Getting Around

By Plane

Overseas visitors can take advantage of the APEX (Advance Purchase Excursion) reductions offered by all major U.S. and European carriers. In addition, some large airlines offer transatlantic or transpacific passengers special discount tickets under the name Visit USA, which allows mostly one-way travel from one U.S. destination to another at very low prices. Unavailable in the U.S., these discount tickets must be purchased abroad in conjunction with your international fare. This system is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to see the country.

Arizona is a big state (the 6th largest), so if your time is short, you may want to consider flying between cities. US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) serves Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, and Yuma. Scenic Airlines (tel. 800/634-6801; www.scenic.com) flies between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

By Car

Unless you plan to spend the bulk of your vacation in a city where walking is the best way to get around (read: New York City), the most cost-effective way to travel is by car.

If you're visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car in the U.S., keep in mind that foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.

Check out Breezenet.com, which offers domestic car-rental discounts with some of the most competitive rates around.

In Arizona, a right turn on a red light is permitted after a complete stop. Seat belts are required for the driver and for all passengers. Children 4 and under, or who weigh 40 pounds or less, must be in a child's car seat. General speed limits are 25 to 35 mph in towns and cities, 15 mph in school zones, and 55 to 65 mph on two-lane highways. On rural interstate highways, the speed limit ranges from 65 to 75 mph.

Always be sure to keep your gas tank topped off. In many parts of Arizona, it's not unusual to drive 60 miles without seeing a gas station. Note: A breakdown in the desert can be more than just an inconvenience -- it can be dangerous. Always carry drinking water with you while driving through the desert, and if you plan to head off on back roads, carry extra water for the car's radiator as well.

By Train

International visitors can buy a USA Rail Pass, good for 5, 15, or 30 days of unlimited travel on Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL; www.amtrak.com). The pass is available online or through many overseas travel agents. See Amtrak's website for the cost of travel within the western, eastern, or northwestern United States. Reservations are generally required and should be made as early as possible. Regional rail passes are also available.

The train is not really a viable way of getting around much of Arizona because there is no north-south Amtrak service between Grand Canyon/Flagstaff and Phoenix or between Tucson and Phoenix. However, Amtrak will sell you a ticket to Phoenix, which includes a shuttle-bus ride from Flagstaff or Tucson. You can also get to the town of Williams, 30 miles west of Flagstaff, on Amtrak, and in Williams transfer to the Grand Canyon Railway excursion train, which runs to Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Be aware, however, that the Williams stop is on the outskirts of town; you'll have to arrange in advance to be picked up.