Need help picking a Phoenix tour (Scottsdale: rental car, rental, how much)

[Pizzaburger]

I’m visiting Phoenix (and the surrounding areas) soon because I am giving serious thought about relocating. The trip is already booked for the end of April. I will only have Saturday to go on the tours! Flying in Friday night and flying out Sunday morning (I wish it could be longer but I’m on a tight schedule). I have done some light research and found 2 tours that interest me:

1. Phoenix/Scottsdale highlights tour:
Embark on an exciting half-day excursion into the beautiful Valley of the Sun, nestled in the colorful Sonora Desert, and see all the major sights throughout the Phoenix area. This trip takes you on a journey through the past, present, and future of the 5th-largest city in the United States.
Start in downtown Phoenix and see city landmarks like the Talking Stick Resort Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns, and Chase Field, where the Arizona Diamondbacks play. Visit the Arizona State Capitol before driving through Scottsdale's Old Town and Fifth Avenue areas, with their multitude of galleries and shops.
Spend some time at the renowned Heard Museum of Native American Culture and immerse yourself in the history of the Southwest's Native American tribes. Visit its gift shop and browse a variety of authentic, hand-crafted works of art.
Enjoy a drive through the striking scenery of the Sonora Desert, whose combination of terrain, climate, and plantlife is unlike any in the world. Despite its hot temperatures, plants thrive throughout the landscape—famous saguaro and prickly pear cacti, desert sunflowers, and evening primroses are just a few of the types of flora you may encounter. End your tour with hassle-free transportation back to your hotel.

2.
We’ll visit five (5) or more locally-owned food stops, each providing a healthy portion of food and three (3) featuring a cocktail pairing.
In between stops, we’ll walk (about 1.5 miles total) around Downtown Phoenix or Old Town Scottsdale and your tour guide will point out all sorts of cool facts along the way.

What do you recommend?

[WSPHXPELON]

It's not New York City. You don't really need a tour. You can just drive to all those listed places yourself. This is NOT a very difficult city to navigate thru.

But I guess if you really want to do a tour, just pick one and go. Go with which ever one has the highest Yelp rating.

[exit2lef]

The first tour might involve a little walking downtown but would be accomplished mostly by chartered bus, I think. It's clearly designed for tourists who want a quick overview of some of the region's highlights.

The second is a walking tour designed for foodies, many of them locals who may not be familiar with the specific area covered. I've seen these in action. The guides give some good insights into the specific zones they cover, but the tour is deliberately limited in scope to one particular walkable urban district, either downtown Phoenix or Old Town Scottsdale.

Personally, I'd prefer the second because I like to try new food and I'd rather walk than sit in a bus (at least this time of year). Still, I don't think either would be particularly helpful in sizing up a place for possible relocation. Whatever time you don't spend on an organized tour should be spent exploring things of interest to you on your own terms.

[phx1205]

How much are they charging for these tours? I wouldn’t recommend either, do some research on things interesting to you and go to the places you specifically want to see.

[Pizzaburger]

Well, I could explore on my own but I don’t know where to start. I guess I would consider myself a foodie so that’s what drew me to the 2nd one. If I moved out there I would spend most of my free time hiking. I didn’t want to do that in the trip because I want to see more of the city side of things aka where I’ll be living, shopping, eating, etc. I don’t want to end up a lost clueless tourist in an unfriendly neighborhood.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Pizzaburger

Well, I could explore on my own but I don’t know where to start. I guess I would consider myself a foodie so that’s what drew me to the 2nd one. If I moved out there I would spend most of my free time hiking. I didn’t want to do that in the trip because I want to see more of the city side of things aka where I’ll be living, shopping, eating, etc. I don’t want to end up a lost clueless tourist in an unfriendly neighborhood.

You’ll be in your car anyway. I wouldn’t worry about that frankly. This isn’t Cleveland

[HollyhockGarden]

Hi Pizzaburger --

Are you coming on your Phoenix visit alone? Just wondering, because booking a tour for two people is double the cost and may not be worth it. Are you planning to rent a car while here? Phoenix is fairly easy to get around and the roads are good and well-marked. I would probably just explore by myself.

Phoenix is a huge, sprawling city. But if you do relocate here, that does not mean you have to live out at the edge of the city. There are plenty of nice, centrally-located neighborhoods you can choose. The advantage of living in the center, more or less, is that if your first job does not work out, and you find a new job located in a different area, the commute will not be as extreme as driving from one end of the metro area to the other. And if you are renting, you always have the option of moving closer to your job at the end of your lease.

You still have plenty of time to read up on attraction and communities in the area. I would decide in advance what you would like to see, and plan your weekend accordingly. Yes, the time will go fast, but you will see what you want to see. One thing I would advise is to keep yourself well-hydrated. It is going to likely be hot and dry at the time you visit in late April. Every year we see hikers on the news who decide to go on a hike, not used to the climate, and they sometimes have problems on the trail and need to be rescued by the Fire Dept. Take plenty of water with you.

Phoenix has all the amenities you need to live, in all areas of the city. If you plan to have a job lined up when you move, then look for a rental just a short commute away. if you plan to look for a job and stay in an extended-stay motel while you secure employment, then plan accordingly.

I hope your trip turns out well and you enjoy yourself. Good luck!

[take57]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

You’ll be in your car anyway. I wouldn’t worry about that frankly. This isn’t Cleveland

Something I'm thankful for everyday.

[ElleTea]

Phoenix has tours?

I'd do as others have said, explore on my own. Rent a car and visit the places listed in the first tour if you aren't sure where to start. I'd rather be out checking things out on my own than spending half a day in chartered bus on someone else's schedule.

[Pizzaburger]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I decided to book a rental car. I’m surprised most people are against the tours though. Is it a really boring city?
I like trying restaurants. Favorite type of food is BBQ. I also like hiking, swimming, science centers, and bargain shopping. Any recommendations for me to see?