If you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon or a side trip from the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, the lodging options can be complex. We’ve just stayed at the canyon and want to make it easier for you by laying out all of the options, pro’s, and con’s:

Staying in the National Park:
The Grand Canyon is a National Park. Every hotel, cabin, and campground (and grocery store) in the park is operated by Xanterra Corporation under a license from our U.S. government. You will find their hotels to be incredibly convenient, but their service — particularly for reservations — to be a bit behind the times. Since Xanterra’s prices are regulated – they are competing on basic service within a fixed price — the service does suffer. There are two historic lodges right on the Canyon’s rim. This means you are right at the edge of this amazing national monument.

Bright Angel Lodge – Built as a “value priced” family lodge, the hotel includes a restaurant, bar, ice cream parlor, and coffee shop. The rooms are basic and the prices are relatively good, but not amazing. There are a lot of good family services at Bright Angel and it is convenient to all of the major trails. Bright Angel also offers some cabins (shacks?) which there are a fair amount of complaints about.

El Tovar Lodge – This is the top quality, luxury historic lodge also on the Canyon rim. The lodge has a long history and rooms can be close to the price of Bright Angel if you stick to a non-view, basic room. The restaurant looks out onto the rim and reservations, particularly at sunset, are hotly contested. We stayed at El Tovar and liked it a lot. The room was comfortable with a large tile bathroom. It also included a refrigerator and HD LCD TV (who watches TV at the Grand Canyon!?) One option you may consider is some “sleeping bag” accommodations to take a single bed room at El Tovar and have kids or friends sleep on the floor. It’s a do-able option and you get the best hotel at the canyon rim. One caution is that there is only higher priced, non-cafeteria food at El Tovar – no diner type food at this luxury joint. El Tovar also offers free wireless internet and very good strong coffee in the morning. An excellent piano player entertains free in the lobby on several evenings each week.

There are two more modern buildings as motor lodges between El Tovar and Bright Angel. The buildings are not pretty to look at, but they are also right at the canyon rim. Kachina and Thunderbird lodge are discount options as they have no historic flair. These are the next level of discount down after El Tovar (most expensive) and Bright Angel (2nd most expensive). Note that throughout Xanterra’s monopoly on canyon rooms — the number of beds in the room (per their US Government license) is a major driver of the price of the room. Less beds = less cost. There are even more complaints about the two motor lodges — if you can pay a little more, Bright Angel or El Tovar may be a better option.

Masawik Lodge is the next option – it’s NOT ON THE RIM (all four other lodging are), so less expensive. The good news here is that it is a Tahoe style motel, with cabins too and next to the super-cheap cafeteria. Food can add up at the Grand Canyon and it’s an easy 10-15 minute walk to the rim lodges. The walk is across the railroad tracks which puts off many. For a 2-3 day stay at the canyon, the fact that you are staying on the rim (in the dark at night) is not really a huge factor. Masawik Lodge is a viable option you should consider and pocket the difference.

These five lodges in the Xanterra monopoly (Bright Angel, El Tovar, Thunderbird, Masawik, Kachina) now move down to hotels OUTSIDE of the National Park. Now staying outside the park in the slow season is no big deal, but in the summer there can be MAJOR TRAFFIC JAMS getting into the park. Part of what you pay for to stay in the park is avoiding these hassles and waking up where you want to be. The good news about TUSAYAN is that you are in a free market economy which is a good thing. Hotels are competing on service and price — with national chains including Holiday Inn Express so close to the park entrance. There are also fast food restaurants and grocery stores that can make your life easier and save money. In summer high time (Memorial Day to Labor Day), Tasayan should likely be skipped. But in the winter, late fall or spring — it’s a very viable option to consider and compare. Under perfect conditions, you can make it from the rim to Tusayan in 15 minutes. This can skyrocket the times in the summer so watch out.

Here’s the link to the Grand Canyon park lodging operated by Xanterra Corporation. Buyer beware – read the reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp before you prepay (yes prepayment IS ALWAYS REQUIRED for Grand Canyon Lodges).

Holiday Inn Express – Grand Canyon @ Tasayan (Outside Park):



All Best Westerns Near the Grand Canyon Area

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has some of the highest taxes on rental cars in the country. Here’s exactly what they are and a real life example:

Taxes come in two flavors – cost per day (”fee’s”) and % of the rental price (percentage).

Percentage Taxes:
Arizona State Surcharge 5.0%
Maricopa County Surcharge 3.25% / $2.50 minimum per day
Sales Tax 15.3%
Concession Recovery 11.11% (You pay for the rental car center that you are bused to. Cool huh?)
Total Percentage Taxes: 34.7%

Fee’s:
Customer Facility (ie the awesome rental car center you’ll be bused to at Phoenix Sky Harbor – pay more) $6 per day
You thought that bus ride was free? Ha-ha-ha.
Energy Recovery $0.47 per day
Maintenance for the beautiful rental car facility – $0.77 / day
Total per day fee’s: $7.24

In a typical example – a $460 base cost / 8 day rental added total taxes of ~$191 or 42%. Talk about some taxation? Welcome to Phoenix. We’ll talk more in a later article about how to avoid the rental car taxes by combining great off-airport locations with private sedan shuttles. Avoid the rental car bus in Phoenix.

If you’re looking for authentic BBQ style food – there’s a quiet strip-mall on McDonald that you need to check out. Just on the side of Ace Hardware is Scottsdale BBQ Company. From the name, you’d think this was truly lame – but it is awesome. The place is run by an exceedingly friendly family, and like that Cheers TV show – I think they know all of the customer’s names. The baby back ribs are to die for, with a full rack for $20 or a half rack for $12.50. We had the lunchtime pulled pork sandwcih which was excellent for under $8 with a side. Side dishes include black eyed peas, Southern Style Greens, and Red Beans and Rice. They wouldn’t let me leave without trying one of the three kinds of sweet tea that was amazing. The atmosphere at Scottsdale BBQ is basic – with Oprah running on the TV – but the friendly service and great food are over the top. This place is popular with locals, and great for takeout too.

Courtesy of the owner’s, here are their “Top 10 Reasons to Eat at SBBQ”:
1.) On the 8th Day, God made sweet tea.
2.) Nobody puts our baby backs in a corner… Nobody!
3.) Do it for the kids…
4.) Average summer temperature in Scottsdale, is 102. Grill temperature is 450…. You do the math.
5.) Yeah, but pork tastes GOOOOD…!!!
6.) Friends don’t let friends eat chain BBQ.
7.) Have you ever had a Tofu sandwich?
8.) Southern Greens, Blackeyed peas, cast iron cornbread….. Yes MA’AM I’m Hungry.
9.) Better not let joe catcha eatin a taco…
10) It’s always better when someone else is pulling your pork!

You’ll find the best BBQ in Scottsdale (or Phoenix) at

8471 McDonald Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
480-948-4227 (4BBQ)

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Taxis around Phoenix and Scottsdale are going green to save fuel and protect the environment. Toyota Prius cabs are being seen all around Phoenix at prices no more than a normal gas-guzzling cab. Make sure to try a green cab in Phoenix for an easy way to make the world a better place and even try out the way that Microsoft shuttles its own employees around its Redmond campus — the hybrid way.

We had a pretty positive experience renting a car at Phoenix Sky-Harbor airport this week. The shuttle is now picking up on the airport side of the street, so you don’t have to cross over the busy airport road with you luggage. A bus was waiting with a helpful driver and was only around one-third full. Seems like the travel downturn is helping cut the crowds and improve the service for Phoenix rental cars.

Once on the bus, it was exactly a 15 minute ride with about a 5 minute wait for the bus to push off. The driver gave some good help unloading bags.

For a Hertz compact (booked on Priceline at $19 per day) – Hertz gave us a grey-green Chevy Cobalt four door. It’s a basic car, and matches what they would show for a compact. No upgrades were offered, but they did try to push the insurance scare tactics a bit. The car got great mileage – around 25 mpg, and fit luggage easily. Condition in side the car was average – a few stains needed cleaning. All in all – a great deal for $19 on a good car to get around. Not the most stylish thing however…

Staying at a Phoenix-area Marriott Courtyard, we found an interesting new trend in the room. The toiletries provided in the room (soap, shampoo, lotion, conditioner) are being cut back on at this property and perhaps across the chain. Mariott Courtyards always have provided *2* bars of soap, 1 shampoo, 1 conditioner, and 1 lotion.

Now – the lotion is gone, and there is only one bar of the soap. The soap “duo” was designed to furnish the shower/bath and sink for washing hands.

Things are definitely tough in the hotel industry, with the Scottsdale market reporting occupancy drops of over 30% year-over-year. But is making the room less comfortable a good way to make up for this? I’ll bring a jar of hand sanitizer in my rental car – just in case.

Wet N Wild
Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa
Golfland Big Splash in Tempe

They’re all great – check ‘em out when it’s hot this summer.

Cantina Laredo in the Promenade Shopping Center is a great choice for one of Scottsdale-Phoenix best Mexican restaurant. It’s an upscale restaurant and an elegant atmosphere very convenient to Scottsdale hotels. The menu features both traditional Mexican plates and specialties like:
Filet Portabella – Filet Mignon with Portobello Mushroom cap and mushroom sauce ($30)
Filet Chimichurri – Filt mignon sliced on a bed of chimichurri sauce ($29)
Camarones Escondidos – Grilled chicken breat stuffed with shrimp and topped with spinach and chipotle-wine sauce ($19)

There are great dishes for almost any taste in Mexican food and the atmosphere is great.

7631 East Frank Lloyd Wright @ Scottsdale Road – 480-951-3807
Cantina Laredo

For something more casual and family-oriented, try out Arriba around Phoenix-Scottsdale.

An alternative to renting a car in Phoenix – is to use a limo or taxi from Sky Harbor Airport. It’s a great alternative if you have friends or family who can get you around. The taxi rates are:

* $5 for the first mile and $2.10 each additional mile. $1 surcharge for the airport.
* Minimum fare is $15 and $21 per hour waiting in traffic

Limo rates are by zone for 1-2 passengers ($10 per additional passenger):
Zone A – $35
Zone B – $45
Zone C – $55
Zone D – $65
Zone E – $75
Zone F – $85 / negotiated with driver

Our quest for the best burger in Phoenix-Scottsdale took us across the valley on a 115 degree day – we were hungry. When we arrived at Delux in the Biltmore area – we were surprised at its small shopping center location next to a Safeway. Once inside – it was obvious this was a well run operation with many loyal followers. Roughly half of the restaurant is a to-go area, with the rest a long, high bar and a few tables. Even at 5pm in blinding heat – the place was filling up quick on a Sunday. The hostess was kind enough to offer us our choice of inside or outside (remember 115 degrees). We chose inside.

Our burger was served medium-rare although you can get it cooked however you like it. The burger was on a great roll, with carmelized onion and lettuce, plus tons of flavor. Ketchup and aioli mayonaise is served on the side. Fries are a choice of sweet potato or regular and were delicious washed down with an Irish beer.

Delux isn’t the most elegant place, but they have once great burger. The service was also excellent – far better than many restaurants in Phoenix.

Total cost for the burger, fries, and a Smithwick’s Irish 20 ounce beer – $20 plus a nice tip for a great server. Delux may be the best burger in Phoenix-Scottsdale.

Recent awards for Delux include:
Phoenix Magazine: Best New Restaurants 2005; Best place, burger, & beer 2005
Featured in the New York Times
Arizona Republic – Best Late Night Spot 2005
New Times – Best burger, beer, and fries selection
Food & Lifestyle Magazine – Best Burger – Top 3
944 Magazine – Best burger, platinum award 2006