Cheap flights to Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ climate

It’s not hard to see why tourists continue to book trips 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.

Getting around Phoenix, AZ

You’ll want a car to get around Phoenix, since the city and its surrounding towns cover more than 400 square miles. Parking is free outside of downtown Phoenix, although it may take you a while to find a spot in Old Scottsdale or popular shopping areas. Make sure you read the fine print when you’re renting your car. Taxes and surcharges can increase your rental rate nearly 50 percent. Get around town for free on the city’s Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) service. These free buses cover downtown routes during the week from 6:30am to 5:30pm. DASH is meant for downtown commuters, not tourists, but the buses do go by Heritage Square and the Arizona Capitol Museum. The public buses, Valley Metro, are more useful for commuters than it is for tourists.

Phoenix, AZ Travel Information

• 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 ride over or 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.