Memorial Day will soon be here and that means you'll have a holiday weekend to take a fun getaway. This is a fantastic season for touring the Grand Canyon, and one of the most fun ways to do that is on a helicopter tour you take from Vegas. You can take one of these helicopter tours any day, even on Memorial Day holiday, so get ready to plan your tour with the help of the following tips.
Making Your Booking
You can use your credit card and book your helicopter tour online for the most convenience. Paying for your tour online confirms your seats and even better, you get to use the Internet rate for the lowest possible price on your tour. Then on tour day, all you have to do is show your photo ID and check in at the helipad a half an hour before the flight and you're all set.
Departing From Vegas
The Vegas tour to the West Rim will fly you over the Boulder Dam and Lake Mead, before reaching the Canyon for a scenic flyover. There are landing flights available, and these are the ones that I recommend so that you can get the most out of your tour.
These landing tours can set down on top or on bottom of the Canyon. Landing on top of the rim puts you close to many scenic walking trails and the famous Skywalk viewing platform. Be sure to add Skywalk tickets to your tour so you can stand on the glass platform and peer down to the Canyon floor 4000 feet below you.
Of course, you would really enjoy a bottom landing tour too. One of the best ones is a flight down to the bottom of the Canyon where you can have a champagne picnic by the Colorado River and then take a scenic boat ride.
If you've got plenty of time and your budget will allow for it, you can choose to check out the top and bottom of the Canyon.
Touring The South Rim
Helicopters don't fly from Vegas to the South Rim because it's too far, however, you can get to the South Rim by airplane in about an hour, and then you can begin your helicopter tour in Tusayan, Arizona, which is just outside the main gates of the National Park. You can pick from two tours. The first tour flies over to the North Rim and then comes back. The next tour costs a little more, but it is longer, and is definitely worth considering. It flies over the same area as the shorter tour, but it also includes a scenic jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. It covers an impressive 75 percent of the entire National Park in 50 minutes of flight time. The longer tour is a sightseeing dream because you get to see so many of the highlights and landmarks in the Canyon.
Basic vs Deluxe Tours
Basic tours usually fly on Bell Ranger choppers and provide transportation in a shuttle van. They depart from Boulder City, which is just outside of Vegas. The deluxe tours on the other hand, provide limousine transportation, and they lift off right from The Strip in Vegas. One of the biggest advantages to taking a deluxe tour is that you get to fly in a superior helicopter. It's a late model EcoStar 130, which features a massive viewing window, oversized stadium seats, and a spacious cabin. It is worth paying the extra cost for a deluxe upgrade because of the perks and excellent viewing on your tour.
Be prepared for hot weather at the West Rim by bringing extra water, snacks, and sun block, and be sure to dress for the high temperatures too. Also, since these tours are quite popular, you want to book your tour ahead of time. You should plan on buying your tour at least two weeks ahead of time if possible.
Conclusion
Keep the advice above in mind as you plan your Memorial Day tour so you have the best time at a price that fits your budget. Most importantly, go online to save money, and buy your tour in advance before it sells out. If you cut it too close and book your tour late, you might have to pay a premium price for your seats.
Take what you need to last a day in the sun so you'll be comfortable and set to enjoy exploring one of America's most beautiful National Parks.
Making Your Booking
You can use your credit card and book your helicopter tour online for the most convenience. Paying for your tour online confirms your seats and even better, you get to use the Internet rate for the lowest possible price on your tour. Then on tour day, all you have to do is show your photo ID and check in at the helipad a half an hour before the flight and you're all set.
Departing From Vegas
The Vegas tour to the West Rim will fly you over the Boulder Dam and Lake Mead, before reaching the Canyon for a scenic flyover. There are landing flights available, and these are the ones that I recommend so that you can get the most out of your tour.
These landing tours can set down on top or on bottom of the Canyon. Landing on top of the rim puts you close to many scenic walking trails and the famous Skywalk viewing platform. Be sure to add Skywalk tickets to your tour so you can stand on the glass platform and peer down to the Canyon floor 4000 feet below you.
Of course, you would really enjoy a bottom landing tour too. One of the best ones is a flight down to the bottom of the Canyon where you can have a champagne picnic by the Colorado River and then take a scenic boat ride.
If you've got plenty of time and your budget will allow for it, you can choose to check out the top and bottom of the Canyon.
Touring The South Rim
Helicopters don't fly from Vegas to the South Rim because it's too far, however, you can get to the South Rim by airplane in about an hour, and then you can begin your helicopter tour in Tusayan, Arizona, which is just outside the main gates of the National Park. You can pick from two tours. The first tour flies over to the North Rim and then comes back. The next tour costs a little more, but it is longer, and is definitely worth considering. It flies over the same area as the shorter tour, but it also includes a scenic jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. It covers an impressive 75 percent of the entire National Park in 50 minutes of flight time. The longer tour is a sightseeing dream because you get to see so many of the highlights and landmarks in the Canyon.
Basic vs Deluxe Tours
Basic tours usually fly on Bell Ranger choppers and provide transportation in a shuttle van. They depart from Boulder City, which is just outside of Vegas. The deluxe tours on the other hand, provide limousine transportation, and they lift off right from The Strip in Vegas. One of the biggest advantages to taking a deluxe tour is that you get to fly in a superior helicopter. It's a late model EcoStar 130, which features a massive viewing window, oversized stadium seats, and a spacious cabin. It is worth paying the extra cost for a deluxe upgrade because of the perks and excellent viewing on your tour.
Be prepared for hot weather at the West Rim by bringing extra water, snacks, and sun block, and be sure to dress for the high temperatures too. Also, since these tours are quite popular, you want to book your tour ahead of time. You should plan on buying your tour at least two weeks ahead of time if possible.
Conclusion
Keep the advice above in mind as you plan your Memorial Day tour so you have the best time at a price that fits your budget. Most importantly, go online to save money, and buy your tour in advance before it sells out. If you cut it too close and book your tour late, you might have to pay a premium price for your seats.
Take what you need to last a day in the sun so you'll be comfortable and set to enjoy exploring one of America's most beautiful National Parks.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon expert Ione Mahler recommends these superior helicopter tours along with these discounts for flights that leave from Las Vegas and the South Rim: http://grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html
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