Please help me plan my trip to Phoenix! (Chandler, Tempe: lease, hotels)
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I've decided to come out to satisfy my curiosity. It looks like I may be able to get a plane ticket in the $300.00 range. I want to make the arrangements today, if possible.The cost of hotels are high. Can anyone recommend a safe cheap place a single woman can stay? I want to stay for a week or a little longer if I can get a cheap place to stay. I've been advised that Tempe is a good place to stay for a black, single 40 year old woman without kids. I only mention my race because I do not want to be steered towards any closed communities. I am not interested in living in a predominately minority neighborhood either. Tempe sounds good but I do not want live in an area dominated by students. I am really looking for a neighborhood. I understand my job dictates where I should live. I've applied to one job in Tempe thus far. I am also interested in Gilbert. I like the convenience of the city but I do not like the noise.
I guess my ideal location would enable me to rent a small home in a safe community easily accessible to amenities such as the grocery store, restaurants and shops. I would also like views of the mountains, if possible.
I appreciate any help that you can provide. Thank you.
I've decided to come out to satisfy my curiosity. It looks like I may be able to get a plane ticket in the $300.00 range. I want to make the arrangements today, if possible.The cost of hotels are high. Can anyone recommend a safe cheap place a single woman can stay? I want to stay for a week or a little longer if I can get a cheap place to stay. I've been advised that Tempe is a good place to stay for a black, single 40 year old woman without kids. I only mention my race because I do not want to be steered towards any closed communities. I am not interested in living in a predominately minority neighborhood either. Tempe sounds good but I do not want live in an area dominated by students. I am really looking for a neighborhood. I understand my job dictates where I should live. I've applied to one job in Tempe thus far. I am also interested in Gilbert. I like the convenience of the city but I do not like the noise.
I guess my ideal location would enable me to rent a small home in a safe community easily accessible to amenities such as the grocery store, restaurants and shops. I would also like views of the mountains, if possible.
I appreciate any help that you can provide. Thank you.
Told you before and I will repeat it: Ahwatukee. It should be on your list. This is an upscale area that is convenient to most of the metro - and it has mountain views that you said mattered to you. It is generally south of Elliot Road and west of I-10. There are hotels there - one, the Arizona Grand, is probably at the high end, but look for hotels in Chandler. Chandler is across the freeway (east) from the Ahwatukee area. I doubt there is anything in Chandler that is not safe and they have all the chains and then some.
Last edited by Ponderosa; 12-04-2013 at 07:33 AM..
Ponderosa is right on here. Go to some of the websites for hotel rooms and see if you can find a deal. Any of the chain motels (and they are all there) surrounding I-10 from Baseline down to Pecos Rd will be a good place to stay while you look around.
Ahwatukee is a good choice. The part of Tempe away from the immediate campus area is very different from the campus part. Most of us wouldn't even know that ASU is there, in terms of going about our daily lives. It's just a very nice suburb with a high quality of life. The mountain views in Ahwatukee are closer, though.
Told you before and I will repeat it: Ahwahtukee. It should be on your list. This is an upscale area that is convenient to most of the metro - and it has mountain views that you said mattered to you. It is generally south of Elliot Road and west of I-10. There are hotels there - one, the Arizona Grand, is probably at the high end, but look for hotels in Chandler. Chandler is across the freeway (east) from the Ahwahtukee area. I doubt there is anything in Chandler that is not safe and they have all the chains and then some.
I found a hotel in Tempe within my price range. It is within walking distance of several amenities. There is also a light rail within walking distance. I will look into hotels in Chandler now. Thanks.
If you're OK with not knowing where you'll stay until the day of your trip, try the Hotels Tonight app. They release hotels at noon or 1pm (can't remember) daily and there are always some REALLY good deals. A regular on there is the Sahuaro in Old Town usually for around $69/night. Hotwire is also a fun one to roll the dice with. Just select your desired area, go for at least a 4 star and you can't lose.
I found a hotel in Tempe within my price range. It is within walking distance of several amenities. There is also a light rail within walking distance. I will look into hotels in Chandler now. Thanks.
If you found that, you should be fine. Proximity to the Light Rail is a plus. Send me a direct message if you want more info on the area of the Tempe hotel you found.
I can't believe this but I am coming for a week long visit. I decided to stay in Tempe and be close to the light rail. I certainly will visit Ahwahtukee, Chandler and Gilbert as possible places to live. Any other places I should check out? I am excited!!! I did not know that I was going to do this until this morning. Wish me luck!
Light rail can get you to the hotel from the airport and through parts of tempe, downtown phoenix, central corridor and a little bit more into the city ....
If you are on the light rail there is a good chance you're going to be somewhat close to ASU - not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind if you are trying to evaluate Tempe from that location - the light rail does not serve a good portion of the city of Tempe, let alone the Phoenix metro
Tempe does have a free shuttle route called Orbit - multiple routes tie into light rail/bus areas and residential neighborhoods .... you could potentially use this to explore Tempe a bit City of Tempe, AZ : Orbit
however, the area is massive and I would highly recommend getting a car for the full week .... if you can't swing it then at least get one for 2 days - you can usually find better deals away from the airport
I think that is a surprising thing when people get here .... just how large the geography is ...... you could spend a day each working through areas of gilbert, tempe, mesa, etc and it can wear you out a bit
People are also surprised at the construct of the city - it sounds like you've had at least one prior thread so this may be repeating some information, but by and large the city isn't loud - the city is mainly suburban, residential developments with strip malls and small commercial centers that repeat more miles on end .... downtown is relatively small and not nearly as dense, loud, busy, etc as other large cities
There are some pockets of mainly first generation hispanics as far as homogenous neighborhoods that do have some size, but by and large there aren't a bunch of ethnic neighborhoods like you find in other cities
Most neighborhoods are going to be somewhat convenient to shopping, mainly quiet, etc. Schools probably aren't going to be as important for your situation so I'm not sure if I would pay a premium to just rent in an area that zones better.
Check out a whole bunch of areas .... Ahwahtukee sounds like it would be a really nice match, so does Tempe (my friends dad lives in south Tempe and you'd never know there was a university in the city - the neighborhood is very middle class & middle aged)
Your basic needs can be met all over the city in a wide range of areas .... since you are going to rent you have flexibility ..... before coming out I'd look at more job centers and honestly I would apply all over the city - it's harder to get a good job than it is to find a place to rent that fits your needs
Light rail can get you to the hotel from the airport and through parts of tempe, downtown phoenix, central corridor and a little bit more into the city ....
If you are on the light rail there is a good chance you're going to be somewhat close to ASU - not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind if you are trying to evaluate Tempe from that location - the light rail does not serve a good portion of the city of Tempe, let alone the Phoenix metro
Tempe does have a free shuttle route called Orbit - multiple routes tie into light rail/bus areas and residential neighborhoods .... you could potentially use this to explore Tempe a bit City of Tempe, AZ : Orbit
however, the area is massive and I would highly recommend getting a car for the full week .... if you can't swing it then at least get one for 2 days - you can usually find better deals away from the airport
I think that is a surprising thing when people get here .... just how large the geography is ...... you could spend a day each working through areas of gilbert, tempe, mesa, etc and it can wear you out a bit
People are also surprised at the construct of the city - it sounds like you've had at least one prior thread so this may be repeating some information, but by and large the city isn't loud - the city is mainly suburban, residential developments with strip malls and small commercial centers that repeat more miles on end .... downtown is relatively small and not nearly as dense, loud, busy, etc as other large cities
There are some pockets of mainly first generation hispanics as far as homogenous neighborhoods that do have some size, but by and large there aren't a bunch of ethnic neighborhoods like you find in other cities
Most neighborhoods are going to be somewhat convenient to shopping, mainly quiet, etc. Schools probably aren't going to be as important for your situation so I'm not sure if I would pay a premium to just rent in an area that zones better.
Check out a whole bunch of areas .... Ahwahtukee sounds like it would be a really nice match, so does Tempe (my friends dad lives in south Tempe and you'd never know there was a university in the city - the neighborhood is very middle class & middle aged)
Your basic needs can be met all over the city in a wide range of areas .... since you are going to rent you have flexibility ..... before coming out I'd look at more job centers and honestly I would apply all over the city - it's harder to get a good job than it is to find a place to rent that fits your needs
Light rail can get you to the hotel from the airport and through parts of tempe, downtown phoenix, central corridor and a little bit more into the city ....
If you are on the light rail there is a good chance you're going to be somewhat close to ASU - not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind if you are trying to evaluate Tempe from that location - the light rail does not serve a good portion of the city of Tempe, let alone the Phoenix metro
Tempe does have a free shuttle route called Orbit - multiple routes tie into light rail/bus areas and residential neighborhoods .... you could potentially use this to explore Tempe a bit City of Tempe, AZ : Orbit
however, the area is massive and I would highly recommend getting a car for the full week .... if you can't swing it then at least get one for 2 days - you can usually find better deals away from the airport
I think that is a surprising thing when people get here .... just how large the geography is ...... you could spend a day each working through areas of gilbert, tempe, mesa, etc and it can wear you out a bit
People are also surprised at the construct of the city - it sounds like you've had at least one prior thread so this may be repeating some information, but by and large the city isn't loud - the city is mainly suburban, residential developments with strip malls and small commercial centers that repeat more miles on end .... downtown is relatively small and not nearly as dense, loud, busy, etc as other large cities
There are some pockets of mainly first generation hispanics as far as homogenous neighborhoods that do have some size, but by and large there aren't a bunch of ethnic neighborhoods like you find in other cities
Most neighborhoods are going to be somewhat convenient to shopping, mainly quiet, etc. Schools probably aren't going to be as important for your situation so I'm not sure if I would pay a premium to just rent in an area that zones better.
Check out a whole bunch of areas .... Ahwahtukee sounds like it would be a really nice match, so does Tempe (my friends dad lives in south Tempe and you'd never know there was a university in the city - the neighborhood is very middle class & middle aged)
Your basic needs can be met all over the city in a wide range of areas .... since you are going to rent you have flexibility ..... before coming out I'd look at more job centers and honestly I would apply all over the city - it's harder to get a good job than it is to find a place to rent that fits your needs
Thank you so much for your help. Money is tight but driving around in an unfamiliar place scares me. I will look into what my options are when I arrive. I understand the location of my job will determine where I ultimately live. My lease is going to end in February and I really do not want to stay here. It can't hurt to start the job search now.
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