Recent Posts

Traveling for the Holidays? 7 Google Maps Tips You’ll Want to Use

Traveling for the Holidays? 7 Google Maps Tips You’ll Want to Use

During the holiday season, travel picks up significantly. And whether you’re planning to catch a flight or spend several hours on the road, using Google Maps to help you navigate can help to ease some of the stress of traveling. There’s a multitude of ways 

Travel news: A seat recline ruling and airport love

Travel news: A seat recline ruling and airport love

(CNN) — In vacation information: A court ruling on the seat recline question, the previous Boeing 747 rolls off the assembly line and the TSA finds a stay pet and an array of weaponry in passengers’ luggage. Airport connections Airports usually are not generally sterile 

Everything You Should Know About Visiting Arizona

Everything You Should Know About Visiting Arizona

Thinking about visiting Phoenix? The Valley of the Sun is one of the most iconic travel destinations in the Southwest region of the United States, and a must-visit spot in Arizona. Brimming with beautiful culture, stunning mountains, and spectacular sandy deserts with many things to see, including gorgeous desert animals.


The city boasts luxury resorts, cultural and historical attractions, an incredible dining scene, and endless opportunities for outdoorsy travelers. Phoenix has everything one would need to have an unforgettable vacation experience, no matter their interests and age. Here is the ultimate travel guide to Phoenix.


What To Know Before Visiting Phoenix: Tips For Visiting Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
Gabriel Valdez on Unsplash

Phoenix, Arizona

  • Expect long, hot summers and mild winters. Boasting a vast desert landscape, Phoenix’s climate is mostly arid, and summers are usually hot and long. Actually, the city’s summer temperatures are the highest in the U.S., and winters are not as harsh as in other metropolitan cities.
  • There are several cultural sites in Phoenix. The city is known to have several cultural heritage sites. There are more than 22 Native American tribes in the state. Some of the tribal areas are found in Phoenix and are a perfect place to experience the beautiful cultures and customs of different people. It is important to observe the rules and customs guiding the cultures.
  • The best way to get around is by car. Renting a car is the best way to navigate through the city as the public transportation system does not cover all the areas in the city.
  • Stay safe when exploring the areas around the Grand Canyon. Beware of thunderstorms and flash flooding. If visiting in summer, tourists must park sunscreen, hats, and light clothing. Being mostly deserted, suffering dehydration is something common, so travelers must ensure they have enough water when going hiking.

When To Visit Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, AZ, USA
PJ Gal-Szabo on Unsplash

Phoenix, AZ, USA

For a perfect blend of good weather and incredible outdoor opportunities, visit in winter or spring. This is typically between March and May, and from December to February.

During these times, the temperature is warm enough, and the bloom in the city’s adorable desert landscape creates a spectacular sight. Since sunny days are always there in Phoenix, vacationers should come prepared, and pack sunscreen.

The city’s peak tourist season is between December and February (winter) and March through May (spring). These months are the most common time to travel because they coincide with the rainiest and coldest months everywhere else in the country, making the city a perfect choice for many tourists trying to escape the cold.

Being the busiest months, travelers can expect higher prices in hotels, flights, restaurants, and even excursions. Plus, there will be traffic on the roads and long queues, and higher fees to access local activities.

If trying to visit Phoenix on a budget, visit in summer. It gives vacationers an incredible chance of experiencing the city’s extreme temperatures, which can be harsh, but beautiful to experience.

Restaurants and hotels offer the best deals at this time, making it a great option for travelers looking to avoid the hefty prices that come with visiting in winter and spring. Plus, summer is full of beautiful activities, including some of the most interesting sports.

For foodies, fall is an amazing time to explore Phoenix, thanks to the Arizona Restaurant Week that occurs in September. The festival sees more than 100 eateries taking part, offering incredible items on the menu at reasonable prices.

  • Best time for good weather, and outdoor adventures: Winter and spring
  • Best time for budget travelers: Summer
  • Best time for foodies: Fall

What’s The Best Way To Get Around Phoenix?

Phoenix, Arizona
PJ Gal Szabo on  Unsplash

Phoenix, Arizona

Renting a car is the best way to get around Phoenix, especially when planning to explore attractions located away from the city and on day trips.

Phoenix consists of some of the most scenic drives that travelers would want to explore. The city is easy to navigate through, and there is plenty of parking.

Another option is using the bus. Operated by Valley Metro, Phoenix’s buses mainly run through the main traffic routes, so it may not be convenient for travelers planning to explore most parts of the city. But it is a perfect option for vacationers on a budget.

  • Cost of a bus: $2 per ride, $ for a full-day pass

The Scottsdale Trolley is a great option for tourists getting around the downtown area of Old Town Scottsdale. The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) offers transportation services in downtown Phoenix and the FLASH (Free Local Area Shuttle) in Tempe provides services in the area around Arizona State University Area.

If planning to explore the incredible nightlife scene of Phoenix, then taxis are a perfect option for getting back to the hotel. The prices can be hefty, but they are an excellent choice if going out. Rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft, are a great alternative to taxis if traveling on a budget.

Biking around Phoenix is great, and while travelers can’t rely on it to get around the whole city, there are certain areas that it’s well suited for. The Roosevelt Row Arts District is of the top places to explore on a bike.

  • Cost of renting a bike: $7 per hour

Best Neighborhoods In Phoenix For Tourists

Downtown Phoenix: Best Option For First-TimersDowtown Phoenix, Arizona

Downtown Phoenix gives incredible access to some of the best sights in the city, several, reliable transportation options, restaurants, and a perfect nightlife experience.

Related: Top 10 Ways To Explore Downtown Phoenix

There are plenty of choices for accommodation. Some of the best places to visit downtown Phoenix include the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center, and the Arizona Capitol Museum.

Old Town Scottsdale: Best option For A Romantic Getaway

This neighborhood features several open-air malls, vibrant nightlife, restaurants, and some of the most beautiful boutiques. Vacationers going on romantic getaways can explore the beautiful romantic trails at the famous Desert Botanical Garden, located a short drive away.

Other places to explore are the Scottsdale Civic Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Encanto: Best For Families And Budget Travelers

Encanto offers several pocket-friendly accommodation options for vacationers, making it an excellent choice for budget travelers. It is one of the safest neighborhoods, boasting some of the friendliest locals.

The area has incredibly spectacular surroundings, and visitors get to enjoy downtown views and historical homes.

Paradise Valley: Best For Families

Paradise Valley also gives incredible access to top-rated attractions in the city. The place is full of fun outdoor activities, thanks to the scenic natural surroundings.

Paradise Valley is known to host some of the finest resorts, offering a wide range of pampering services.

Where To Stay In Phoenix: Best Hotels And Resorts

Phoenix, Arizona
Photo by Eric Donzella on Unsplash

Phoenix, Arizona

22 Chelsea Place On The Park (Budget Option)

22 Chelsea Place On The Park is a newly renovated studio apartment located in downtown Phoenix on Margaret Hance Park.

Visitors get to enjoy the magnificent park and city views and some of the best attractions, including the Phoenix Theater, Phoenix Art Museum, and Burton Bar Library, located a few steps away.

  • Address: Downtown Phoenix, Arizona
  • Amenities: City view, kitchen terrace/patio, outdoor dining area, air-conditioned, coffee machine, washing machine, tumble dryer, clothes dryer, and linens.

Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North (Mid-Range Option)

Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North offers world-class amenities and facilities to its guests, including free shuttle rides to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

From the hotel, vacationers have access to the Phoenix light rail system, Arizona State University, and the downtown area.

Royal Palms Resort & Spa (Luxury option)

Royal Palms Resort & Spa has a long, fascinating history dating back to 1929. Guests are guaranteed an unforgettable experience at this hotel, thanks to its authentic beauty, quality services, and incredible amenities.

Related: 10 Spas In Arizona That Were Made For Zen & Relaxation

Where To Have The Best Food In Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona
Photo by Rebecca Lawrence on Unsplash

Phoenix, Arizona

  • The Original Breakfast House: This restaurant is a perfect choice for an American breakfast. Some of the items on the menu include bacon & potato omelet, hog heaven, Popeye, and El Paso, mostly starting at $16. The eatery’s pancakes are mostly prepared with lemon, giving them an incredibly delicious taste.
  • Cocina Madrigal: Offering an incredible mix of Mexican, Southwestern, and American cuisines, Cocina Madrigal is a perfect lunch option for vacationers. The menu includes Al Pastor and Oaxaca Shrimp. Tropical fish, Achiote Braised Chicken, wild mushroom enchiladas, and more.
  • Rusconi’s American Kitchen: Voted as one of the best restaurants around, this restaurant doesn’t disappoint when it comes to an amazing dining experience. Dinner menu items include braised beef short ribs, roasted natural chicken, natural sea scallops, grilled sustainable salmon, and more.

Related: Mouthwatering Restaurants That Foodies Are Willing To Book A Flight For

These Are The Best Things You Can Do In Phoenix

Explore The Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, United States
Photo by Nichole Granja on Unsplash

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, United States

Situated in Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden covers 140 acres and is home to several plants from different corners of the planet.

At this garden, vacationers can spot hummingbirds in the special gardens dedicated to attracting them. Spring brings the beautiful plant to life, making it a great time to explore the garden.

Visit The Musical Instrument Museum

Boasting an incredible collection of over 6,800 musical instruments from different parts of the world, The Musical Instrument Museum is one of the top-five best and the only global musical instrument in the world.

Time spent at this well-curated museum will be thrilling, as it allows vacationers to learn about different musical instruments and watch them being played. It offers an unforgettable cultural experience while giving the tourist a great music lesson at the same time.

Have Fun At Taliesin West

There is a fascinating history to catch at Taliesin West, a former winter home of Frank Lloyd, one of the world’s most celebrated architects. The facility is located on the foothills of the McDowell Mountains and is open to tourism.

Now serving as the main headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, this place is worth exploring, even to vacationers with the slightest interest in architecture.

Explore Arizona’s Amazing Wine Culture

Phoenix, Arizona
Photo by Rylan Hill on Unsplash

Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona is home to two large award-winning wine regions and is reachable in less than three hours from the capital. Vacationers can go wine tasting in these two regions and have a taste of the locally crafted drinks.

It is important to eat and drink plenty of water which travelers can do in some of the tasting rooms. Some of the best wineries to explore include LDV Winery, Aridus Vineyards, and Salvatore Vineyards.

Related: Best Must-Do Activities In Arizona Only Known By Locals

While the city has a vast desert landscape, there is more to it than that. With several fun outdoor adventures and cultural, dining, and arts scenes, Phoenix guarantees a beautiful trip for all travelers.

Plus, there are several hotels and resorts covering various budgets that vacationers can choose from. Exploring Arizona’s capital is definitely worth it.

FAQ

Q: What is the best month to visit Phoenix?

For a perfect blend of good weather and incredible outdoor opportunities, visit in winter or spring. This is typically between March and May, and from December to February. During these times, the temperature is warm enough, and the bloom in the city’s adorable desert landscape creates a spectacular sight. Since sunny days are always there in Phoenix, vacationers should come prepared, and pack sunscreen.

Q: Is Phoenix worth visiting?

While the city has a vast desert landscape, there is more to its than that. With several fun outdoor adventures and cultural, dining, and arts scenes, Phoenix guarantees a beautiful trip for all travelers. Plus, there are several hotels and resorts covering various budgets that vacationers can choose from. Exploring Arizona’s capital is definitely worth it.

Q: Is there anything fun to do in Phoenix?

Phoenix’s top tourist attractions guarantee lots of fun and unforgettable moments that travelers will cherish forever. They include the Desert Botanical Garden, which covers 140 acres and is home to several plants from different corners of the planet; The Musical Instrument Museum, one of the top-five best and the only global musical instrument in the world; Taliesin West, a former winter home of Frank Lloyd, one of the world’s most celebrated architects.

Q: What is Phoenix most known for?

Phoenix is Arizona’s Capital and the fifth-largest city in the United States. The city is known for its incredible desert beauty, year-round sun, and some of the best hotels and resorts in the state. Vacationers planning a visit to Phoenix will enjoy endless outdoor activities, world-class cultural attractions, and historical sites.

How to Help Protect Yourself During Holiday Travel

How to Help Protect Yourself During Holiday Travel

Of program, the holidays can be a time of good joy and enjoy, but let’s experience it: they can also be a time of great…sickness. Concerning squeezing in all of the festivus events, remaining out too late at stated getaway events, and, oh yeah, traveling 

Mexican Resorts Offering Authentic Experiences

Mexican Resorts Offering Authentic Experiences

Mexico has remarkable resorts that give unforgettable ordeals in gorgeous pure environments with routines built to enjoy both with the loved ones and as a pair. These are some of the accommodations that provide pleasant wellness and journey things to do for all tastes. Stay 

Why experts say waiting until the last minute is a horrible idea

Why experts say waiting until the last minute is a horrible idea

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you are waiting to e book your flight dwelling for the holiday seasons until the past minute, you have manufactured a massive miscalculation. A widespread piece of assistance for travel is to guide appropriate in advance of you fly to save the most income.

Turns out this is incredibly bad guidance, according to Scott Keyes of Scott’s Inexpensive Flights. The web-site tracks the finest journey promotions and offers guidelines for men and women looking to save. Their tips for getaway vacation: book in July.

Prosperous Segal spoke with Scott Keyes about this and why you need to maybe holiday vacation in January as an alternative of December. Do you think your dad and mom would do a late Christmas? Late Thanksgiving?

You can enjoy an edited edition of the job interview earlier mentioned, or read the whole transcript below to study additional.

Rich SEGAL, KXAN News: Explain to me a small bit, Scott, about your firm.

SCOTT KEYES, SCOTT’S Cheap FLIGHTS: Scott’s Affordable Flights will work to make confident folks, whether or not they stay in Austin, Houston or wherever your property airport, that you by no means skip an extremely low-priced flight, due to the fact you didn’t occur to be exploring at the correct time.

You know, low cost flights are funny, simply because they’re often popping up no matter if we’re browsing for them or not. So our career is to make certain when that $198 round vacation flight to Hawaii or that $400 spherical excursion flight to Paris pops up that you get a minimal warn from us that it is offered in situation you want to ebook.

SEGAL: Now, it’s the getaway season. We have experienced Thanksgiving. Christmas is on the way. When is the ideal time in your feeling to be flying through the getaway season?

KEYES: The a few-week interval about Xmas and New 12 months is truly the most high priced three-7 days period of the whole yr. So if you have any overall flexibility in your plans, the best way to get a low-cost flight is actually to prevent flying more than the holidays.

In simple fact, ideal just after this high-priced a few-7 days period of time are the two cheapest months of the complete calendar year to travel January and February. So that’s the greatest way to get a cheap flight is essentially just to thrust your journey ideas again a couple of weeks.

Now if you have to travel in excess of the holidays, you seriously want to devote Christmas or New Year’s with household, the finest approaches to get fantastic deals are to start with and foremost to try to guide properly in advance seriously reverse year. So it’s much too late for that this calendar year. But for in 2023, when you are at your Fourth of July barbecue, that’s when you must be pondering about booking Xmas flights.

One more fantastic way to get at least superior fares than you would see usually is to travel on the vacation alone. Flights on Xmas or New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Working day tend to be about 20{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} or 30{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} much less expensive than flights a couple days before or a couple of times just after.

SEGAL: There are all those who wait until eventually the pretty past moment to reserve their vacation, would this timeframe nonetheless implement to them?

KEYES: Glimpse, ready until the last minute to ebook your flights is a system. It’s just not a great 1 for obtaining affordable flights. Last-moment flights, they really don’t are inclined to go down in rate, they virtually always have a tendency to go up. And which is particularly true for the duration of a common journey time period like Christmas and New Year.

The issue to remember is that very last-moment flights have a tendency to be high priced. They are not similarly highly-priced. A flight booked 1 working day before travels pretty much absolutely heading to be additional pricey than a flight booked a 7 days ahead of travel and a flight booked a 7 days just before vacation virtually unquestionably far more pricey than a flight booked a thirty day period just before journey.

Even if you’ve been placing it off, you’re however likely going to gain by scheduling faster somewhat than afterwards and not continuing to procrastinate. For the reason that fares are most likely to go in in one direction from listed here on out. And it’s not down.

SEGAL: Is it the 7 days major up to Christmas or maybe Xmas into New Year’s, which is more high-priced?

KEYES: They tend to be pretty similar. Dec. 20 via about Jan. 6 or so that complete time period tends to be very pricey. Now, typically a couple days right before the vacations or a several days right after are inclined to be the peak in phrases of airfare, simply because there are a lot of people who are touring, primarily on individuals days, but during these in that entire three-7 days time period fares, it’s rather scarce to locate a low-priced flight.

Now once more, the lowest priced times are heading to be the vacations them selves. But to get the very best fares, it is seriously a subject of touring either a very little bit prior to the holiday getaway hurry or following when airfare will get extremely low-priced starting off about the second 7 days of January.

1 of the stunning components of touring through January and February, even if you are going to common locations like Hawaii or ski destinations like Colorado or Utah is you can in fact uncover rather a bit additional last-moment low cost flight availability. And so not only are they months, they are the most economical of the whole year. It is also a lot a lot easier to get affordable flights at a actual late date.

SEGAL: So let’s converse outside the house the vacations genuine briefly below. Is there a far better day that individuals should really seem for a cheap flight not only all through the getaway year, but most likely any time of the calendar year?

KEYES: Yeah, so commonly talking, the most economical days of the week to fly are heading to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. All those are times that enterprise vacationers are likely to steer clear of, and so airways know that if you are purchasing a flight on those days, you’re probably a leisure traveler and they simply cannot afford to pay for to cost bigger fare.

As to leisure tourists, due to the fact we’re a lot more cost delicate. If the fares much too superior, we’re just not likely to obtain it. Not like with small business tourists, but the finest instances of the 12 months to ebook if you’re just going for the least expensive flight, it is truly coming up future thirty day period, January and February.

And permit me give you a pair illustrations. If you needed to journey from Austin to Amsterdam, flying about Christmas, proper now, airfare is $1,619 round trip, that precise identical journey Jan. 11, by means of 19, just $589 spherical vacation, a 3rd of the selling price.

Similar with if let’s say you want to vacation more than to Miami, flights around New Year’s $684 spherical excursion suitable now, that very same journey just two months afterwards, beginning Jan. 10, $138 spherical vacation on a total-service airline.

That’s indicative of the style of like 60{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}, 70{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}, 80{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}. Drop in airfare that you can see by pushing your excursion back again just a couple of weeks into mid-January.

SEGAL: How can persons find you?

KEYES: So we have our web-site is ScottsCheapFlights.com. And we’re on all the social media. But the way we run is we just have an e mail list. It’s free of charge to indicator up and examination it out. And we would be honored to send you low-cost flights out of your dwelling airport.