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Yes, driving is much easier than flying. Highway 93 is mostly four lanes now, with the only two lane sections north of Wickenburg and through Wikieup. Most of the drive between Wikieup and I-40 is four lanes now. The drive was painful when it was only two lanes and you had to go through "Downtown" Wickenburg. The only frustration I deal with is the extremely dangerous passing that goes on between the Joshua Trees and Wickenburg. Too many people passing multiple cars at 90 MPH+ and almost causing head on crashes while careening down the road. Luckily, all of 93 will eventually be four lanes, so that won't be an issue several years down the road.
Yes, driving is much easier than flying. Highway 93 is mostly four lanes now, with the only two lane sections north of Wickenburg and through Wikieup. Most of the drive between Wikieup and I-40 is four lanes now. The drive was painful when it was only two lanes and you had to go through "Downtown" Wickenburg. The only frustration I deal with is the extremely dangerous passing that goes on between the Joshua Trees and Wickenburg. Too many people passing multiple cars at 90 MPH+ and almost causing head on crashes while careening down the road. Luckily, all of 93 will eventually be four lanes, so that won't be an issue several years down the road.
Great improvements for sure over the past many years.
It will be nice one day when it becomes I-11. I read that Phoenix and Las Vegas are the 2 largest metro areas in the country that still aren't connected via an interstate highway.
I guess, on that note one vote for Vegas would be its a bit more central to other Western locales which is a plus if I'm not yet certain where I'd want to actually purchase a house yet.
I'll never do that drive again. You're constantly getting jammed up by slowpokes or passing in the oncoming lane. It's not a fun drive. I'll take the quick zip on SW over that any day. I like to go fast and I don't think I've ever made it in less than 5 hours.
If you plan on just staying on the strip, a cheap SW ticket is not a bad idea either. Fly into Vegas, take quick taxi/shuttle to hotel. Don't have to worry about your car for your entire stay, which I think has some value simply for peace-of-mind (car can't get broken into etc.) (always nice on a vacation/getaway, one less thing to worry/think about while enjoying yourself)
And if you're someone who doesn't mind walking a bit, the strip can be a blast just walking it from end to end imo. Just from the people (or freak) watching as you walk. It's like you don't know what you're gonna see and the walking is a "healthy form of entertainment" when in Vegas. A way to burn some calories from the gluttony of one or more all-you-can-eat buffets stops which many of us must indulge in.
But with gas less than $2 a gallon these days (we all know that won't last forever) there is probably not a better time to make it a road-trip if you choose to do so. I can see both angles for flying or driving.
Last edited by Bruce Jackpot; 02-12-2015 at 04:18 AM..
I'll ask that there too but figure the PHX and Vegas boards will have more input on this than the city boards (as PHX and Vegas are pretty close and people in both are likely to be familiar with both). Anyway... I have never lived in either but I am wondering if people think its a big difference to live in PHX vs. Vegas. Vegas seems a lot cheaper (well, not a lot, just less income tax and a little cheaper housing maybe or at least similar price but no state income tax).
It seems like PHX though is much more popular as a residential destination and I'm trying to put my finger on why...is it that Vegas is a real casino town, not family friendly as PHX? Is the weather actually very different?
I am considering both as places to have a home base while I look for my first home to buy (I don't know where yet but would like to get away from the CA rents at least temporarily in order to save a little and build my debt ratio back lol) I'm not sure if there is a big benefit to choosing PHX over Vegas for me, though I'm not opposed to either one long term, I just wonder if I could handle the heat and dryness long term in either place. I do like the idea of a swimming pool...
After reading this thread, it looks like I should leave Vegas and move to Phoenix. OP, this thread is heavily biased towards Phoenix since you are asking Phoenix residents. I would start this thread in the Vegas section to get the other side of the story. I personally cannot comment as I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and moved to Las Vegas six years ago. I have never been to Phoenix although maybe I should visit just to fulfill my curiosity.
Vegas was on our short list when we decided to find our second home. I needed to escape the cold winter (among other things, lol), so a warm location was a must.
We briefly considered St. George Utah as well, and we have friends who have settled in Mesquite. Not warm enough in the winter for me.
Both Vegas and Phoenix are quick, relatively cheap plane tickets from MT and that's not nothing. It was a big deal. From both airports you can get about anywhere, and that was important to us. I don't really gamble much. I love all the entertainment in Vegas, the FOOD, and I do think the surroundings are nice. The riffraff not as much, but I would guess it would be less an issue in the suburbs.
We chose Phoenix because of the beautiful scenery (we find it much more appealing than Vegas), professional sports, concerts, zoos, cultural activities, etc. It's a fairly close drive (to us) to California should the desire strike us to hit the beach--or Rocky Point in Mexico, but we have yet to make that trip.
A big factor in choosing Phoenix is that it's warmer in winter--quite a bit warmer than Vegas. I just don't think you can beat Phoenix in the winter--though we are told Florida is superior, lol.
It's a bigger city and as such is generally going to have more to offer on all fronts, with no downsides compared to Vegas that I can see. Yes, obviously that's biased as we considered Vegas and chose Phoenix. Of course, we are looking ahead to retirement as well--for you, being young and on the move I really don't think you'd go wrong either place.
You'll be able to find a very nice apartment or even house for you and your cat in either place. But if you really love California, I don't know if either city will feel like an acceptable substitute for you--it sounds like you've been willing to put up with a lot to stay in California, so I'm assuming you are really drawn to it.
But it used to be so much worse. I haven't driven that route in a very long time, and I haven't missed it, though I know it's better now than it was.
Last time I drove it, I saw very few cars, had a nice time to think and jam to some music, and saw some roadrunners! EASY. I was there before I knew it. The longest/most annoying part was driving through Boulder City, really. (plus you can take FULL SIZE toiletries in your car! BONUS!)
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After reading this thread, it looks like I should leave Vegas and move to Phoenix. OP, this thread is heavily biased towards Phoenix since you are asking Phoenix residents. I would start this thread in the Vegas section to get the other side of the story. I personally cannot comment as I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and moved to Las Vegas six years ago. I have never been to Phoenix although maybe I should visit just to fulfill my curiosity.
I think you're on the right track but I'd go much further and suggest to the OP to check out both cities in person and if possible rent in both for a spell, or at least take a small vacation(s) in each and see what their feelings are about both places. The weather, house prices, taxes, jobs, and what's generally available in each cities is easy to research before getting there, plus getting information from city-data/the thread's, but a solid visit(s) in both places by the OP is the only way to really know what metro might work for them.
I think you're on the right track but I'd go much further and suggest to the OP to check out both cities in person and if possible rent in both for a spell, or at least take a small vacation(s) in each and see what their feelings are about both places. The weather, house prices, taxes, jobs, and what's generally available in each cities is easy to research before getting there, plus getting information from city-data/the thread's, but a solid visit(s) in both places by the OP is the only way to really know what metro might work for them.
good advice. I've spent quite a bit of time in Vegas already, but Phoenix is more new to me (and I'm in Phoenix as I write this) which is probably whey I targeted the PHX threads first, I'm somewhat exhausted and hadn't gotten around to the Nevada posting yet though I have read some and looked at apartments online. Some more really good input here thank you. I've been working all day and have not gotten out much yet, I did get out before sunset last night to finally see some of the area, I think I saw Sun City neighborhoods mostly before it got dark but the scenery was much nicer than I had anticipated and I'm looking forward to seeing more this week. I am interested in Fountain Valley as from what I've read it sounds like it might be a little cooler in the summer time and I enjoy the feeling of open space while being close to a city (for reference my favorite part of San Diego for living was Carlsbad)
Though I understand its a more expensive area I am not yet limiting my choices! I will post in the Vegas thread to get more input. I just have a hard time shaking that feeling off, that whenever I take a vacation in Vegas I'm always ready to leave at the end of it even though I really enjoy it there.
I am definitley drawn to CA but I think that's why I'm considering putting up at least a temporary base somewhere else while I rebuild my finances and I can decide from there where to setup permanently and if CA is realistic for me (it could be, but it would take time for me to figure it out financially if I Want to be an owner and I'm tired of dealing with the taxes and landlords, the extra expense. I'm still young but not young enough to be ignoring my retirement savings and investments and being in CA has been threatening that) this is actually more true now as something I didn't articulate...
now that I work from home my indoor enviornment is also very important. It was fine to live in a studio at the beach if I was working outside my house as I didn't need a separate work space and I Was out of the house more often. Now, its more important to me to have a relaxing home enviornment (even if temporary) there are things I can't tolerate now that used to be not such a big deal (noise is one of them -- and that is a problem in CA considering density its almost impossible to get away from close neighbors unless you are very rich) at least the desirable parts of CA -- in my mind I'm like sure I could save money by moving to the Inland Empire by why not just continue then to AZ or NV for the tax break too?
I think there is potential for me to be an owner in CA if that is what I Decide I really want (or an owner in another state with investments that allow me to spend more time in CA lol)
I do very much enjoy the SW and the scenery and would love to spend more time exploring it. Its just hard for me to know if its a place I would enjoy long term, especially as a single person.
I can probably handle anything for a year especially if it saves me fistfulls of dollars. AFter that year I'd have a better idea of where I want to be (I think) I was looking at apts in Vegas last night and was drawn to some of the luxury condos at casinos and high rises...but they were similiar in price (though a little less) to what I paid in CA (though a big tax break would make a big difference) still it seems to defeat the purpose of my move... I am afraid I'd be drawn to the "nicer" of the "nice" housing in Vegas to make it feel like a more positive experience away from the riff raff and elements lol.
all completley theory. except for as mentioned I have been there and spent time there and will again in the near future this time more with an eye on being a resident. Unless for some reason I decide to commit to a good deal while I'm here in PHX.
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