Hey all, I'm thinking of going on the Grand Southern in Sept/Oct 2010. I'm wondering what are the best optional extras to do? Do most people do one at each stop? If you don't do one of the extras, what do you do whilst everyone else is busy?

Thanks!

IF you do go, do all the extras.. if you dont want to , you just hang around the town and just be back at the hotel when the tour manager said theyll be back.. when you go the CO do the snowmobiling the most fun you will ever have.. If every body is busy with something go to the local pub and get drunk for the next 6hour bus ride to the next stop, it helps if you sleep.. and if you cant your already drunk so you dont have to really drink much..

Hey Sammy,
I did th Grand Southern in November last year (best trip ever - you'll enjoy every minute!)

I did most of the optionals, all bar the IMAX at the Grand Canyon (heard bad reviews & the guys on our tour that did it (12 out of 40) said it was pretty crap. Some of us just caught the bus with them anyway, so we could go to the general store across the road and stock up on drinks (because there's no bottle shops near the lodge).

All the optionals are pretty good, except none of us thought the Ghost Tour in Savannah was pretty lame. That $8 could've been spent on drinks at the bar next to the hotel instead! Plus it's like a 20-25 minute walk from the hotel at night (and was cold too!).

If you choose to do the Helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, people were tossing up between the 30 minute & 45 minute tour. In all honestly, you get great views on each one, not too different from the other. It ALL looks spectacular from the air anyway! Save some money and do the 30 minute one.

If you have any more question about the Grand Southern, i'll be happy to answer them for you

Hi Sammy
I did GS in June/July...you'll love it!

I agree with Ando...IMAX was boring, we went on the way into the GC so those who didn't do it just hung around the store.

Others to definitely do are the rodeo (good fun cheap night), the boats in new orleans. Don't do the cooking school...sooooo boring...we had people fall asleep!

And you gotta do the surprise optional...its a classic

Thanks for all of your replies!

I think that I will have to save a bit more money for this trip! I'm hoping 10K will cover my 6 week trip!

I'm definitely looking forward to the helicopter flight! My lil sister did LA to the Bay earlier this year and loved it! I've also heard a lot of megative comments about the IMAX!

Thanks again everyone!

its helps me, cause i was wondering what to do and not do when i go next year, i was really looking forward to the cooking school, but it cant be if people fall asleep.... thanks - Karlie

Hey - I did the GS in November 09, it is awesome, the hot air balloon isn't the best, but everything else is well worth doing. The optional dinners are good to do just to hang out with tour mates. Food isn't the best, (I dont eat meat so it was even worse!) Have a great time and $10k will be more than enough - just dont shop too much in NYC and don't spend too much at Disneyland!

wow this is so helpful ! ive been trying to choose which ones id like to go on. im going july next year.
do i have to book in advance or can i decide to do it on the day ??
im a very indecisive person lol

this is only going of the tour i did in new zealand, you book optionals for the first half of the tour and pay pretty much at the start and then later on durring the tour you book and pay for the second half of the tour - there are times when you can change but it hard due to the fact the tour managers have to book in so many people and organise us all.......
when in july are you going Explorer 1149650? i've booked to start the 15th July.

I agree IMAX is not worth it but its cheap. I would reccomend all the dinners. I was one of 3 people who didn't do one. You just go out for dinner somewhere else.

The snowmobiling is awesome! I did the tour in reverse NY to LA. From all accounts this is the better way to do it. You get rid of all the museums at the beginning and then have a whole raft of fun.

Some people also finished in Vegas just by extending their trips there.

It is a fab tour!