotel

The El Tovar Hotel

I worked at the El Tovar restaurant in the front and back of the house. It's a beautiful building, and you shouldn't miss dining there on your trip to the Grand Canyon. If the price of dinner is a little too steep for your wallet, try the restaurant for breakfast or lunch instead.

Watch the open log beams above your head as you dine. You may see a ring-tailed cat or two balancing their way across the beams. These little animals look like a cross between a raccoon and a house cat (hence their name). They're fast, so you'll have to keep your eyes open to spot them!

Be prepared to wait for a table if you don't have a reservation in the summertime. Waits can be long – 2 hours or more. Luckily there's a small lounge off the restaurant where you can relax while you wait for your table.

   
I'm not into history. Are there any contemporary hotels at the Grand Canyon?

Contemporary Hotels at the Grand Canyon

If you're not a history buff, you can still stay in style on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Two modern hotels are located on the rim walk between the historic El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodges. The Thunderbird and Kachina Lodges offer many rooms with canyon views, in-room safes and refrigerators, and much more.

Neither of these lodges offers dining rooms, so guests will have to visit other lodge dining rooms for their meals. However, the rooms are more contemporary than the historic lodge rooms, and some offer more amenities, too. People with disabilities may find these rooms a bit easier to navigate, and there are special rooms designed for disabled guests available in Thunderbird Lodge.

   
Where is Havasupai, and what makes it so special?

Havasupai, the Gem of the Grand Canyon

One of the most breathtaking spots in the Grand Canyon is located outside the boundaries of the national park in the tiny village of Supai on Havasupai Indian tribal lands. The trip to Supai isn't easy, but once you get there, the vivid turquoise pools and rushing waterfalls are worth the effort.

Supai is a rustic village located in Havasu Canyon near the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, about 3 to 4 hours west of Flagstaff. The only ways to reach it are by mule, hiking, rafting, or by helicopter. The hike is rigorous, and you must bring all your own gear if you plan to camp in the very rustic campground.

There is also lodging available in Supai at The Lodge, which is a modest hotel operated by the tribe. There's a small café and general store in the village too, and that's about it.

What visitors come for are the magnificent waterfalls and pools located in Havasu Canyon. Supai is legendary for these waterfalls, and the secluded village offers just the right atmosphere to enjoy these spectacular natural wonders.

   
Is there any lodging beneath the rim of the Grand Canyon?

Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the Grand Canyon, and hikers who tackle the trek below the rim don't have to carry a tent and vittles along with their other supplies. They can stay at Phantom Ranch, a rustic haven at the bottom of the canyon that's the only lodging located beneath the canyon's rim.

Built in 1922 and designed by architect Mary E. J. Colter, the historic ranch features several rustic cabins and a main lodge where meals are served. There are also separate male and female dormitories. Hikers need to make advance reservations for the dormitories and for their meals. Mule riders on the overnight trip utilize the cabins, and their meals are included in the trip.

All the supplies for Phantom Ranch have to come by mule train down the Bright Angel Trail from the rim, or flown in by helicopter. Mules and hikers cross the Colorado River over the Kaibab Suspension Bridge, a feat of engineering built in 1928 to replace a footbridge built in 1921.

   
What's the nicest hotel located inside Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona?

Rustic Elegance at the El Tovar

Built in 1905, the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon in Arizona helped begin the tradition of rustic but elegant lodging in the national parks. The hotel was designed by Charles Whittlessey for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, who was the first company to send trains filled with tourists to the canyon.

Today, the El Tovar serves the resort tourist market with a fine dining room, lounge, upscale guest rooms and impeccable service. Some of the notable architecture includes the whimsical balustrades, which resemble architecture more Swiss-chalet than rustic southwestern, and the great stone fireplace in the lobby.

The hotel is located only 20 feet from the canyon rim, with excellent canyon views from a few tables in the dining room. When you make reservations ask for seating in the Canyon room, a two-tiered private dining room off the main room that features wide, panoramic canyon views through large plate-glass windows.

   
Who designed the Bright Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon?

The Bright Angel Lodge

If you enjoy a little history with your hotel stay, then the Bright Angel Lodge is a fantastic spot to relax during your trip to the Grand Canyon. Designed and built out of native stone, and timber, the lodge is now an Arizona legend and has been declared a National Historic Landmark.

Rustic and charming, the lodge was planned by Southwest architect Mary E. J. Colter, who designed many park landmarks, including the Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Hermit's Rest, and the Desert Watchtower. Built in 1935, it's been updated many times since then, but always to the original look and feel of the building Colter created.

The Bright Angel has always been the hub of activity at the canyon. Mule riders check in at the Bright Angel, and lodging includes cozy cabins that bring back the charm of the 1930s. Some offer fireplaces and canyon views. Don't miss the massive fireplace in the lobby of the lodge, or the history room with additional stories of the lodge and its construction.

   
What's so special about the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon?

The El Tovar Hotel

The El Tovar Hotel

I worked at the El Tovar restaurant in the front and back of the house. It's a beautiful building, and you shouldn't miss dining there on your trip to the Grand Canyon. If the price of dinner is a little too steep for your wallet, try the restaurant for breakfast or lunch instead.

Watch the open log beams above your head as you dine. You may see a ring-tailed cat or two balancing their way across the beams. These little animals look like a cross between a raccoon and a house cat (hence their name). They're fast, so you'll have to keep your eyes open to spot them!

Be prepared to wait for a table if you don't have a reservation in the summertime. Waits can be long – 2 hours or more. Luckily there's a small lounge off the restaurant where you can relax while you wait for your table.

   
How far ahead should I make reservations if I want to stay at one of the Grand Canyon hotels?

Make Your Reservations Early!

Some people like to travel without reservations, stopping where they will along the road when it seems right. If your travel plans in Arizona include a stop at the Grand Canyon, that's not such a good idea. Over 5 million visitors explore the park every year, and most of them arrive in the summer months, so accommodations can be at a real premium.

While there are plenty of Grand Canyon accommodations around the park for miles, inside the park boundaries you'll only find six hotels, and only four of those are located on the rim. There are several more choices outside the park in Tusayan, and Valle, and then you'll have to travel to Williams or Flagstaff to find a room. So, most people recommend making reservations at least three to six months in advance, or even up to a year for the busiest summer season. You can make reservations online for all the hotels inside the park, and many outside the park boundaries, as well.

   
Is there lodging in Grand Canyon West?

Grand Canyon West Lodging

Tourists who'd like to spend a night or two in Grand Canyon West can stay at the Grand Canyon Hualapai Lodge, which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Indian Nation. The Lodge is located in Peach Springs, Arizona, about 150 miles from Las Vegas, an easy drive from the Strip.

The Lodge offers a restaurant and other amenities. Visitors can combine lodging with raft, helicopter, or SUV tours of Grand Canyon West. Children under 15 stay for free in the parent's room, and the rates are quite reasonable.

The Grand Canyon Hualapi Lodge is the closest lodging to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, too.

   
Where is the Grand Canyon Village Historic District?

The Village Historic District

The Grand Canyon Village Historic District stretches from Verkamps Curio Shop in the east to the Kolb Studio in the west. Most all the buildings in this district were constructed at the turn of the 20th century, even before the canyon became a park in 1919.

You can drive most of the district on the Village Loop Road, and along that road, you'll also see many other native stone buildings that house park operations and staff. The large, native stone buildings with the green barn-like roofs and the pens outside are mule barns, used to house the mules that tackle the trails of the canyon every day.

You can't tell, but sprinkled in among these buildings are dorms for seasonal workers and side streets that lead to some of the residential areas of the village. Most of the people who work at the canyon live right here in the village, and if you explore some of the back roads, you'll see Park Service and concessionaire neighborhoods that look just like your own neighborhood back home.

   
Is there lodging in the village of Supai?

Havasupai Lodging

The Havasupai Indian village of Supai, located in Havasu Canyon, is remote – only accessible by mule, foot, or helicopter. Havasupai means "People-of-the-Blue-Green-Waters," and once you visit, you'll understand why. The highlights of Supai are the turquoise pools and roaring waterfalls that beckon visitors from all over the world.

You can camp in Suapi at a primitive campground that operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, or you can stay at the rustic Lodge in the village. The rooms have no phone or television, but they are charming and clean. Located at the base of a steep cliff, the Lodge is located about 1 1/2 miles (hiking) from Navajo Falls, the first of three beautiful waterfalls that cascade into deep, blue-green pools. Swimming is encouraged, and the photographic opportunities are endless.

All visitors must pay a fee and register with the Havasupai Tribe when they enter the village of Supai.

   
Do employees and staff members really live AND work at the Grand Canyon?

Employee Lodging at the Grand Canyon

If you haven't visited the Grand Canyon for several years, you may wonder where the concessionaire, Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, disappeared to. Actually, the company operating the lodging and dining inside the park is still the same; they've just updated their company name to Xanterra.

Xanterra also operates concessions on the North Rim of the canyon, along with Death Valley, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, and even Mount Rushmore, and has a long history in the park system. Originally the Fred Harvey Company, they were the first company to offer services inside national parks like the Grand Canyon.

You also may wonder about lodging all those employees that serve you during your visit to the canyon. Yes, that's right, all the Park Service employees and Xanterra employees work in the park, but live there too! There are a limited number of homes and cabins located inside the park, where some employees live. However, most of the staff live in several dormitories located inside the park, just off the rim, or outside the park in Tusayan.

   
Where is the Grand Canyon Village Historic District?

The Village Historic District

The Grand Canyon Village Historic District stretches from Verkamps Curio Shop in the east to the Kolb Studio in the west. Most all the buildings in this district were constructed at the turn of the 20th century, even before the canyon became a park in 1919.

You can drive most of the district on the Village Loop Road, and along that road, you'll also see many other native stone buildings that house park operations and staff. The large, native stone buildings with the green barn-like roofs and the pens outside are mule barns, used to house the mules that tackle the trails of the canyon every day.

You can't tell, but sprinkled in among these buildings are dorms for seasonal workers and side streets that lead to some of the residential areas of the village. Most of the people who work at the canyon live right here in the village, and if you explore some of the back roads, you'll see Park Service and concessionaire neighborhoods that look just like your own neighborhood back home.

   
Who offers extensive nightlife in the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is one of the newest resorts in Tusayan near the Grand Canyon, and it offers everything from romantic getaways to play structures for the kids. It's companion restaurant, the Canyon Star, offers more than dining, it also offers Native American entertainment, karaoke, DJs, and more nightlife than just about any other location.

The hotel also offers wireless Internet access and complementary high-speed Internet access in the public areas but not in each room. They are also one of the few hotels in the area to assist you in planning a Grand Canyon wedding.

They also offer complementary shuttle service into Grand Canyon National Park and have a tour desk to help you plan custom tour packages for your family or group.

   
What's the closest resort to the Grand Canyon Airport?

Best Western Canyon Squire Inn

The Best Western Canyon Squire Inn is the closest lodging to Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. The Squire is also one of the first hotels to locate in Tusayan, so they know the area and visitor's needs quite well. They offer more amenities than many other local hotels, including bowling lanes, an outdoor heated swimming pool, tennis courts, indoor sauna and Jacuzzi, a family game room, sports bar, billiards, and much more.

During your stay at the Canyon Squire, be sure to check out the Cowboy Museum that celebrates the romance and legend of western cowboys, including an impressive sculpture collection in the Inn's lobby.

The Grand Canyon Squire is located nine miles from Grand Canyon village, and many bus and air tours offer pick-up at the hotel for transportation into Grand Canyon National Park and beyond. The Inn also offers packages and specials throughout the year, so before you book your Grand Canyon vacation, check to see what specials they have to offer during your vacation dates.

   
Where is Tusayan, and what resorts and hotels are located there?

Hotels in Tusayan

Tusyan is the settlement just a few miles outside the park boundary on the South Rim. It's also the home of the Grand Canyon Airport, where you'll arrive if you fly into the canyon. There are several hotels and resorts located in Tusayan, and sometimes you can find a room there when hotels inside the park fill up.

While the resorts inside the park feature few amenities for families, (like swimming pools and such), many of the hotels in Tusayan feature a variety of family fun activities, such as swimming, bowling, tennis courts, and mini-suites.

There are also several restaurants in Tusayan, from casual buffets to a steak house. The IMAX theater that screens the documentary "Grand Canyon - The Hidden Secrets" is in Tusayan, too. Visitors can also enjoy Native American entertainment, including song and dance, at some of the Tusayan locations.

   
What other hotel options are located inside Grand Canyon National Park?

Other Grand Canyon Hotels

The two most well-known hotels inside the national park are the El Tovar and the Bright Angel Lodge. However, there are other hotel options inside the park. Yavapai Lodge is conveniently located on the Market Plaza, near the grocery store, bank, and post office. It's a favorite with families because of the large rooms and the nearby café with serves a variety of family-friendly fare.

The Maswik Lodge is the newest hotel in the park, and some of the rooms feature refrigerators and in-room coffee. There's also a sports bar in the lounge of this hotel, near the cafeteria. Both of these lodges are located about 1/2 mile or so from the canyon rim, so their rates tend to be a bit lower than hotels located right on the rim.

   
What other lodging is available in Tusayan near the Grand Canyon?

Canyon Plaza Quality Inn

One of the newer hotels in Tusayan is the Canyon Plaza Quality Inn and Suites. Situated around an inner atrium filled with lush plants and restaurant seating, the Canyon Plaza offers an indoor and outdoor hot tub, an outdoor pool, a restaurant and buffet, and a tour desk to help you with booking Grand Canyon tours.

For high-tech guests, the Canyon Plaza is one of the only hotels inside or outside the National Park to offer free high-speed Internet access in every room. They also offer a number of suites complete with a microwave oven and refrigerator.

The Canyon Plaza is located about eight miles from Grand Canyon Village, and less than a mile from Grand Canyon Airport.

   
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