Prices for bus tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas are all over the map. The explanation for this is how operators market trips as all-inclusive. Some are comprehensive, while some are bare bones. Let's get you the right deal. That starts by understanding what makes up the standard bus trip. Here are the basics:

1. Round-trip transport

2. Deluxe motor coaches

3. Pull outs and comfort breaks

4. Food

5. "Ground time" at the Canyon

Now let's look at this in more detail...

Tour operators play fast and loose with the term "round trip." For you, it includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. This might look like quibbling over the details. But let me tell you that after enjoying the canyon for a day, the last thing you want to do is figure out how to get from some anonymous drop-off point to your hotel room that's miles down The Strip. Get it.

Not all luxury buses are created equal. Nearly all Vegas tour companies are operating new fleets that include all the features like plush seats, individual climate-control units, and plasma TVs. However, some operate blended fleets of new and older models, and others are driving "gently worn" ones. The last ten miles to the West Rim is on a dirt road, and, concerning the South Rim, expect to put in nine hours on the road. Trust your instincts: Book a trip with a company that drives the newer models.

The journey is as important as the destination. The route to the West Rim and the South Rim starts the same: Follow Highway 93 South out of Vegas, skirt Lake Mead and cross the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge, where your driver-guide should pull over for a photo-stop of the dam. Not every tour does this. I recommend you find a tour that does because seeing the dam from a bus seat doesn't cut it. Lastly, if you are headed to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, make sure there are scheduled rest stops as one-way drive time is five hours.

Seeing the Grand Canyon the very first time is a magical experience. You'll want to spend as much time as you can at each rim. Most tours give you two hours. The great ones give you three. You want the tour that gives you the most time, especially if you are visiting the South Rim, which has the best lookouts, gift shops, and museums.

That's the basics. Now comes a series of upsells that I call "gotchas..."

1. Food - An absolute must for all South Rim trips. Some tour companies make lunch optional in order to offer their tour at the lowest price and then upsell it to you at the Park.

2. Grand Canyon Entrance Fees - There's an admission cost at the West Rim and the South Rim. The best companies include it in the price of your tour. The so-so ones pass it on to you.

3. Fuel Surcharge - This was added into the package during the 2009 gas crisis. Gas is no longer $5 a gallon. The surcharge should be dropped. If it's still there, it's found money for the operator.

The best Las Vegas bus tour companies let you buy your tour on the Internet. I strongly suggest you do this. Online savings can reach up to 35 percent. I've purchased bus trips using my personal favorite tour operators and I can vouch that they're e-commerce booking sites are secure, efficient, and safe. The neatest thing after you book your tour is getting your trip voucher seconds afterward in your inbox.

Getting to the Grand Canyon by bus, be it the West or the South Rim, is a snap from Las Vegas. It's also one of the best tour values you will find. But you have to buy it smart. Read the tour descriptions. Think about your needs. Then book online and put the money you saved toward souvenirs or a night at the Blackjack tables.