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That is a common experience for first-time Arizona vacationers. To help make your Arizona travel planning easier, we’ve put together a selection of suggestions and advice gathered from our years of traveling in Arizona. Whether you’re a new vacationer to the state or a long-time resident, we hope our Arizona travel information will help you avoid potential difficulties, plan well and have a safe and fun trip. Will you be driving in Arizona? Then you need to know about flash flood safety, the Arizona highway speed limit and the Stupid Motorist Law. Check out our Arizona driving page for tips on these subjects and more. Heat isn’t your only consideration when it comes to weather in Arizona. Find out more about monsoons, lightning safety and regional conditions on our Arizona weather page. Seasonal Arizona Travel Deals and PricesOne of your biggest Arizona travel decisions will be where to stay.
If money is no object, you can stay anywhere from luxurious five star resorts to rustic mountain cabins. Arizona has them all. However, if you’re watching your budget, you’ll want to get the best Arizona travel deal for your money. When is the best time to get an Arizona travel deal? That depends upon what part of the state you want to visit. If you’re planning a Scottsdale Arizona vacation during the months of February or March, be prepared to pay top dollar for a hotel or resort room. When is the cheapest time to go? Read more on our Arizona travel deals page. What to PackArizona is a laid back kind of state. During your Arizona travel and vacation, you can dress casually most of the time.For everyday dress, what you pack will depend upon where you’ll be staying and the time of the year. Even in the desert during the summer you may need a sweater…to learn more and see packing checklists visit our Arizona vacation packing tips page. Sun ProtectionAll of the state’s bright, clear days make Arizona perfect for outdoor fun in the sun.
However, Arizona’s desert sun is powerful. It seems like you can get sunburned just by walking across a parking lot! Unfortunately too much sun exposure has damaging consequences beyond just sunburn. The cumulative effect of exposure results in skin damage and skin cancer. No matter what the season, you need to protect yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. To learn the latest sun protection advice, check out our sun protection tips for you and your family. If you're looking for a good source for sun protection clothing, hats and other products check out the Sun Protection Center. They have full lines of clothing for men, women and kids as well as swimwear, sunglasses and even tents. Plus a portion of their sales goes to the Melanoma Research Foundation. WaterYou can go without a lot of things in life but water isn’t one of them. This is especially true in the desert.
Our bodies are made up mostly of water. We typically lose two quarts daily - adults and kids alike - just in the course of our routine activities. This loss, known as dehydration, accelerates rapidly when we’re in the arid, desert climate, especially during the hot summer months. Whatever you do during your Arizona travel, make sure that you carry water with you, whether you’re hiking in Grand Canyon National Park or just driving Interstate 10 from Tucson to Phoenix. Water is scarce in the desert, so if you were to become lost or stranded, your chances of finding water are slim unless you’re lucky enough to be near a convenience store. For more tips, see Dehydration Prevention: How Much Water Do You Need To Drink? Arizona Time ZoneArizona is in the Mountain Standard Time Zone which means that the state is one hour ahead of the West Coast.One of the things we love about Arizona is that it does not observe Daylight Savings Time - only one of two states in the U.S. to do so. The one exception to the Arizona time zone rule is the Navajo Nation. Navajo tribal lands encompass most of northeastern Arizona, part of northwestern New Mexico and a portion of southeastern Utah. In order to maintain consistency throughout their nation, the Navajos have chosen to observe Daylight Saving Time. Therefore, they will be one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona during Daylight Saving Time from March through November. Arizona Wild FiresNew visitors and residents to Arizona are often surprised to learn that a large portion of Arizona is forest lands.
In fact, much of northern and eastern Arizona is forested. And, where there are forests, there are forest fires. Wildland fires occur in desert areas too. The introduction of non-native plants and grasses has made large wild fires in these formerly low fire areas more common. Many of Arizona’s largest wildland fires have been started by lightening strikes during the summer monsoon thunderstorm season. When you travel in Arizona, be prepared for fire closures and restrictions. Arizona has six national forests. They are the:
During Arizona’s fire season, these public lands often put a variety of fire and smoking restrictions in place. Restrictions may be in effect statewide and can include lands managed by:
For detailed information regarding current closures and restrictions on specific lands, call the Southwest Coordination Center toll free at 1-877-864-6985 or visit their website: Southwest Fire Coordination Center Arizona Smoke-Free LawsIn November 2006, Arizonans adopted Proposition 201 – the “Smoke-Free Arizona” initiative, thereby joining 18 other states that have passed smoking restriction laws.As of May 1, 2007, smoking is no longer allowed inside the majority of Arizona indoor public places including resorts and hotels, restaurants and bars. Smoking is still allowed on outdoor patios, in casinos and tobacco shops and in some hotel rooms as well as in the privacy of one’s home. TippingHave you ever been uncertain about what you’re supposed to tip a waiter? Or a bellhop? We certainly have been.During your Arizona travel, it’s almost inevitable that you will go some place where you will need to tip. As with the rest of the United States, tipping in Arizona is generally voluntary but customary. However, some restaurants automatically add a 15% - 18% gratuity for large groups. Here are some general tipping guidelines:
Some Arizona resorts, such as The Boulders Resort, dispense with tipping and add a daily service charge to their room rate in lieu of cash gratuities for their guest service staff (this excludes food and beverage servers and spa staff). Always check with the resort regarding automatic service charges before booking your room. Sources: Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information Group; Arizona Office of Tourism; smokefreearizona.org; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Arizona Sun Awareness Project Return from Arizona Travel Tips page to Arizona-Vacation-Planner home page Legal Disclaimer: Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. This page is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. This information is not meant to cover every possible scenario or outcome. Before you travel, do your homework. YOU are solely responsible for your personal safety. Road conditions, weather and your personal knowledge and abilities all vary considerably. We cannot assume responsibility for you or anyone else’s safety that reads and uses this information. Safety really comes down to common sense and being aware of your abilities and limitations. Always inquire locally before traveling. Always be conservative when planning your trips and routes.
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