Planning a trip to Arizona

Tips for Families

With its sunshine, swimming pools, guest ranches, and baseball spring-training camps, Arizona is a popular spring-break destination for families from around the country, especially those from cold, snowy northern states. Likewise, in summer, the state is popular for its many natural wonders, foremost of which is the Grand Canyon. If you plan to take in the canyon on a road trip that also takes in the canyon country of southern Utah, keep in mind that distances are great out here. Don't expect to find someplace to eat whenever the kids are hungry; pack food before heading out on a long drive. Also bring plenty to entertain the kids as you drive for hours through uninteresting scenery.

Many of the resorts in Phoenix and Tucson offer children's programs, though these programs may only be available during spring break and the hot summer months. In the absence of children's programs, many hotel and resort concierges throughout the state can recommend babysitters.

Tips on Accommodations

Hotel rates vary wildly across the year in different parts of the state. In the north, winter is cold and it’s the slow season. In the south, summer is boiling and that’s the slow season. If you’re coming to Phoenix and have some leeway, aim for very early or very late summer, where there are good deals and the weather’s still decent. The real deals at Phoenix resorts are in summer; if you can stand the heat, you can enjoy highly swanky environments for a fraction of the usual price.

Then there are resort fees, which start at $15 per night. These mandatory fees make posted room rates a fiction, but resorts continue to charge them. Definitely complain if the amenities included, from Wi-Fi to spas, aren’t up to snuff. Otherwise, poke around for properties that don’t have such fees—they deserve the business. You can get a bit more for your money in smaller towns off the interstates, where you’ll find unfancy but clean, high-value lodgings. The farther you drive from resort areas, the more you’ll save.

The new accommodation apps work here as they do elsewhere. Look to Airbnb.com and VRBO.com to see a wide range of options.

Turning to the Internet or Apps for a Hotel Discount

Before going online, it’s important that you know what “flavor” of discount you’re seeking. Currently, there are three types of online reductions:

1. Extreme discounts on sites where you bid for lodgings without knowing which hotel you’ll get. You’ll find these on such sites as Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, and they can be money-savers, particularly if you’re booking within a week of travel (that’s when hotels and resorts do deep discounts to get beds filled). As these companies use only major chains and depend on repeat business, you probably won't feel ripped off. My only caveat is that they work best with four-star hotels. The downside to cheaper rooms is that they are sometimes in a less-desirable corner of town; in Phoenix, for example, you might end up in a place along the somewhat grimy I-17 corridor.

2. Discounts on chain hotel websites. In 2016, all of the major chains began to reserve special discounts for travelers who book directly through the hotels’ websites (usually in the portion of the site reserved for loyalty members). They weren’t lying: These are always the lowest rates at these hotels, though discounts can range from as much as $50 to as little as $1. Our advice: Search for a hotel in your price range and ideal location (see the Note below for how to do that), and then, if it’s a chain property, book directly through the online loyalty portal.

3. Last-minute discounts. Booking last minute can be a great savings strategy; prices sometimes drop in the week before travel, as hoteliers scramble to fill their rooms. But you won’t necessarily find the best savings through companies that claim to specialize in last-minute bookings. Instead, use the sites recommended in the Note, below.

Note: Use the right hotel search engine. They’re not all equal, as we at Frommers.com learned after putting the top 20 sites to the test in 20 cities around the globe. We discovered that Booking.com listed the lowest rates for centrally located hotels, and in the under $200 range, 16 out of 20 times—the best record, by far, of all the sites we tested. And Booking.com includes all taxes and fees in its results (not all do, which can be frustrating). For top-end properties, both Priceline.com and HotelsCombined.com came up with the best rates, tying at 14 wins each.

It’s a lot of surfing, I know, but in the hothouse world of AZ hotel pricing, this sort of diligence can pay off.

RV Camping

If you’ll be traveling by RV or with a tent, you’ve got loads of camping options all across Arizona. However, be aware that campgrounds at and near Grand Canyon National Park fill up nightly during the summer and often in spring and fall as well. Make a campsite reservation as far in advance as possible. To make campsite reservations at national park and national forest campgrounds, contact the National Recreation Reservation Service (www.recreation.gov; tel. 877/444-6777 or 518/885-3639), where you can generally reserve a site 6 months in advance. To find out about campsites in state parks, contact Arizona State Parks (www.azstateparks.com; tel. 602/679-2757). If you’re in the north Phoenix area, the state has a wonderful visitor’s center just off I-17, at 23751 N. 23rd Ave. (tel. 602/542-4174).

If you want to rent an RV, try Cruise America (www.cruiseamerica.com; tel. 800/671-8042), which has offices in Mesa (a suburb of Phoenix), Tucson, and Flagstaff. Expect to pay between $300 and $1,300 per week (plus taxes) depending on the time of year (summer is higher) and size of the RV you rent. In central Phoenix, the family-owned Elite RV Rentals, 2204 W. Fillmore St. (www.elitervrentals.net; tel. 928/446-1833) charges rental rates from around $660 to $1,200 per week.

Getting Around

By Car

Arizona is a big state (the sixth largest), and because many of the state’s top attractions are national parks, national monuments, and other natural areas, a car is almost a necessity for getting the most out of a visit to the state. As with airline fares and golf, car-rental fees vary wildly. They used to be quite high here, but now are generally in line with other Sun Belt cities, and, of course, prices spike during car shortages and the most crowded part of the tourist season.

Because Phoenix and Tucson are major resort destinations, both have numerous car-rental agencies. Rental rates in Tucson can be a bit lower than in Phoenix, and you’ll save even more there on taxes and surcharges—in Phoenix, taxes and surcharges add more than 50% to rental car costs if you rent at the airport; in Tucson you'll probably pay $5 to $10 less per day. You can also often save money by renting at a non-airport location, which might be a smart option if, say, your resort will shuttle you from the airport.

If you’re not a car-rental pro, try www.autoslash.com, which applies discounts from various institutions to your bill, or www.priceline.com, which I've always found reliable.

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 must be in a child’s car seat, and ages 5 to 7 have to be in a booster seat. General speed limits are 25 to 40 mph in towns and cities, 15 mph in school zones, and 55 and 65 mph on highways in cities. On rural interstate highways, the speed limit can be as high as 75 mph.

If you’re heading out of a city, keep your gas tank topped off. In many parts of the state, it’s not unusual to drive 60 miles without seeing a gas station. Note: Temps can reach 100 degrees as early as March and as late as October. 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 Plane

Because Arizona is a big state, if your time is short, you may want to consider flying between cities. Contour Airlines (www.contourairlines.com; tel. 888/322-6686) will get you from Phoenix to Page, near Lake Mead. American Airlines (www.aa.com; tel. 800/433-3200) flies from Phoenix to Flagstaff.

By Train

The train is not really a viable way of getting around much of Arizona because there is no north-south Amtrak service.

By Bus

Greyhound (www.greyhound.com; tel. 800/321-2222) and Trailways (www.trailways.com; tel. 877/467-3346) run buses across the state. Shuttle bus service between most of the tourist cities in the vertical center of the state is available through Arizona Shuttle (www.arizonashuttle.com).

Special-Interest Vacations

Academic Trips

At the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon Field Institute (www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute; tel. 800/858-2808 or 928/638-2481) offers a variety of educational programs throughout the year, primarily from early spring to late fall. Examples include guided hikes and backpacking trips (some for women only) with a natural-history or ecological slant, as well as photography classes, mule-assisted treks, rafting trips, and hands-on archaeology excursions.

Through its Ventures Trips, the Museum of Northern Arizona (www.musnav.org/ventures; tel. 928/774-5213) offers educational camping, backpacking, and hotel-based tours primarily in the Colorado Plateau region of northern Arizona. Trips range in length from 1 to 6 days. The nonprofit Old Pueblo Archaeology Center organization (www.oldpueblo.org; tel. 520/798-1201) leads numerous archaeology-oriented trips around Arizona. To learn more about the Native American cultures of Arizona, contact Crossing Worlds Journeys & Retreats (www.crossingworlds.com; tel. 800/350-2693 or 928/282-0846), which offers tours throughout the Four Corners region, visiting the Hopi mesas as well as the Navajo Reservation. Journeys of self-discovery are a specialty of this company.

Guided & Package Tours

If you want to see the best of Arizona but would rather not do all the logistical planning or driving, consider a guided tour. Detours American West (www.detoursamericanwest.com; tel. 866/438-6877) specializes in small-group tours throughout Arizona and other parts of the Southwest. The British tour company Trek America (www.trekamerica.com; tel. 888/596-8719), which specializes in off-the-beaten-path, small-group adventure travel, offers tours of the American Southwest; most include the Grand Canyon and other scenic Arizona locations. To tour the most spectacular sights in the state’s Native American territory, including Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, try the Native Voices Tour offered by High Point Tours (www.ilivehistory.com; tel. 928/445-2639). Company co-owner and guide Todd Weber, an experienced living-history presenter, highlights not only the area’s fascinating geology, but also its colorful historical characters.

Volunteer & Working Trips

If you want to get more involved in wilderness preservation, consider a Sierra Club service trip, which lets you help build, restore, and maintain hiking trails in wilderness areas. Contact the Sierra Club Outings Department (www.sierraclub.org; tel. 415/977-5522). The Sierra Club also offers hiking, camping, and other adventure trips to various Arizona destinations.

Thirty years or so ago, a Flagstaff school teacher dreamed of connecting various north-south trails in the state into a unified trail from Utah to the Mexico border. Those dreams are now a reality. You can join a work crew organized by the Arizona Trail Association (www.aztrail.org; tel. 602/252-4794), spending 1 or 2 days building and maintaining various portions of the trail. The group also organizes a spectrum of runs, some of them up to 50 miles long!

Visitor Information

For statewide travel information, contact the Arizona Office of Tourism (tel. 602/364-3700; https://tourism.az.gov). Nearly every city and town in Arizona has a tourism office or a chamber of commerce that can also provide information.

If you want to load up your smart phone with Arizona-specific apps, I recommend the following. For news and entertainment/event information go to www.azcentral.com (the website for the Arizona Republic, Phoenix's daily newspaper). For making restaurant reservations, the OpenTable app, available from the iTunes app store, is invaluable.

Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling in the U.S. Thanks to provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act, most public places are required to comply with disability-friendly regulations. Almost all public establishments (including hotels, restaurants, museums, and such, but not including certain National Historic Landmarks) and at least some modes of public transportation provide accessible entrances and other facilities for those with disabilities.

If you have no intention of letting your disability prevent you from having the adventure of a lifetime, contact Arizona River Runners, P.O. Box 47788, Phoenix, AZ 85068 (www.raftarizona.com; tel. 800/477-7238), or Arizona Raft Adventures, 4050 E. Huntington Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (www.azraft.com; tel. 800/786-7238), both of which offer Grand Canyon rafting trips for people with disabilities. In the northwest corner of the state, Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch, P.O. Box 580, Yucca, AZ 86438 (www.stagecoachtrailsranch.com; tel. 866/444-4471 or 928/727-8270), is a guest ranch that was designed with the needs of persons with disabilities in mind. All the ranch buildings are accessible, and there are horseback riding programs for persons with disabilities.

The America the Beautiful -- National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Access Pass gives travelers with visual impairments or those with permanent disabilities (regardless of age) free lifetime entrance to federal recreation sites administered by the National Park Service, including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation. This includes national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges.

The America the Beautiful Access Pass can only be obtained in person at a National Park Service facility that charges an entrance fee, such as Grand Canyon National Park, Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Tonto National Monument, and Tumacácori National Historical Park. You need to show proof of a medically determined disability. Besides free entry, the pass also offers a 50% discount on some federal-use fees charged for such facilities as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm, or call the United States Geological Survey/USGS (www.usgs.gov; tel. 888/275-8747), which issues the passes.

Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Let's face it: It's hard to be green in the desert. The desert simply is not a very sustainable place to build major cities. High temperatures and lack of water long precluded the development of arid landscapes. However, with the advent of air-conditioning, giant dams, and canals that can transport huge amounts of water hundreds of miles across the desert, cities such as Phoenix and Tucson have been able to grow into the sprawling metropolises of today. Unfortunately, in places where it often tops 120°F (49°C) in the summer, massive amounts of energy must be used to keep cool. Likewise, the scarcity of water in the desert Southwest would suggest that perhaps the Sonoran Desert is not the best place to locate large metropolitan areas.

For decades, resort hotels in Phoenix and Tucson have been criticized for their profligate water usage, and such criticism has yet to eliminate the vast acres of lawns that surround some of the state's resorts. Arizona is well known for its hundreds of golf courses, but those courses use up an inordinate amount of water. The state's guest ranches make great family destinations, but cattle ranching can be very damaging to the desert environment.

Slowly but surely, however, resorts, hotels, inns, and other businesses across the state are showing signs of turning green. In Phoenix, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch has a solar hot-water system. The U.S. Green Building Council has given LEED certification to Tempe's hip Aloft hotel where, among other green features, drivers of hybrid cars get preferred parking spaces. In Tucson, there's a solar-powered pizza place and even a solar-powered bar, and in Flagstaff, there's a burger joint that uses beef from a local ranch. You'll find information on these and other eco-friendly restaurants and accommodations throughout this book.

While the desert, by definition, may not be very green, there are some things you can do to make your Arizona vacation a little bit more sustainable. Stay at a resort that uses native desert landscaping rather than one surrounded by thirsty lawns. Play golf on a water-conserving "desert-style" course; while these courses can be very challenging, they preserve the natural desert environment and save water. Some courses have even been certified by the Audubon Society as wildlife sanctuaries. See the World Golf Foundation website (www.worldgolffoundation.org) for details. If you're heading to Grand Canyon National Park, take the train and then use the park's free, environmentally friendly compressed-natural-gas buses to get around.

Volunteer travel has become increasingly popular among those who want to venture beyond the standard group-tour experience to learn languages, interact with locals, and make a positive difference while on vacation. Volunteer travel usually doesn't require special skills—just a willingness to work hard—and programs vary in length from a few days to a number of weeks. Some programs provide free housing and food, but many require volunteers to pay for travel expenses, which can add up quickly.

Health & Safety

If you've never been to the desert, be sure to prepare yourself for this harsh environment. No matter what time of year it is, the desert sun is strong and bright. Use sunscreen when outdoors -- particularly if you're up in the mountains, where the altitude makes sunburn more likely. The bright sun also makes sunglasses a necessity. Also, in the desert, even when you don't feel hot, the dry air steals moisture from your body, so drink plenty of fluids. You may want to use a body lotion as well; skin dries out quickly in the desert.

Bugs, Bites & Other Wildlife Concerns -- It's not only the sun that makes the desert a harsh environment. Poisonous creatures are out there, too, but with a little common sense and some precautions, you can avoid them. Rattlesnakes are common, but your chances of meeting one are slight -- they tend not to come out in the heat of the day. Still, you should never stick your hand into holes among the rocks in the desert, and always look to see where you're going to step before putting your foot down. Arizona is also home to a large poisonous lizard called the Gila monster. These black-and-orange lizards are far less common than rattlesnakes, and your chances of meeting one are very slight. Although the tarantula has developed a nasty reputation, the tiny black widow is more likely to cause illness. Scorpions are another danger of the desert. Be extra careful when turning over rocks or logs that might harbor either black widows or scorpions.

Respiratory & Desert Illnesses -- Valley fever, a fungal infection of the lungs, is common in the desert Southwest, although it generally affects only long-term residents of the desert. The fungus is carried on dust particles, which are carried by dust storms and winds blowing across farms and construction sites. Symptoms include fever, chest pain, fatigue, headaches, and rashes. By the way, if you happen to be atop a mountain in Phoenix and can't see across the Valley, blame it on the smog, which is as bad as that in Los Angeles.

If you plan to do any camping or backcountry travel in the Four Corners region, which is where the Navajo and Hopi Indian reservations are located, you should be aware of hantavirus. This virus is spread by mice and is often fatal. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches; should you come down with any such symptoms within 1 to 5 weeks of traveling through the Four Corners area, see a doctor and mention that you have been in an area where hantavirus is known to occur.

High-Altitude Hazards -- Both the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and the canyon gateway city of Flagstaff are at around 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) in elevation and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is at 8,000 feet (2,438 meters). While these elevations are generally not high enough to cause altitude sickness even in the most sensitive, they are high enough to cause shortness of breath after even moderate exercise if you are from lower elevations. Take it slow, and remember that if you hike down into the Grand Canyon, you'll really feel the elevation when you turn around and start hiking back out.

Sun/Elements/Extreme Weather Exposure -- "It's a dry heat" is a mantra in the lowland deserts of Arizona. What this means is that, in the absence of humidity, the air always seems quite a bit cooler than it does on a hot day in, say, Atlanta, Houston, or Miami. Trust me. When it's hot here, it's hot. Drink lots of fluids, and wear plenty of sunscreen. In fact, it is so sunny in Arizona most of the time (even in the winter), that you should be sure to wear sunscreen whenever you're outdoors here. If you should happen to be visiting during the late summer monsoon season, be alert for flash floods. Do not ignore signs on roadways warning motorists not to enter flooded areas. The monsoon season also brings impressive thunderstorms, and should you encounter a thunderstorm at the Grand Canyon, seek cover immediately (cars are among the safest places to be).

Safety

Over the past few years, problems along Arizona's border with Mexico have repeatedly garnered national media attention. If you believed everything you heard, you probably now assume that Arizona is a war zone as dangerous as Afghanistan or Iraq. Well, it's not. Arizona is as safe for travelers as any other state. However, you can expect to encounter U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in the southern part of the state, and, if driving after dark close to the border, you might even encounter illegal immigrants walking along the road. Do not stop for them.

Far more important to remember is that when driving long distances, always carry plenty of drinking water and, if you're heading off onto dirt roads, extra water for your car's radiator as well. When hiking or walking in the desert, keep an eye out for rattlesnakes; these poisonous snakes are not normally aggressive unless provoked, so give them a wide berth. Also be sure to give cactus a wide berth, especially cholla cactus, which has particularly painful spines that often break off in your skin and must be removed with tweezers.

Don't leave valuables, especially purses, wallets, or cameras, in view in your car when going for a hike or wandering off to take pictures at a scenic overlook in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, or anywhere for that matter.

Insurance

For information on traveler's insurance, trip cancellation insurance, and medical insurance while traveling, please visit www.frommers.com/planning.

Fast Facts

Area Codes—The area code in Phoenix is 602; in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and the east valley, it’s 480; in Glendale and the west valley, it’s 623. The area code for Tucson and southeastern Arizona is 520. The rest of the state is area code 928.

ATMs—In Arizona, you’ll find ATMs (cashpoints) just about everywhere. Fees tend to be higher at gas-station minimarts and most hotels and motels. To avoid fees, use your debit card in grocery stores and ask for cash back with your purchase.

Disabled Travelers—Thanks to provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act, most public places—hotels, restaurants, museums, public transit—are required to comply with accessibility regulations, although landmarked buildings are often exempt.

Arizona Raft Adventures (www.azraft.com; tel. 800/786-7238) offers Grand Canyon rafting trips for people with disabilities. In the northwest corner of the state, Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch (www.stagecoachtrailsranch.com; tel. 866/444-4471 or 928/727-8270) is a guest ranch designed to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. All the ranch buildings are accessible, and there are horseback-riding programs for persons with disabilities.

The America the Beautiful Access Pass gives travelers with visual impairments or those with permanent disabilities (regardless of age) free lifetime entrance to federal recreation sites administered by the National Park Service. You can apply for the Access Pass at any National Park Service facility that charges an entrance fee, or through the mail, with an application available online. You need to show proof of a medically determined disability. For more info, go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm.

Drinking Laws—The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Arizona is 21; proof of age is required, so it’s a good idea to bring ID when you go out. In Arizona, liquor is sold at supermarkets and convenience stores. Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn’t zoned for alcohol consumption. The police can fine you on the spot. The state aggressively prosecutes drunk drivers; don’t even think about driving while intoxicated.

Electricity—Like Canada, the United States uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared to 220 to 240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Emergencies—Call 📞 911 to report a fire, call the police, or get an ambulance anywhere in the U.S. This is a toll-free call from public telephones. Be aware, however, that you may not always have cell phone service in remote locales, in mountainous areas, and sometimes even on highways.

Family Travel—If you're planning to take in the sights in northern Arizona, keep in mind that distances are great out here. Don’t expect to find someplace to eat whenever the kids are hungry; rest areas are few and far between. Pack food before heading out on a long drive. Also bring plenty to entertain the kids as you drive for hours through the same desert scenery.

Virtually all of the top resorts in Phoenix and Tucson offer children's programs, often elaborate ones.

Legal Aid—While driving, if you are pulled over for a minor infraction (such as speeding), never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer; this could be construed as attempted bribery, a much more serious crime. You'll be given a ticket for which you can mail in a fine in lieu of appearing in court. If you are accused of a more serious offense, say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. In the U.S., the burden is on the state to prove a person’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and everyone has the right to remain silent, whether he or she is suspected of a crime or actually arrested. Once arrested, a person can make one telephone call to a party of his or her choice. The international visitor should call his or her embassy or consulate.

LGBT Travelers—Phoenix and Tucson have lively LGBT communities, focused in the downtown areas. See chapters 4 and 9 for local guides for gay doings. The rest of the state remains somewhat backward—most of the state's elected officials, for example, fought gay marriage until the bitter end. Tourist areas will be fine, but in out-of-the-way towns, overt same-sex couples might find themselves the object of comment or worse.

Mail—At press time, domestic postage rates were 35[ce] for a postcard, 50[ce] for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter or postcard of up to 1 ounce costs $1.15. For more info go to www.usps.com.

Marijuana—Medical cannabis is legal, and there are dispensaries in even the state's smaller cities. You need a doctor's prescription and a state-issued ID to buy; these are not available to tourists. A provision in the state's law gives some cover to visitors with medical-marijuana certification from another state. That said, a vote for full legalization lost in 2016; possession of any non-prescription marijuana is a felony in Arizona. Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Tempe don't engage in undue prosecutions, but I wouldn't take my chances in other jurisdictions. Travelers from states where cannabis is legal should not bring cannabis into Arizona if they don’t have medical cards.

Money & Costs—What will a vacation in Arizona cost? That depends on your comfort needs. If you drive an RV or carry a tent, you can get by very inexpensively and find a place to stay almost anywhere in the state. If you don’t mind staying in motels that date from the 1940s, you can stay for less money in Arizona than almost anyplace else in the U.S., paying under $40 a night for a double in some off-the-beaten-track places; in southern Arizona in summer, even tony resorts may offer rooms for not much more. On the other hand, you can easily spend many hundreds of dollars a day on a room at a world-class resort in high season. Rooms in Sedona and at the Grand Canyon are at a premium; plan on spending between $150 and $200 for a midlevel room. In most places, clean, modern motels at interstate highway off-ramps charge $45 to $65 a night for a double room (a little bit more in Phoenix and Tucson).

Newspapers & Magazines—The Arizona Republic (azcentral.com), published out of Phoenix, is Arizona’s largest daily paper; the Tucson paper is the Arizona Daily Star, www.tucson.com. Arizona Highways is a beautiful and informative monthly magazine published by the Arizona Department of Transportation. The alternative paper in Phoenix is New Times, www.phoenixnewtimes.com. Tucson’s Tucson Sentinel is a lively local news website, at www.tucsonsentinel.com.

Safety—Arizona's violent crime rate ranks in the middle of U.S. states. Phoenix, like most other big cities, has seen murder rates on average go down from 20 years ago. Violent crime in tourist areas is fairly rare. You can expect to encounter U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in the southern part of the state. Don’t leave valuables, especially purses, wallets, or cameras, in view in your car when going for a hike or taking pictures at a scenic overlook. Rental cars are particular targets.

When driving long distances, always carry plenty of drinking water and, if you’re heading off onto dirt roads, extra water for your car’s radiator as well. When hiking or walking in the desert, keep an eye out for rattlesnakes; these poisonous snakes are not normally aggressive unless provoked, so give them a wide berth. Kids particularly should be warned about goofing around near cactus; an accidental fall on one can range from the painful (a prickly pear) to the agonizing (the mischievous cholla).

Senior Travel—With its abundant sunshine, Arizona has long been a favorite vacation and retirement destination with seniors. The state goes out of its way to accommodate senior travelers with discounts on accommodations and attractions, discounted "early-bird" dinners at many restaurants, and economical places to park RVs. Seniors should get an America the Beautiful Senior Pass, issued by the U.S. National Park Service, which gives seniors 62 years or older lifetime entrance to all properties administered by the National Park Service for a one-time fee of $80. (A $20 annual pass is also available at any federal park site.) Besides free entry, the America the Beautiful Senior Pass also offers a 50% discount on some fees for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. You can apply for the Access Pass at any National Park Service facility that charges an entrance fee, or go online to get an application to mail in. For more info, go to www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm.

Smoking—With the exception of buildings on tribal lands and at tobacco retailers, smoking is prohibited in public indoor spaces throughout Arizona. This regulation applies to restaurants and bars, although they can have outdoor patios where smoking is allowed. In my experience these are rare.

Speeding—Most highway traffic in Arizona moves along at 9 or 10 miles over the posted speed limit, and the chance of being pulled over when you are moving along with normal traffic is nil. But be aware of Arizona's "felony speeding" law: You can be arrested for going more than 20 miles over the speed limit, or exceeding 85mph, which is 10 miles over the top state speed limit of 75mph. This law is selectively enforced, but a fun family vacation can turn into a major bummer if the cop who pulls you over for going 87mph is having a bad day.

Taxes—In Arizona, the state, counties, and communities can all levy a sales tax (officially called a transaction privilege tax). In most places, you’ll pay 9% or more. On car rentals at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, expect to pay 50% or more in taxes and surcharges; at Tucson Airport, you’ll pay around 30%. You can sometimes save 10% or so on surcharges if you rent outside the airports, but sometimes the rental rates are higher outside of the airport, which cancels out the savings. Hotel room taxes range from around 9% to 17%. There is no sales tax at nonprofit gift shops, including those at museums.

Time—The continental United States is divided into four time zones: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), and Pacific Standard Time (PST). For example, when it's 5pm in London (GMT), it’s noon in New York City (EST), 11am in Chicago (CST), 10am in Phoenix (MST), and 9am in Los Angeles (PST). Daylight saving time moves clocks ahead one hour at 1am on the second Sunday in March, and moves them back one hour at 1am the first Sunday in November. Here's the problem: Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time. That means that Arizona is an hour ahead of L.A. in winter months but on the same time zone as the west coast during the summer. If you’re traveling around the Southwest, remember that as you cross state lines in or out of Arizona you may or may not have to change the time on your watches and phones, depending on the season. And just to make things more complicated, in the northeastern corner of the state, you're technically in Navajo country—where daylight saving time is followed! This can trip you up on everything from hotel check-in or check-out times to tour reservations. Make a mental note of this if you’re traveling in summer.

Tipping—Foreign visitors might not realize that the custom of tipping is built into the U.S. service economy; most restaurant and hotel workers are paid low wages with the expectation that they’ll make up for it in tips. Unless you’re unhappy with the service, a tip is expected. In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per bag ($2–$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the maid staff at least $1–$2 per day (more if you’ve left a big mess to be cleaned up). I personally put cash into the hands of the maid to make sure she gets it. Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with some specific service (for example, calling a cab for you or obtaining difficult-to-get theater tickets).

Tip a valet-parking attendant $2 every time you get your car.

In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip service staff 15% to 20% of the check; bartenders $1 for a beer, $2 for a mixed drink; and checkroom attendants $1 or $2 per garment.

Tip cab drivers 15% of the fare; tip skycaps at airports at least $2 per bag; and tip hairdressers and barbers 15% to 20%.

Toilets—You won’t find public toilets or “restrooms” on the streets in most U.S. cities. Instead, use facilities in hotel lobbies, bars and restaurants, department stores, grocery and "big-box" stores, and service stations. Once in a while you'll find a restaurant with a "customers only" sign on the restrooms, but I'd be surprised if any would refuse a polite request. Hotels and fast-food restaurants are the best bet for clean facilities.

Visitor Information—For statewide travel information, contact the Arizona Office of Tourism (www.arizonaguide.com; tel. 866/275-5816). See the individual chapters for details on local tourist offices. For suggested driving tours along Arizona’s scenic roads, check out Arizona Scenic Roads at www.arizonascenicroads.com.

Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers

As elsewhere in the U.S., the major cities in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson) are large enough to support businesses and organizations catering specifically to the gay and lesbian communities. At gay bars around Phoenix and Tucson, you can pick up various gay-oriented local publications, including Echo Magazine (www.echomag.com; tel. 888/324-6624 or 602/266-0550).

For information on gay- and lesbian-friendly businesses in the Phoenix metro area, contact the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (www.phoenixgaychamber.org; tel. 480/648-9423).

Tips for Vegetarian Travelers

Vegetarians may want to think twice about vacationing in Arizona. This is beef country, and cowboy steakhouses are a way of life in these parts. That said, there are actually plenty of options for meatless dining throughout the state. However, you'll find the greatest variety of vegetarian restaurants in Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, and Flagstaff. Two of my favorite vegetarian places around the state include Tucson's Lovin' Spoonfuls and Macy's European Coffee House & Bakery, a cool college-town cafe in Flagstaff. In Phoenix, the Ethiopian restaurant Café Lalibela is not strictly vegetarian, but it has lots of vegetarian options.

HappyCow's Vegetarian Guide to Restaurants & Health Food Stores (www.happycow.net) has a restaurant guide with more than 6,000 restaurants in 100 countries. VegDining.com also lists vegetarian restaurants (with profiles) around the world. Vegetarian Vacations (www.vegetarian-vacations.com) offers vegetarian tours and itineraries.

Getting There

By Plane

Most major U.S. airlines fly to both Phoenix/Scottsdale’s Skyharbor and Tucson International. Phoenix is the more centrally located of the two airports and is about 2 hours closer to the Grand Canyon South Rim. If a trip to the Grand Canyon is your only reason for visiting Arizona, also consider flying into Las Vegas; it’s a half-hour farther away but sometimes has lower airfares and better car-rental rates.

By Car

Arizona is bordered on the west by California and Nevada, on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, and on the south by Mexico. I-10, which passes east-west through the state, runs from Los Angeles all the way to Jacksonville, Florida; both Phoenix and Tucson are directly on I-10, about 2 hours apart. I-40 also runs east-west across the state, just south of the Grand Canyon, connecting to Albuquerque and to Los Angeles (via I-15). I-8 leads west from Casa Grande, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, to San Diego. There are two short north-south interstates in Arizona: I-17 links Flagstaff with Phoenix, about a 2 1/2-hour drive (add another 1 1/2 hours to get to the Grand Canyon), and I-19 runs south from Tucson to Nogales, on the Mexican border, about a 1-hour drive.

By Train

Amtrak (www.amtrak.com; tel. 800/872-7245) runs two trains through the state but neither stops in Phoenix. The Sunset Limited runs through Tucson on its route between Los Angeles and New Orleans, stopping also in San Antonio and Houston, Texas. The trip from Los Angeles to Tucson takes 10 hours and starts at $61. The Southwest Chief stops in Flagstaff and some smaller northern Arizona cities on its way from L.A. to Chicago.

By Bus

Greyhound (www.greyhound.com; tel. 800/321-2222) and Trailways (www.trailways.com; tel. 877/467-3346) serve several cities in Arizona. One Greyhound line runs across I-40 through Flagstaff, another from Flagstaff through Phoenix and Tucson to Nogales. You can easily get from Phoenix to L.A. or San Diego; Phoenix–L.A. fares start as low as $22.

Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport. Note: U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the western hemisphere must now also present a passport or other documents compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI; visit www.cbp.gov for details). Children 15 and under may continue entering with only a U.S. birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship.

Australia—Australian Passport Office (tel. 131-232; www.passports.gov.au).

Canada—Passport Program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (tel. 800/567-6868; www.canada.ca).

Ireland—Passport Service, 42-47, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie).

New Zealand—Passports Office, Department of Internal Affairs, 10 Mulgrave St., Wellington, 6011 (tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/463-9360; www.passports.govt.nz).

United Kingdom—Visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO), 89 Eccleston Sq., London, SW1V 1PN (tel. 0300/222-0000; www.ips.gov.uk).

United States—To find your regional passport office, check the U.S. State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/passport) or call the National Passport Information Center (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Medical Requirements

Unless you're arriving from an area known to be suffering from an epidemic (particularly cholera or yellow fever), inoculations or vaccinations are not required for entry into the United States.

Visas

The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allowing citizens of the following countries to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. (Note: This list was accurate at press time; for the most up-to-date list of countries in the VWP, consult http://travel.state.gov/visa.) Even though a visa isn't necessary, in an effort to help U.S. officials check travelers against terror watch lists before they arrive at U.S. borders, visitors from VWP countries must register online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before boarding a plane or a boat to the U.S. Travelers must complete an electronic application providing basic personal and travel eligibility information. The Department of Homeland Security encourages travelers to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States. Authorizations will be valid for up to 2 years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first. Currently, there is one US$14 fee for the online application. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration dates. Note: Any passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, by a VWP country must be an e-Passport for VWP travelers to be eligible to enter the U.S. without a visa. Citizens of these nations also need to present a round-trip air or cruise ticket upon arrival. E-Passports contain computer chips capable of storing biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. If your passport doesn't have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if the valid passport was issued before October 26, 2005, and includes a machine-readable zone; or if the valid passport was issued between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, and includes a digital photograph. For more information, go to http://travel.state.gov. Canadian citizens may enter the United States without visas, but will need to show passports and proof of residence.

Citizens of all other countries must have (1) a valid passport that expires at least 6 months later than the scheduled end of their visit to the U.S.; and (2) a tourist visa. For information about U.S. visas go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Or go to one of the following websites:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600), or by checking the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Australia website at https://au.usembassy.gov.

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by visiting the U.S. Embassy London's website at https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, 42 Elgin Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, https://ie.usembassy.gov.

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue, 23 Customs St East, Auckland 1010 (tel. 09/887-5999; https://nz.usembassy.gov).

Customs

Every visitor 21 years of age or older may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 liter of alcohol; (2) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars (but not from Cuba); and up to $800 worth of items duty-free. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is forbidden to bring into the country almost any meat products (including canned, fresh, and dried meat products, such as bouillon and soup mixes). Generally, condiments including vinegars, oils, pickled goods, spices, coffee, tea, and some cheeses and baked goods are permitted. Avoid rice products, as rice can often harbor insects. Bringing fruits and vegetables is prohibited since they may harbor pests or disease. International visitors may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving, which includes filing form FinCEN 105. For details regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection, consult your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (www.cbp.gov).

Tips for Senior Travelers

With its abundant sunshine and lack of cold, icy, snowy winters, Arizona has long been a favorite vacation and retirement destination with seniors. The state goes out of its way to accommodate senior travelers with discounts on accommodations and attractions, discounted "early-bird" dinners at many restaurants, and economical places to park RVs. Seniors should visit www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm to get an America the Beautiful -- National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -- Senior Pass. Issued by the U.S. National Park Service, these annual passes give seniors 62 years or older lifetime entrance to all properties administered by the National Park Service -- national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges -- for $20 (with an additional processing fee of $10 for passes purchased online or by mail). Besides location entry, the America the Beautiful Senior Pass also offers a 50% discount on some federal-use fees charged for such facilities as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours.

Calendar of Events

For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in cities all over the world.

Happy Birthday, Arizona! -- On February 14, 2012, the state of Arizona will turn 100. Unfortunately, the state's ongoing economic troubles have prevented Arizona from planning the sort of big centennial celebration you might expect. However, smaller events around the state are playing up the state's centennial. For information on festivities, contact the Arizona Centennial Commission (tel. 602/364-4157; www.arizona100.org).

January

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale. This college bowl game usually sells out nearly a year in advance. There's also an associated parade. Call tel. 800/635-5748 or 480/350-0911, or go to www.fiestabowl.org. Early January.

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, Scottsdale. More than 1,000 immaculately restored classic cars are auctioned off in an event attended by more than 250,000 people. Call tel. 480/663-6255, or go to www.barrett-jackson.com. Mid-January.

Wings over Willcox, Willcox. You can take part in birding tours, workshops, and, of course, watching the tens of thousands of sandhill cranes that gather in the Sulphur Springs Valley near Willcox. Call tel. 800/200-2272, or go to www.wingsoverwillcox.com. Mid-January.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Tucson. This huge show at the Tucson Convention Center offers seminars, museum displays from around the world, and hundreds of dealers selling just about any kind of rock you can imagine. In addition, there are more than 30 other smaller shows in the weeks prior to the main show; for information on these smaller shows, visit www.tucsonshowguide.com. Call tel. 520/322-5773, or go to www.tgms.org. Late January to mid-February.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf Tournament, Scottsdale. Prestigious PGA golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club. Call tel. 602/870-0163, or go to www.wastemanagementphoenixopen.com. Late January to early February.

February

Arizona Renaissance Festival, Apache Junction. Patterned after a 16th-century English country fair, this festival features costumed participants and tournament jousting. Call tel. 520/463-200, or go to www.royalfaires.com/arizona. Weekends from mid-February to early April.

Tubac Festival of the Arts, Tubac. Exhibits by North American artists and craftspeople. Call tel. 520/398-2704, or go to www.tubacaz.com/festival.asp. Early February.

World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, Phoenix. Native American dancers from around the nation take part in this colorful competition held at the Heard Museum. Call tel. 602/252-8848, or go to www.heard.org. Early February.

Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering, Sierra Vista. More than 50 cowboy poets, singers, and musicians gather in Sierra Vista for a weekend of Wild West poetry and music. Call tel. 520/678-9952, or go to www.cowboypoets.com. Mid-February.

O'odham Tash, Casa Grande. This is one of the largest annual Native American festivals in the country, attracting dozens of tribes that participate in rodeos, arts-and-crafts exhibits, and dance performances. Call tel. 520/836-4723. Mid-February.

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, Scottsdale. This celebration of the Arabian horse is said to be the largest Arabian horse show in the world. Call tel. 480/515-1500, or go to www.scottsdaleshow.com. Mid- to late February.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Tucson. This cowboy festival and rodeo at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds includes the Tucson Rodeo Parade, which claims to be the world's longest nonmotorized parade. Call tel. 800/964-5662 or 520/741-2233, or go to www.tucsonrodeo.com. Late February.

Parada del Sol Parade and Rodeo, Scottsdale. The state's largest horse-drawn parade includes a street dance and rodeo. Call tel. 480/990-3179, or go to www.paradadelsol.org. Late February.

Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona. View various new indie features, documentaries, and animated films before they (it is hoped) get picked up for wider distribution. Call tel. 928/282-1177, or go to www.sedonafilmfestival.com. Late February.

March

Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Phoenix. Indian cultural and dance presentations and one of the largest selections of Native American crafts in the Southwest make this a fascinating festival. Go early to avoid the crowds. Call tel. 602/252-8848, or go to www.heard.org. First weekend in March.

Festival of the West, Chandler. A celebration of all things cowboy, from cowboy poetry to Western music and movies. There's also a chuck-wagon cook-off and a mountain-man rendezvous. Call tel. 602/996-4387, or go to www.festivalofthewest.com. Mid-March.

Scottsdale Arts Festival, Scottsdale Mall. This visual and performing arts festival includes concerts, an art fair, and children's events. Call tel. 480/994-2787, or go to www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org. Mid-March.

Wa:k Pow Wow, Tucson. Tohono O'odham celebration at Mission San Xavier del Bac, featuring many Southwestern Native American groups. Call tel. 520/573-4000. Second weekend in March.

Welcome Back Buzzards, Superior. A flock of turkey vultures (buzzards) arrives annually at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum to roost in eucalyptus trees and on volcanic cliffs, and this festival celebrates their arrival. Call tel. 520/689-2811, or go to http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu. Mid- to late March.

April

Tucson International Mariachi Conference. Mariachi bands from all over the world come to compete before standing-room-only crowds. Call tel. 520/838-3908, or go to www.tucsonmariachi.org. Late April.

May

Cinco de Mayo, Phoenix and other cities. Celebration of the Mexican victory over the French in a famous 1862 battle comes complete with food, music, and dancing. Check local newspapers for area festivities. Around May 5.

Route 66 Fun Run, Kingman area. Classic hot rods hit the road for 3 days of roaring up and down historic Route 66. Call tel. 928/753-5001, or go to www.azrt66.com. First weekend in May.

Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale, Prescott. This is the state's premier Western-art sale. Call tel. 928/778-1385, or go to www.phippenartmuseum.org. Memorial Day weekend.

Wyatt Earp Days, Tombstone. Gunfights are reenacted in memory of the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Call tel. 888/457-3929 or 520/457-3929, or go to www.wyattearpdays.com. Memorial Day weekend.

June

Prescott Frontier Days/World's Oldest Rodeo, Prescott. This is one of the state's two rodeos that claim to be the nation's oldest. Call tel. 800/358-1888 or 928/445-3103, or go to www.worldsoldestrodeo.com. Late June to July 4.

July

Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture, Flagstaff. This exhibition and sale is held at the Museum of Northern Arizona and includes crafts vendors and demonstrations, music, dancing, Hopi foods, and various cultural events. Call tel. 928/774-5213, or go to www.musnaz.org. Early July.

Sidewalk Egg Fry Contest, Oatman. In the ghost town of Oatman, located near one of the hottest places on earth, contestants use their own devices, such as mirrors, to fry an egg in 15 minutes. Call tel. 928/768-6222, or go to www.oatmangoldroad.org. July 4 at high noon.

Independence Day. For information on fireworks displays in Phoenix, call tel. 602/534-3378; for Tucson, phone tel. 800/638-8350 or 520/624-1817. For other areas, contact the local chamber of commerce. July 4.

August

Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture, Flagstaff. This exhibition and sale at the Museum of Northern Arizona includes rug-weaving demonstrations, hoop dances, crafts vendors, and cultural events. Call tel. 928/774-5213, or go to www.musnaz.org. Early August.

Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, Sierra Vista. Spotting hummingbirds and looking for owls and bats keep participants busy. Includes lectures and field trips throughout southeastern Arizona. Go to www.swwings.org. Early August.

August Doins Rodeo, Payson. This is the second of Arizona's rodeos claiming to be the country's oldest. Call tel. 800/672-9766 or 928/474-4515, or go to www.paysonrimcountry.com/augustdoins. Third weekend in August.

Grand Canyon Music Festival, Grand Canyon Village. For more than a quarter of a century, this festival has been bringing classical music to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Call tel. 800/997-8285 or 928/638-9215, or go to www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org. Late August to early September.

September

Navajo Nation Fair, Window Rock. This fair features traditional music and dancing, a Miss Navajo contest, and more. Call tel. 928/871-6478, or go to www.navajonationfair.com. Early September.

October

Sedona Arts Festival, Sedona. One of the top arts festivals in the state. Call tel. 928/204-9456, or go to www.sedonaartsfestival.org. Early to mid-October.

Arizona Exposition & State Fair, Phoenix. Featured are rodeos, top-name entertainment, demolition derbies, ethnic food, and lots of activities for kids. Call tel. 602/252-6771, or go to www.azstatefair.com. Mid-October to early November.

Bisbee 1000, Bisbee. This foot race sends runners up and down 1,000 steps in the old mining town of Bisbee. Go to www.bisbee1000.org. Third weekend in October.

Helldorado Days, Tombstone. Attendants of this festival can check out an 1880s fashion show, beard contest, reenactments, and street entertainment. Call tel. 888/457-3929 or 520/457-3929, or go to www.helldoradodays.com. Third full weekend in October.

Cowboy Artists of America Annual Exhibition and Sale, Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts the most prestigious and best-known Western-art show in the region. Call tel. 602/257-1222, or go to www.phxart.org. Late October to mid-November.

December

Festival of Lights, Sedona. Thousands of luminarias are lit at dusk at the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. Call tel. 928/282-4838, or go to www.tlaq.com. Mid-December.

Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market, Phoenix. This is the largest market of its kind in the state, with more than 250 Native American artisans. Call tel. 877/706-4408 or 602/495-0900, or go to www.pueblogrande.com. Second full weekend in December.

Staying Connected

Mobile Phones

Just because your cellphone works at home doesn't mean it'll work everywhere in the U.S. (thanks to the fragmented cellphone system in the United States). If you live in the U.S., it's a good bet that your phone will work in Arizona's major cities, but take a look at your wireless company's coverage map on its website before heading out; T-Mobile, Sprint, and Nextel are particularly weak in rural areas. (To see where GSM phones work in the U.S., check out www.t-mobile.com/coverage.) If you're visiting from another country, be sure to find out about international calling rates and roaming charges before using your phone in the United States. You could ring up a huge phone bill with just a few calls.

Options for staying connected in the U.S. include buying an inexpensive phone and prepaid minutes from such companies as TracFone (www.tracfone.com). These phones are readily available in such stores as Wal-Mart and Target and usually cost less than $20. Prepaid minutes might cost $20 for 60 minutes, though double-minute plans can lower this cost. Another alternative if you are traveling with your laptop computer or have a smart phone is to install Skype (www.skype.com), a VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) program/app that allows you to use your computer or smart phone as an Internet-based telephone. Doing this allows you to call other Skype users at no charge.

If you're heading down into the Grand Canyon and want to rent a satellite phone, contact Skycall Satellite (www.skycallsatellite.com; tel. 801/463-1869).

Telephones

Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50. Many public pay phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. Local calls made from most pay phones cost either 25¢ or 35¢. Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. To make calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling.

Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be expensive -- charges of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute. Some numbers have minimum charges that can run $15 or more.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.

For directory assistance ("Information"), dial 411 for local numbers and national numbers in the U.S. and Canada. For dedicated long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code plus 555-1212.

Internet & Wi-Fi

Nearly anywhere you go in Arizona, even on Indian reservations, you can find some way to connect to the Internet. Among the more common places to get access to the Internet are cybercafes, public libraries, and in hotel lobbies where computers are often available for guests' use.

Money

Frommer's lists exact prices in the local currency. However, rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency exchange website such as www.oanda.com/currency/converter to check up-to-the-minute rates.

What will a vacation in Arizona cost? That depends on your comfort needs. If you drive an RV or carry a tent, you can get by very inexpensively and find a place to stay almost anywhere in the state. If you don't mind staying in motels that date from the 1940s and can sleep just fine on a sagging mattress, you can stay for less money in Arizona than almost anyplace else in the U.S. (under $40 a night for a double in some places). On the other hand, you can easily spend several hundred dollars a day on a room at one of the state's world-class resorts. Expect to pay around $200 per day for a room at a midlevel resort in Phoenix or Tucson. Rooms in Sedona and at the Grand Canyon are also at a premium, so plan on spending between $150 and $200 for a midlevel room. If you're looking to stay in clean, modern motels at interstate highway offramps, expect to pay $45 to $65 a night for a double room in most places (a little bit more in Phoenix and Tucson).

When to Go

Arizona is a year-round destination, although people head to different parts of the state at different times of the year. In Phoenix, Tucson, and other parts of the desert, the high season runs from October to mid-May, with the highest hotel rates from January to April. At the Grand Canyon, summer is the busy season.

The all-around best times to visit are spring and autumn, when temperatures are cool in the mountains and warm in the desert, but without extremes (although you shouldn't be surprised to get a bit of snow as late as Memorial Day in the mountains and thunderstorms in the desert Aug-Sept). Late spring and early autumn (specifically May and Sept) are also good times to save money -- low summer rates are still in effect at the desert resorts -- and to see the Grand Canyon when it's not its most crowded. In spring, you might also catch great wildflower displays, which begin in March and last until May, when the tops of saguaro cacti are covered with waxy white blooms.

One more thing to keep in mind: Sedona is just high enough that it actually gets cold in the winter -- sometimes it even snows. So if you're looking for sunshine and time by the pool, book your Sedona vacation for a time other than the winter.

Weather

The first thing you should know is that the desert can be cold as well as hot. Although winter is the prime tourist season in Phoenix and Tucson, night temperatures can be below freezing and days can sometimes be too cold for sunning or swimming. However, although there can be several days in a row of cool, cloudy, and even rainy weather in January and February, on the whole, winters in Arizona are positively delightful. In higher-elevation areas, of course, you’ll find traditional winter weather. Don’t be surprised to see snow as late as Memorial Day in the mountains.

In the winter, sun seekers flock to the deserts, where temperatures average in the high 60s (low 20s Celsius) by day. In the summer, when desert temperatures top 110°F (43°C), the mountains of eastern and northern Arizona are pleasantly warm, with daytime averages in the low 80s (high 20s Celsius). Yuma is one of the desert communities where winter temperatures are the highest in the state, while Prescott and Sierra Vista, in the 4,000- to 6,000-foot elevation range, claim temperate climates that are just about ideal.

If you happen to be visiting the desert in July or August, be prepared for sudden thunderstorms and dust storms. Storms often cause flash floods that make many roads briefly impassable. Looks for signs warning motorists not to enter low areas when flooded, and take them seriously.

Also, don’t even think about venturing into narrow slot canyons, such as Antelope Canyon near Page or the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, if there’s any chance of a storm anywhere in the region. Rain falling miles away can send flash floods roaring down narrow canyons with no warning. In 1997, several hikers died when they were caught in a flash flood in Antelope Canyon, and in 2009, a flash flood inundated the parking lot at Sedona's Tlaquepaque shopping center.

Holidays

Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), the third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day), the third Monday in February (Presidents' Day), the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4 (Independence Day), the first Monday in September (Labor Day), the second Monday in October (Columbus Day), November 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day), the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25 (Christmas). The Tuesday after the first Monday in November is Election Day, a federal government holiday in presidential-election years (held every 4 years, and next in 2020).

Tips for Student Travelers

Student travel in Arizona usually means one of two things: spring break at Lake Havasu or a summer visit to the Grand Canyon. In either case, you might want to check out the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) (www.aboutistc.org) website for comprehensive travel services information and details on how to get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which qualifies students for substantial savings on rail passes, plane tickets, entrance fees, and more. The card is valid for a maximum of 16 months. You can apply for the card online or in person at STA Travel (www.statravel.com; tel. 800/781-4040 in North America, 134-782 in Australia, 0871/230-0040 in the U.K.), the biggest student travel agency in the world; check out the website to locate STA Travel offices worldwide. If you're no longer a student but are still 25 or under, you can get an International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) from the same people, which entitles you to some discounts. Travel CUTS (www.travelcuts.com; tel. 866/246-9762) offers similar services for Canadian residents. Irish students may prefer to turn to USIT (www.usit.ie; tel. 01/602-1906), an Ireland-based specialist in student, youth, and independent travel.