Cheap Flights to Phoenix

What are the best things to do in Phoenix?

Desert Botanical Garden

The American Southwest has a unique desert climate that sets it apart from the rest of the United States. Visitors holidaying on flights to Phoenix can see the highlights of the desert in one place at the Desert Botanical Garden. Several walking paths loop their way through the gardens, showcasing different types of cacti and colourful wildflowers. The Desert Botanical Garden also explores the relationship between Native American groups and the natural landscapes and plants of Arizona.

Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain towers 825 metres (2,706 feet) over the northeastern suburbs of Phoenix. It’s located within Echo Canyon Park and is one of the most popular hiking spots for visitors holidaying on cheap flights to Phoenix. Several hiking trails head to the summit of Camelback Mountain, including the 2.4-kilometre (1.5 mile) Cholla Trail. The hiking trails get steep and fairly challenging near the top of the mountain, but you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a 360° view over Phoenix and the surrounding area.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

Visit the Arizona Museum of Natural History while holidaying on return flights to Phoenix to learn about the American Southwest’s landscapes and history. Exhibits touch on various aspects of the region’s history, including dinosaurs, Native American groups, and the diverse plants and animals of the Southwestern deserts. Many displays are interactive and offer hands-on activities, so the Museum of Natural History is fun for kids as well as adults. Make sure the museum is on your list of things to do if you book summer flights to Phoenix as it’s the perfect place to escape the extreme desert heat for a few hours.

What is the cost of visiting Phoenix?

Webjet will help you save on several aspects of your holiday; your airfare to Phoenix as well as a hotel room and rental car. The average nightly rate for a city centre hotel room falls between $250 and $300 NZD. Budget travellers can also find rooms for as low as $85 NZD to accompany their cheap flights to Phoenix. Hiring a car is the best way to get around Phoenix and explore the national parks and canyons of Arizona. Have a look through the selection of cars available to reserve through Webjet after you book tickets to Phoenix. Hire cars start from about $40 NZD per day and can be picked up from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Public transport is available around the city for visitors who don’t rent a car in between return flights to Phoenix. A light rail makes its way around Phoenix with single tickets costing $2 USD ($3.10 NZD) and 24-hour tickets priced at $4 USD ($6.20 NZD). You can even catch the light rail into the city after arriving on flights to Phoenix. The PHX Sky Train offers a free connection between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and 44th Street Station where you can board the light rail into central Phoenix.

The Grand Canyon tops the to-do list for many tourists visiting Arizona on cheap flights to Phoenix. Guided day tours from Phoenix cost about $165 USD ($255.20 NZD). The Desert Botanical Garden is another popular attraction and costs $24.95 USD ($38.60 NZD). Spend a few hours at the Arizona Museum of Natural History for $12 USD ($18.55 NZD), or explore the Goldfield Ghost Town east of the city for $6 USD ($9.30 NZD).

When is the best time to visit Phoenix?

Phoenix is famous for its dry desert heat and scorching summers. Temperatures regularly hit 40°C or hotter during the summer months. On the bright side, it's a dry heat, not the humidity, that contributes to the rising mercury. Rain showers and desert lightning storms are also fairly common during this season. The summer weather isn’t perfect, but this is the low season in Phoenix. You’ll find excellent hotel rates by booking airfare to Phoenix for a summer visit.

Both autumn and spring are shoulder seasons in Phoenix. Daytime temperatures range from about 25° to 35°C. Consider booking autumn or spring flights to Phoenix if you want to avoid the extreme heat of summer and the crowds of winter.

Winter is the high season and most popular time to travel on return flights to Phoenix. Temperatures average a comfortable 20°C during the day and dip to a chilly 7°C at night. The winter months come alive with various festivals and outdoor markets, and this is the ideal time to hike the canyons around Phoenix. Many hotels increase their rates for the winter high season, so lock in your accommodation early for the best rate if you book tickets to Phoenix for a winter trip.