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Accommodations

Arizona’s hotels and motels run the gamut from world-class resorts to budget chains and from historic inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and mountain lodges to dude ranches, campgrounds, houseboat rentals, and RV parks. Make reservations well in advance for the high season—winter in the desert and summer in the high country. A few areas, such as Sedona and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, stay relatively busy year-round, so book as soon as you can. Tremendous bargains can be found off-season, especially in the Phoenix and Tucson areas in summer, when even the most exclusive establishments may cut their rates by half or more.

Phoenix and Tucson have the most variety of accommodations in the state, with Flagstaff offering the largest number in the northern part of the state. Lodgings in Sedona and in some of the smaller, more exclusive desert communities can be pricey, but there are inexpensive chains in or near just about every resort-oriented destination. That said, even the budget chains in these areas can have rates in at least the upper double-digits.

The Grand Canyon area is relatively pricey, but camping, cabins, and dorm-style resorts on or near the national park grounds offer lower rates. TIP If you plan to stay at the Grand Canyon, make lodging reservations as far as a year in advance—especially if you’re looking to visit in summer. You might have a more relaxing visit, and find better prices, in one of the gateway cities: Tusayan, Williams, and Flagstaff to the south, and Jacob Lake, Fredonia, and Kanab, Utah, to the north. Of all of these, Flagstaff has the best variety of lodging options in all price ranges.

After booking, get confirmation in writing and have a copy handy when you check in. Be sure you understand the hotel’s cancellation policy. Some places allow you to cancel without any kind of penalty—even if you prepaid to secure a discounted rate—if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. Others require you to cancel a week in advance or penalize you the cost of one night. Small inns and B&Bs are most likely to require you to cancel far in advance. Most hotels allow children under a certain age to stay in their parents’ room at no extra charge, but others charge for them as extra adults; find out the cutoff age for discounts.

Our local writers vet every hotel to recommend the best overnights in each price category, from budget to expensive. Unless otherwise specified, you can expect private bath, phone, and TV in your room.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

Arizona is one of the better destinations in the country when it comes to B&Bs. You’ll find luxurious Spanish colonial–style compounds and restored Victorian inns in the more upscale destinations, such as Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Prescott, as well as less fancy lodges virtually everywhere. Check with the Arizona Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns for details on its roughly 25 members throughout the state. The Arizona Trails Travel Service has an extensive list of B&Bs and other lodgings, and can also help with vacation packages, guided tours, and golf vacations. Arizona-based Mi Casa Su Casa offers properties in a range of styles, from adobe haciendas and guest cottages in Sedona and Tucson to pine cabins in the White Mountains. More general booking services like BedandBreakfast.com, BBonline.com, and BnBFinder.com also have quite a few Arizona listings, with BedandBreakfast.com leading the pack.

Reservation Services
Arizona Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns. | 928/425–2260 | www.arizona-bed-breakfast.com.
Arizona Trails Travel Services. | 480/837–4284, 888/799–4284 | www.aztrailstravel.com.
Bed & Breakfast Inns Online. | 800/215–7365 | www.bbonline.com.
BedandBreakfast.com. | 512/322–2710 | www.bedandbreakfast.com.
BnB Finder.com. | 888/469–6663 | www.bnbfinder.com.
Mi Casa Su Casa. | 480/990–0682, 800/456–0682 | www.azres.com.

Dude–Guest Ranches

Guest ranches afford visitors a close encounter with cowboy culture, activities, and cooking. Most of the properties are situated either near Tucson or in Wickenburg, northwest of Phoenix. Some are resort-style compounds where guests are pampered, whereas smaller, family-run ranches expect everyone to join in the chores. Horseback riding and other outdoor recreational activities are emphasized. Many dude ranches are closed in summer. The Arizona Dude Ranch Association provides names and addresses of member ranches and their facilities and policies.

Information
Arizona Dude Ranch Association. | www.azdra.com.

Communications

Internet

As in all major U.S. cities, high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi connections are ubiquitous at hotels throughout the state, even in remote areas (sometimes at high-end resorts or business hotels, especially in big cities, there’s a fee of $5 to $15 per day, though free Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming the norm). There are also typically free connections at cafés (including Starbucks), restaurants, and other businesses.

Eating Out

Two distinct cultures—Native American and Sonoran—have had the greatest influence on native Arizona cuisine. Chiles, beans, corn, tortillas, and squash are common ingredients for those restaurants that specialize in regional cuisine (cactus is just as tasty but less common). Mom-and-pop taquerías are abundant, especially in the southern part of the state. In Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, and increasingly Bisbee, Prescott, Lake Havasu City, and a growing number of smaller communities, you’ll find hip, intriguing restaurants specializing in contemporary American and Southwestern cuisine—often with an emphasis on local produce and meats—as well as some excellent purveyors of Asian cuisine, with Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese leading the way.

Reservations and Dress

Regardless of where you are, it’s a good idea to make a reservation if you can. In some places (top resort restaurants in Scottsdale and Tucson, for example) it’s expected. We only mention them specifically when reservations are essential (as in, there’s no other way you’ll get a table) or when they’re not accepted. (Large parties should always call ahead to check the reservations policy.) We mention dress only when men are required to wear a jacket or a jacket and tie, which is rare in the casual Southwest, although you may want to dress smartly at a few upscale, cosmopolitan spots in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.

Online reservation services, such as OpenTable, make it easy to book a table before you even leave home.

Contacts
OpenTable. | www.opentable.com.

Wines, Beer, and Spirits

Although Arizona isn’t typically associated with viticulture, the region southeast of Tucson, stretching to the Mexico border, has several microclimates ideal for wine growing. The iron- and calcium-rich soil is similar to that of the Burgundy region in France and, combined with the temperate weather and lower-key atmosphere, has enticed more than a dozen independent and family-run wineries to open in the past two decades in the Elgin, Sonoita, and Willcox areas. A somewhat more nascent but increasingly respected crop of vineyards have developed north of Phoenix, in the Verde Valley around Sedona. Microbreweries are another fast-growing presence in Arizona, with a number of good ones in Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, and Flagstaff, and other notables in Lake Havasu City, Prescott, Bisbee, and a few other towns.

In Arizona you must be 21 to buy alcohol. Bars and liquor stores are open daily, including Sunday, but must stop selling alcohol at 2 am. Smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants that serve food. You’ll find beer, wine, and alcohol at most supermarkets. Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal on Native American reservations.

Contact
Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. | www.azbrewguild.com.
Arizona Wine Growers Association. | 623/236–2338 | www.arizonawine.org.

Health

Animal Bites

Wherever you’re walking in desert areas, particularly between April and October, keep a lookout for rattlesnakes. You’re likely not to have any problems if you maintain distance from snakes that you see—they can strike only half of their length, so a 6-foot clearance should allow you to remain unharmed, especially if you don’t provoke them. If you’re bitten by a rattler, don’t panic. Get to a hospital within two to three hours of the bite. Try to keep the area that has been bitten below heart level, and stay calm, as increased heart rate can spread venom more quickly. Keep in mind that 30% to 40% of bites are dry bites, where the snake uses no venom (still, get thee to a hospital). Avoid night hikes without rangers, when snakes are on the prowl and less visible.

Scorpions and Gila monsters are no less of a concern, though they strike only when provoked. To avoid scorpion encounters, look before touching: never place your hands where you can’t see, such as under rocks and in holes. Likewise, if you move a rock to sit down, make sure that scorpions haven’t been exposed. Campers should shake out shoes in the morning, since scorpions like warm, moist places. If you’re bitten, see a ranger about symptoms that may develop. Chances are good that you won’t need to go to a hospital. Children are a different case, however: scorpion stings can be fatal for them. Always try to keep an eye on what they may be getting their hands into to avoid the scorpion’s sting.

Gila monsters are relatively rare and bites are even rarer, but bear in mind that the reptiles are most active between April and June. Should a member of your party be bitten, it’s most important to release the Gila monster’s jaws as soon as possible to minimize the amount of venom released. This can usually be achieved with a stick, an open flame, or immersion of the animal in water.

Dehydration

This underestimated danger can be serious, especially considering that one of the first major symptoms is the inability to swallow. It may be the easiest hazard to avoid, however; simply drink every 10–15 minutes, up to a gallon of water per day when outside in summer, and keep well hydrated other times of year, too, as even cool winter days can be very dry.

Hypothermia

Temperatures in Arizona can vary widely from day to night—as much as 40ºF. Be sure to bring enough warm clothing for hiking and camping, along with wet-weather gear. It’s always a good idea to pack an extra set of clothes in a large, waterproof plastic bag that would stay dry in any situation. Exposure to the degree that body temperature dips below 95ºF produces the following symptoms: chills, tiredness, then uncontrollable shivering and irrational behavior, with the victim not always recognizing that he or she is cold. If someone in your party is suffering from any of these symptoms, wrap him or her in blankets and/or a warm sleeping bag immediately and try to keep him or her awake. The fastest way to raise body temperature is through skin-to-skin contact in a sleeping bag. Drinking warm liquids also helps.

Sun Exposure

Wear a hat and sunglasses and put on sunblock to protect against the burning Arizona sun. Try to minimize your sun exposure during the peak hours of noon to 4 pm, and watch out for heatstroke. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, and fatigue, which can turn into convulsions and unconsciousness and can lead to death. If someone in your party develops any of these conditions, have one person seek emergency help while others move the victim into the shade and wrap him or her in wet clothing (is a stream nearby?) to cool down.

Hours of Operation

Most museums in Arizona’s larger cities are open daily. A few are closed Monday, and hours may vary between May and September (off-season in the major tourist centers of Phoenix and Tucson). Call ahead when planning a visit to lesser-known museums or attractions, whose hours may vary considerably. Major attractions are open daily.

Most smaller retail stores are open 10–6, although big-box stores and small businesses tend to stay open until 9 or 10. Those in less-populated areas are likely to have shorter hours and may be closed or have shorter hours on Sunday.

Money

Prices throughout this guide are given for adults. Substantially reduced fees are almost always available for children, students, and senior citizens.

Packing

Pack casual clothing and resort wear for a trip to Arizona. Stay cool in cotton fabrics and light colors. T-shirts, polo shirts, sundresses, and lightweight shorts, trousers, skirts, and blouses are useful year-round in all but the higher-elevation parts of the state, where cooler temperatures mandate warmer garb. Bring sun hats, swimsuits, sandals, and sunscreen—essential warm-weather items. Bring a sweater and a warm jacket in winter, necessary November through April in the high country—anywhere around Flagstaff and in the White Mountains. And don’t forget jeans and sneakers or sturdy walking shoes year-round.

Shipping Sporting Equipment

If you’re driving here, lugging your gear isn’t much of a hassle. But travelers arriving by plane may find hauling bags of clubs, mountain bikes, and skis a bit daunting. Luggage Forward specializes in shipping gear door-to-door. The service isn’t cheap, but it’s highly reliable and convenient.

Contact
Luggage Forward. | 866/416–7447 | www.luggageforward.com.

Safety

Arizona’s track record in terms of crime is not unlike that of other U.S. states, if a little higher than average in Phoenix and Tucson. In these big cities you should take the same precautions you would anywhere—be aware of what’s going on around you, stick to well-lighted and populous areas, and quickly move away from any situation or people that might be threatening.

TIP Check the U.S. government travel advisory before you plan a trip to the Mexico border towns. Visitors should take extra precautions.

Contacts
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). | 866/289–9673 | www.tsa.gov.
U.S. Department of State. | travel.state.gov.

Taxes

Arizona state sales tax (called a transaction privilege tax), which applies to all purchases except food in grocery stores, is 5.6%. However, individual counties and municipalities then add their own sales taxes, which add another few percentage points, making some cities’ in the state among the highest sales taxes in the country, including Tucson (8.1%) and Phoenix (8.3%). Sales taxes don’t apply on Indian reservations.

Time

Arizona is in the Mountain Time zone, but neighboring California and Nevada are in the Pacific Time zone. Arizona doesn’t use Daylight Saving Time, though, and as a result, from spring through fall Arizona observes the same hours as Nevada and California and is an hour behind Utah and New Mexico. TIP The Navajo Nation does observe Daylight Saving Time, so it’s always the same time on Navajo territory as it is in Mountain Time areas outside Arizona. Timeanddate.com can help you figure out the correct time anywhere.

Information
Timeanddate.com. | www.timeanddate.com/worldclock.

Tipping

The customary tip for taxi drivers is 15%–20%, with a minimum of $2. Bellhops are usually given $1–$2 per bag. Hotel maids should be tipped $2 per day of your stay. A doorman who hails a cab can be tipped $1–$2. You should also tip your hotel concierge for services rendered; the size of the tip depends on the difficulty of your request, as well as the quality of the concierge’s work. For an ordinary dinner reservation or tour arrangements, $3–$5 should do; if the concierge scores seats at a popular restaurant or show, or performs unusual services (getting your laptop repaired, finding a good pet-sitter, etc.), $10 or more is appropriate.

Waiters should be tipped 15%–20%, though at higher-end restaurants a solid 20% is closer to the norm. Many restaurants add a gratuity to the bill for parties of six or more. Ask what the percentage is if the menu or bill doesn’t state it. Tip $1 per drink you order at the bar, though if at an upscale establishment, those $15 martinis warrant at least a $2 tip.

Tours

Archaeology

Archaeological Conservancy.
This esteemed organization offers a number of multiday tours covering significant sites around the country, including one or two Southwest trips each year that may involve sites in Arizona. Additionally, the conservancy oversees and offers visits to a pair of archaeological preserves in Arizona, Sherwood Ranch Pueblo in Apache County, and Mission Guevavi in Santa Cruz County. | 505/266–1540 | www.archaeologicalconservancy.org | From $1,995.

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Based in southwestern Colorado, this teaching and research center has a few different trips that touch on portions of Arizona—most last six or seven days. Trip agendas vary year to year, but they have included Carrizo Mountain Country hikes, Hopi kachina and silver-jewelry workshops, backcountry archaeology in Canyon de Chelly, and the study of Ancient Peoples of Arizona. | 970/565–8975, 800/422–8975 | www.crowcanyon.org | From $3,000.

Bicycling

A number of companies offer extensive bike tours that cover parts of the Southwest. TIP Most airlines accommodate bikes as luggage, provided they’re dismantled and boxed.

Arizona Outback Adventures.
This Scottsdale-based outfitter offers a variety of bike trips throughout the state, including half-day and multiday mountain-biking rides through the Sonoran desert and road-biking tours of Scottsdale and metro Phoenix as well as other parts of the state. | 480/945–2881, 866/455–1601 | www.aoa-adventures.com | From $115.

Bicycle Adventures.
This Washington-based company offers a very popular six-day bike excursion, the Cactus Classic Bike Tour, through Tucson’s Saguaro National Park and down through Tombstone and Bisbee. Lodgings each night are at high-end resorts and hotels throughout the region. | 800/443–6060, 425/250–5540 | www.bicycleadventures.com | From $2,982.

Magpie Cycling.
Although specializing in tours around southeastern Utah, this Moab-based outfitter does have some exciting multiday mountain-biking trips around the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and covering parts of Lake Powell and the surrouding Navajo Nation. | 800/546–4245 | www.magpieadventures.com | From $1,175.

Golf

Golfpac.
This company specializing in custom golf-vacation planning arranges trips all over the world, with Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson being among its most popular destinations. | 888/848–8941, 407/260–2288 | www.golfpactravel.com | From $276.

Hiking

Arizona Outback Adventures.
This reliable company based in Scottsdale offers multiday and half-day hiking (as well as kayaking and rafting) excursions through some of the state’s most dramatic scenery, from the Grand Canyon to Havasupai. | 480/945–2881, 866/455–1601 | www.aoa-adventures.com | From $95.

Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company.
The knowledgeable, enthusiastic guides at this Chandler-based outfitter offer myriad day and multiday hikes all around the state, with the Grand Canyon being a major focus. Try everything from ambitious rim-to-rim treks to shorter jaunts to Indian Garden and along the iconic Hermit Trail. Other guided hikes around the state cover some of the stunning mountains and canyons around Phoenix. Rock-climbing trips are also available. | 480/857–2477, 877/399–2477 | www.justroughinit.com | From $70.

Timberline Adventures.
This Colorado-based company has multiday hiking tours in the Grand Canyon as well as in Chiricahua National Monument and the Sonoran Desert near Tucson. | 303/664–8388, 800/417–2453 | www.timbertours.com | From $2,295.

Native American History

Native American Journeys.
You can explore a number of parts of the state important to indigenous peoples—the Grand Canyon, Hopi Country, Antelope Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley—on one-day hiking or float trips offered by this first-rate company based in Sedona. | 928/204–5506, 877/367–2383 | www.nativeamericanjourneys.com | From $144.

Natural History

Naturalist Journeys.
Tours by this Arizona-based outfitter emphasize birding and geology, and venture into southeastern Arizona as well as the Grand Canyon region. | 520/558–1146, 866/900–1146 | www.naturalistjourneys.com | From $895.

Off the Beaten Path.
Founded in 1986, this company offers small and customized group tours in northern Arizona and elsewhere in the Southwest, including a six-night tour covering the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park (in southern Utah), a six-night tour of the Four Corners region (including Monument Valley), and a six-night Puebloan Mystery tour exploring Canyon de Chelly and New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon. | 406/586–1311, 800/445–2995 | www.offthebeatenpath.com | From $2,595.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT Birding Tours This excellent, world-renowned tour operator that emphasizes bird-watching has been going strong since 1976, offering four or five different multiday tours throughout the year across Arizona. | 512/328–5221, 800/328–8368 | www.ventbird.com | From $2,195.

River-Rafting

Rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many who try it. Numerous reliable companies offer rafting tours through the canyon, including Action Whitewater Adventures, OARS, Western River Expeditions, and Wilderness River Adventures.

Action Whitewater Adventures.
This company, founded in 1955, leads six-day rafting itineraries through the upper Grand Canyon, starting at Marble Canyon. | 801/375–4111, 800/453–1482 | www.riverguide.com | From $2,669.

OARS.
This California-based company is highly respected for its rafting adventures through the Grand Canyon, which last from 5 to 18 days. | 209/736–4677, 800/346–6277 | www.oars.com | From $2,374.

Western River Expeditions.
This Utah-based company’s three-, four-, six-, and seven-day rafting trips through the Grand Canyon are geared to all ability levels, with the shorter adventures best for beginners. | 801/942–6669, 866/904–1160 | www.westernriver.com | From $1,280.

Wilderness River Adventures.
Based in Page, and part of the respected Aramark Parks and Destinations brand, this rafting company has trips both through the Grand Canyon and from Moab, Utah, through Cataract Canyon to Lake Powell on the Arizona border. Both motorized and paddle options are available. | 800/992–8022 | www.riveradventures.com | From $1,190.

Visitor Information

Many of Arizona’s Native American reservations have websites and helpful information. Some require permits for visiting certain areas.

Visitor Information
Arizona Office of Tourism. | 602/364–3700, 866/275–5816 | www.arizonaguide.com.

Online Resources

Information of particular interest to outdoorsy types can be found on the website for Arizona State Parks, which administers 30 properties around the state. The National Park Service website has links to 26 Arizona parks, monuments, and other properties operated by the NPS, including Grand Canyon, Saguaro, and Petrified Forest national parks.

There’s a handful of excellent general-interest sites related to travel in Arizona. A good bet is the Arizona Republic–sponsored AzCentral.com, which provides news, reviews, and travel information on the entire state, with a particular emphasis on Phoenix. Alternative newsweeklies are another helpful resource, among them the Phoenix New Times. For the southern part of the state, look for Tucson Weekly. In Flagstaff and north-central Arizona, check out Flagstaff Live. GayArizona.com lists gay-friendly accommodations, nightlife, and other businesses around the state.

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