My Phoenix Trip Report (Tempe: credit, apartments, hotel)

[BobLeeVegas]

This is a brief update on my visit to Phoenix to scout out possible apartments and see where I would be working.

The Sun knocks you upside the head and then proceeds to suck the
soul out of you. You can talk about the heat all you want, but it is
quite another thing to actually experience it! LOL! I know this is a very
hot time of the year, and I realize things do get better at some point!

I looked at several apartment buildings. Some said they would work with
my horrible credit! That's good news. Two of the complexes I am considering are Daybreak Gardens on Thomas Rd, and Cotton Center
Town houses by N. 48th St and Broadway. I think it is actually on E Pueblo. If anyone has any experiece or advice with them, let me know!
Also, are chiller systems bad as opposed to central air or is it comparable?

I saw a DBacks VS. Brave game at Chase Field. Nice place! I was amazed at how comfy it was inside temp wise! I can't believe it holds 47,000 as someone told me! I guess with the roof closed it just looks smaller!

Phoenix is pretty vast and very wide open compared to here in Cleveland!
Nice Grid layout though. Coming in I was looking at directions to my hotel on 7th Ave, saw " 7th St " exit and thought oh this must be actually it.
Uh....no. Got the ave and the st thing together now. But if you did not know, it can be confusing!

Ate at Sonic and Whataburger, neither of which we have in N.E. Ohio.
Also Mexican at Macayos and Ma Patio. Very good.
Dined at Ruth's Chris. Excellent.
Breakfast one day at the Good Egg. Nice.
Breakfast on Thomas ave at Jerrys Restaurant. Fine.
Dinner at Claim Jumpers. Very Good.

Saw the Imax Grand Canyon movie at Arizona Mills mall.
Should have been called the Colorado River movie instead!

Saw the movie Wanted at the downtown theater. Horrible cartoonish
movie! Good Special effects though.

Realized that every driver in Phoenix drives faster than me.

I enjoyed my trip, and am still looking forward to moving to Phoenix.

Bob in Cleveland.

[azkylady2]

Get to experience 112 or 115 degrees? there are sonics in Ohio Cincinnati area. thats good you are still wanting to come, you did the right thing visiting in the summer, good luck with your move.

[joninaz]

Good post Bob. People do acclimate to climates. I remember visiting for work in the summer and thought it was an inferno where nobody should live. Now I've been here a few years, it's still hot in the summer, but I'm much more comfy. About the only thing that's a chore is jumping in a car that's been sitting in the sun all day, but even then I don't let that hinder my going out in the day.

On your next visit, let us know in advance and we can send you to some better places to eat (that are unqiue to AZ).

[aj661]

48th St and Broadway on the Tempe-Phoenix border wasn't a great area 25 years ago. But compared to 2.5 or miles to the west, I guess it looks pretty good. Do yourself a favor, go to the Phoenix PD website and check out crime stats for any area before signing a lease.

[Rick Lee]

This is my first summer here and the heat doesn't bother me at all. I even had a meeting downtown yesterday at 3:00pm and had to wear a suit for it. No prob.

FWIW, (no offense) Cleveland is my least favorite city in the whole world and I've been to a lot of them. I've been stuck in Cleveland for business both in February and July. I hated every single second I've ever spent there, couldn't wait to leave.

[MaxPower123]

Sounds like you had fun

I was at the DBacks vs Braves game on Sunday, my son was on the big screen and he got a free t-shirt

IDK what chiller systems are...

[ivanabacowboy]

Actually it wasnt REALLY hot the days you were here BobLeeVegas. I believe one of the days we didnt even break 100, and another, just barely. Tho the SUN is definitely a strange object coming from Cleveland. What I first remember was a huge vertigo feeling when I got here-that bugged me far more than the heat. That the sky looked so HUGE and like the sun was right ON you--->in part because there arent tons of tall buildings and trees like in Ohio that limit your view. Glad some of the apartments said they would work with you. I like the grid thing. PS You missed In & Out Burger. ;-)

Chiller systems=maybe evaporative coolers or swamp coolers or whatever they call those? Which the 1 or 2 places I have been that had them--I wouldnt want to be there any day it was really hot, and AC would be preferable.

[BobLeeVegas]

Thanks for the replies.

Ivana, yeah I missed the In and Out Burger! LOL!

I did drive past one I think in Tempe, but was not hungry right then.

I have had them before in Vegas.

And yeah, without the trees and tall buildings, the sky seems endless!

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by BobLeeVegas

Also, are chiller systems bad as opposed to central air or is it comparable?

Chiller systems, you might be referring to evaporative cooling systems. They work fine and they are more economical to run than cenral A/C, as long as the humidity is below 25%. My parents have one in a section of their house, and when it's 105 outside, with 10% humidity, it works just as well as their central A/C.

[ZonyPony]

"Realized that every driver in Phoenix drives faster than me."


I've always thought that Phoenix has been an L.A. wannabe in just about every area - including the driving speeds.

I understand now why they have the cameras everywhere!