I'll be staying in Phoenix AZfor a week to change the scenery a bit....but I won't be using a car!?

Question

Do you think I will still enjoy my trip and get around easily?

I'm going to be staying 3 miles away from the airport....

Answer 1

holy crap#! yes you'll be needing a car, find some way to afford a rental or something because this city is NOT set up for public transport or pedestrians, its really terrible that way, personally i wouldn't recommend anyone coming here to visit anyway there's nothing exceptional about Phoenix. if you absolutely cant afford or get a rental car then this is what you SHOULD do to salvage this trip....get a bus book and figure out how to get to the downtown centers of Phoenix, Tempe and Glendale, if you do this then you will be able to get off the bus and be in areas where you CAN just walk around and have things to do and see. Down town Glendale is furthest from where you'll be but its not bad, mostly antique shops all around the old town area and even the neighborhoods around it have old houses turned into shops, Tempe has a street called Mill ave, its right near ASU main campus, that would be another area you can get off a bus and walk around all day with plenty of places to eat and shop, there's also a pretty cool park with a man made lake (sounds dumb and probably is but hey we live in the desert its water, we like it lol) lots of people watching there and nice place to kick back downtown phoenix is pretty much a ghosttown but thats where all the big buildings are, i say ghosttown because its notorious for having noone on the streets after working hours, just pretty much a place people go to work, even the shops are usually closed except when there's a game on, only reason to go there would be to go to a game or to go to the museums youll find down there, there are events down there pretty frequently too, like every first Friday (first friday of each month) starting about 8 pm till after 1 am we have "the art walk" which is actually pretty cool, thats between 7th ave and 7th street along Mcdowell, and the minor streets around that, a TON of people go to that its not bad, i usually go. ...maybe check out the Willow house (2nd ave and McDowell)while your down there, people there are weird ,sorta modern day beatniks or poetry creeps but you can walk up to anyone at the Willow and ask about what to do in phoenix and where.

so yeah thats how your going to pull it off if your going to have a nice time while your here, its all about trucking yourself off to a downtown area, otherwise all there is is sprawl.....countless miles of bland houses and non specific strip malls with crappy everyday chain type stores, all of our culture, art and excitement is concentrated in downtown Tempe and on certain nights downtown Phx. good luck! (-: you can call me when your here if you need more specific directions just e-mail me for my number (dont worry im not a creep, im quite normal i assure you!)

Answer 2

Don't let not having a car keep you from having a good time here in the valley of the sun. Although our public transportation does lack in a lot of areas, it's not as bad as most think. Make sure you get a bus schedule and know what part of town you'll like to be spending time in. At first I'd recommend Old town Scottsdale, buses and taxi's run through there all day. In addition you can take the trolley tour car and get a feel for what it has to offer. The only other place I'd recommend if not having a car would be downtown, that's probably the most ammentites we have compacted within a given area.

Answer 3

Yes! Considering that we've got a few fundamental vog from the volcano, I would use a difference in surroundings. I leave out the lovely blue skies and the picturesque mountains of Hawaii! Besides sulfur dioxide reeks havoc at the breathing method and allergy symptoms. I can not stay up for the exchange winds to go back! Aloha!

Answer 4

Not easily, unfortunately. Phoenix does have a bus system, but the distances are so vast that it takes a while to get from place to place, and taxis get expensive. Light rail is being built, but is years away. And in terms of getting outside Phoenix to places like Sedona and the Grand Canyon, while there are shuttles, a car is most convenient. You can check valleymetro.org for the bus schedules, but ideally it's best to rent a car.

There is one exception, which is downtown Scottsdale - that area is fairly walkable. But even then, if you want to go outside Scottsdale, while you can use the buses, it's easiest to have a car. Phoenix isn't Chicago.

Answer 5

Phoenix really is a driving city and there isnt much to do by the airport...however downtown tempe is close and there is a good bus system and a cab is relatively inexpensive

Answer 6

you wont be able to get around easily without a car. If you just don't want to drive and you have enough money to take a taxi everywhere then you'll be fine but if your ok with driving then I would suggest getting a rental. You can take the bus but it takes forever to get to it's destination and it's no fun to be stuck on a bus all day. It will cost you about $120 for a rental car for a week.

link to car rental
https://www.thrifty.com/reservations/index.aspx?SavedState=True&ControlTarget=TransitionLocationTime
link to bus
http://www.valleymetro.org/default.asp
link to cab
http://discountcab.com/

Answer 7

You will be fine, during the day take the bus though Ill warn you it takes sometimes 20 minutes to catch one or take a cab! You really dont need a car.

Answer 8

Tempe has a lot to offer, no car need there visit college campus, museums, and shopping along mill ave. university hotels are nice sleep in has driver to take you downtown, or AZ. mills may cost you a little...
at AZ. mills fun shops 140 plus or imax, and harkins thastre places to eat.. Rain forest cafe.

Answer 9

no way. we don't have reliable public transportation and the city is so sprawled out you'll spend a fortune in cab rides getting around. my advice, rent a car or make a friend, quick fast and in a hurry.

Answer 10

There is no way to get anywhere in Phoenix if you don't have a car. Everything is very isolated. Sorry.