We are planning to rent a house in the Phoenix area for a week in December. The amount of offerings and the numbers of locations is staggering. Are there extemelly desirable locations or any we should steer away from? This is a leisure trip and we plan to find a home with heated swimming pool. We will take day trips for shopping and nature walks.

Areas we have noticed so far are: Goodyear, Glendale, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Queen Creek, Scottsdale.

Any recommendations are welcome. Thank you!

I have a friend who goes to Scottsdale every year for approximately three weeks. I have joined her for a few days every year. This year we were in a townhouse style condo at 90th and Shea - very nice area. Less than 15 minutes to Old Town Scottsdale. Two years ago, she was in a beautiful condo near MacDonald and Scottsdale Roads. This one was about five minutes from Old Town Scottsdale. I love Scottsdale - lots of shopping and great restaurants. I'm sure there are many homes to rent in Scottsdale, as well.

Good luck in your search and have fun on your trip.

I live in the area and would rank your choices this way:

1) Scottsdale (little doubt about this, Scottsdale has more class than the others but is more expensive)

2) Ahwatukee is actually in Phoenix, not a separate city, and is a nice bedroom community, but nowhere near as many clubs, restaurants etc as Scottsdale. It's at the far south border of Phoenix, where it abuts the Gila River Indian Rez. There are several casinos on the Rez and one great restaurant (Kai, highest rated in Az), but in general this is a bedroom community, not a resort destination. Lot of heavy traffic getting in and out during rush hour.

3) Glendale is north-west of Phoenix and pretty non-descript except in the past few years the Cardinals football stadium was built there and the hockey team arena is there (though the hockey team may move). I would pass on Glendale unless the price is right.

4) Gilbert is yet another bedroom community, to the east. I would pass on Gilbert.

5) Queen Creek is a more rural area about 40 miles east of Phoenix, easily accessible via US 60 when traffic is light, but this highway is heavily congested during rush hour. The attractions here are low cost and proximity to the Superstition Wilderness area, if you want to hike a lot.

6) Goodyear is west of Phoenix, more built-up than Queen Creek but not much out there except Estrella Park and the racetrack. I don't know much about Goodyear, maybe others would rank it higher, dunno.

I feel Scottsdale is easily the top area on your list, not even close, if you can find something in the right price range.

Thank you for the insight. It looks like Scottsdale is the winner. I really appreciate the inut.

You WILL have a car, right? It is an absolute must in PHX ; anywhere.

Deb

I'm in AZ, too, and agree with Bill. Scottsdale is the only option on your list that I would recommend (and I would recommend North Scottsdale). You might also want to look into Carefree or Cave Creek.

I have a question and am sorry to interrupt but why would you all pass on Gilbert? My son and DIL just made an offer on a home there - is it a bad area? Again - sorry for the hijack!

Dawn, it is a nice bedroom community with stores, restaurants etc. There is a huge retirement community there, my friend lives there. I have been their a couple of times and there isn't anything wrong with it, it is a suburban town like 100's [1000's ] of others across the country.

I think folks were referring to the fact that it is a exactly as I described it and therefore not great for vacation.

Don't worry.
Deb

The biggest problem with Gilbert, I think, is that is smells alot from the cows that are all around the area. But hey, we have that here too!

Deb

thank you so much - I was hoping that was it..just sort of further removed for vacation reasons..not for living

why would you all pass on Gilbert? My son and DIL just made an offer on a home there - is it a bad area?

Gilbert (and Mesa and probably Chandler and half a dozen others) are popular bedroom communities for people who work in Phoenix, and good places to raise a family, but not really vacation destinations. Didn't mean to slight them, but there's no way they compare to Scottsdale as a vacation locale.

Bill - that is just what this worried Mom wanted to hear. Thank you.

Check out Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Gold Canyon..
Love Cave Creek!
Scottsdale is probably your best bet for everything you could want within minutes and a upscale place.
Not a fan of Goodyear.

while you are there, drive to Sedona, its our favorite place to vacation in January.

Thanks everyone, this was all very helpful. We'll look at Scottsdale as a first choice. We spent a week in Tucson a few years back and really enjoyed it. Look forward to discovering the Phoenix area. We''ve been to Sedona but I'm sure we make another day trip, it is so lovely there.

I am quite surprised no locals suggested Phoenix. I visit a friend every year or so whose house is a few blocks from the Phoenix Art Museum. It's a nice residential area, close to many amenities, and has easy access to tourist sites.

I am quite surprised no locals suggested Phoenix.

There were a lot of suitable places not mentioned, including some Phoenix neighborhoods, Tempe (home of Arizona State University), Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, etc. Places more apt than Gilbert or Goodyear or Glendale or Queen Creek.

But in the original Q he already had six choices and seemed to need help winnowing it down to one good area rather than adding even more options.

And when all is said and done Scottsdale is probably the best choice anyway, at least central and north Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is a vacation destination...? Who knew ?