Riding a Train to the Grand Canyon (Coach vs Luxury Experience)

Today I'm finally ticking off a bucket list rail journey, the Grand Canyon Railway. We're starting in the charming town of Williams, Arizona, home to the beautiful Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, which yes, comes with its very own train station. Because why settle for a regular hotel when you can stay at a train one? From here we're hopping aboard a vintage train that's been rolling since 1901, taking us straight to the Grand Canyon South Rim. But because we like a bit of contrast, we're riding in coach class on the way there, keeping it super classic. Then we're leveling up to the luxury parlor class on the way back. It's going to be an absolutely epic day of stunning scenery, historic facts, and possibly an encounter with some train bandits. Yes, really. So grab your imaginary ticket, get comfortable, and if you love trains, adventure, and a healthy dose of travel chaos, make sure to subscribe. Because let's be honest, your watch history already says you're totally into this stuff. Let's go. I've just reunited with my family. They've just survived a whopping 15-hour flight from New Zealand, so bear with them while they fight off that jet lag. We arrived at our home for the night, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. And let me just say, if you love trains, which if you're watching this, I assume you do, this place is awesome. It's completely decked out with train memorabilia, from historic photographs to vintage decor. Even if you somehow weren't so excited about riding a historic railway, there was a lot of train stuff going on around the place. This place would probably get you in the mood. Heaps of different locomotives lingering around outside, and yeah, it's just a heaven for train lovers. It's also super cozy here. I love this big lobby area. We sat here quite often by the fireplace, just cozying up on the couches. Look at these cute little soaps in the hotel room. Body lotions, shampoo and conditioners, all sticking with that Grand Canyon Railway brand. Oh, and the best part, it's literally next door to the train depot. We were told to head to the ticket office, just outside the hotel lobby, to collect all of our tickets and vouchers. And when I say all, I mean a lot. Let's just say we left that ticket office looking like we were about to redeem every single experience known to mankind. The Grand Canyon Railway offers so many different holiday packages to choose from, and I'm so glad we booked one. Our package included a two-night stay at the hotel, with our round-trip train ride all the way in just one day, plus dinner on both evenings and breakfast on both mornings. Super duper convenient, and honestly, it made the whole trip feel extra special and very relaxing. Dinner tonight was at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, which is buffet style. Every evening there's live music, which adds to the ambience. And yes, yes, the best part, a mini train that circles the entire restaurant up near the ceiling. A tiny tutu train above our heads as we ate. The buffet had a solid spread. Roast chicken, freshly carved meats, and a salad and soup station, mashed potatoes, gravy peas, and even a pasta station. It was a nice restaurant, but I have to admit, I've been spoiled recently with some pretty incredible food. So my bar is just a little high these days. If I'm being honest, the food was decent, but nothing mind-blowing, and the warm apple pie at the end was the best part for sure. We all agreed that it was so delicious, and had already planned to order it the following evening. It is perfect weather today. We couldn't be more lucky. It's cold, it's fresh, and sunny. Absolute favorite type of weather. There is a really, really, really, really long line for breakfast. We're trying to figure out how to get our coffee out. Oh, oh, Bram did it. Bram did it. Yep, beautiful. It is busy in here. Of course, we had breakfast included again, and this time we headed back to the Fred Harvey restaurant. I gotta say, I was curious. Who is this Fred Harvey character, and why is this restaurant named after him? Turns out, Fred Harvey was a pioneer in creating hospitality along the Santa Fe Railway back in the late 1800s. He was known for his which helped to elevate train travel and its dining experience to a whole new level, so it's pretty cool that they've kept his legacy alive with this spot. Everybody looks wide awake now. What do you want to do? I say we go get something to eat. Go back. Before the train leaves every morning, there's a really fun Wild West show just outside the Williams Depot to get everybody in the spirit before we hit the tracks. It's a bit of quirky entertainment to kick off the day, and it totally adds to the whole Wild West vibe. What you lose? Well, we don't know you. Come on over here. I don't know about the risk, but you got the healthy part. Yes, sir. Looks like you can take some checked baggage on here. I'm guessing this is because a lot of people do actually go to the Grand Canyon and stay at the hotel overnight right there in the Grand Canyon. Did you know that, Bram? Hey, the snow really adds to the atmosphere. It's amazing. It's much more cozy with the snow, isn't it? Awesome. Right. Hello. Well, welcome aboard. Thank you. No problem. My name is also Emmett, and I'm going to be your passenger service attendant today. But I'm also going to be Coach D's passenger service attendant as well, so I'm going to be running around quite a bit today. He made the journey so much fun, and we learned so many cool facts along the way. In fact, we were told to keep an eye out for wildlife like elk, wild turkeys, and deer. Now, I did see quite a few of these animals, but let me tell you, it's way harder than you think to whip out your camera and capture these creatures quickly enough when you're on a moving train. So let's just pretend, okay? Here is an elk. Here is a wild turkey. And here is a deer. Do you love my accent? Here is a deer drinking beer. We also found out that this train runs every day of the year except Christmas Day, and the whole journey only takes about two hours and 15 minutes each way. Perfect for a quick and scenic adventure. Wow, you're desperate for entertainment. We're going to Grand Canyon. Yeehaw! To make memories of a lifetime. Make noises. Kiss. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome to another train ride. We're on the Grand Canyon Railway, and as you might have seen thus far, I'm not alone. I've got a few little buddies with me today. We have my brother, Bram. Hello, Bram. Hello. How's it going? How are you going? We also have my mum, Tina. Hello. And then lastly, we have Dad, Paul. Bonjourno. Also, apparently we just had a snowstorm last night, so we're going to have the pleasure of seeing beautiful, fresh covered snow on all of the scenery. And let's hope the Grand Canyon is really snowy as well. Today we're going in coach class from Williams to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, we'll be in the luxury parlor class. So we're going to be on both ends of the spectrum and able to explore two very, very different styles of travel on this train. There are actually six classes of service on the Grand Canyon Railway, so let's run through them quickly. We've got the Pullman class, and this one is actually the most affordable, with bench style seats and windows that open for fresh air. But we did learn there's no aircon in here, which is probably the reason why it's the cheapest class. We've got coach class, the one we're in, features sleek cars from the 1950s with big windows, air conditioning, and offering comfort during the warmer months. This first class, offering oversized seats, big windows, and a little bit more luxury, plus complimentary snacks and bar service throughout the day. You've then got the observation dome, which lets you ride in a beautiful dome car with a fantastic view from above, plus bar service and There is the luxury dome, which is the grandest option, with a full-length dome and a cozy lounge below, plus exclusive cocktails and snacks. And then what we booked for later on is the luxury parlor, which gives you the ultimate experience. Plush seating, access to a private bar, and the chance to step onto the rear platform for an even better view. One of the main reasons I booked this car, by the way. Each class offers a different way to experience this beautiful journey, so depending on your budget and comfort preferences, there's plenty of options. Hey mum and dad, what do you reckon? Is it starting to look more grand? It's starting to look grand. We're all grand. Yeah, a little bit more canyony. So it's going to be between the guy and the bicycle in the mule barn, so we're going to reverse towards the train depot, and then we're going to be doing what's called a Santa Fe split. I have heard a little rumor that there is a cafe on board, so we're about the halfway point. We're starting to get a little bit peckish, and perhaps it's time for a coffee. There's our buddy, mum's doing a dance this time. Yes mum, get it mum. That's my mum. Good, how are you? Coffee please. Guys, we have another interview on the channel. All right. Yay. This right here is Emmett. Hello Emmett. Hello. How are you today? I'm doing fantastic. So Emmett is the, would you say, host of our carriage? Yeah, I am the passenger service attendant for the coach cars right here. I thought I was a train nerd, but no, no, no, I am not compared to Emmett. That's correct. I've been riding this train since I was one years old, since 2002. And then you finally got a job in it? I sure did. I started working here since late 2021. We are one of the only relaxing ways to the Grand Canyon. We've been riding and we've been taking passengers here to the Grand Canyon since 1901. The majority of our coaches and cars that we have here are pretty vintage. I do recommend riding our 1923 Pullman car. Every so often we do have our steam locomotives running. However, we also have another one, my personal favorite number 29, an ex-Ellison Eye steam locomotive. It's a Lake Superior and Ishmig Railroad. Fantastic locomotive. If you ride the train, I'll tell you guys all about it. Sometimes we have a little treat for those in the domes and also in the parlor car where we have a little bit of champagne. One more question. This has become the great interview question that I finished with. What's your dream train to ride in the I am riding my dream train. I love what I do. This is my dream job here, but I would love to ride the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania. Oh yeah. Okay. I've not heard of that one. I've got a new one for my list. Thank you so much, Emmett. That's awesome. Thank you. And we'll see you on the way back. All right. About 10 years ago, I took my little brother to the Grand Canyon. We were staying in Las Vegas. We drove for five hours in each direction just so I could give him a glimpse of the Grand Canyon. And guess what? What happened once we arrived in the Grand Canyon? Well, there was really nothing to see because the day we came, it was hailing and very foggy. So I came to see a bit of cloud and that's about it. 10 years later, we're actually going to see it for the first time. Hold his eyes. Hold his eyes. Okay. You're good, Bram. Keep walking forward. Oh, stop, stop, stop. You're going to fall over there. 33 year old man fell to his death this week while touring the Grand Canyon, walking across the viewing platform. Ready? Three, two, one. How do you feel? Wow. It looks like a picture. It doesn't look real. It looks like a backdrop. Should have brought my wingsuit. So right now we're an awkward looking family standing in the way on the footpath. But I just wanted to set up a cool new view for you. We're currently doing the Rim Walk. How do you feel about that, Bram? Yep, sure is a Grand Canyon. It is very grand. I'm already buff just after running back and forth to the camera. The first leg of our journey was absolutely beautiful and surprisingly, it felt like it took almost no time at all. The journey is two hours and a half, one direction. It actually did get a lot less snowy the closer to the Grand Canyon we got. Very, very excited for our return journey. So that's going to be indeed a very posh one. We've got about an hour to walk around the Rim here, see how far we get, and then we've got lunch, and then 3pm back on the train for our return journey. Did you enjoy the first journey, Mum? Awesome. It was fantastic. Really loved it. Great views. Great company, of course. It's absolutely fascinating. I love the fresh air. It's what really strikes me. You feel alive. How did you enjoy the violin player, Dad? I think that was the highlight, wasn't it? I think that guy was really confident. He was a great entertainer on the train. That was very unexpected as well. I'm excited to see what kind of entertainment we have on the way back because I'm pretty sure there is. Don't worry, I am nowhere near the edge. So I've been to the Grand Canyon a gazillion times now. I just seem to find myself here always. First time I ever came here, I was 21 years old and I had just finished working a summer at a summer camp. And I did one of those awesome trek things where it takes you down and around the south of the US. Of course, we came to Las Vegas, visited the Grand Canyon, and this was back before I knew anything about hiking. I was wearing tiny, tiny little short shorts, tiny, tiny little tank top, and had no water with me, no backpack, no nothing. We went for a hike. I think we started to do a portion of the Bright Angel Trail. It was beautiful weather, like today. Sunny, quite cool, beautiful in September. And I do remember halfway through our hike, out of nowhere, absolutely nowhere, a hailstorm. A hailstorm just began. And this hail was tiny at first and then it gradually became bigger and bigger and bigger. And I just started to notice all of this stinging sensation over my body. And there was no cover, no trees, no nothing, no shelter. It's very silly of me for not bringing anything at all. I just remember shoving myself up against a rock, trying my best to not get hit by the hailstones. And yeah, that was pretty terrifying. I'm very scared in that moment. Moral of the story is, I guess when you come to the Grand Canyon and go hiking, be prepared for anything. I think the weather can change very fast here. We've done a good amount of the Rim Walk now. It's almost lunchtime, so we're going to head back All the way down the end to the chief carriage. Back on board, it was time to head home and we were all the way at the other end of the train this time, right at the back. This is the luxury parlor class and yep, it's the most fancy of them all, I think. A lot of them look really fancy though. We had these beautiful, big, plush, couchy seats that make you feel like you're in a lap of luxury. There's a private bar, gorgeous decor with flowers and photographs and of course, complimentary tea, coffee, soda, water, juice and a whole buffet of delicious snacks included as well. So, you definitely won't go hungry. The only thing that's not included are the alcoholic beverages. The absolute best part, however, is the open air viewing platform at the very back of the car. It was perfect for soaking in these views and there's something so exhilarating about standing there, feeling the rush of the wind while the train rolls through the stunning landscape. Now, let's talk about the chief car. It was built in 1947 and this car has one of the most interesting backstories. Originally, it was serving between New York and Miami before being retired in the early 1980s. It then had a wild journey involving being lost, damaged in a collision and even seized by the Mexican government before finally making its way back to the U.S. in the mid-90s. After an extensive restoration, it became a part of the Grand Canyon Railway in 2002. During the journey home, I honestly was left with a pretty sleepy family. See, they're just napping. Told you guys how good napping is on a train. But of course, I needed some fresh air to wake myself up since, you know, I'm working and I can't afford to nap with these guys all snoozing away. So, I just headed out to the open air carriage and wow, what a sensational view. This is just incredible. I've been on open air viewing platforms on trains before like the Transalpine train in New Zealand's South Island, which is awesome. But there's something extra cool about being at the back of the train with the fresh air and just seeing the track disappear in the distance behind us. It was really magical. It was also the most awesome place to capture some incredible shots of the train as we went around a bend. Just look at this. So, so cool. But I think one of the best shots I managed to get, totally unintentionally as well, was this incredible curve bit where I can see the entire train ahead and the most amazing views of the San Francisco Mountains in the distance. And they were correct. There was indeed a surprise at around 5pm. First, we were handed a glass of champagne, a perfect way to start. Then we were told that people were going to be coming in to steal our things. If we wanted, we could place some bills or money in interesting places to make them really work for it when they came looking. We were also advised to hide any expensive items like watches and jewellery. Quite the plot twist, huh? How kind of robber are you? 10 minutes ago it was a marshal. As we got closer to Williams, toward the end of the trip, it was the perfect time for one last look out on the outdoor platform. The snow had grown a lot thicker and the ground was absolutely covered in it. It was so beautiful, like something right out of a fairytale. You could only really have about six people out on the platform at any one time and I was honestly amazed at how peaceful it was out here. It felt like we were some of the only people most of the time. Although it did get quite chilly. As we approached Williams right on time at 5.45pm, I couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness. I'd taken my family on such a fun trip and although they were tired, they absolutely loved every single bit. You could see it on their faces. They're definitely hooked on train travel now. We got a $20 retail certificate, so we each get $20 to spend at this souvenir shop here at the Grand Canyon Hotel. Is it gonna be the hat or the mug? Yeah? Yeah? Yeah? Dad is also making the absolute most of his retail certificate. Yep, yeah, see? Yep, he's advertising the Grand Canyon Railway. And mum, what are you getting? Oh, I'm getting a mug. That is awesome. And I got this. I love it so much. I'm gonna wear it in my train videos. It's time to talk about the price. This whole trip cost us $1,056.38 US for two nights at the hotel. The train ride return, breakfast and dinner, both mornings and both nights, plus a retail voucher for $20 each. I honestly think it was such great value for everything we got. What do you think? Would you go for this package? Let me know below. Well, that's a wrap on this amazing train journey. Thank you so much for joining us. Let me know which car or class would you choose if you could ride this train. I'm so curious to hear. Would you go all out with the luxury parlor car or just enjoy the views from the coach class? And just when my brother thought that this train journey was his last, well, let's just say he was in for a very rude awakening. Stay tuned for the next leg of our adventure where we'll be hopping on the train from Vancouver to Toronto, and it takes us 105 hours, so you don't want to miss that. See you then. Bye.