Phoenix

[ELE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ELE]

We are considering visiting Phoenix this summer. What is the best timeshare?
What should be on our the have-to-do list?

Ethel

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

We have visited Phoenix many times. We had familly there. The summer we visited, it was 116 degrees, and I don't care if the heat was dry , it was miserable. It is cooler in Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona and lots more to see there.

[ELE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ELE]

It doesn't have to be Phoenix. We want to visit Arizona, DH says Phoenix, but he doesn't read the postings. I can convince him to change his mind as long as we visit Arizona. I am now considering staying away from summer and maybe consider spring break or December right after Christmas.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

It will be just beautiful during spring break, or christmas. We have traveled extensively in Arizona. We did a lot more out of Tucson than out of Phoenix. WE visited most of the national Parks and Monuments in the state, and there are many. There are many observatories around Tucson and also in flagstaff. Also, old western towns like Tombstone and Bisbee, and a fantastic cave near Sierra Vista. Tubac and other sights are also close by Tucson. Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Sedona, Flagstaff, Petrified Forest, Monument Valley are all in northern part of state. We spent about 8 to 10 vacations in Arizona, then spent 3 to 4 months there twice so we have seen a lot of the state. We are most interested in natural sights, historical sights, etc, not shopping.

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

I've stayed at Sheraton Desert Oasis and Scottsdale Villa Mirage.. both are very nice.

The Westin and Marriott also look like great places to stay

[DDI Par Member Find all posts View Profile Close DDI Par]

Best Timeshare Resorts in Arizona

We live in Phoenix, and I agree it can get breathtakingly hot here in the summer. Nicest time to visit would be October/November or March/April, although the temps in the winter months are often in the pleasant 70's. We usually trade one of our weeks to go up to the high country (7000') once each summer--Flagstaff or Pinetop. Fairfield has a nice resort in Flagstaff and the two nicest we've seen or stayed at in Pinetop are Worldmark and Quality Hill.

Sedona is a beautiful place and the best months to visit would be March through May and September through November. Lots of nice timeshares there including Sedona Springs, Sunterra's Ridge, a new Hyatt, Arroyo Roble and Los Abrigados. Summer would be o.k. in Sedona, 10-15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but 10-15 degrees warmer than Flagstaff or Pinetop. People use Sedona as a base to travel to the Grand Canyon, although I think staying for a night there makes sense rather than a day trip.

Whether winter or summer, the nicest timeshares in the Phoenix area (and we have seen them all) would be the Four Seasons at Troon North, Westin Kierland Villas, Premier Vacation Club at Rancho Man~ana (extremely beautiful and upscale interiors, neat nearby funky southwest shopping and reestaurants), Marriott's Canyon Villas, Westgate Painted Mountain and The Legacy Golf Resort (Shell Vacations).

Tucson is a little more laid back than the Phoenix area (called "the Old Pueblo"), has a beautiful mountain backdrop and is close to some other interesting places like Tubac, Bisbee, Patagonia, and Nogales, MX. Three timeshares there including Worldmark Vistoso (a ways out of town), Varsity Clubs of America (near the U of A campus), and the best one, Starr Pass, in a nice mountainous setting, a great golf course, and 10 minutes to downtown Tucson.

Probably pretty easy to get exchanges in the Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson areas during the late spring, summer and early fall months. And you will not experience hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or much humidity with the exception of some delightful thunderstorms periodically in July and August.

Good luck on your choices! I must now end this and return to my day job at the Chamber of Commerce (ha ha).

DDI Par
Phoenix, AZ

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

We are considering visiting Phoenix this summer. What is the best timeshare?
What should be on our the have-to-do list?

Ethel

Ethel, Hello!

You got some great responses here!

As for "best"....what is best is what most meets your needs and wish list.

Do you love to golf? Do you want a big swimming pool? Are there kids coming? How many folks traveling? Will you have a car? Do you like to hike, shop or sightsee? Is dining out a big part of your to-do list?

Do you want to see the Grand Canyon on the trip? Do you like Western themes? Are there any health considerations (high blood pressure, walking difficulties...etc)?

Do you like adventure or history?

We have lots of experts on the AZ area....and if you give us a little more background...we will help you find the perfect spot with a great itinerary!

Welcome!

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

It doesn't have to be Phoenix. We want to visit Arizona, DH says Phoenix, but he doesn't read the postings. I can convince him to change his mind as long as we visit Arizona. I am now considering staying away from summer and maybe consider spring break or December right after Christmas.

Spring break and Christmas can be tough exchanges if you don't have your request in early enough....so be sure you have enough trade power to get what you want for the year you want.

Also, right now, today, (a traditional Spring Break time frame) there is about a foot of snow in Flagstaff, I-40 has had several closures in the Williams/Flagstaff area, I-17 has had several crashes along the northernmost route.

In the greater PHX area there have been high gusty winds and a high pollution advisory. The mountains were pretty clouded with the dust blowing around today.

This is NOT usual weather for the PHX area at this time of year, however, air pollution is higher in the winter/spring months because of inversion (it is a valley).

Christmas time you will find average temps around 60 to mid 70s for the most part in the PHX area (an occasional 80 or low 50s, depending on the weather fronts).

In the northland you will find any range....from winter weather in the 30s and days of sun in the 60s. Christmas can be brilliantly sunny or cold and unpredictable.

I mention all this because some folks don't realize the diverse climate that our state contains. The state is very big, with mountains, valleys, and 11 different climates (depends on elevations).

We have seen some poor tourists arrive with nothing packed but some shorts and a bathing suit....and they end up having to buy winter gear because they didn't have the knowledge of our seasonal variations.

BEST time frames for Northern AZ (Sedona and Flagstaff) are Mid-April to early to mid June (heat begins to build by mid June) or mid to late September to early-mid November.

For PHX area you might want to try for late March through late May or October through November. JMHO. Yes, 116 in PHX can be brutal! Additionally, temps in the 90s in Flagstaff or Sedona can be very hard, because of the atmosphere and the intensity of the sun.

One more advisory, mountains range 1000 to 8000 foot in elevation and some even higher!....so if someone is sensitive to altitude, it can put a strain on a person. The keys are to take your time to enjoy the sights, drink water and wear protective clothing and sunscreen.

As I said in the previous post, let us know what you are hoping to see and do; we will come up with great suggestions!

[ELE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ELE]

So many choices. DH does play golf, so he will want to play one or two days. We want to sightsee and enjoy the area. We will have a car. I don't like the cold, so we have to go when the weather is warm. We want to stay in an area that will allow us to sightsee most of the week. We are more history than adventure sightseers. We like to be near the city/town area that is not high elevation. We would like to visit the grand canyon, but I don't want that to dictate where we stay. We saw parts of the grand canyon on a tour from Vegas. If possible, we would like to be located so we can see more than one city while visiting. Of course if we go in the summer, we want to be in the climate area that is the coolest. We will be traveling with four adults and no children.
I do appreciate your responses.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

... DH does play golf, so he will want to play one or two days.

Arizona has golf EVERYWHERE! So that will be easy!

We want to sightsee and enjoy the area. We will have a car.

In Phoenix there are things like zoos, museums, hiking trails, art galleries, Taliesin, Rawhide, botanical gardens, Native American artifacts, etc.

In Sedona/Flagstaff you will find many natural beauties as well as some of the above. Of course, many more Native American dwellings, trails, historical sites, Lowell Observatory, Riordan museum, Jordan museum.

I don't like the cold, so we have to go when the weather is warm. We want to stay in an area that will allow us to sightsee most of the week. We are more history than adventure sightseers. We like to be near the city/town area that is not high elevation.

If you want to avoid cold, in Sedona/Flagstaff try for April/May/October....for PHX try March/April/May/October/November...

We would like to visit the grand canyon, but I don't want that to dictate where we stay. We saw parts of the grand canyon on a tour from Vegas.

Flagstaff to GC is about 2 hours. Sedona to GC is about 2 1/2 hours. The elevation at Sedona is around 4500 feet. Flagstaff ranges but figure the average is around 7000. If you stay in Sedona or Flagstaff you can do a day trip to GC...but if you stay in PHX area you might want to add an overnight plan for GC. PHX elevation is around 1100.

If possible, we would like to be located so we can see more than one city while visiting. Of course if we go in the summer, we want to be in the climate area that is the coolest. We will be traveling with four adults and no children.
I do appreciate your responses.

Flagstaff is the coolest probably. Although you could go to the White Mountains, Pinetop or Payson area (but it isn't always as cool as you might hope for there). There isn't as much to see in that area, JMHO.

Flagstaff is surrounded by interesting historical and geographical sights. Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Wapatki, Walnut Canyon. The drive to the GC is easy from Flagstaff.

The drive to Sedona from Flagstaff is easy too...only about an hour south. You can easily do a day trip to Sedona (but once you see Sedona, you will wish you had stayed there for the week.)

Sedona is good location for beauty, art, shops, and easy access to some of the other towns like Jerome, Prescott, Cottonwood, Clarkdale.

Sedona offers tours, jeep, balloon, horseback, hiking, helicopter, biplane, vans. Good eateries. Can be pricey in some.

Some golf courses in or near Flagstaff/Sedona: Sedona Golf at The Ridge, Village of Oak Creek, Munds Park, Prescott Valley Golf.

[ELE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ELE]

I appreciate everybody's response. I will share with DH. Probably Sedona will be good for our first visit. I will keep you posted.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

which airport

Katiemack,

Great information on AZ.!!

Which airport is the best to fly into for a trip to Sedona?

Jeri

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Jeri,
Phoenix Skyharbor is probably your best bet. While America West does offer connecting service to Flagstaff or Prescott, the cost is not worth it as far as I can see. It is a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive from the PHX airport to Sedona. So folks who are traveling a long distance might want to plan to fly into PHX, stay at an airport hotel, and drive up the next day, refreshed. This way they get to see a lot of the sights along the way and see a nice "entry" into Sedona when they arrive in daylight!

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Thanks for the info..we are going next year to the Villas of Sedona. We bought it a couple of years ago and will be visiting it for the first time next May.
I hear wonderful things about the surrounding area.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Jericap, you will love the renovations that have occurred at the Villas of Sedona!