The mega-city in the middle of the Sonoran Desert has plenty to offer its visitors. Whether you’re looking for resorts, spas, golf courses, shopping or sporting events, booking a flight to Phoenix is your first step toward a relaxing vacation. The Phoenix landscape and climate invite travelers to explore outdoor activities and excursions that range from rugged adventures to hot-air balloon rides and scenic bus tours.
Book a window seat on your flight to Phoenix for awe-inspiring views of Arizona’s deserts and a glimpse of the Grand Canyon. Because of the year-round warm weather, there is no off-season in the desert so cheap flights to Phoenix are available depending on your schedule. Flights to Phoenix arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport, where tourists can find rental cars, shuttle buses and tour guides readily available to get you started on your Phoenix vacation.
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It’s not hard to see why tourists continue to book flights to Phoenix year- round. Phoenix averages 300 days of sun and 7 inches of precipitation annually.Summer in Phoenix is May to September. In June and July the average temperature is just under 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature exceeds 100 almost daily. July is the hottest month, with average temperatures over 105. Cheap flights to Phoenix are commonly found during the summer months when the heat scorches, but the scorching desert climate also means constant dips in the pool at some of the nation’s most revered resorts. The heat drops off in October, and the nights are cool. It rarely rains, but when it does, expect thunderstorms, flash floods, and then a spectacular show from the desert flora.Winter, September to May, is the best time to fly to Phoenix. The weather is sunny and warm. The winter temperatures rarely drop below 65, and it’s usually warm enough to lounge at the pool during the day and cool enough to wear a jacket at night.
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There’s no bad time to fly to Phoenix. The desert weather makes this city a year-round destination for tourists. Share your thoughts on the best time to travel to Phoenix.
Peak Season:
The city's high-travel season is November through April. Rates for hotels and airfare are always higher during those months. Tourists booking Phoenix flights during this time should also book Phoenix accommodations and car rentals, as hotel rooms book up fast and finding a good deal can be hard to come by.
Off Season:True bargain hunters can get deals on cheap flights to Phoenix during the summer, but the city comes to a cultural standstill during the searing heat. Saving money on a Phoenix flight means more money available to test out the city’s water parks!
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Phoenix flights arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport. When booking your flights to Phoenix and hotel accommodations, check into shuttle buses that leave from the airport to various hotels and resorts around the city. Don’t let the view from 30,000 feet up fool you -- while the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon and desert are picturesque, Phoenix is a bustling city with great restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Visitors to Phoenix can live the life of leisure during the day, and join the see-and-be-seen crowd at night.
Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Distance: 4 miles southeast of Phoenix
Drive time: 15-20 mins
Taxis, buses, vans, and limos offer transportation from the airport to town. Fare and schedule information from your Phoenix flight is on the
Taxi, Bus, Van & Limo Transportation page of the airport’s Web site.
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Phoenix, along with the surrounding towns, is more than 400 square miles big, so having a car for transport is best. While searching for a cheap flight to Phoenix, check into cheap weekly car rentals available from one of the major car rental agencies. Good car-rental rates are available, but when checking rates, make sure they include taxes and surcharges — these charges now run 50 percent or more of the rental fees at Sky Harbor Airport. Rental cars are available at the Phoenix airport, so tourists can leave their Phoenix flight and immediately start their vacation with a scenic drive through the city. Free parking is available outside of downtown Phoenix, although finding a parking space can take some time in Old Scottsdale and the more popular shopping districts.
The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) provides free bus service within the downtown Phoenix area Monday through Friday from 6.30am to 5.30pm. Although primarily for downtown workers, these buses do go by the Arizona Capitol Museum and Heritage Square.
The Phoenix public bus system, Valley Metro, is set up for commuters and generally isn't all that useful for tourists. After booking Phoenix flights and accommodations, visitors should consult their hotel/resort concierge for additional sightseeing tours and information. Many resorts in Phoenix will help visitors book car rentals or Arizona tours as a courtesy.
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- The Pueblo Grande Museum is located at the ruins of a 1,500 year-old Hohokam village. You can explore the ruin of a platform mound possibly used by the Hohokam for ceremonies, an excavated ballcourt, full-scale reproductions of Hohokam homes, and some of the last remaining intact Hohokam irrigation canals. The Phoenix Museum of History showcases the city’s growth from a dusty desert town to a modern metropolis.
- Heritage Square is the section of downtown Phoenix where Victorian homes have been preserved and are now used as shops and museums. Two highlights of the square are the stick-Eastlake Rosson House built in 1895 (guided tours are available) and the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum in the bungalow of the Stevens House.
- Phoenicians love their professional sports and March is a great time to see them in action — the Suns, the Coyotes, ASU basketball and baseball, and the Safeway International LPGA Tournament. And, of course, many major-league baseball teams know that it just doesn’t get better than March in Phoenix for spring training. If you’re booking Phoenix flights during spring training, prepare to spend a little more on your travel.
- The red rocks of Sedona are an awe-inspiring sight. Some travelers might get a glimpse of these red rocks during the flight to Phoenix, but it’s worth it to see these formations up close. There are trails for exploring the canyon (you might even see javelinas), eclectic shops and galleries, and always the spectacular scenery. Sedona is about two hours from Phoenix. Book a jeep tour in Sedona for a truly up close and personal exploration of the red rocks.
- The Tempe Festival of the Arts is a nationally acclaimed, three-day street fair. Artists from across the country are selected to participate in the festival and a jury selects the top artisans in each category and the best overall artist. There’s also street and stage performing artists and homemade food and products. The festival is held twice a year, in December and March/April.
- Visit Jerome, a former copper-mining town and now a community of about 450, mostly artists, craft people, musicians, writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, and shop proprietors. The drive up to this mile-high city is alone worth the trip. Jerome is located in the heart of northern Arizona, about 90 miles from Phoenix.
- In Scottsdale, take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home, Taliesin West, now an architecture school and working design studio. Set on 600 acres, the building complex includes residential spaces, theaters, a shop, and an architectural studio and drafting room. The buildings are an experience in unusual and organic forms and time.
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