Getting your head around the multiple accommodation options for the Grand Canyon can be a tricky task. The Grand Canyon label is applied to hotels over 1. Just to let you know we paid full price for all hotels we mention. The main variables are distance and cost. As you can imagine, the hotels closer to the South Rim tend to be more expensive, with the cheapest options being 1 - 1.
Places like Bright Angel Lodge and Maswik Lodge are a great blend of proximity and low-cost, but they are often the options which sell out first. If you can, we recommend trying to get as close as possible to the rim. The Grand Canyon is one of the busiest national parks in America and it pays to get there early and beat the crowds, which is difficult if you have to drive 1.
However, if budget is your primary concern, then look to Flagstaff and Williams as they are significantly cheaper. We loved being really close to the start of the trails and being able to wander around in the quieter times and see wild elk and viewpoints without anyone else around. Just simply being able to stay on the South Rim also feels like a bucket-list experience. The main drawback if you consider it a negative is that wi-fi here is almost nonexistant and there is no phone signal, so you will be cut-off from the world.
Bright Angel Lodge is probably the best value and best all round hotel in the village. Whilst the rooms here are pretty cosy i. Some have en-suite bathrooms, others will have shared bathrooms, but they are spotlessly clean. Wifi is terrible. The beds are really small but comfy and all rooms have tea and coffee making facilities. You are literally a minute from the rim which kind of blew our minds. We always managed to find a spot but sometimes it took a while. Maswik Lodge has seen better days, but in terms of price and space it is the best in the village.
The rooms here are large with many having two doubles - perfect for young families wanting to squeeze into one room. It also has the food court on site which serves up several different cuisines at ok prices.
