Fast Facts

American Express -- There's an American Express office at 2201 E. Camelback Rd. (tel. 602/468-1199). It's open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

Dentist -- Call the Dental Referral Service (tel. 800/428-8774; www.dentalreferral.com).

Doctor -- Call the Banner Health Physician & Resource Line (tel. 602/230-2273) for doctor referrals.

Emergencies -- For police, fire, or medical emergencies, phone tel. 911.

Eyeglass Repair -- Nationwide Vision Centers (www.nationwidevision.com) has nearly 30 locations around the Valley, including 7904 E. Chaparral Rd., Ste. A-108, Scottsdale (tel. 480/874-2543); 3202 E. Greenway, Ste. 1631, Phoenix (tel. 602/788-8413); 4280 E. Indian School Rd., Ste. 107, Phoenix (tel. 602/952-8667); and 933 E. University Dr., Ste. 106, Tempe (tel. 480/966-4992).

Hospitals -- The Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, 1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix (tel. 602/239-2000; www.bannerhealth.com), is one of the largest hospitals in the Valley.

Hot Lines -- The Visitor Information Line (tel. 602/252-5588) has recorded tourist information on events in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.

Internet Access -- If your hotel doesn't provide Internet access, your next best bet is to visit one of the FedEx Kinko's in the area. There are locations in downtown Phoenix at 201 E. Washington St. (tel. 602/252-4055); off the Camelback Corridor at 3801 N. Central Ave. (tel. 602/241-9440); and in Scottsdale just off Indian School Road at 4150 N. Drinkwater Blvd. (tel. 480/946-0500).

Lost Property -- If you lose something at the airport, call tel. 602/273-3333; for anything that was lost on a bus, call tel. 602/253-5000.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Arizona Republic is Phoenix's daily newspaper. The Thursday edition has a special section ("Calendar") with schedules of the upcoming week's movie, music, and cultural performances. New Times is a free weekly journal with comprehensive listings of cultural events, films, clubs, and concert schedules. The best place to find New Times is at corner newspaper boxes in downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tempe.

Pharmacies -- Call tel. 800/WALGREENS for the Walgreens pharmacy that's nearest you; some are open 24 hours a day.

Police -- For police emergencies, phone tel. 911.

Post Office -- The Phoenix Downtown Station, 522 N. Central Ave. (tel. 800/275-8777 or 602/253-9648), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm. In Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Hopi Station, 8790 E. Via de Ventura (tel. 800/275-8777 or 480/998-9356), is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Safety -- Don't leave valuables in view in your car, especially when parking in downtown Phoenix or at trailheads. Put anything of value in the trunk or under the seat. Take extra precautions after dark in the south central Phoenix area and downtown. Violent acts of road rage have been all too common in Phoenix in the past, so it's a good idea to be polite when driving. Aggressive drivers should be given plenty of room.

Taxes -- State sales tax is 5.6% (plus variable local taxes, so expect to pay around 8%). Hotel room taxes vary considerably by city but are mostly between 10% and 11%. It's in renting a car that you really get pounded. The total taxes and surcharges when renting a car at Sky Harbor Airport add up to more than 50%.

Weather -- For weather information, call tel. 800/555-8355, and say "weather."