Very short Phoenix visit--questions (Glendale, Tempe: rental car, rental, hotels)

[BSJSAS]

We will be in Phoenix for a tour of ASU in August. We fly in on Sunday evening, and leave out on Tuesday morning. The tour is on Monday morning.

I'm debating whether to rent a car and, if I do, what routes to take. Then, what to do or see in a short visit.

The hotel is the Hyatt Place North on N. 25th Ave. It has a local area shuttle (but not airport transportation) that runs until 8pm.

I'm thinking that by the time we get out of the airport, it will be probably 7pm. If I rent a car, I usually like to take non-highway routes when I can. (I actually do that where I live now, too.) Google shows N. 7th Ave as an avoid highways route. Is that going to be ok, as in safe and not terribly aggravating? We won't be in a hurry and it would be nice to stop at a grocery store and eat dinner on the way to the hotel. Since it's Sunday, I'm guessing we shouldn't expect terrible traffic.

How about that route going back to the airport on Tuesday? The flight is late morning, so we probably need to be at the airport around 8:30.

Rental car prices aren't bad, something like $115 for the stay. It looks as if public transportation takes about 3x longer than driving because of all the stops. I haven't priced Uber, but am thinking that Tuesday am. is commuter time, and might be surge pricing.

Finally, what suggestions do you have for something entertaining (and probably indoors) for Monday afternoon? Something unique to the area but not too far away.

Thank you for any suggestions!

[exit2lef]

7th Avenue is a busy, wide arterial street with center lanes that reverse direction from morning to evening. It can feel a lot like a highway. 15th Avenue would be a more calm alternative.

If you prefer public transport, you could take light rail from the airport to the station at 19th Ave / Dunlap. From there, you could use either the hotel shuttle or a taxi to travel the last mile or two to the hotel.

One question, though: If your reason for the trip is to tour ASU, why not stay closer to campus?

[BSJSAS]

Thank you, exit. I'll take a look at that route. It sounds more like something I'd like.

I wouldn't mind using public transportation, but since the hotel shuttle stops at 8pm, I wasn't sure about getting up there in time to use it the first night since we don't land until after 6pm.

We're touring the West campus, and the Hyatt was one of the two hotels the school recommended as closest to there.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by BSJSAS

We're touring the West campus, and the Hyatt was one of the two hotels the school recommended as closest to there.

Okay. That makes sense. I was assuming (incorrectly) that you meant the Tempe campus. There aren't any hotels within walking distance of ASU West, so the Hyatt Place may very well be one of the closest options.

In terms of something to do indoors on Monday afternoon, I can't think of anything near ASU West other than movie theaters, malls, and bowling alleys. That campus is in a suburban part of Phoenix on the Glendale border and not near a lot of major cultural attractions. If you want something unique to Phoenix, I'd suggest either the Heard Museum or the Musical Instrument Museum. Both are open Mondays, but they're also more than 10 miles from your hotel, so the rental car is probably a good idea.

[BSJSAS]

I should have mentioned which campus. Sorry about that.

Thank you for your suggestions!

[new2colo]

Renting a car would be preferable. Public transportation outside of a few corridors is unreliable and doesn’t often showcase the best of humanity. The Hyatt Place where you’re staying is off of a frontage road of a freeway, so there is no direct access to the bus line unless you’re willing to walk 5-10 minutes to Peoria Avenue to catch the bus. It will be August too, which I think makes the idea of taking public transit even less desirable.

I would take freeways as the surface streets will create a much longer trip with all the traffic lights. The surface streets here act as freeways, with people driving well above the speed limit and engaging in all sorts of stupidity.

[Jkgourmet]

In the heat of July????? Yeah, rent a car.

[BSJSAS]

Originally Posted by new2colo

I would take freeways as the surface streets will create a much longer trip with all the traffic lights. The surface streets here act as freeways, with people driving well above the speed limit and engaging in all sorts of stupidity.

Yikes! Now I'm not sure I even want to drive. Usually, I can depend on the local routes to be a little calmer than highways. I don't mind a longer drive, if it's less crazy than a freeway. I try to avoid highways in unfamiliar places because I don't know the ins and outs (for example: which lane to get into and when, where the exits are wonky, where the "splits" are. Things like that.) You can't always depend on navigation, either. She has let me astray more than once, and I have lost connections before. That is not fun.

How is Uber there?

[WSPHXPELON]

Originally Posted by BSJSAS

How is Uber there?

Uber works fine in the valley.

I would say this: The Phoenix Metro is a very car-centric area. If you are planning on having a car once moving here, then rent a car. If you are planning on relying solely on Uber/Public Transit, then do that. Either way, you will soon realize that having access to a vehicle is much more of a necessity here than in many other cities.

[BSJSAS]

Originally Posted by WSPHXPELON

Uber works fine in the valley.

I would say this: The Phoenix Metro is a very car-centric area. If you are planning on having a car once moving here, then rent a car. If you are planning on relying solely on Uber/Public Transit, then do that. Either way, you will soon realize that having access to a vehicle is much more of a necessity here than in many other cities.

I'll only be there for 1 1/2 days.

Leaning towards Uber right now as long as it's readily available.

Thanks, everyone, for your input!