Frommer's Arizona 2004 (Paperback)

~ Karl Samson (Author), Jane Aukshunas (Author) "Planning a trip to a state as large and diverse as Arizona involves a lot of decision making (other than which golf clubs to take),..." (more)
Key Phrases: foothills resorts, information plaza, courtesy airport shuttle, Colorado River, Native American, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go-they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Arizona 2004 features gorgeous color photos of the state's spectacular scenery. Extremely detailed and personally researched, this is the most reliable and in-depth guide you can buy for an Arizona adventure. From world-class golf resorts to authentic dude ranches, from stunning Southwestern-style B&Bs; to rustic lodges and secluded campgrounds, our authors have chosen the very best places to stay throughout the state, in all price ranges. They'll show you the most scenic drives, and take you outdoors for desert hikes, superb golf, thrilling white-water rafting, horseback riding, and more. Serious shoppers will appreciate our insider advice on finding the best of local art galleries and the most intriguing regional crafts, rugs, and pottery. And of course, you'll discover where to find the best Mexican and Southwestern dining, from elegant resort restaurants to roadside joints that offer great regional specialties and a mean margarita. With Frommer's in hand, you'll see all the highlights, from glorious vistas of the Grand Canyon to the fanciful red-rock formations of Sedona, from the eerie monoliths of Monument Valley to the silent splendors of the desert. You'll even get a free color fold-out map and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.

From the Back Cover

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. At Frommer’s, we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices. Frommer’s. Your guide to a world of travel experience.

Choose the Only Guide That Gives You:

• Detailed reviews of all the best golf courses and resorts.
• Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
• The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 475 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; Book&Map edition (October 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076453887X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764538872
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,499,563 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great place, book needs updating and expanding, December 5, 2004

By	A Reader (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This is a useful book for basic overview and somewhat more. I am a fan of Frommer's overall, but there were some gaps in this one. Among them: Information about the state of the roads a traveler may encounter; Additional website information; Where to find more reasonably priced merchandise in some areas; What's missing in certain areas; and What to expect when you get there.
- A description of some of the roads is critical because some of the roads are either dirt roads and/or very steep and winding roads. This is very true in the Prescott/Jerome area, as well as in and around Sedona. In some locations a 4 wheel drive vehicle is a must. With this information travelers can choose a self-guided adventure or a local tour. The "How to Get There" sections need to incorporate this information. Routes may be direct, but that doesn't mean they are easily traveled.
- Additional website information will help travelers do additional research before they arrive.
- Some of the areas in AZ are frequent tourist destinations and the prices reflect that. I learned from hotel staffers and other locals where more reasonably priced goods could be purchased.
- AZ is a great location for an outdoors person, but in certain locations, supermarkets, for example, are few and far between. It would be helpful to have information about where to buy food and outdoor gear for those interested in day trips.
- AZ is also a growing time share location. It's useful to know this in advance for two reasons: 1. To be prepared when a vendor approaches you and tries to persuade you using various incentives to hear his/her spiel. 2. How to take advantage of these offers. Time share information booths have great information about local tours and can and will offer complimentary tours if you hear their pitch. Even if you don't listen to their sales routine, you can still get free maps and other information about local tours, events and transportation at these locations
Other things about this book. The Grand Canyon section was very good.
I will still buy Frommer's guidebooks, but this one wasn't up to their usual standard.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My travel Bible during my last trip, October 15, 2005

By	Nicole Bradshaw "Nicole Bradshaw" (Jackson, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Arizona 2005 (Frommer's Complete) (Paperback)

When my husband and I booked our 10-day trip to Arizona, we bought alot of guidebooks to help us make decisions about our itinerary, our hotel choices, and the attractions and restaurants we wanted to visit. But when we actually went on the trip, this guidebook is the only one that we referred to, time and again.

The guidebook gave us GREAT recommendations for both restaurants and attractions, and it also contained some very handy maps. We kept the book in the glove compartment of our rental car, and we used it daily to plan activities and reach destinations.

I only have one major gripe. The guidebook did not talk specifically about driving conditions along different roads. For example, the book mentioned that Jerome was a town not to be missed. So, we fueled up the car and headed out to Jerome. WELL, to get to Jerome, you have to drive up very winding roads, with sheer cliff drop-offs on your right, and you can only go about 20 miles per hour due to the sharp curves and your fear of oncoming traffic. While the route was definitely scenic, it was harrowing for someone from the deep south, where there ARE no mountains, and everything is flat.

Other than that, I thought the book was great. It prepared me well for the "touristy" nature of Sedona, and it also gave good tips on how to avoid crowds at the Grand Canyon. Its section on Phoenix was very informative and helpful as well. I thought this book was a great tool for planning and enjoying my vacation in Arizona.