When you make your living providing tours at a place that resides at the top of millions of people’s “bucket lists” you do business with a unique responsibility. Grand Canyon tour operators realize this. They want you to ask questions so you can put down your reservation deposit on your “trip of a lifetime” with confidence. So what should those questions be?
1. How long have you been in business?
No tour operator would ever be so bold as to think they “have seen it all.” But the more tours given the less likely they are to be befuddled by unexpected gremlins that crop up during a tour.
2. What types of tours do you specialize in?
There are many ways to experience the Grand Canyon – on raft, on mule, on foot, by air. Once you familiarize yourself with the options and decide the best trip for you, you can narrow the range of appropriate operators to cast your lot with.
3. What is the group size on tour?
Tours with a low client-to-guide ratio foster a more personal experience and smaller tour groups offer more itinerary flexibility should a unique opportunity present itself to go off schedule. It is also a good idea to ask if the tour will be cancelled if a minimum number of participants do not sign up, and how often that happens.
4. Who normally takes these tours?
You are not being nosy – some tours are geared for families, others for seniors, some for singles, etc. You need to know that you will fit comfortably into the demographic mix of your Grand Canyon tour group. The national park is a rugged place and you also need to match a tour’s physical requirements with your level of fitness. How much fun is that Grand Canyon adventure going to be if you aren’t able to keep up with the group?
5. What kind of training is given to guides?
You can’t expect a full resume of the guide who is going to hold your dream vacation in his or her hands but you should be able to learn the extent of first aid training guides have gone through. With the many international visitors at the Grand Canyon you may want to inquire about the availability of multi-lingual guides if that is a concern.
6. Ask enough questions so there are no surprises about the nuts and bolts of any tour. These issues include:
* exactly what is included in the tour price and what expenses will be additional
* exactly what the food and lodging arrangements will be
* exactly how cancellation and refunds work
7. What is your commitment to ecotourism?
Millions of people come to see one of the planet’s greatest treasures every year, which is an overwhelming strain of resources. But responsible tour operators do what they can to minimize the impact of doing business in the Canyon – reducing waste, recycling and leaving no trace, even with large groups Ask potential tour providers what they are doing to help keep the Canyon healthy – and ask what you can do to help limit your footprint when you arrive.
8. Ask for references.
No reputable Grand Canyon Tour operator will be shy about sharing the names of past participants who have agreed to share experiences at the Canyon.
You have been dreaming about that Grand Canyon tour for years and now is not the time to be shy about making sure you get it right. And tour operators want you to ask these questions to make their job easier when you reach Arizona. If you know what to expect beforehand – and what is expected of you – everyone involved will be able to concentrate on why you’re coming – making memories that will last a lifetime.
