Although you have to pay more to tour the Grand Canyon by helicopter than it does if you take a different type of tour, the cost is well worth it because of the fantastic views you see. Because they do cost more, you definitely want to choose a tour company that gives you a good cancellation policy. That way you won't be out a bunch of money if your travel plans change.

You want to read all the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of your tour package before you buy it, don't skip over them like a lot of people do. A helicopter tour might cost $300 per person in your family, so you need to make sure you understand what it is you're buying. Although reading the terms is probably pretty boring, it just might save you money in the long run.

One thing you should find in the terms is the company's policy for 48-hour cancellations. The best policy is one that gives you a full refund on the price of your tour if you have to cancel it up to 48 hours in advance of your tour date.

Since it is a good idea to buy your tour in advance, so you get the best options, ensuring there is a good cancellation policy in place protects your money in case something unexpected happens and changes your plans.

Try To Avoid Same Day Bookings

You should plan on booking your helicopter tour at least two weeks before your planned tour date. Even better, you may want to go ahead and book your Grand Canyon tour right after you book your hotel reservation. Then you won't have to worry about booking your tour later, because if you forget, you may be forced to get a last minute tour.

The problem with last minute tours is they have no protection in the form of a cancellation policy. If for some reason, you can't make it to your chopper in time, you'll just be out the money you paid. Tour operators need to protect themselves in the event you don't show up, so you can't blame them for not refunding your money, however, you can protect yourself by avoiding these last minute tours altogether.

Cancellations Due To Bad Weather

While it's not likely you'll have to worry about bad weather grounding your helicopter, there's a remote possibility it could happen. In the event that happens, you don't have to worry because the tour operator will give you your money back or reschedule your tour for you.

Feel Safe About Booking In Advance

It really isn't hard to find a tour operator that will give you a good cancellation policy on the tour you buy. Tours on Grand Canyon helicopters are very popular with travelers, so booking early is the best practice, and avoiding last minute buys is important or you might lose your money.

If you don't book early, the tour you want will probably be full anyway. Booking early is even more important if you have several people in your group and you need multiple seats on the same chopper.

When you book a helicopter tour out of Vegas, you can buy an air-only tour or one that lands at the canyon. Both tours offer plenty of scenic views including a flyover of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

If you take a helicopter tour of the South Rim though, you won't be able to land there. Regulations prohibit Grand Canyon helicopters from flying below the rim and landing on the canyon floor at that end of the canyon. Although you won't be able to take a landing tour, the air tours are definitely worth taking because the scenery is so beautiful. The better tour there is the long one that gives you 50 minutes of air time and lets you see about 75 percent of the entire Grand Canyon National Park. If you want to tour the South Rim, but you're staying in Vegas, you can hop on an airplane and get to the South Rim in about 60 minutes where you can transfer to a chopper for a helicopter tour of the canyon.

Conclusion

You can see there are a lot of options when it comes to aerial tours of the Grand Canyon, and no matter which tour you choose, it's sure to be a very memorable experience. Just remember to read all the terms so you understand your rights if you need to change your plans. Try to stay away from same day bookings, and if your plans change and you need to cancel your tour, be sure to contact the tour company at least 48 hours ahead of your tour date. And don't worry about bad weather cancellations, because your money will be refunded if your chopper is grounded due to a storm.

Start planning your tour now!