Grand Canyon and Natural Parks

[rjn5656]

Looking at 15 day Grand Canyon and Natural parks escorted tour by Trafalgar or Globus. Wonder if anyone ever took either of these tours?

[junebug7]

We just returned from the Trafalgar Scenic National Parks 15 day Tour last week and loved it!

[Down Sized]

Best trip we ever taken in th USA. we went with Trafalgar.

[SIRE1]

Just got back 3 weeks ago from this trip with Globus and I am still editing the photos. Our guide and driver were great and the hotels that Globus use are awesome. The hotel at the Grand Canyon is right on the rim, the hotel at Monument Valley overlooks the area where John Wayne western movies were filmed, and the hotel at Yellowstone is right next to Old Faithful. I don't know what activities Trafalgar offer, but the Buffalo Safari with Globus gets you right into the middle of the herd at the Custer State Park. The trip was FANTASTIC and regardless which tour company you use, I know you will enjoy it !!!

[LittleDog]

Do these trips require plane travel also? I'd prefer not to fly.

John

[Down Sized]

Depends if you want to drive to Las Vegas?

[SIRE1]

The nice thing is that once you are on the bus tour, almost everything is taken care of for you. They handle the check in process at the hotel and give you the room key, they deliver your suitcases to your room, they pick up your suitcases from your room the next morning, and they drop you off /pick you up right at your next tour destination. So other than getting to the tour starting city location and getting home after the tour is done, there isn't much you have to worry about. But some how (plane, train, or automobile), you are going to have to get to and get home from the tour start and stop cities.

[golf2140]

We did Globus and loved it. Trafalgar bus parked at the same hotel some nights.

[LittleDog]

The nice thing is that once you are on the bus tour, almost everything is taken care of for you. They handle the check in process at the hotel and give you the room key, they deliver your suitcases to your room, they pick up your suitcases from your room the next morning, and they drop you off /pick you up right at your next tour destination. So other than getting to the tour starting city location and getting home after the tour is done, there isn't much you have to worry about. But some how (plane, train, or automobile), you are going to have to get to and get home from the tour start and stop cities.

Are you saying that the start and stop cities are different?

[junebug7]

We started and stopped the 15 day tour in Las Vegas. (Trafalgar)
Our travel director was awesome and our bus driver more than competent maneuvering on some tricky terrain through the mountains. I agree with the convenience--never had to handle our luggage once on the trip. We were driven and dropped off everywhere we needed to be. You are taken to the best viewing locations in each of the parks to view fantastic scenery and just get to sit back and enjoy.
All the hotel accommodations were top-notch. The most rustic with fewer amenities was only when we stayed in Yellowstone--but nature is your entertainment there.

[SIRE1]

Are you saying that the start and stop cities are different?

I know both the 15 day Globus tour we took and evidently the 15 day Trafalgar tours starts and stops in Las Vegas.

But these companies also offer similar tours (slightly less days) that start and stop in different cities. I know Globus offers a 14 day tour that starts in Rapid City and ends in Las Vegas, and stops at almost the same locations as the 15 day tour.

So to answer your question, the Start and Stop city depends on what tour you book. Some are the same cities and some are different.

[SIRE1]

Looking at 15 day Grand Canyon and Natural parks escorted tour by Trafalgar or Globus. Wonder if anyone ever took either of these tours?

Going back to your original post, I think both of these tour companies are great. So my advice to you is to look at both tours and make a list of the stops and sights that each offer. In many cases, the sights are the same, but there are differences. For example both take you to the Grand Canyon and both will take you to Old Faithful in Yellowstone. But there are some differences.

The Trafalgar tour takes you to the Little Big Horn and Globus takes you to Devils Tower (close encounters of the 3rd kind). The Trafalgar tour takes you through the Bad Lands to Rapid City and the Globus tour takes you to Custer State Park and offers a Buffalo Safari in 4x4 jeeps. Trafalgar also has a lot of extra additional cost activities/excursions which you can choose (and pay for) and Globus doesn't.

There are probably several other differences, so look at both and decide based on what you want to see and do on your vacation. You won't be disappointed. Our first stop with Globus was the Grand Canyon and we ended with Bryce and Zion. At the Grand Canyon I told our guide "This scenery can't be topped". He told me "Just wait, it only gets better". He was right.

[rjn5656]

That is the trip we are looking at.

[justjim]

This trip is on our bucket list and we had to cancel because of a knee replacement. Maybe next year!

[manaboutown]

The only downside is tour butt.