It's great to hear that you had such a great trip with us and I'm sure future travellers will benefit from your packing advice!

Kindest regards,

Julia

Great to read your review and to hear that you enjoyed the tour as much as I did! Thanks also for your kind comments about my review! It's amazing how the weather can vary from year to year - as you know I went in Sept last year and we didn't see any snow! It was hot at Mt Rushmore, cool in Yellowstone (a few showers but no snow either) and hot for the rest. Layers are a good idea all right. You see so much of the real America on this tour and the scenery is truly astonishing! Have fun sorting out your photos - I saw two bears but they were too far away to get a decent photo.

Cheers,

Bob

:thumbup:Just returned from a memorable trip. Full on trip but incredibly well supported and organised by our great tour manager Wendy and driver Tim R, couldn't have asked for better. Local guides were informative and a special mention to the Deadwood school bus driver who had us crying with laughter. Never hurried and lots of breaks in the day, so don't be put off by the huge mileage travelled. We had many laughs about the different ways to survive getting breakfast and learned to use waffle irons and automatic pancake machines! Scenery and experiences incredibly diverse. If you still remember Westerns in film and TV there are lots of familiar names but was amazed to learn of present day Hollywood film use of the areas. Hard to add to the fantastic review of the itinerary posted by Bob in 2013. But would suggest at this time of year you pack with discretion. Temperature ranged from below freezing (7"snow) at Mt Rushmore to 38 in Las Vegas, so warm layers, waterproof, and decent walking shoes pretty essential. Discovered too late for comfort that American main courses almost always come with soup/salad as well and in supermarkets our family-sized seems to be US regular, but we did find some superb salads to take out. Now sorting through and editing my extensive photos! Still on look out for a bear!(and dieting!)

Hi Sue

Agree with everything you say. Wasn't it wonderful? - I'm so enjoying looking at the photos. I was very happy with it all, but if I HAD to make any changes:

1. One night only in Salt Lake City. It was interesting, and the trip to Park City was enjoyable, but a bit similar to Deadwood, and I would have preferred another day in the great outdoors, perhaps the Grand Teton or Grand Canyon area.

2. I don't know if there are any reasonably priced hotels more centrally located than the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, but apart from the excellent buffet dinner I didn't really like it - SO noisy downstairs. In fact I could have done without that night altogether, although it was fun to see the amazing hotels like the Bellagio. But perhaps you have to have the night there to fit in with the flight.

But these are small quibbles. Wendy and Tim were fantastic, the company great, and the scenery just... words fail me!

Sara

My highlights... optional excursions... helicopter flight G Canyon with pilot playing 2001 Space Odyssey theme music as flew over rim; Snake River Float with the magical double rainbow; dusty but exciting 4 x 4 round Monument Valley. The first glimpse of the Badlands. The evening of 3 bottles of Moose Drool and a couple of C & W dances! Sitting on the balcony of the weird and wonderful Lodge in Yellowstone with chums and beer in hand, watching Old Faithful blow his top. Irma's restaurant/hotel in Cody. The fall colours as we drove through Logan Canyon. Lots more but too many to list. All in all a host of incredible experiences. We were very lucky with the weather... mainly hot and dry, a couple of showers in Teton (but we wouldn't have had the rainbow experience without them), and a foggy arrival in Grand Canyon. Luckily it was a clear blue sky the next morning for our flight.

I would agree with Sara's comments on S L City and LV (the latter is a real culture shock after the natural beauty of the National Parks and I would have happily missed out on Sin City!). Maybe it would be worth considering having more time in Teton or Yellowstone and a direct drop at L V airport but with an optional add-on for those who like the bright lights. Just a thought

Only negatives were the poor standard of coach we had for 2/3rds of the trip. Not the driver or TM's fault but not good enough considering the cost of the holiday. Julie and Darlene worked very hard to sort things out after a breakdown but it was still several days before Betty Boo (Darlene's usual coach) arrived. We all cheered, especially Darlene!!

Also having plastic cutlery and paper cups for breakfast at some of the hotels... ugh! Noise from large air con machinery outside bedroom in Stratosphere. Most of the hotels were good, some excellent... large rooms. comfortable beds so a shame the small touches let some down. Liked the mega jacuzzi in my bedroom in SLC though!!

Mary

I guess the Las Vegas night highlights that we saw "real" America for two weeks. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I'm still sorting through photos but sadly can't send some on to one of our fellow travellers as her email isn't working.Hope your lost item turned up. Suejj