A Couple Phoenix, AZ Questions...

[FLAME ENVY]

We are heading to Fountain Hills, AZ at the end of March for vacation. We have been before and previously had a car to use but will need to rent one this time. I seldom rent vehicles so hoping someone can recommend where I might get the best value doing so online ? We would pick up at the airport.

Also, the Flames are in town to play the Coyotes on March 28th. I have checked the Coyotes website along with stub hub and there are still some tickets available. Are those the best sources for tickets ? Never been to Glendale, is the drive from Fountain Hills fairly straight forward ?

[Northendzone]

We went to San Diego a couple of years ago and I used Hotwire to rent a vehicle. It was cheap.

Was it the best value - not sure, but it was a price I was willing to pay

[squiggs96]

Be prepared to go without Harvey's, A&W, and Edo Japan. It's basically hell down there food wise.

[Trojan97]

Always warms my heart to see a Canadian make the pilgrimage down to Arizona after saving up for much of their adult life. Have a great time!

[Slava]

If you want to risk it, you could buy tickets at the arena from a scalper outside. I've done this a number of times. At the arena they have a designated zone where they're allowed to re-sell tickets and the prices seemed really good. We bought tickets to a playoff game (2nd round against Nashville) a few years ago and still paid face or below. I would imagine that prior to puck drop for the Flames and what is likely two non-playoff teams playing out the string you will find a few of those guys with a mitt full of tickets and get a good deal.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by FLAME ENVY

We are heading to Fountain Hills, AZ at the end of March for vacation. We have been before and previously had a car to use but will need to rent one this time. I seldom rent vehicles so hoping someone can recommend where I might get the best value doing so online ? We would pick up at the airport.

Also, the Flames are in town to play the Coyotes on March 28th. I have checked the Coyotes website along with stub hub and there are still some tickets available. Are those the best sources for tickets ? Never been to Glendale, is the drive from Fountain Hills fairly straight forward ?

Try to book through Costco Travel. Usually its one of the cheaper ways to book and they offer deals with a wide variety of rental companies. You can also look at a site like Priceline. See what prices it shows you and compare to Costco. Then you can also try to bid on Priceline with some lowball rates. You can keep trying every so often. Usually Ill book a reservation with Costco upfront and then try even up to the last minute with lowball bids on Costco. Sometimes you get lucky and get a real cheap deal and can cancel the first reservation.

[Lanny_McDonald]

If you are looking for the best deal on a car rent a car off property through Enterprise. You'll get the best deal through a vendor off airport property. You pay a huge premium by picking the car up at the airport. If you can arrange shuttle service to where you are staying, Enterprise will sometimes deliver your rental to your door. Here is the Enterprise location in Fountain Hills.

11825 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills
(480) 816-1837

Doesn't hurt to call and see what they can do for you, especially if it saves you $10-15 a day.

[Ryan Coke]

Check on the difference between picking up at airport vs off site, but I typically find that it has to be a longer stay to make it worth it. The airport has more cars and more companies competing which tend to outweigh the extra airport fee. Plus it is easier to just get your car there and be done, vs getting a shuttle or taxi to a car rental place.

The different websites for car rentals are almost always the same prices, there is no magic website that has better deals. I use carrentals.com. First, find the best deal on what you want, make the booking, then keep watching for the price to go down. It is easy to make another booking and cancel the old one. So just go and make a booking right now, then keep watching. The prices vary as the date nears, time of day, day of week. Having said that, end of March is a prime time so it isn't going to be as cheap as going in July.

The other thing is once you found the best deal, then go and sign up with that companies rental/loyalty program and make the booking on their website to get you a better deal. You can also look around online for other discount codes to add onto your loyalty program discount, there are lots around.

And I'd recommend going to Euro pizza right on fountain lake for the Grecian Avocado pizza. One of our faves.

[Byrns]

https://www.costcotravel.com/Rental-Cars is what I use for all my rentals.

[Derek Sutton]

Check using your airmiles for a rental car. You will also save on the exchange rate by using airmiles.

[Stealth22]

Originally Posted by Byrns

https://www.costcotravel.com/Rental-Cars is what I use for all my rentals.

This...between Costco Travel and National's Emerald Club, I usually get what I want.

[DoubleK]

Do not rent at the airport. Sky Harbor has some of the worst rental car facility fees.

[Byrns]

Oh and make sure you check almost every day for price drops. They happen, and often the price changes almost daily.

[normtwofinger]

Will one be able to find ginger beef at these so called strip malls?

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by FLAME ENVY

Never been to Glendale, is the drive from Fountain Hills fairly straight forward ?

It's easy, but far to get out there.

Take the 101 west all the way to glendale ave, Stub Hub is a good way to go. Fountain Hills is beautiful! You should go out to Saguaro Lake and take their lake cruise. It's not too far and the drive is fantastic.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Stealth22

This...between Costco Travel and National's Emerald Club, I usually get what I want.

National Emerald Club is awesome, especially in the States.

[FLAME ENVY]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

It's easy, but far to get out there.

Take the 101 west all the way to glendale ave, Stub Hub is a good way to go. Fountain Hills is beautiful! You should go out to Saguaro Lake and take their lake cruise. It's not too far and the drive is fantastic.

This will be our 3rd trip to Fountain Hills since 2010, we rented an aluminum boat at Saguaro on our last trip in 2012 and cruised around the lake, loved it. Had lunch at the restaurant after. It is in such a beautiful setting. The neighbour in Fountain Hills says you have to get there at 4:00AM on a weekend in the summer if you stand a chance to launch your boat it's so busy.

We have never ventured very far west, so Glendale will be a first. We generally stick to Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert & Chandler. We always eat at Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert. Any suggestions for a good Mexican restaurant in any of the aforementioned ?

[FLAME ENVY]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Check on the difference between picking up at airport vs off site, but I typically find that it has to be a longer stay to make it worth it. The airport has more cars and more companies competing which tend to outweigh the extra airport fee. Plus it is easier to just get your car there and be done, vs getting a shuttle or taxi to a car rental place.

The different websites for car rentals are almost always the same prices, there is no magic website that has better deals. I use carrentals.com. First, find the best deal on what you want, make the booking, then keep watching for the price to go down. It is easy to make another booking and cancel the old one. So just go and make a booking right now, then keep watching. The prices vary as the date nears, time of day, day of week. Having said that, end of March is a prime time so it isn't going to be as cheap as going in July.

The other thing is once you found the best deal, then go and sign up with that companies rental/loyalty program and make the booking on their website to get you a better deal. You can also look around online for other discount codes to add onto your loyalty program discount, there are lots around.

And I'd recommend going to Euro pizza right on fountain lake for the Grecian Avocado pizza. One of our faves.

Thanks for all the great info. We were last in Fountain Hills in 2012 and went to the park at fountain lake often. We would go for gelato at the plaza there almost daily. I can't recall Euro Pizza but will certainly pay a visit this trip.

[Ryan Coke]

Hey, Mexican in Gilbert? We love Tia Rosa, awesome (and strong) margaritas and great Carne Asada. Of course there is lots of great Mexican down there, but that is our place. We were just there a few days ago.

The original restaurant was in Mesa but burnt down a few years ago. It was a cooler building and patio area, whereas the new place is kind of out of place in a strip mall. But it's still nice inside, has a decent patio, and the food is as good as always.

[Jordan!]

If anyone is planning to come down for a game, PM me for a code to get you $50 lower bowl seats, or 30% off any other.