I didn’t see any scorpions or rattlesnakes in my travels, but they’re around. Most of the city’s hotels and resorts are found in and around the upscale Westgate Entertainment District, north of the stadium area.Your Phoenix packing list should include:This is by no means an exhaustive account of all possible areas to stay in the Valley of the Sun, nor does it include outlying communities known for upscale destination resorts.The Tucson area has about a million inhabitants, but it feels positively petite compared with the endless Valley of the Sun. North Scottsdale is at least 20 minutes by car from Old Town, and it might as well be a world away. Travelers favorites include #1 Desert Botanical Garden, #2 Camelback Mountain and more. Visit Phoenix promotes everything to do in and around the nation’s sunniest metropolis and is the voice behind The Hot Sheet Blog. I never had to wait for anything, and I could always find a parking space. But not impossible. I found two-star places for as little as $50 per night here in the summer, but rates are likely to be higher in winter and spring. Rimmed by multi-hued mountains on all sides and happy to live up to its name for eight or nine months out of the year, the Valley is an enchanting place – even when its endless suburban sprawl and persistent brown-and-tan hues ring eerie for visitors accustomed to greener, more densely populated cities.I’m always glad to have the opportunity to compare and contrast Arizona’s two largest cities.
Like any major metropolitan area, the Valley has a huge selection of accommodations, from budget-friendly motels along the I-17 corridor to five-star resorts dotting the Valley’s affluent northeastern quadrant.Like most of the southern half of Arizona, the Valley of the Sun has a warm, arid climate. References to products, offers, and rates from third party sites often change. Unless otherwise noted, park admission is $6 per car. Dry riverbeds, known as washes, are particularly vulnerable to flooding, while mountainsides are at higher risk of direct lightning strikes. Don’t forget your water; it’s hot out here. The corridor is ideal for business travelers seeking convenient, no-frills accommodations and leisure travelers plotting escapes into the mountains north of the Valley.The downside is that Phoenix is one of the sunniest major cities on earth. If you’re looking for a quiet, conveniently located place to stay, off-season Tempe is a good bet.Valley Metro’s fare system is fairly straightforward, though all prices are subject to change:22 Best Small Business Credit Cards – Reviews & ComparisonThe content on MoneyCrashers.com is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice.
Nicer resorts, such as The Saguaro, charge $100 and up year-round.Large swathes of the Valley feel anonymous and prepackaged: drab strip malls and insular gated communities with similar-sounding names and facades, one blending into the next.
Start with these attractions.Grid operates year-round, though obviously it’s not fun to bike in the summer heat.
With minimal shade-giving vegetation in natural areas, the Phoenix sun is many a hiker’s nemesis.For a less crowded experience, head to the higher, wilder North Rim – less than 10 miles as the crow flies, but hours by car. If you visit Tempe while classes are in session, expect longer wait times at local restaurants and bars, more crowds at cultural institutions, and more car and pedestrian traffic in and around Tempe.The Valley’s low elevation and prevalent concrete are notorious for trapping heat at night. So grab a flashlight or slip on a headlamp and hit the trails for a nocturnal hiking experience.Get our emails with the biggest events, deals and other cool things in the Greater Phoenix area.Contact the resorts for times and details. Most years, monsoon season begins about six weeks later, in early to mid-July. Greater Phoenix…
Go on a desert hike, explore museums like the Heard or Phoenix Art Museum or grab a delicious Sonoran dog. And use caution south of Interstate 8, where drug and human smugglers covertly traverse the desert.About halfway between North Scottsdale and Old Town is Central Scottsdale, an upscale district with high-end retail and quiet residential subdivisions. Aside from the obvious benefits of central location, downtown Phoenix is great for conventioneers, business travelers, and sports fans.Old Town Scottsdale is an upscale, reasonably pedestrian-friendly area with ample hotels, even more condos, and a handful of older resorts. And you’ll have much less to worry about if you visit during the winter, when highs typically top out in the 60s and 70s, and evenings can be downright chilly.No matter what’s on your itinerary, here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your time in and around Phoenix.10 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards – Reviews & ComparisonIf you just want to take the odd ride, a pay-as-you-go membership might work better. Visit one or more of these popular Arizona destinations. No matter when you visit, you can expect blazing – and, for the fair-skinned, sunburn-inducing – rays.