We fly into Phoenix as well...an easy 2 hrs to Sedona.

Caution with the rental cars. If they haven't added on taxes and all fees for your Phoenix car rental rate quote, you need to about double the figure they give you!! It is the most gawd-awful for rental car expense we've ever experienced. That, if nothing else, might get me to look at Flagstaff. Our DD lived in Chandler so we began using off airport sites for car rentals. It's certainly not as convenient but worth the savings for us.

Agreed - I was appalled at the car rental fees in Phoenix. Half of what they are in Flagstaff. I looked at off-site rentals in Phoenix, but it's $20 min. each way, so with the extra $40 it wasn't worth it.

I'm still looking at Prescott as a viable alternative. We are staying in the southern end of Sedona and Prescott is closer than Phoenix by at least half an hour.