Around The second week of January i was scrolling through Instagram and came across a flyer for 8123 fest and slapped myself so hard my phone flew out of my hand. My favorite band in the world was putting on their second festival in Arizona and i was going to miss it. Fuck that. My first instinct was to text my friend Chyanne and tell her to gear up, we are going to Phoenix.

We did make it to the festival and had an amazing time in Arizona but it wasn’t without breaking the bank since we booked everything last minute (literally 2 days before departure). Now that I’m more familiar with the city there’s some things i wouldve done differently but I also had some amazing finds.

Flights

The festival started on a Saturday morning so we thought we should fly in Friday night but upon further investigation i found that flights one-way out of Portland were $350 on Friday and $150 on Thursday, taking into consideration that we would still be shelling out $100 for that night in the Airbnb we took it and gifted ourselves an extra night in Phoenix. However, once returning to Oregon i realized that i didn’t get the deal i thought i did.

Currently looking at round trip flight options for a full week in Phoenix these are the cheapest prices for 4 different ports i found.

From Portland $87

From Boise $97

From Chicago $144

From NYC $257

Even the most expensive round trip ticket was cheaper than what i ended up paying for two one way tickets. Keeping in mind that prices rise and fall constantly, and Arizona is tremendously hot in the summer months, with a little prior planning you can get a super cheap flight out of most ports through American Airlines or even Allegiant (if you don’t mind not having a carry on bag).

Accommodations

Because our trip was so last minute i ended up booking the first centrally located Airbnb i saw since i wasn’t sure about transportation. I ended up paying about $120 a night for a one bedroom flat in downtown, given the Airbnb was gorgeous and i would absolutely recommend it, i did find some cheaper options.

A quick scroll through Airbnb led me to a full apartment for as little as $59 a night, that’s cheaper than most budget hotels and a shared home for a measly $37. Both of these locations look well furnished and comfortable and are centrally located as well.

I could only find one decent hostel in the city, Metcalf house, that didn’t provide pricing.

Most budget hotels i found were at a low of $80 a night in downtown.

Attractions

Most of our time in the city was taken up by the festival and celebrating our friends 21st birthday but we did do a few hikes including the gorgeous Piestewa Peak and Papago Park. If you want some free filler activities i guarantee they’ll make you fall in love with Arizona.

If you’re lucky enough to arrive during the first Friday of every month Phoenix hosts an art walk that’s always bustling with locals and tourists alike.

During certain times or days Phoenix art galleries open their doors to the public for free. Heard Museum, desert botanical garden and Phoenix art museum all offer free entry days you can find on their sites.

Want to catch a show? Historical venues like Crescent Ballroom and the Van buren got you covered for relatively cheap. Looking at their rosters i found acts like Of Mice and Men, Cypress Hill and Zomboy all putting on shows within the next few weeks.

Since you saved so much money on your flight and accommodations, you may want to treat yourself. Phoenix offers hot air balloon rides over the gorgeous city and desert for around $189 per person and ATV excursions starting at $150.

Getting around

The first thing i learned about Phoenix is it is not Portland or London. You need a god damn car to get around, or at least a patient knowledge of public transit. Personally, we opted for Uber when we did need a ride since we managed to get around on foot well enough anyway, it didn’t add up too much.

Rental cars are insanely expensive and considering I’m not 25+, they’re out of reach. If you feel you must have a car, Hertz and Budget car rental are probably your cheapest options but you will have to shell out the security deposit.

The public transit in Phoenix is the valley metro and bus system. The light rail is actually quite convenient. Running 18-22 hours a day with a wait time of 12-20 minutes you can get pretty much anywhere in downtown Phoenix and even as far as Tempe and Mesa. It’s also your cheapest option. Apps like RIDEKICK will give you maps and arrival times. You can purchase a ride card through the vending machine at any metro station.

Food

One thing i typically refuse to skimp on is my food, i could cringe at the thought of spending more than $50 on a hotel room but happily spend $25 on some hipster burger. However Phoenix makes it easy to eat well and be a penny pincher.

Our first night we ate at Cibo in downtown. I ordered a giant flatbread and a beer for $20. Friday and Saturday nights you will need a reservation but it’s so worth the trouble.

The Vig next to cibo took care of us for brunch the next day. With cheapish food, about $10 a plate, and moderately priced drinks you can have a lovely Saturday afternoon for about $18.

If you really wanna save your money for other things, places like Provecho and Even Stevens sandwiches will fill you up for under $10.

A Night out

There’s no whetherspoons in Phoenix sadly but there are still some great bars that won’t completely drain you.

Deli tavern in downtown had our full attention, with the best bloody Mary’s and my all time favorite beer, oak creek, they kept us happy without draining our accounts. Also the bartenders were ridiculously kind to us, had us feeling like locals and friends by the second visit.

Some noteworthy bars that aren’t super budget friendly but still cool nonetheless:

Bitter and twisted

Valley bar

Gypsy bar

Cobra arcade

Phoenix is actually a relatively budget friendly city to visit and i recommend it fully to anyone who wants a week/weekend away.