Fast Facts

Dentist -- Call the Arizona Dental Association (tel. 800/866-2732; www.azda.org) for a referral.

Doctor -- For a doctor referral, ask at your hotel, or call the Northwest Medical Center (tel. 866/694-9355; www.northwestmedicalcenter.com).

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

Eyeglass Repair -- Alvernon Optical (www.alvernonoptical.com) has several stores around town where you can have your glasses repaired or replaced. Locations include 440 N. Alvernon Way (tel. 520/327-6211), 6987 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-2501), and 7123 E. Tanque Verde Rd. (tel. 520/296-4157).

Hospitals -- The Tucson Medical Center is at 5301 E. Grant Rd. (tel. 520/327-5461; www.tmcaz.com). The University Medical Center is at 1501 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/694-0111; www.umcarizona.org).

Internet Access -- Internet access is free at downtown's Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave. (tel. 520/594-5500; www.library.pima.gov/locations/main). Also, try FedEx Office locations around the city.

Lost Property -- If you lose something at the airport, call tel. 520/573-8156 or tel. 520/746-8474 if you lost something at a TSA checkpoint. If you lose something on a Sun Tran bus, call tel. 520/792-9222.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Arizona Daily Star is Tucson's morning daily. The Tucson Weekly is the city's news-and-arts journal, published on Thursday.

Pharmacies -- Contact Walgreens (tel. 800/925-4733; www.walgreens.com) for the Walgreens pharmacy that's nearest you; some are open 24 hours a day.

Police -- In case of an emergency, phone tel. 911.

Post Office -- There's a post office in downtown Tucson at 141 S. Sixth Ave. (tel. 800/275-8777 or 520/903-1958; www.usps.com); it's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Safety -- Tucson is surprisingly safe for a city of its size. However, downtown isn't all that lively after dark and attracts a lot of street people and panhandlers. Be particularly alert if you're down here for a performance of some sort. Just to the south of downtown lies a poorer section of the city that's best avoided after dark unless you are certain of where you're going. Take the same precautions you would in any other city.

When driving, be aware that many streets in the Tucson area are subject to flooding when it rains. Heed warnings about possible flooded areas and don't try to cross a low area that has become flooded. Find an alternate route instead.

Taxes -- In addition to the 6.6% sales tax levied by the state, Tucson levies a 2% city sales tax and there is also a 0.5% county sales tax for a total of 9.1% sales tax in Tucson. Car-rental taxes, surcharges, and fees add up to around 30% on weekly rentals at the Tucson International Airport. The hotel tax in the Tucson area is approximately 13%.

Weather -- For the local weather forecast, call the National Weather Service (tel. 520/881-3333).