Grand Canyon Tours?

I have been looking on the internet for interesting things to do in the American Southwest.  I came across a company who offers a one-day helecopter tour of the Grand Canyon and I'm intrigued by the concept.

BUT their tariff sheet makes you faint.  It has got some *serious* coinage on it.  I mean BREATHTAKINGLY serious:  more than an in-person ILR application translated into dollars   

So one is compelled to ask: has anybody done this?  Is it ok?  Or does anybody *know* somebody who did it?  Perspective?

I know it's a long shot, but I got great info when I asked about right turn on red

I think there might be others that aren't that expensive, but how much time do you have? 

There are other National Parks in the area that are also amazing and worth a visit as opposed to the helicopter trip.

No real time limit, it's basically open-ended.  I have also been looking at the Mojave Preserve, but that one seems more for the rough and ready set.

We had friends who did it (for our honeymoon, we travelled with 25 of our closest friends to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and Vegas). They loved the helicopter tour (I've never done it myself, my family was more the hike rim-to-rim variety of holiday). If you are physically able, hiking down to the canyon floor is also amazing and there are places to camp/stay over night down at the bottom (and then hike back up).  There is also Mesa Verde which has an amazing set of cliff dwellings quite nearby as well.
Yosemite is probably my favourite national park, though a bit out of your way really.

What about riding donkeys (mules?) down to the bottom & camping like the Brady Bunch did?! 

Thanks for these great ideas, but I'm way past capacity to do anything that requires stamina for an extended period.  And my wife has only ever been to NYC and Orlando and she's already deeply worried about rattlesnakes.

But the confirmation above that somebody actually did the helecopter thing brightens my day!

My DH did the helicopter tour and walked out on the glass platform over the GC and loved it!!
It was expensive which is why you only do it once EVER.

He recommends it! (he flew from Vegas)

Now we're talking! 

You pay the price and that's it for your whole life.

Thanks for the perspective! 

About 6 years ago, before childrens came...we went to Vegas and took a helicopter tour into the Grand Canyon, it probably cost us about $375 a person, and you know what...it was worth it. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and they treat you like it is that. It was with Maverick it was worth every penny!!! We stayed at the Bellagio and that was also worth every penny....I love Vegas!

That did it.

I called them last night and signed up for the whole family.   But for some reason selected Papillon.  And then I figured WTF and added in the Skywalk and then figured WTF and added in the boat ride.  And finally figured WTF and got the front seat upgrade.  And then I asked the lady "...are you sure there's no more upgrades or extras or little thingies that we've missed?"  And she said, "...no, you've got them all..."

A lifetime thing so go for it.

I'm really glad I put this topic in here.  It felt silly at first, but now I've got some decent information.

Any other ideas or tips, just shout!

I know what you mean.  I'm planning next summer to do a 3 week over 2,000 mile drive around Yellowstone/SLC/Denver.  I was looking at the map and was thinking, mehhh an extra 300 miles for the Minuteman Silo in South Dakota?  Why not?

Indeed, why not?  I hope you'll share the pics  

I dreamt the other night I was riding in a helicopter over Phoenix texting my friend Kim that I was coming to visit and it's all your fault 

Just be glad then that I didn't enquire after the Vegas 'Adult' shows.   

DH and I did the helicopter tour 2 years ago! We went all out and booked one of the bigger packages. Our tour included a limo ride to the flight and back to our hotel, chopper ride to and through the canyon, a boat ride down the Colorado River, a champagne lunch, sky walk tickets and then a flight over the strip on the way back! We loved it. Every penny spent was worth it!

My only suggestion would be to book the earliest flight possible. The Grand Canyon gets SUPER busy during the day so best to do a morning tour to avoid the crowds! When we got there at about 8am there was maybe 20 other people but when we got done with the boat, lunch and sky walk a few hours later there were hundreds of people and tour buses everywhere. It was insane!