Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam tours

Is it better to take the tour of the South Rim or West Rim of Grand Canyon?
Also want to take a short Hoover Dam tour.
What tour companies are the best to book with? and should we wait until we get our there to book?

In 2010 and 2012 we took tours from Vegas to South Rim. I've never been to West Rim but it seems if you want to see the best of the Grand Canyon the South Rim makes the most sense. In 2010 we took Walking Tour with Grand Adventures. It was actually a larger van that seated a total of 12 folks. It was surprisingly comfortable. It is more expensive but well worth it. They pick you up at your hotel. Stop at McDonalds for breakfast or coffee and have an additional stop at Route 66 area, Seligman, that we all loved and we got to meet Angel(look him up). They also take good sandwich lunches that you can eat right on the rocks at the Canyon when you get there. It's a 2 mile walking tour and the guide adds a lot to the tour. They also give you plenty of time to wander on your own. They stopped on the way back to vegas a couple more times at conveniece stores for bathroom and snacks and also at the Hoover Dam overlook. We loved it. Then in 2012 we took a large "luxury" bus tour. Saved a lot of money. More like a school bus. We had to walk to Bally's for pickup, they stopped at several other places before we were even hitting the highway. Every stop was a cattle rush. Many people don't wait their turn getting off the bus. The lunch was horrid at some rest stop before the canyon, sandwiches were soggy. Bus driver warned if you heard a double-beep you better be on the bus because he was leaving! Just drop you off at the Canyon and give you a pickup area to be at in a few hours. One 20 minute stop at McDonalds on way back with 30 or 40 people on bus, you have to stuff your face pretty fast! Went over new bridge by Dam but no stop and no Route 66 stop. It took forever to make all the dropoff stops coming back plus they make a transfer to smaller buses but still don't drop you at hotel. They dropped us at Ballys(walked back to Mirage).

It's no contest, pay the extra money for the smaller group tour. Hotel pickup and dropoff alone makes it worth it!

Great tip! Thanks for the information

Last year (2012) we did the walking tour of the Grand Canyon with Grand Adventures, I highly recommend it. You have a choice of 2 different tours. We chose the Sunset Tour. The smaller groups are so much better, definitely not rushed. There was only 8 in our group. Our guide was Brett. He was great as I hear all their guides are. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel. Our first stop was McDonalds for breakfast which is included in the price. Brett had us order and sat us together. He paid and brought our order to us. Next was a short 15 min stop at Hoover Dam. They have to park on the back side so you don't get a great view. Another stop was Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona. You have a little time on your own to explore this neat little town. Other stops were for fuel/restroom breaks. Arriving at the canyon were had a very nice picnic lunch on the hotel veranda. Our walk into the canyon was about 2 hours. It'a a very easy walk. Brett seated us at a spot to watch the amazing sunset. While you wait for the sunset your guide takes a shuttle back and brings the van up to where the tour ends, so you don't have to walk the whole way back. On the way home you will have another fuel/restroom stop. The others on our tour never saw the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. It wasn't on our itinerary but he stopped there on the way back. It is a long day but very well worth it.

https://www.grand-adventures.com/index.html

I did the Hoover tour once, a long time ago (pre 9/11), the person I'm going with in April has never been there (hell, never been to Vegas lol) so I think we'll go.

We found that it was cheaper just to rent a car and be on our time instead of the going the tour bus rout. Just be advised if you plan on spending the night at the canyon to get a room ahead of time as there are not many options there. Since we had a car made stops a route 66 museum in Kingman, had a buffet in Laughlin, found a Indian festival (flea market) and a couple of other cute stops.

Rent a car. We took a tour bus to the Canyon in 2004 and although the tour was nice it was very LONG. It will be much better to rent a car and go at your own pace and much easier to spend as much time you want at both places. The South rim is a long drive. I think 4 hours. If you have time to spend at the Hoover Dam do the Dam Tour. It is the more expensive of the tours offered but well worth it.

I have done both - rented a car and took the bus tour. I would do the hoover dam bus tour, as it isn't all that long, they do pick you up at the hotel, and you get to do the dam tour and relax on the way back. For the grand canyon, a car is the way to go. We went by bus the first time, made for a long day, and after spending 6 hours on a plane to get to vegas, I didn't enjoy spending 8 hours on a bus. We drove there, most valet services at the hotel will gladly hand you a map and tell you the best areas to see. We actually went to the area where the glass walkway is located and did the indian lunch barbeque, it was a terrific day. We took my friend from Canada, she had never seen the canyon. On the drive there, we pulled into a rest area where some Indian women were making and selling jewelry - I spent $25 and got some lovely pieces. We also stopped at some saloon - right out of 1940 - man in the rear strumming on a banjo - he had one tooth, I think - bar with stools that did not match - tables outside made from those wire spool things - it was quite memorable!!!!

Enjoy your trip.

If you go by car, spend the night and take in all the Canyon has to offer.

Just to let you know the park entrance fee is $25 unless that golden passport