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If you're looking for a fun place to get away from it all, you should take a trip to the Grand Canyon. One of the best ways to appreciate the majesty and beauty of the natural wonders is to take an air tour. You can take an airplane or helicopter tour out of Vegas, and if you keep these 5 tips in mind, you'll be able to plan the best flight.
Tip One - Buy Your Air Tour Online
Want to know the easiest way to book your tour? Just do it online. Whether you do it at home or from your laptop when you're in Vegas, when you buy your tour online, you'll get to skip added fees and commissions by buying from a third party. To get the low Internet rate, you have to use your credit card and complete your tour purchase online.
Tip Two - Lock In Tour Early
Air tours of the Canyon are extremely popular. They fill up fast and often sell out all during the year. So, to avoid disappointment, you should book your tour at least two weeks in advance. That's easy to do when you buy your tour online with your credit card because your seats are locked in right then. If you wait until two to three days before the tour date, if you can find open seats, you'll probably have to pay an inflated price for your tour.
Tip Three - Consider The South Rim Extended Tour
The South Rim is not as busy as the West Rim, so you'll have a different experience there. To take an air tour of the South Rim, you fly from Vegas to Tusayan, Arizona, which is where you start one of two helicopter tours. The extended tour is the best option. This tour gives you 50 minutes of flight time as it takes you over to the North Rim, and the eastern border of the park, before returning to the South Rim. This is an amazing tour that flies over about 3/4 of the entire park grounds, and it's the only tour that can give you such a comprehensive experience.
Tip Four - Fly To The Canyon Floor At The West Rim
Air tours of the West Rim are scenic too, but the best adventure comes with taking a landing tour. One of the best landing tours is the one that flies down to the bottom of the Canyon where you can enjoy a Champagne picnic or take a boat ride along the Colorado River. Viewing the Canyon from the air is awesome, but viewing it from the Canyon floor is an incredible experience.
Tip Five - Opt For The Deluxe Tour
The deluxe tour option gives you the best experience, and one thing it includes is complimentary limousine transportation to and from your hotel. Deluxe tours are also the most convenient since they lift off right from the Strip near the hotels. But the best thing about deluxe tours is that they fly on premium helicopters. These helicopters are larger, have quiet cabins, and they have a massive viewing window with seating arranged so there are no obstructed views.
Bonus Tip - Save Money By Booking An Airplane Tour
An airplane tour is less expensive than a helicopter tour, so it is ideal if you are on a tight budget or if you are traveling with a big group. The airplanes offer the same scenic flight as helicopters, and while they fly higher, the views are great since the windows are large and the wings are situated so they don't block your views. So if you want to take an air tour of the Canyon, but are short on money, then an airplane tour is the way to go. Also, book a window seat if you can. It only costs $10 more and it is very worth the extra price.
To Conclude
By using these tips, you'll be able to book a fun tour at the best price. You can visit both rims from Vegas when you take an air tour, so you have a lot of options to choose from. I personally prefer the landing tours as they let you see and do more when you get to the National Park. I also urge you to book super early because these trips sell out during the summer. So have a great time and buckle up - you have a fantastic adventure to look forward to.
