Planning Your Trip to Sedona & a Grand Canyon Day Trip

A simple step-by-step guide to the perfect Northern Arizona getaway

Getting to Sedona

• Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Most common and best option
  • Wide range of flights and rental cars
• Drive from Phoenix to Sedona
  • ~2 hours scenic drive
  • Beautiful red rock approach on Highway 179
• Alternative airports:
  • Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (50 miles north)
  • Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas – ~4 hour drive)

Where to Stay in Sedona

• Stay at El Portal Sedona Hotel
• Historic 1900s adobe-style boutique hotel
• Only 12 unique rooms — book early
• Walk to:
  • Oak Creek
  • Shops & galleries
  • Restaurants
• Central location = one of the best in Sedona

Explore Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village

• Visit Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
• Just steps from your room
• Features:
  • 40+ shops & galleries
  • Restaurants & wine tasting
  • Beautiful Spanish-style courtyards
• A must-see Sedona experience

Day Trip to the Grand Canyon (Easy & Worth It)

• Distance: ~100 miles from Sedona
• Perfect one-day trip

Suggested Plan:

• Leave Sedona by 8:00 AM
• Drive to the East Entrance (recommended)
• Explore scenic viewpoints along Desert View Drive
• Return to Sedona by dinner

Tips:

• Ask your hotel staff for the best route
• Bring water, snacks, and a camera
• Most visitors only need one full day

Best Sedona Hiking Trails (Top 10)

Sedona has 100+ trails — here are 10 favorites:

• Cathedral Rock (iconic views)
• Devil’s Bridge (largest natural arch)
• Bell Rock Pathway (easy & scenic)
• Airport Mesa Loop (sunset favorite)
• Soldier Pass Trail (Seven Sacred Pools & cave)
• Boynton Canyon (vortex energy site)
• West Fork Trail (shaded canyon hike)
• Fay Canyon (easy & family-friendly)
• Doe Mountain (flat-top panoramic views)
• Broken Arrow Trail (red rock adventure)

Take a Scenic Drive to Jerome & Cottonwood

• Drive 45 minutes west on Highway 89A

Stops:

• Jerome
  • Historic mining town
  • Shops, art galleries, incredible views
• Cottonwood
  • Great for lunch or dinner
  • Wine tasting rooms
  • Relaxed, local vibe

Dining & Travel Tips

• Sedona offers some of the best dining in Arizona
• Options for every budget
• Dress is casual everywhere

Important tips:

• Restaurants typically close early (8:00–8:30 PM)
• Make dinner reservations in advance
• Sedona lifestyle = early mornings, early evenings

Final Thought

• Sedona is not just a destination — it’s a place to slow down, recharge, and reconnect
• Combine it with a Grand Canyon day trip, and you have one of the most memorable experiences in the American Southwest

The post Planning Your Trip to Sedona & a Grand Canyon Day Trip appeared first on El Portal Sedona Hotel.

The post What to do in Sedona…National Forest Service Approved appeared first on El Portal Sedona Hotel.

According to Talk of the Town, “This year, again, only the very best have been selected to receive the Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award. Based on our research gathered during the past 12 months, El Portal Sedona Hotel has earned top honors and now has its very own award page on our website.”  View our rating page at www.talkofthetownnews.com/awards2013/8003130017.

Ratings are calculated based on consumer-review websites and blogs, social networks, business rating services and other award information to determine the top companies across the country. Only those high ranking businesses with a 4-5 star rating win the Talk of the Town News Customer Satisfaction Award.

At El Portal Sedona, we are grateful for this acknowledgement and 5 Star Rating. We take pride in serving our customers, and customer satisfaction is our priority. At this pet friendly Sedona hotel, not only are our guests of the two legged variety, but are four legged too! Here we do not charge for pets (up to the room limit), and we have welcome baskets for them.

The boutique hotel is known for the attention and care we give our guests, and our personalized concierge services for Sedona and area. We love to sit down with guests and help them plan their day, whether it’s a stroll through Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village or a rigorous hike up Devil’s Bridge; we can make arrangements for jeep tours, guided Grand Canyon tours, hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours, wine tours, tee times and more!

El Portal Sedona Hotel – your home away from home! 1.800.313.0017

The post El Portal Sedona Hotel has Received the 2013 Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award appeared first on El Portal Sedona Hotel.

El Portal Sedona Hotel invites you to take an Elevation Vacation!

Take a trip to Sedona – 45oo feet high in the cool pinion pines!  Sent among the red rocks, it is one of the most unique and creative towns to visit. With stunning vistas, eclectic shopping, artisans of every media, championship golfing, fine and casual dining, swimming pools and swimming holes, horseback riding, and more makes Sedona a place for everyone.

Our beautiful area has numerous things to do and see during the summer – of course the Grand Canyon being at the top of the list.

Our boutique hotel is the perfect place to stay when planning your  Grand Canyon tours. We are less than two hours from this natural wonder. By staying at El Portal you avoid the tourist congestion, as well as having the glorious Sedona area added to your travel itinerary.

You can leave El Portal in the morning and be back at the hotel by 6:00 pm the very same day. After your trip to the Grand Canyon, return to El Portal and relax on our courtyard with a cool beverage.  El Portal Sedona Hotel can book a variety of Grand Canyon tours for you; from guided tours to rafting the Colorado River!

Located in the heart of Sedona El Portal has 12 spacious rooms that even though they have been created in accordance with the simplicity and function of turn-of-the-century architecture, they have all the modern conveniences and amenities.  Nowhere else in Sedona will you find a luxury inn or hotel with 18-inch thick adobe walls- walls that provide both quiet and history; an architectural masterpiece and one of the finest boutique hotels in Sedona.  Each guest suite includes a private entrance, patio, fireplace, whirlpool, bath, TV & DVD, computer portal, telephone, WiFi and more. Guests have access to a full gym and two swimming pools next door at Los Abrigados, and no resort fees.

Come up to cool Sedona and stay awhile! 1.800.313.0017

Check out our Sedona Hotel Specials too!

The post Take an Elevation Vacation at El Portal Sedona Hotel appeared first on El Portal Sedona Hotel.