Cheap summer flights to Phoenix make it a destination to consider
When people are looking for a summer getaway the thought of Phoenix usually draws more laughter than interest, at least among people who know that the average daily high temperature in July is about 110F. But having lived in Phoenix for 6 summers I can tell you that for short-term visits the heat isn’t a problem for most people, and there are many other reasons why summer is actually ideal.
Add in the fact that cheap flights to Phoenix are easy to find during summer (and most of the year, in fact) and you’ve got a holiday far nicer and cheaper than you might have imagined was possible.
Flights to Phoenix are always cheap
You may remember America West Airlines, which was based in Phoenix before it merged with (and took the name of) US Airways. They still have a very busy hub there, which competes heavily with Southwest Airlines, who also have a busy hub in Phoenix, meaning that most destinations have two cheap airlines to choose from, keeping all prices low.
At the moment you can fly from New York to Phoenix for around $270 round-trip, or $230 round-trip from Washington DC. From Chicago it’s actually $310, but from nearby Milwaukee it’s only $240 – definitely worth the short trip for most people. From Austin it’s only $240 as well, or from California it’s only a bit over $100 from almost any major airport.
But really go to Phoenix in summer? Yes.
Destination: Phoenix
Everyone knows that the desert conditions in central Arizona produce “dry heat” but not everyone has experienced 110F in dry heat so they may not realize that it’s actually quite invigorating, at least for a week or so. The “real-feel” temperature is actually below 100F most of those days, so it’s more comfortable than Atlanta, Miami, or even Chicago during much of the summer.
But the best reason to go is that Phoenix is filled with 4- and 5-star resort hotels that are very busy from January through March, but mostly empty during summer. This means that most of them cut their prices in half or even more, and crowds are never an issue. Does a 4-star resort with a huge pool for under $100 per night sound nice? If you do get a bit hot you can take a dip, but it’s actually much nicer than most people expect.
Phoenix and its stylish suburb called Scottsdale also have loads of trendy restaurants and shops that are all air conditioned and more affordable during summer. Even the golf courses cut their rates in spite of the fact that it’s very pleasant until 3pm most of the time. Get a tee time by 8am and you’ll be playing one of the best rounds of golf of your life, for a price you might not believe.
Admittedly, after a week or so the heat can wear you down, so I wouldn’t recommend spending a month in Arizona during summer, but for short visits it’s really an amazing bargain.