Consolidated "Layover in PHX - What to do, questions, suggestions" thread
#61
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DTW
Programs: Delta SM, ICH PLAT
Posts: 1,188
$35 is a little higher than what I want to spend. I was hoping for some advice on a local YMCA, public pool, or state camp ground, or a truck stop. Looking to pay between $0 and $10.
#62
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,588
I have an upcoming flight (returning home from vacation in AZ) leaving PHX airport at 11pm. The flight is on Delta (terminal 3)
I would really like to hike camel back mountain during the day. With the exercise in the AZ heat, I'm sure to get sweaty and grimy. So, I'm looking for a shower before my redeye flight home...
I did some research and found that PHX has showers in Terminal 4. There is also a sentence in the official PHX website that say "all their family bathrooms have showers, but are for emergencies only, not for normal use". I don't know what that mean. If I bring my own towel and tolietries, do I have access to a shower in Terminal 3? How difficult/troublesome would it be to go to T4, take a shower, then go back to T3?
Can someone point me to a place where I can pay a small amount of $$ for a shower? (i.e. any truck stops near Camel Back or PHX?)
I would really like to hike camel back mountain during the day. With the exercise in the AZ heat, I'm sure to get sweaty and grimy. So, I'm looking for a shower before my redeye flight home...
I did some research and found that PHX has showers in Terminal 4. There is also a sentence in the official PHX website that say "all their family bathrooms have showers, but are for emergencies only, not for normal use". I don't know what that mean. If I bring my own towel and tolietries, do I have access to a shower in Terminal 3? How difficult/troublesome would it be to go to T4, take a shower, then go back to T3?
Can someone point me to a place where I can pay a small amount of $$ for a shower? (i.e. any truck stops near Camel Back or PHX?)
Terminals 4 and 3 are now connected by the SkyTrain so moving between the two is a lot easier.
You might be able to find a room at one of the lovely motels on Van Buren for a couple of hours for $10.
#63
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
#64
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
https://www.24hourfitness.com/member...LUBPASS#step/1
There's a gym at 32nd St/Camelback. I've been to it. Nothing over the top fancy, but it is decent.
Otherwise, I think their day pass fee is $10.
Alternatively, you could go to Eldorado pool in Scottsdale:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/eldopool
I think it is only $3-4...so long as it is open when you're looking (they have hours posted to that website).
#65
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DTW
Programs: Delta SM, ICH PLAT
Posts: 1,188
Thanks Aztimm. That was the advice I was looking for. (The hourly hotel suggested earlier sounds interesting as well...) :-)
Anyway, I'm back. Here is what I did:
Morning, left Flagstaff, explored Sedona. Hiked to Devil's Bridge, which was nice... then drove to Phoenix, had BBQ at Little Miss BBQ (had the beef ribs, not terribly impressive, not comparable to what I had in Lockhart, TX, but decent compared to what I can get in MI.) Killed a little time at the outlet mall, then started the Echo Canyon Trail (google map conveniently told me where the trail head and parking is). The hike is 1.2 miles, well marked, but consist mostly of very rocky terrain, raising up ~1300ft during that distance.) I started at 5:20pm. The sun was out, but not terrible. The temperature was ~80. It was actually quite comfortable. Regardless, it was a very tough exercise. There were also lizards and chipmunks running around, and I actually encountered a rattle snake (slittered in front of me about 10ft away). There were lots of people going up and down, so I was never alone on this Good Friday evening. It took me just over 1 hour to get to the top. Along with rest and photo taking of the sunset, I got back to my car ~7:30pm, just as it got dark.
Thanks for another poster that warned me about the (potential) 90F heat. I lucked out and had very comfortable weather, but I think that regardless of the temperature, anyone who did that hike (half of it scrambling/climbing!) would be all sweaty by the end!
I ended up going to Love's Truck Shop (Chandler, AZ) near the outlet mall for a private shower ($11). It was clean and water hot. The airport rental car return was under 20 minutes away on Interstate I10.
Oh, I also want to update that there definitely isn't a "family washroom" in Terminal 3 (air or land side) where someone can take a shower. Since T3 and T4 wasn't connected air-side, I did not check there. I did read that there is a shower in the family washroom across from gate A17 at T4 though...
Anyway, I'm back. Here is what I did:
Morning, left Flagstaff, explored Sedona. Hiked to Devil's Bridge, which was nice... then drove to Phoenix, had BBQ at Little Miss BBQ (had the beef ribs, not terribly impressive, not comparable to what I had in Lockhart, TX, but decent compared to what I can get in MI.) Killed a little time at the outlet mall, then started the Echo Canyon Trail (google map conveniently told me where the trail head and parking is). The hike is 1.2 miles, well marked, but consist mostly of very rocky terrain, raising up ~1300ft during that distance.) I started at 5:20pm. The sun was out, but not terrible. The temperature was ~80. It was actually quite comfortable. Regardless, it was a very tough exercise. There were also lizards and chipmunks running around, and I actually encountered a rattle snake (slittered in front of me about 10ft away). There were lots of people going up and down, so I was never alone on this Good Friday evening. It took me just over 1 hour to get to the top. Along with rest and photo taking of the sunset, I got back to my car ~7:30pm, just as it got dark.
Thanks for another poster that warned me about the (potential) 90F heat. I lucked out and had very comfortable weather, but I think that regardless of the temperature, anyone who did that hike (half of it scrambling/climbing!) would be all sweaty by the end!
I ended up going to Love's Truck Shop (Chandler, AZ) near the outlet mall for a private shower ($11). It was clean and water hot. The airport rental car return was under 20 minutes away on Interstate I10.
Oh, I also want to update that there definitely isn't a "family washroom" in Terminal 3 (air or land side) where someone can take a shower. Since T3 and T4 wasn't connected air-side, I did not check there. I did read that there is a shower in the family washroom across from gate A17 at T4 though...
Last edited by cblaisd; Apr 9, 2015 at 8:57 pm Reason: merged poster's two consecutive posts
#66
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 31
Is there any good location to store bags for a couple of hours at PHX or in the immediate area? Say I'll be flying in quickly to catch a show at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, but leaving pretty much right after the show. What options are available?
#67
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Peon Gold
Posts: 2,915
Leave them at the bag check for Talking Stick's hotel?
#68
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#69
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,588
Leave them at the airport? Assuming you're flying right back out, just find a locker or recheck them on your next flight.
#70
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Posts: 36,017
Consolidated "Layover in PHX - What to do, questions, suggestions" thread
No lockers at PHX
http://comments.skyharbor.com/hc/en-us/articles/203692485-How-can-I-store-baggage-at-PHX-
http://comments.skyharbor.com/hc/en-us/articles/203692485-How-can-I-store-baggage-at-PHX-
#71
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
Killing 9 hours in PHX
On a Saturday later this month, I need to kill 9 hours (from around noon until about 9 PM) between flights at PHX airport. Can anyone suggest some ways to kill the time doing something interesting, without having to rent a car? If all else fails, do any of the airport hotels (with a shuttle) offer a good brunch?
#72
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
SkyTrain will take you to public transport. But, I'm not sure what it is that you want to do.
You can often find very good deals when you call a property directly and ask for a day rate which spans a specific period of time. I presume that if you have 9 hours at PHX, that is really 7-1/2 of downtime. If you were to ask what the property could do with a 1:00 PM arrival and a 7:30 PM departure, you might find a good rate. Check for pool, gym, and the like, and you may well find a relaxing time in the $50-60 range.
You can often find very good deals when you call a property directly and ask for a day rate which spans a specific period of time. I presume that if you have 9 hours at PHX, that is really 7-1/2 of downtime. If you were to ask what the property could do with a 1:00 PM arrival and a 7:30 PM departure, you might find a good rate. Check for pool, gym, and the like, and you may well find a relaxing time in the $50-60 range.
#73
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/old-town/
#74
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,886
Some of the things you can do in an afternoon in Scottsdale/Arcadia/Paradise Valley/Tempe/Phoenix:
- Phoenix Zoo, Hole-in-the-Rock (outdoor)
- The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix (outdoor, right next to the Phoenix Zoo)
- Ollie the Trolley in Old Town (indoor/outdoor)
- Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale (indoor, next to Old Town)
- Old Town Scottsdale Art Galleries and Art Walk (outdoor/indoor)
- Octane Raceway go-karts at Scottsdale Pavilions (indoor)
- Butterfly Wonderland just outside Scottsdale in the Salt River Indian Community (indoor)
- Spa treatments at every good hotel in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale (indoor/outdoor)
- Phoenix Art Museum right downtown on Central Avenue (indoor)
- Heard Museum (indoor)
- The Children's Museum of Phoenix downtown Phoenix (indoor)
- Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa (indoor/outdoor)
- Organ Stop Pizza, world's largest Wurlitzer (indoor)
- Musical Instrument Museum (indoor)
- See a film at Harkins (indoor)
- Sight-seeing flight from SDL to Grand Canyon or Canyon de Chelly (indoor)
- Lose your shirt at the Talking Stick Casinos on the Salt River Maricopa Indian Community (indoor)
- Spring Training games in Spring, obviously (outdoor)
- Bike ride down the Camelback Greenway (outdoor)
- Golf (outdoor, everywhere)
- Hike Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley (outdoor, sweaty)
- Horseback ride (outdoor in Central and North Scottsdale, at South Mountain, in Mesa)
- Indoor skydiving (indoor)
- Phoenix Zoo, Hole-in-the-Rock (outdoor)
- The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix (outdoor, right next to the Phoenix Zoo)
- Ollie the Trolley in Old Town (indoor/outdoor)
- Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale (indoor, next to Old Town)
- Old Town Scottsdale Art Galleries and Art Walk (outdoor/indoor)
- Octane Raceway go-karts at Scottsdale Pavilions (indoor)
- Butterfly Wonderland just outside Scottsdale in the Salt River Indian Community (indoor)
- Spa treatments at every good hotel in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale (indoor/outdoor)
- Phoenix Art Museum right downtown on Central Avenue (indoor)
- Heard Museum (indoor)
- The Children's Museum of Phoenix downtown Phoenix (indoor)
- Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa (indoor/outdoor)
- Organ Stop Pizza, world's largest Wurlitzer (indoor)
- Musical Instrument Museum (indoor)
- See a film at Harkins (indoor)
- Sight-seeing flight from SDL to Grand Canyon or Canyon de Chelly (indoor)
- Lose your shirt at the Talking Stick Casinos on the Salt River Maricopa Indian Community (indoor)
- Spring Training games in Spring, obviously (outdoor)
- Bike ride down the Camelback Greenway (outdoor)
- Golf (outdoor, everywhere)
- Hike Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley (outdoor, sweaty)
- Horseback ride (outdoor in Central and North Scottsdale, at South Mountain, in Mesa)
- Indoor skydiving (indoor)
Last edited by Wilbur; May 29, 2019 at 3:48 pm Reason: added location