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Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most incredible in the entire American National Park system. But because it's also one of the biggest (over a million acres!), a lot of folks wonder about the best way to see it.
Personally, I think Grand Canyon helicopters are the best choice. It's because a chopper can cover more ground in 60 minutes than you'd see in a week from the ground. There's a lot more to it than that, though.
Here are five tour tips that everyone should be aware of before booking a Grand Canyon helicopter flight:
1. Choose your rim. This is an easy decision because it depends on your starting point. You'll do the South Rim if you're starting out from a city in AZ, like Flagstaff, Phoenix, Sedona or Scottsdale. The West Rim will be in your sights if you're starting from Vegas. No choppers fly directly to the South Rim from Vegas, and there aren't any flights between the South and West Rims.
2. Pick a morning flight. Because the air is clearer and less turbulent, morning (between 7 a.m. and noon) flights are best for tours on Grand Canyon helicopters. Clearer air means better visibility. A morning flight is especially important during summer, when afternoons come with dust and smoke from forest fires that can make the air hazy. That being said, late afternoons are my second choice - the dust and smoke in the air can make a sunset flight an amazing experience.
3. If you're checking out the West Rim, consider a landing tour. Landing tours are only available at Grand Canyon West (the West Rim), so only Vegas travelers can take one. It's because federal regulations prohibit South Rim 'copters from flying below the level of the rim and landing on the bottom. The most popular landing tour is the one that lands on the canyon's bottom and comes with a festive champagne picnic. My personal favorite is the package that lands on the bottom, includes a float trip down the Colorado, and lands at the rim top so you can experience the amazing Skywalk.
4. Before booking, check the tour company's cancellation policy. Plans change, making it important to book with a company that offers a favorable cancellation policy. The best companies will refund 100% of your money if your flight is cancelled 24 hours before takeoff. They'll also return your money if all flights are grounded by bad weather and your tour can't be rescheduled. Tour brokers don't offer that type of protection, which is one reason I tell travelers to avoid using them.
5. Book ahead. Actually, this is one of my most useful tour tips. Helicopter rides sell out fast because they're so popular. Seats are limited because the aircraft can only take six people. I suggest booking your tour at least a week in advance of the date you want (two weeks is even better). It's true that some travelers have been able to get seats the day of their flight, but this is rare. Plus, with a same-day booking you'll pay as much as 50% more and probably end up with one of the least desirable flight times.
Conclusion
Hopefully these tour tips about Grand Canyon helicopters will help as you're choosing and booking your tour. All five are things I've picked up during my own travels or while I was helping out friends, relatives and other folks.
One final thing I want to point out: Book your tour online, directly with the tour operator. You'll need to complete the entire purchase transaction on the company's online booking form in order to qualify for the super Internet discount.
Travel editor Ione Mahler is an expert on Grand Canyon helicopter tours. She recommends going here for the lowest prices on the best flights: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/deals
Article Source: Ione_Mahler
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