When you look at brochures of Las Vegas, you'll see the prices of different Grand Canyon bus tours. The best tours are the all-inclusive packages that offer everything you could want during your excursion. Be suspicious of any bus tour that only provides you with a seat for the ride.

You'll need to know what's included in a standard tour in order to be able to tell the difference between a good tour and a bad one. For example, you want to ensure your transportation needs will be provided for during your entire tour. You'll also want to ride in a luxury bus, because it will make your experience much more enjoyable. Be sure to notice how many comfort breaks there will be on your excursion too. Plus, you will want to have plenty of time allowed to explore once you reach the National Park. And, your meal(s) should be included.

Tour companies can be a little vague, so it is important to find out if a shuttle service is included that will pick you up and drop you off right at your hotel. Transportation to and from your hotel is an important detail that shouldn't be overlooked. Imagine how awful it would be to get stranded without a ride back to your hotel!

There are several factors to consider about the buses themselves. You will enjoy your trip so much more if you travel on a newer bus that has luxury amenities. Less dependable companies use a mixture of new and old motor coaches, while others just use older buses. Quality is really important, because you'll ride over ten miles of dirt road on your way to the West Rim of the canyon. It is a pretty long bus ride too; it takes 2 1/2 hours each way to the West Rim and about 5 1/2 hours each way to the South Rim. That is a long time to sit, so you want a comfortable ride for sure.

Whether you are going to the West Rim or the South Rim, all Grand Canyon coach trips pass by Hoover Dam. Most motor coach excursions stop at the dam to give their passengers photo opportunities. Other buses may only drive over the new bridge and not stop at all. So be sure and check; you won't want to miss the opportunity to stop and gaze at the massive Hoover Dam.

If you don't pay attention, you may book a tour that doesn't include a stop at the Hoover Dam. That would be a shame, because your only glimpse of this man-made wonder would be through the window of your bus. That's why you want to make sure the tour stops there. Also, since the ride to the South Rim takes a little over five hours, you want to make sure the bus has some comfort stops scheduled.

Most of the motor coaches will stop at the rim for around three hours, so there is no need to settle for less time than that. The longer your stay, the more you can see, so try to stay as long as you can. Some of the notable sights you want to see on the South Rim include Mather Point, Grand Canyon Village, and Yavapai Point. At the West Rim, popular sights include Guano Point, Eagle Point, and the amazing glass Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Remember to pick a tour package that offers meals. Some companies may omit meals so they can lower the cost of the tour. Don't book a tour that doesn't include the park's admission fee, either. That means you will have to pay extra when you get there, and that could be a unfair surprise. You can avoid problems by researching tours online and comparing what they offer. Not only will you be able to find the most reputable tour operators, you will also find some great discounts for booking online.