Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in flagstaff and get up early. It’s only like a 20-30min drive and there is a lot of good breweries and restaurant in flagstaff

This is exactly what we're doing, but it's a little disingenous to say it's a 20-30 minute drive. Google Maps says 87 minutes from Flagstaff to the South Rim Visitor Center.

Flagstaff is 1.5 hrs, maybe you were thinking of Williams which is closer and also has breweries? Flagstaff is freaking awesome! I’d stay there in a heartbeat. There are like 6 breweries downtown all walkable - one has a mini pizza place that has one of the best neopolitain pizzas in the us. There are also a tone of fun excellent restaurants - annex, tinderbox, Brix, shift and the chef that opened atria won a James beard award. Orpheus theater has great small acts pass though. There is a world class observatory. Flag is great!!

Anonymous wrote:

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Stay in flagstaff and get up early. It’s only like a 20-30min drive and there is a lot of good breweries and restaurant in flagstaff

Thought of that...but my BFF went and had a great time...but told me to stay "in park" if possible. Also, of note, I will only be there for 2 nights and plan to do the Canyon Vista Mule Ride and Railway Express Tour - both of which depart very early in the morning. Which is way I ended up making reservation at Maswik -- I am told to check back as many people make cancellations so maybe I can switch to a nice place.

I bet those mules luuuuuv giving those rides.

Anonymous wrote:Stay in flagstaff and get up early. It’s only like a 20-30min drive and there is a lot of good breweries and restaurant in flagstaff

This is exactly what we're doing, but it's a little disingenous to say it's a 20-30 minute drive. Google Maps says 87 minutes from Flagstaff to the South Rim Visitor Center.

OP here again....so FYI....the Maswik Lodge (while not "on the rim" but just a 5 minute walk to the rim) has availability for THIS MAY - which at first made me weary....but guess what I found out....there is Maswik Lodge NORTH building and Maswik Lodge SOUTH building.

The Maswik Lodge SOUTH building just completed a recent renovation and they are "putting the finishing touches on now and they will be open in May" according to the rep I spoke to - so I am now comfortable spending 2 nights there.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone stayed at Kachina? Now I’m nervous.

We stayed at Kachina a couple years ago. It was fine. I’d say a step down from a Hampton Inn. Most of the options there are kind of old and depressing. It’s right on the rim, and we had a view so that part was great. It’s also right next to El Tovar so we toured it and had dinner there. It was definitely basic but not as bad as how PPs are describing some of the others. Fine for a night or maybe two. I wouldn’t want to spend a week there.