So on February 2nd we got and Email from the Airline saying that our schedule had been changed.
the Change? Oh, it was a minor little thing - just a four hour earlier schedule !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What that means is that instead of leaving at 6:45 (Dean leaves work at 5), we would leave at 2:30 pm. So Dean would have to leave work at lunch time!!!!!
Are you serious?
When I called and asked why, they said it was a change in FAA regulations.
Nice.
Well, we want a refund for the non-refundable flight.
And they had to give it to us, because they had nothing else that fit our needs.
Now we had to buy Southwest for an extra $60 a piece, adding $120 to our then-so-cheap trip.
Thanks, Delta.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
plans and back up plans of itineraries
The itinerary of a trip are usually the hardest part to get it right.
Trying to fit all things we want to see and do in an order that makes sense with only limited information about each place and traffic and weather conditions is no piece of cake.
How to make sure we don't keep going back and forth in useless waste-of-time-and-money loops. So this is a print-screen of our itinerary options.
Trying to fit all things we want to see and do in an order that makes sense with only limited information about each place and traffic and weather conditions is no piece of cake.
How to make sure we don't keep going back and forth in useless waste-of-time-and-money loops. So this is a print-screen of our itinerary options.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Preparing the mood - Movies and shows
One of the things I do to get in the mood for my trip is watch shows related to it.
I usually watch travel shows, but in the case of this trip, there are plenty of movies that I want to knock off my bucket list before I go.
1 - Wyatt Earp - a 1994 movie with Kevin Costner
2 - Tombstone - a 1993 movie with Kurt Russel
3 - The Painted Desert - an old cowboy movie with Clark Gable.
I usually watch travel shows, but in the case of this trip, there are plenty of movies that I want to knock off my bucket list before I go.
1 - Wyatt Earp - a 1994 movie with Kevin Costner
2 - Tombstone - a 1993 movie with Kurt Russel
3 - The Painted Desert - an old cowboy movie with Clark Gable.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Tombstone
As I looked through the tourism magazine I signed up for on the Arizona website, I found interesting places to include as part of a south section of our trip.
The Tucson Area has several of such places. Starting with Tombstone, the town where the famous OK Corral Shooting happened. I went to the Chamber of Commerce of Tombstone website, and I realized that there is a lot to see in Tombstone, even though it is a tiny little place (population = 1,380). So the mount of things I found on the Chamber of Commerce website might not fit in a day. So I still have to decide whether those activities are worth a second day, or whether we should pick a couple of them and move on. I don't want to do too much of the same.
I have also been looking at lodging, and I liked the lodging in Sierra Vista - nice and reasonably priced. But I have to make it fit with other trip plans, and prioritize the things we really want to do.
I will look at it with more depth. I also need to read more about the OK Corral story.
Here are the two places that I think we must see:
1 -
The Tombstone Courthouse and State Historic Park is a building from 1882 that is in the shape of a Roman cross.
They hold exhibitions in the building that used to be the location of the sheriff's office, recorder, treasurer, board of supervisors, jail and courtroom. And they have pace where hangings used to happen.
Admission for the building and exhibition is $5.00 per adult and it is open 7days a week, from 9 to 5.
2 -
The OK Corral site. The problem is that it looks very cool, but the website gives no information about the admission price. All it says is
Admission (kids under 6 free)
Are you for kidding me?
I am sending them a little note on that typo.
The Tucson Area has several of such places. Starting with Tombstone, the town where the famous OK Corral Shooting happened. I went to the Chamber of Commerce of Tombstone website, and I realized that there is a lot to see in Tombstone, even though it is a tiny little place (population = 1,380). So the mount of things I found on the Chamber of Commerce website might not fit in a day. So I still have to decide whether those activities are worth a second day, or whether we should pick a couple of them and move on. I don't want to do too much of the same.
I have also been looking at lodging, and I liked the lodging in Sierra Vista - nice and reasonably priced. But I have to make it fit with other trip plans, and prioritize the things we really want to do.
I will look at it with more depth. I also need to read more about the OK Corral story.
Here are the two places that I think we must see:
1 -
The Tombstone Courthouse and State Historic Park is a building from 1882 that is in the shape of a Roman cross.
They hold exhibitions in the building that used to be the location of the sheriff's office, recorder, treasurer, board of supervisors, jail and courtroom. And they have pace where hangings used to happen.
Admission for the building and exhibition is $5.00 per adult and it is open 7days a week, from 9 to 5.
2 -
The OK Corral site. The problem is that it looks very cool, but the website gives no information about the admission price. All it says is
Admission (kids under 6 free)
Are you for kidding me?
I am sending them a little note on that typo.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Raft trip
I was back and forth today changing plans. Everything in that part of the the country is so far away.
Apparently there is such a thing as a raft trip down the Colorado River that starts at the Glen Canyon Dam.
One things that is GOOD TO KNOW - THEIR CARRY-ON POLICY: no bags allowed unless clear plastic. no bags means even camera cases!!!! you can take your wallet and your camera, but not your non-see-through pocket book.
http://raftthecanyon.com/
They have full day trips (6.5 hours) for $111 a person with lunch included and half day trips for $91 a person (we figure about 3 hours) without lunch.
I figure 3 hours are enough of a boat trip. And we don't have to eat there. We can eat cheap later. In the afternoon we can tour the Glen Canyon Dam and Overlook Lake Powell. We will probably sleep over in Page, AZ and hit our next spot the next day. Still deciding whether or not to go see the 4 corners monument.
Here is a description of both 1/2 and full day trips - straight from their website:
HALF DAY (they say it is the most popular - probably because most people don't want to spend 6.5 hours in a boat):
From March 1 through April 30, we offer one raft trip per day departing at 11:00 a.m. From May 1 through September 30, we offer two daily raft departures at 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. From October 1 through November 30, we offer one raft trip per day departing at 11:00 a.m. All trips start from the town of Page, AZ.
The half day rafting adventures include water and canned drinks aboard each of the rafts. Our Bistro bag lunches can be purchased at the River’s End Café and are a great way to enjoy a delicious meal on the Colorado River.
Please come to our rafting headquarters in Page, AZ at least 30 minutes before your tour departure time to check in.
All Colorado River Discovery river trips begin with an exciting ride down the two-mile long Glen Canyon Dam access tunnel. With the dam soaring 700 feet above you, you will board a motorized pontoon raft for your journey downstream, where you will experience one of the most dramatic stretches of river found in the western United States.
While underway, your experienced guide will tell the area’s story of soaring sandstone cliffs, crystal blue-green waters, abundant wildlife, former inhabitation by native cultures, exploration by Major John Wesley Powell, and the Colorado River’s modern role in the Southwest’s water and power delivery system.
Your trip will also include a stop to view ancient petroglyphs left by Ancestral Puebloan peoples.
FULL DAY
The Full Day Motor Rafting excursion is perfect for those that have a day to experience all that the mighty Colorado River has to offer through the entire Glen Canyon stretch. You will experience majestic Navajo sandstone cliff walls, ancient Native American petroglyphs, incredible wildlife, and amazing scenery around every bend on this 15.5 miles smooth water rafting trip.
You day will begin at the Colorado River Discovery Welcome Center. Upon check in, you will be greeted by our friendly staff and oriented with the details of your day on the River. You will then be transported down a 2 mile tunnel through the walls of the canyon, exiting out at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam. Here, you will meet your experienced river guide and begin your journey down one of the most incredible stretches of the Colorado River. Your guide will regale you will their knowledge of the human and natural history of Glen Canyon.
Half way through your trip, we will stop at Petroglyph Beach. You will have a chance to stretch your legs, use the restroom, take a dip in the cold clear waters of the River, and take a short hike to view ancient petroglyphs left by the Native American tribes of the area.
We will continue through iconic Horseshoe Bend and end your trip at historic Lees Ferry. Our clean, air conditioned motor coach will meet you at Lees Ferry for the 90 mile ride back to our Welcome Center in Page, AZ
Door to door, this trip is approximately 6.5 hours long and includes water, lemonade and a Bistro bag lunch.
Apparently there is such a thing as a raft trip down the Colorado River that starts at the Glen Canyon Dam.
One things that is GOOD TO KNOW - THEIR CARRY-ON POLICY: no bags allowed unless clear plastic. no bags means even camera cases!!!! you can take your wallet and your camera, but not your non-see-through pocket book.
http://raftthecanyon.com/
They have full day trips (6.5 hours) for $111 a person with lunch included and half day trips for $91 a person (we figure about 3 hours) without lunch.
I figure 3 hours are enough of a boat trip. And we don't have to eat there. We can eat cheap later. In the afternoon we can tour the Glen Canyon Dam and Overlook Lake Powell. We will probably sleep over in Page, AZ and hit our next spot the next day. Still deciding whether or not to go see the 4 corners monument.
Here is a description of both 1/2 and full day trips - straight from their website:
HALF DAY (they say it is the most popular - probably because most people don't want to spend 6.5 hours in a boat):
From March 1 through April 30, we offer one raft trip per day departing at 11:00 a.m. From May 1 through September 30, we offer two daily raft departures at 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. From October 1 through November 30, we offer one raft trip per day departing at 11:00 a.m. All trips start from the town of Page, AZ.
The half day rafting adventures include water and canned drinks aboard each of the rafts. Our Bistro bag lunches can be purchased at the River’s End Café and are a great way to enjoy a delicious meal on the Colorado River.
Please come to our rafting headquarters in Page, AZ at least 30 minutes before your tour departure time to check in.
All Colorado River Discovery river trips begin with an exciting ride down the two-mile long Glen Canyon Dam access tunnel. With the dam soaring 700 feet above you, you will board a motorized pontoon raft for your journey downstream, where you will experience one of the most dramatic stretches of river found in the western United States.
While underway, your experienced guide will tell the area’s story of soaring sandstone cliffs, crystal blue-green waters, abundant wildlife, former inhabitation by native cultures, exploration by Major John Wesley Powell, and the Colorado River’s modern role in the Southwest’s water and power delivery system.
Your trip will also include a stop to view ancient petroglyphs left by Ancestral Puebloan peoples.
FULL DAY
The Full Day Motor Rafting excursion is perfect for those that have a day to experience all that the mighty Colorado River has to offer through the entire Glen Canyon stretch. You will experience majestic Navajo sandstone cliff walls, ancient Native American petroglyphs, incredible wildlife, and amazing scenery around every bend on this 15.5 miles smooth water rafting trip.
You day will begin at the Colorado River Discovery Welcome Center. Upon check in, you will be greeted by our friendly staff and oriented with the details of your day on the River. You will then be transported down a 2 mile tunnel through the walls of the canyon, exiting out at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam. Here, you will meet your experienced river guide and begin your journey down one of the most incredible stretches of the Colorado River. Your guide will regale you will their knowledge of the human and natural history of Glen Canyon.
Half way through your trip, we will stop at Petroglyph Beach. You will have a chance to stretch your legs, use the restroom, take a dip in the cold clear waters of the River, and take a short hike to view ancient petroglyphs left by the Native American tribes of the area.
We will continue through iconic Horseshoe Bend and end your trip at historic Lees Ferry. Our clean, air conditioned motor coach will meet you at Lees Ferry for the 90 mile ride back to our Welcome Center in Page, AZ
Door to door, this trip is approximately 6.5 hours long and includes water, lemonade and a Bistro bag lunch.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Purchases
My favorite part of the trip planning is the actual purchasing. That is when things start to look real - when I hit print reservation an see that paper that says we have a flight seat or a hotel room waiting for us.
My husband read an article that says that the best time to shop for travel deals is Wednesday between 1-2 am. Well, I didn't wait. On Saturday afternoon, after doing a lot of searches, I purchased our flights, car rental and 2 hotel reservations.
For the flight, what a deal. I was going on expedia and looking for the best dals they offered then going on each specific airline and purchasing it from them. Well, I thought I was going to get pretty sweet deals, but then I resolved to search expedia for individual parts of the trip - that is, one way. It turned out I got even sweeter deals. $1,012.00 round trip for both of us going with Delta and returning with US airways, instead of $1,110.00 (expedia) or $1,096.00 (individual airline websites) going with American and returning with US Airways.
Oh, by the way, careful when purchasing from the AA website. For some unknown reason - maybe a glitch in the website, they do not show all flights in the desktop website, but they show them on the mobile website. The flight missing on the desktop was actually the best priced and the best timed one.
But I didn't purchase AA. Because before I could purchase it, I chose to go on expedia and serach for one-way flights and Delta, instead of AA came up.
Of course, do bear in mind that neither Delta nor US let your checked bags travel free. So travel lightly and only carry cabin luggage.
Now, car rentals.
We chose to go with E-Z rent-a-car . No,we had never heard of it, but instead of almost $300.00, or over 400 of most popular names in car rental.
I figured, I have already experienced so many disappointments with famous big renters, why not try the not so famous one? $184. -1% for joining their rewrads program, -3% for liking them on facebok. $173.00
My husband read an article that says that the best time to shop for travel deals is Wednesday between 1-2 am. Well, I didn't wait. On Saturday afternoon, after doing a lot of searches, I purchased our flights, car rental and 2 hotel reservations.
For the flight, what a deal. I was going on expedia and looking for the best dals they offered then going on each specific airline and purchasing it from them. Well, I thought I was going to get pretty sweet deals, but then I resolved to search expedia for individual parts of the trip - that is, one way. It turned out I got even sweeter deals. $1,012.00 round trip for both of us going with Delta and returning with US airways, instead of $1,110.00 (expedia) or $1,096.00 (individual airline websites) going with American and returning with US Airways.
Oh, by the way, careful when purchasing from the AA website. For some unknown reason - maybe a glitch in the website, they do not show all flights in the desktop website, but they show them on the mobile website. The flight missing on the desktop was actually the best priced and the best timed one.
But I didn't purchase AA. Because before I could purchase it, I chose to go on expedia and serach for one-way flights and Delta, instead of AA came up.
Of course, do bear in mind that neither Delta nor US let your checked bags travel free. So travel lightly and only carry cabin luggage.
Now, car rentals.
We chose to go with E-Z rent-a-car . No,we had never heard of it, but instead of almost $300.00, or over 400 of most popular names in car rental.
I figured, I have already experienced so many disappointments with famous big renters, why not try the not so famous one? $184. -1% for joining their rewrads program, -3% for liking them on facebok. $173.00
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Grand Canyon Scenic views
There are some scenic drives in the South Rim. We believe we can get those all done in one day.
Some can be made by car only, others by shuttle only, and others by either one.
On http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm you can find a list of all the drives/routes and download a map of the routes available for the current season.
- Hermit Road Route is done by car during the Winter season and by shuttle from March 1 to November 30. The Round trip takes almost 1.5 hour (80 minutes)
-The Village Route is not a scenic route but it gives access to the Hermit Road Route - it is 50 min round- trip, so I assume a 25-min ride there.
- Kaibab/Rim Route is done by shuttle year round. The round trip takes about 50 minutes. The only reason why this is worth the ride is a view point called Yaki point, which is the only point only accessible by shuttle. They suggest this place as a nice spot for a sunset or sunrise view. Since we won't be staying in the park, the Sunset will be our option. We will schedule our day to be there by sunset. I need to check the SUNSET time for the day we will be there. All the rest of the view points in this route can be done by car on the desert view drive http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2013SR_winter_guidemap.pdf.
All these routes are described here (along with hours that the shuttle runs)
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm
- Desert View Drive - car only and the website says the Watchtower can be climbed and offers a great 360 view. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/desert-view-drive.htm
This is enough for a day. I will be looking at the museums and visitor centers to see what is there to see, and where to eat on the next step of my search.
Some can be made by car only, others by shuttle only, and others by either one.
On http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm you can find a list of all the drives/routes and download a map of the routes available for the current season.
- Hermit Road Route is done by car during the Winter season and by shuttle from March 1 to November 30. The Round trip takes almost 1.5 hour (80 minutes)
-The Village Route is not a scenic route but it gives access to the Hermit Road Route - it is 50 min round- trip, so I assume a 25-min ride there.
- Kaibab/Rim Route is done by shuttle year round. The round trip takes about 50 minutes. The only reason why this is worth the ride is a view point called Yaki point, which is the only point only accessible by shuttle. They suggest this place as a nice spot for a sunset or sunrise view. Since we won't be staying in the park, the Sunset will be our option. We will schedule our day to be there by sunset. I need to check the SUNSET time for the day we will be there. All the rest of the view points in this route can be done by car on the desert view drive http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2013SR_winter_guidemap.pdf.
All these routes are described here (along with hours that the shuttle runs)
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm
- Desert View Drive - car only and the website says the Watchtower can be climbed and offers a great 360 view. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/desert-view-drive.htm
This is enough for a day. I will be looking at the museums and visitor centers to see what is there to see, and where to eat on the next step of my search.
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