thanks for all the replies i will be traveling with 3 kids 3, 6, 8, are all the lodges on the south rim all about the same? i wanted to spend about 3 days 2 nights at the canyon. i wanted to do this all on Amtrak if i could i really dont want to rent a car do you guys think a travel agent could save me some money?

Amtrack has a shuttle bus from Flagstaff to the GC I think. But you could probably catch a shuttle from Flagstaff to Williams and then take the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. But either way, I think you'd want to stay the night in Flagstaff given the late hour of arrival.

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The lodges are not all the same. The El Tovar is extremely expensive, usually booked out months in advance and the place presidents stay in when they visit. Other's vary by price and quality. None are bad as such but the place is not a luxury resort. One option is to stay in Tusayan. Just outside the parks south entrance. There are several places there. Wife and I have stayed at the Best Western in Tusayan. Quite pricy but nice. There are shuttle busses runing from Tusayan into the park at regular intervals during the day. And in fact all thruought the park as vehicle traffic is not allowed on the Rim road any longer I believe.

Tusayan has an Imax theater in it and provides an acceptable backup if accommodation in the part itself is not available. Actually. For myself I'd prefer to stay on the rim. But with young kids being in Tusayan may not be a bad option.

- Peter.

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