Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours - Where To Find The Great Deals

How big of a discount are you getting on your Grand Canyon helicopter tour? If it's 10 percent or less, stop. My sources offer up to 35% off. Even more for groups. Where do you score such discounts? Online, of course.

The secret to getting great deals is to buy direct from the tour operator. As tempting as it is, don't use travel agents, concierges, and street-side vendors. These third-party vendors are in it for the commissions. They'll get your attention with am improbable low price then push you to purchase a more expensive package. The result: You pay more.

Tour operators understand that middlemen are part of doing business. However, in a perfect world, they would book all their trips themselves. This approach would guarantee quality customer service and fair prices. Brokers, on the other hand, are interested in the sale.

Tour operators know how important you are to their business. Especially in regards to repeat and referral business. See, they know that if you are happy with your helicopter trip, there is a strong chance you'll refer them to friends and family. The good companies (mentioned below) will go out of their way to please you, and, among other things, this includes giving you special deals. Middlemen can't do this.

I recommend you consider flying with these helicopter tour companies: Papillon, Maverick, and Sundance. Papillon, the "big dog" in the industry, is the low-price leader. I've reviewed their tours many times. Their trips are superb and they are my top pick. Maverick is in the high-end niche and provides luxury trips (pricey). Sundance is sandwiched between the two.

Buy direct on the Internet and you'll get up to 35% off. That's significant. Papillon consistently offers the best deals. For example, their Grand Celebration tour, a West Rim tour that lands on the canyon floor, lists for $399 but can be booked for $280 on their site. That's a whopping $119 in savings! Or take the Grand Celebration with Skywalk and boat, their other best seller. It retails for $597 but can be booked online for $400. The difference is sizeable enough for a night on The Strip.

Save even more with Papillon if you book a small group of 10 or more. It took me a bit to figure this out. Here's how:

1. Look for the helicopter flight you want.

2. Go 3/4 down the page.

3. To the left, you'll notice a text-link that says "small-group" pricing. Click it.

4. The tour page will refresh and will now show the group rates.

If your are departing from Las Vegas, please note that there are no direct helicopter flights to the South Rim. You must book a plane/helicopter package. The flight is 45 minutes and lands at Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, AZ, where you'll board your helicopter. This package includes bus transfer to Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim.

The market for Grand Canyon helicopter tours is extremely competitive. To get your business, tour operators offer online promotions that save you up to 35%. The savings go up if you book a small group of 10 or more people. Be wary of offers from travel agents, brokers, and concierges. These parties are in it for the commission and will sell you the trip that makes them the most money. Search the Internet all you want. But I can tell you from experience that you'll end up purchasing from a tour supplier like Papillon. And getting a fantastic deal. Having done your homework, remember: Book online, and then get ready for the flight of a lifetime.