Dentist -- Call the Dental Referral Service (www.dentalreferral.com; tel. 877/423-1702).

Doctor -- There are now urgent-care centers in strip malls throughout the Valley.

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

Hospitals -- The Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, which Phoenicians refer to by its old name, Good Samaritan or “Good Sam,” is closest to downtown. It’s at 1111 E. McDowell Rd. (www.bannerhealth.com; tel. 602/839-2000). In Scottsdale, the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, 7400 E. Osborn Rd. (tel. 480/882-4000) is right on the edge of downtown.

Lost Property -- If you lose something at the airport, call tel. 602/273-3333 or e-mail lostandfound@phoenix.gov; for anything that was lost on a Valley Metro bus or the light rail, call tel. 602/534-5053.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Arizona Republic (azcentral.com) is Phoenix’s daily newspaper. New Times (phoenixnewtimes.com) is the alternative weekly with a long history of investigative reporting and provocative articles; it can be found downtown in street boxes and in the hipper restaurants and cafes. Neither website is particularly user-friendly, but poke around and you can often find interesting things to do.

Pharmacies -- Walgreens and CVS outlets dot the city. In downtown Phoenix there’s a big CVS (pharmacy tel. 602/296-7611) in the far southwest corner of the mall at CitySpace center, on the corner of 1st Ave. and W. Jefferson St., open 6am–10pm.

Post Office -- The Phoenix Downtown Post Office, 522 N. Central Ave. (tel. 602/253-9648) is open Monday–Friday 9am–5pm. In Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Post Office, 1776 N. Scottsdale Rd. (tel. 480/948-1448) is open Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:30pm and Saturday 9am–3:30pm.

Safety -- Crime isn’t a terrible problem in Phoenix; the number of property and violent crimes has been dropping for decades, even as the city’s population has grown. Downtown and the Central Corridor are among the safest areas of the city. That said, there’s little reason to walk into sparsely populated and unknown areas day or night. Rental cars are targets, so don’t leave phones, laptops, or valuables in them. Once in a while, a road-rage incident is reported. Drive sensibly and let aggressive drivers have their way. Here’s the most important safety tip I can give you: Look twice before stepping out onto just about any street, driveway, parking lot, or intersection, and that goes double if you’re on a bike. This is a car town; pedestrians in general and bike lanes in particular are new phenomena in much of the Valley.

Taxes -- Local taxes are about 9% in total on most but not all goods. Gas is far cheaper—like, $1 a gallon cheaper—here than in Nevada or California, so fill up before you cross the border. Hotel room taxes vary by city but are mostly between 12% and 15%. Car rental taxes bite: Expect to pay 50% over the daily rate.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.