The trip just got better and better as we went along. So glad we did it this way round and not Las Vegas to Denver as they had done in previous years!

My highlights - Yellowstone, Grand Canyon & Bryce Canyon. I did the helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and, although a bit nervous to begin with, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The weather was amazing - even in Yellowstone where, although there was snow on the ground in some places, we had 2 beautiful sunny clear days. The only time it rained was in Salt Lake City - the only part of the trip which was a disappointment for me. I was pleased to see Temple Square and the Mormon tabernacle but otherwise not impressed. Perhaps the rain didn't help?

Deadwood was great - we went to Tatanka first (owned by Kevin Costner) which gives a history of the bison & native American (very interesting) then had a tour of Boot Hill cemetery in a yellow school bus driven by an extremely funny guide. We had lunch in Diamond Lil's saloon and some very rare free time to wander round Deadwood.

Another favourite was Jackson where you could still imagine you were back in the Wild West. I chose not to go on the Snake River Float which meant I had some free time to wander round (the hotel is within walking distance of the town).

If you get a chance, do go to the Million Dollar Cowboy Ranch for dinner, with a pre-dinner drink in the bar upstairs where you sit on saddles!

Our Tour Manager, Julie always suggested places we could eat and sometimes booked a block dinner booking for those who wanted to go.

The Grand Canyon left you speechless - you have to see it to believe it - what an amazing place! But, when we thought it couldn't get any better, the next day we were in Bryce Canyon which, in its own right, was just as awesome.

By the time we reached Nevada the temperatures had risen drastically - over 100 degrees in Las Vegas! And what an amazing place Vegas is - completely mad and, again, has to be seen to be believed. It is definitely worth doing the Las Vegas by night tour. For a start its the last night of the tour and nobody wanted to be on their own. Julie took us to see the Venetian and Bellagio with its dancing fountains, followed by Freemont Street which had a sound & light show on the roof, with a Queen tribute theme. Wonderful!

In the morning we had another tour - visiting New York New York and Caesar's Palace.

The Stratosphere hotel where we stayed has a tower with an amazing view 109 floors up - not to be missed!

I did all extra excursions, apart from the Snake River Float and the 2 airplane flights. I would say Lake Powell, Monument Valley 4 x 4 & the Grand Canyon helicopter are a must.

Some hotels where we stayed were better than others, the best being Denver Hilton, Plaza Resort in Tusayan, Crystal Inn in SLC, Marriot in Page, Stratosphere. The others a bit basic but all rooms were clean and adequate.

Our Tour Manager, Julie Larson was lovely and couldn't do enough for us. She certainly helped to make this trip very memorable.

I could go on and on until I run out of space. However, will leave it there but please ask away if there's anything I've missed or anything else you'd like to know.

Well what did I say back in February.

This tour is a must for anyone who wants to see magnificent scenery. Ok you have to get up early some days but what you will see later in the day will certainly be worth it.

Shame it rained in Salt Lake City. Yes, Las Vegas can be hot. I see last weekend (8th/9th June) the temperature went up to 110F!

As I said before, with the tour this way round it just gets better with more time to enjoy Las Vegas. Fremont St is brilliant at night and those Bellagio fountains are not to be missed. What about the Archers NP?

Very glad you enjoyed this tour

Malcolm

PS The Texas & New Orleans tour has no scenery!!

I am glad you had a great tour, I did this a few years ago, well worth it. How are they going with the monument to Chief Crazy Horse?

Martin

Yes - you were certainly right about this tour - it was wonderful.

I have read your review of Texas & New Orleans. I was thinking about this one for the future. But, with no scenery, not so sure. The scenery made my holiday for me. I know there are lots of interesting sights in the Texas tour, but might be one that goes on the back-burner. There are other places I would like to do, like Boston in the Fall and Vancouver. Oh well - I can dream - will have to save up some money first!! Best wishes Olive

We arrived back last Wednesday from this amazing unforgettable holiday. It is a very 'full-on' trip with hardly any time to yourself (except the evenings of course) but I knew that before I booked. Most mornings we were up for a bag drop at 7.00/7.30 then out by 8.00/8.30 am. Sometimes we were on the coach for long periods, but there were plenty of comfort stops along the way.

The trip just got better and better as we went along. So glad we did it this way round and not Las Vegas to Denver as they had done in previous years!

My highlights - Yellowstone, Grand Canyon & Bryce Canyon. I did the helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and, although a bit nervous to begin with, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The weather was amazing - even in Yellowstone where, although there was snow on the ground in some places, we had 2 beautiful sunny clear days. The only time it rained was in Salt Lake City - the only part of the trip which was a disappointment for me. I was pleased to see Temple Square and the Mormon tabernacle but otherwise not impressed. Perhaps the rain didn't help?

Deadwood was great - we went to Tatanka first (owned by Kevin Costner) which gives a history of the bison & native American (very interesting) then had a tour of Boot Hill cemetery in a yellow school bus driven by an extremely funny guide. We had lunch in Diamond Lil's saloon and some very rare free time to wander round Deadwood.

Another favourite was Jackson where you could still imagine you were back in the Wild West. I chose not to go on the Snake River Float which meant I had some free time to wander round (the hotel is within walking distance of the town).

If you get a chance, do go to the Million Dollar Cowboy Ranch for dinner, with a pre-dinner drink in the bar upstairs where you sit on saddles!

Our Tour Manager, Julie always suggested places we could eat and sometimes booked a block dinner booking for those who wanted to go.

The Grand Canyon left you speechless - you have to see it to believe it - what an amazing place! But, when we thought it couldn't get any better, the next day we were in Bryce Canyon which, in its own right, was just as awesome.

By the time we reached Nevada the temperatures had risen drastically - over 100 degrees in Las Vegas! And what an amazing place Vegas is - completely mad and, again, has to be seen to be believed. It is definitely worth doing the Las Vegas by night tour. For a start its the last night of the tour and nobody wanted to be on their own. Julie took us to see the Venetian and Bellagio with its dancing fountains, followed by Freemont Street which had a sound & light show on the roof, with a Queen tribute theme. Wonderful!

In the morning we had another tour - visiting New York New York and Caesar's Palace.

The Stratosphere hotel where we stayed has a tower with an amazing view 109 floors up - not to be missed!

I did all extra excursions, apart from the Snake River Float and the 2 airplane flights. I would say Lake Powell, Monument Valley 4 x 4 & the Grand Canyon helicopter are a must.

Some hotels where we stayed were better than others, the best being Denver Hilton, Plaza Resort in Tusayan, Crystal Inn in SLC, Marriot in Page, Stratosphere. The others a bit basic but all rooms were clean and adequate.

Our Tour Manager, Julie Larson was lovely and couldn't do enough for us. She certainly helped to make this trip very memorable.

I could go on and on until I run out of space. However, will leave it there but please ask away if there's anything I've missed or anything else you'd like to know.

Olive

Thank you for the review, am on this trip in September.

Are there any opportunities to do a bit of shopping as I would like to buy myself a Stetson Hat whilst on the tour.

Regards

Dave

Yes - there are definitely opportunities to buy hats. Practically every visitor centre/shop en route sell hats. The only trouble is you have to be quick as they're always flying visits!! I managed to shop in Jackson because I didn't do the Snake River Float and also there's time in Salt Lake City on the second day as you get a few hours free time there. So, don't worry, you'll definitely get your hat! Have fun! Olive

As Olive has already pointed out, Deadwood was so much fun! You must do the $8 trip around the town on the school bus...it's absolutely hilarious! I can also recommend Saloon Bar No10 for a cold beer - with sawdust on the floor and the guy behind the bar dressed up as Wild Bill Hickock, its wild west to it's core.

In answer to your specific question, there are plenty of shopping opportunities, as all of the national parks have visitor centres/gift shops. You also have time around Park City on the optional excursion from SLC and a half day free around SLC even if you take up the excursion. If you don't do the Snake River trip, you will also have free time around Jackson so plenty of time to pick up that Stetson! Just be aware that many items are not made in the USA, so if that's important to you check the labels as many things are made in China, Honduras, Haiti etc.

To summarise, the memories of this trip will stay with me forever so enjoy it all in September. I could do it all over again!

Regards

Mike

The Crazy Horse Memorial still has a long way to go. They're working on his arm and horse's head at the moment but it seems to be a very slow procedure. Will be magnificent when finished won't it?

Hi Dave, I was on this same trip with Olive and totally agree with her review. The sights are truly astonishing and there are no words that can adequately describe the Grand Canyon. In addition to the excursions already reviewed by Olive, I also did the Snake River trip which was very enjoyable and peaceful. I can recommend this as a relaxing interlude after some 'full-on' days. The highlight was a visit from a bald eagle which flew right over our raft!

As Olive has already pointed out, Deadwood was so much fun! You must do the $8 trip around the town on the school bus...it's absolutely hilarious! I can also recommend Saloon Bar No10 for a cold beer - with sawdust on the floor and the guy behind the bar dressed up as Wild Bill Hickock, its wild west to it's core.

In answer to your specific question, there are plenty of shopping opportunities, as all of the national parks have visitor centres/gift shops. You also have time around Park City on the optional excursion from SLC and a half day free around SLC even if you take up the excursion. If you don't do the Snake River trip, you will also have free time around Jackson so plenty of time to pick up that Stetson! Just be aware that many items are not made in the USA, so if that's important to you check the labels as many things are made in China, Honduras, Haiti etc.

To summarise, the memories of this trip will stay with me forever so enjoy it all in September. I could do it all over again!

Regards

Mike

Hi Mike

How are you? It was a wonderful trip, wasn't it. I'm still living off the memories and will be for a long while to come. I definitely could do it all over again - although may need a bit of time to get over the jet lag!! Lots of best wishes Olive

Thank you for your replies, looking forward in anticipation to the trip.

Regards

Dave

It was a great trip and our group definitely made that possible. We all got on so well didn't we?

A reunion would be great - in the not too distant future. I'm in touch with a couple of people so maybe between us we can sort something out? I also emailed Julie - she must have been shattered after all that hard work!

Take care - Olive

We arrived back last Wednesday from this amazing unforgettable holiday. It is a very 'full-on' trip with hardly any time to yourself (except the evenings of course) but I knew that before I booked. Most mornings we were up for a bag drop at 7.00/7.30 then out by 8.00/8.30 am. Sometimes we were on the coach for long periods, but there were plenty of comfort stops along the way.

The trip just got better and better as we went along. So glad we did it this way round and not Las Vegas to Denver as they had done in previous years!

My highlights - Yellowstone, Grand Canyon & Bryce Canyon. I did the helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and, although a bit nervous to begin with, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The weather was amazing - even in Yellowstone where, although there was snow on the ground in some places, we had 2 beautiful sunny clear days. The only time it rained was in Salt Lake City - the only part of the trip which was a disappointment for me. I was pleased to see Temple Square and the Mormon tabernacle but otherwise not impressed. Perhaps the rain didn't help?

Deadwood was great - we went to Tatanka first (owned by Kevin Costner) which gives a history of the bison & native American (very interesting) then had a tour of Boot Hill cemetery in a yellow school bus driven by an extremely funny guide. We had lunch in Diamond Lil's saloon and some very rare free time to wander round Deadwood.

Another favourite was Jackson where you could still imagine you were back in the Wild West. I chose not to go on the Snake River Float which meant I had some free time to wander round (the hotel is within walking distance of the town).

If you get a chance, do go to the Million Dollar Cowboy Ranch for dinner, with a pre-dinner drink in the bar upstairs where you sit on saddles!

Our Tour Manager, Julie always suggested places we could eat and sometimes booked a block dinner booking for those who wanted to go.

The Grand Canyon left you speechless - you have to see it to believe it - what an amazing place! But, when we thought it couldn't get any better, the next day we were in Bryce Canyon which, in its own right, was just as awesome.

By the time we reached Nevada the temperatures had risen drastically - over 100 degrees in Las Vegas! And what an amazing place Vegas is - completely mad and, again, has to be seen to be believed. It is definitely worth doing the Las Vegas by night tour. For a start its the last night of the tour and nobody wanted to be on their own. Julie took us to see the Venetian and Bellagio with its dancing fountains, followed by Freemont Street which had a sound & light show on the roof, with a Queen tribute theme. Wonderful!

In the morning we had another tour - visiting New York New York and Caesar's Palace.

The Stratosphere hotel where we stayed has a tower with an amazing view 109 floors up - not to be missed!

I did all extra excursions, apart from the Snake River Float and the 2 airplane flights. I would say Lake Powell, Monument Valley 4 x 4 & the Grand Canyon helicopter are a must.

Some hotels where we stayed were better than others, the best being Denver Hilton, Plaza Resort in Tusayan, Crystal Inn in SLC, Marriot in Page, Stratosphere. The others a bit basic but all rooms were clean and adequate.

Our Tour Manager, Julie Larson was lovely and couldn't do enough for us. She certainly helped to make this trip very memorable.

I could go on and on until I run out of space. However, will leave it there but please ask away if there's anything I've missed or anything else you'd like to know.

Hi Olive - great review - I am booked to go on this trip in October and am really looking forward to it. I'm on a bit of a tight budget and am trying to figure out how much spending money I should take with me for meals, drinks etc. what would you recommend? Any other tips would be gratefully received too. Thanks a million, Gill.

With regards to spending money - I took £800 worth of dollars but I knew I was going to want to bring back a lot of souvenirs, presents for the grandchildren etc. However, I did buy a lot of presents on my credit card and ended up bringing back about 100 dollars in cash. Most of what I spent went on food and drink, and tips. An evening meal could cost anything from $24 plus drink and a couple of dollars for tips. Having said that you could eat very cheaply if you ate somewhere like Dennys - a reasonably priced diner. Lunchtime we tended to buy a sandwich from Walmart, or sometimes a burger or subway, depending where we stopped.

Beer was quite cheap, but I don't drink beer so tended to have a glass of wine in the evening or a vodka & tonic. Wine varied greatly but on average was about $6 a glass, although we did pay $11 one night!!

I paid for most of my excursions before I went so didn't have to worry about paying for those while away.

If you have any more questions, would be happy to help.

You will have a wonderful time. Kind regards Olive

I am considering this for my 11th JY holiday! Shame not more time in Las Vegas, I went there many years ago and it definately deserves two days.

Hi David, Please allow me to help you come to a decision on this one! I've just returned from this trip and it's a holiday that simply gets better with each passing day. From the desolation of the Badlands, the beauty of the Black Hills, the history of Little Big Horn, the sheer spectacle of Yellowstone, Arches and Monument Valley, the indescribable wonder of the Grand Canyon, to the wonderful colours of Bryce and the immensity of the sandstone cliffs at Zion, I promise that you will never forget it. You will have travelled just over 3,600 miles by journeys end, but if there was ever an example of you getting out of travel what you are prepared to put in, this holiday is surely it. A truly memorable experience.

Many, many thanks for all your great comments on this tour - I'm booked to do it in Sept and I can't wait! I'm going mainly for the scenery, having just bought my first DSLR camera and am keen to get some practice using it! But I'm also looking forward to learning more about the wild west!

All the best,

Bob

Well - you will certainly get lots of use out of your new camera. I came home with 1200 photos - plus video footage - and I know there were people who took a lot more than me. As for learning about the wild west - there's so much to learn its hard to take it all in. It was so interesting hearing about the first settlers, and the Oregon Trail. But in particular I found the story of Little Bighorn very poignant and being at the actual battlefield, very moving. You are going to have the holiday of a lifetime!. Best wishes Olive

I put up a new thread earlier today asking a question about the optional excursions, but maybe you might be able to help: Firstly regarding Monument Valley, is it possible and advisable to do both the 4x4 jeep ride and the flight? Secondly, after talking to a JY rep, I've discovered that the Bryce Canyon flight and Rainbow Bridge flight are on the same day, so it would be an either/or choice between them. What would you advise? I'm guessing that the Bryce flight is the better of the two (and costs twice as much!) but I also know it depends on how many book as to whether both or even one of them goes ahead. All advice gratefully received.

Cheers,

Bob

PS Olive, I'd better get a new memory card!! Thanks again for your reply.

You can do both the 4x4 drive and the flight from Monument Valley. They need a minimum of 4 people on the flight, and although I didn't do this myself (I did the helicopter flight over Grand Canyon) 4 people from our group did take the flight and said it was fantastic. It takes about 2 hrs in total and includes Monument Valley (obviously!), Rainbow Bridge and part of the Grand Canyon. I can't give you any advice regarding the Bryce Canyon / Rainbow Bridge flights other than to say you still get great views of Bryce from Inspiration Point and the trail walk to Upper Inspiration Point. The colours are just incredible so I'm guessing the flight would be amazing. However, my tour paperwork says that after the Bryce Canyon flight you would be transferred to Ruby's Inn and have 3hrs free time while the rest of the group catch up. There's not too much at Ruby's Inn to take up 3 hrs (just some gift shops, supermarket and a restaurant) so the choice is yours.

Hope this helps, I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you decide.

Mike