If scenery or the great outdoors is not
your thing .... then this is not for you .
If an open road stretching through some of gods most exciting landscape
sounds good .... then read on .
There are many websites devoted to the Southwest .. they are all good but mainly put out by official tourist bureaus. Packed with so much information it can be quite difficult to choose which route and destinations suit you best lets face it there is much to choose from, perhaps these pages will help you decide. canyontocanyon.com endeavors to cut out the guess work and maybe save you precious vacation time. Simple advice complete with routes to get you to wonderful places and once there a few ideas to get the most out of your stay. The Southwest is an exciting region of the USA there is much more to be seen along with the destinations covered here. You can be sure that there is more than enough within this website to give you a spectacular and exhilarating vacation. . . what are you waiting for?
Flying to USA: Before leaving home, apart from travellers checks, take a little US cash.On arrival it comes in handy for phone calls to hotels etc or for the first of many . . tips. Long haul flights usually tedious and tiring make it worth considering staying locally on arrival. Dealing with a car rental agent and signing agreements is not be recommended unless you have all your wits about you. Many hotel/motels run a shuttle service to and from the airports, get a nights sleep and pick up your rental car early the next morning. If this sounds good advice then be sure to reserve your rental car for the day after arrival. As for contacting a local motel, the information desks at the airport should be able to supply you with a list of phone numbers and direct you to the public telephones. Maybe you can book ahead from your home but remember you will need the shuttle service otherwise its the cost of taxis. The shuttle driver will expect a tip but it works out very good value.(see accommodation links). If you arrive at the airport just desperate to get out there on the road, and who can blame you, bear in mind once darkness falls its not so easy to navigate to your first stopover.
Money:Travellers checks :Some smaller retailers are not too happy giving change for larger TCs i.e. $50 when the bill is only around $10-20. Use $20 TCs or cash on these occasions. $50 + are fine at the larger outlets, supermarkets etc. Buy accordingly.
Car Rental :
Two/three people = minimum requirement should be an Intermediate or Midsize
car.
Four/five people = at least a Full-size family car. On route there are some
pretty long and demanding gradients to negotiate i.e. the 89a from Oak
Creek Canyon to Flagstaff (hairpin bends all the way) or highway 14
east from Ceder City. Your car needs to be able to climb them in comfort
and without having to turn off the a/c.
Consider whether you wish to take the car on a one way drop off basis i.e.
pick up at Phoenix and drop off at Las Vegas. This service may cost extra.
At the rental station you will no doubt be pressured into paying extra for
an upgrade or extra insurance services, if you have pre booked your car
all the insurance taxes and such should be included and pre paid for. It
is all you require. Do NOT be swayed into taking out any extra unless there
happens to be some once in a lifetime offer that you just cant refuse. (aren't
they all?) Before leaving the compound check your vehicle for any damage
and report it if found. Note: Nevada rental operators, insist
that extra personal
insurance must be taken out. It is not compulsory, until it is...stand
your ground.
Tip: First time drivers in the States. Take the car to one of the huge local
mall car parks or the like, and get to know the controls before you start
your travels. Out of city limits driving in America is a great experience.....
enjoy !
Checklist : Full tank-Road maps-5ltr container of
water in the trunk-sunglasses -snacks -camera with endless film/memory -
binoculars - left anything behind ?
Children: Continual long journeys and kids just don't mix , best choose a base and take day trips.
What to wear: Dress for comfort (see 'when to go' )
Accommodation: During busy seasons the advice is reserve your room ahead (see home page) especially if you will not arrive there until evening. Chances are the motels will be full by then.
Altitude: Leaves you short of breath and a little faint. Give yourself time to adjust before any exertion.
Hiking/Trail walking:Take great care out on the trails, carry plenty of water and respect the park rules.
