Looking for hotels by Zion National Park? Need a hotel near Bryce Canyon National Park? Where is the best place to stay for North Rim Grand Canyon?
We have all been there – searching for accommodations. It is by far my LEAST favorite part of any vacation. Especially when taking the family. Our family of 6 is too big for one hotel room but too expensive to pay for two rooms…. sigh. Here are some ideas on what to do when looking for hotels or other accommodations near Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon.
Do yourself, your family or group a favor and book a Vacation Rental.
Kanab is the perfect hub for exploring these National Parks.
- Bryce is 76 miles to the North
- Zion is 30 miles to the West
- North Rim Grand Canyon is 80 miles to the South
- Lake Powell/Antelope Canyon is 80 miles to the East
Hotels near Zion can easily run $200 plus per night, Bryce is slightly less. Why settle for two beds and a bathroom when you can enjoy an entire house or apartment?
Short term Vacation Rentals have truly hit their stride in the last few years with folks learning they can affordably rent a home with kitchen and yard for comparable prices to a hotel room, sometimes even less.
Every so often a hotel is a perfect way to go. Like a quick one night stopover on your way to somewhere else. But when you are coming to the Grand Circle to do the Parks and explore the endless red rock trails and all that Southwestern Utah has to offer, you are gonna need a few days.
Where to stay can be an overwhelming task at times. Here are a few tips to smooth the way to booking your Vacation Rental:
- Book direct with the owner to get the very best price and service. The large online booking sites have service fees of up to 15% of your total stay. This goes for local hotels too!
- Look for homes that have their own web site or that list on commission-free sites such as www.VacationSoup.com or www.Houfy.com These new start-ups are not huge but they are growing.
- Use Google Maps to zero in on the area you are interested in, savvy VR owners are getting on Google maps.
- Look on the local Tourism Board websites for listings of accommodations that have direct links. (ie. ours is www.VisitSouthernUtah.com)
- Search on Facebook for the name and location of your destination to see if some of your favorite properties have a Facebook page.
- Read, Read, Read everything the owner has put in the listing. Make sure the home is a good fit for you BEFORE you spend lots of time and money and then find out you can’t bring your dog and 3 extra people you thought would be OK.
- Google search the owner’s name, the property name, and any other information you may have gathered about the owner. This will help you to rent safely.
- If the house you’re considering is dramatically discounted, it’s probably too good to be true. Be aware of scammers.
- Have a phone conversation with the owner. It really helps you get a feel for what kind of person you are doing business with. Most owners are happy to do that – especially since they can also get an understanding of what type of guest you may be and how to offer you the best experience.
- Don’t be intimidated by the large booking companies advertising that they will guarantee your stay and give you 24/7 support during your stay. They don’t. They can’t. They don’t own any homes. They can’t help you if the BBQ grill quits working or tell you where the best hiking trails are.
- Be friendly with the local owner and you will have an open book to your destination.
When it’s time to find a hotel for your next vacation, whether it be Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon or any other great adventure spot – think Vacation Rental Homes instead.
