frequently asked questions

Technicolor sunsets, abundant plant and animal life, and honest-to-goodness purple-mountain majesty when the sunlight hits our McDowell Mountains just right. Plus, the desert is an amazing natural playground that’s perfect for hiking, mountain biking, river rafting (yes, you read that right) and a host other outdoor activities. Check out our weather page to find out what each of Scottsdale’s seasons has to offer.  

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch offers free performances of Native American music, dance and storytelling at 5 p.m. every Friday from October through May. These intimate performances are open to the public and are a great way to meet the performers and see championship-level hoop dancing. Other must-sees are the Heard Museum, which is dedicated to Native cultures of the Southwest, and the S'edav Va'aki Museum, which focuses on Hohokam culture, archaeology and art.

Get your camera ready! Both natural wonders are located north of Scottsdale and are easily accessible by car. Sedona’s red rocks are about two hours away, while the Grand Canyon’s popular South Rim is roughly four hours away. Air and ground tours from Scottsdale to both locations are available year-round.

Scottsdale observes Mountain Standard Time year-round, as does most of Arizona. While the rest of the country does the spring-forward/fall-back dance for Daylight Savings, we kick back with a glass of Arizona wine, secure in the knowledge that all our household appliances show the correct time without any interference from us. The exception is the Navajo Nation in the northeastern corner of Arizona, which observes daylight savings to remain consistent across all of its territory (which spans portions of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico).

Scottsdale sales tax is 8.05% and the hotel/resort check-out tax is 14.02%.

Yes – it will make your life much easier. Major credit cards are almost universally accepted. In fact, you’ll have difficulty renting a car or making telephone reservations without one.

The dollar is the official U.S. currency (similar to Canadian money, though not as colorful). Currency exchange services are offered by Travelex at two locations within Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4 (level 3 pre-security near the B checkpoint and on level 3 past security by gate B-15). Most major U.S. banks also offer currency exchange services.

Tipping is customary for most services and should only be withheld in cases of extraordinarily bad service.

• Airport and hotel porters: $1-2 per bag, $5 minimum per cart
• Bartenders: 15-20% per round, $1 minimum per drink
• Hotel maids: $2-5 per night, left under the card provided
• Restaurant servers: 15-20%, unless a gratuity is already charged on the bill as may be the case for  large parties (typically parties of 6 or more)
• Taxi drivers: 15-20%
• Valet parking attendants: $3-5
• Tour guides: 15-20% of the tour cost

For more tips on tipping, click here.

For the most up-to-date entry information and requirements, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

We recommend that you carry your passport at all times while visiting Arizona, as this is the only form of photo identification that will be accepted. Photo identification is typically required for renting a car, using a credit card, purchasing alcohol and other similar transactions.

Everyone arriving at a U.S. point of entry is subject to inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for compliance with immigration, customs and agricultural regulations. CBP officers may search your belongings even if you don’t declare anything. Reviewing customs rules before traveling will facilitate your entry to the U.S.

Anyone traveling with $10,000 or more in cash – whether in U.S. dollars or any other currency – must declare it when clearing Customs.

Gifts or purchases valued at a maximum of $200 total per individual traveler. You may include with the $200 exemption your choice of the following: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 milliliters (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 milliliters (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol.

Duty-free shopping is available pre-security in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor International Airport. Otherwise, all purchases are subject to local, county and state taxes that vary by city. Visit Duty Free Americas for more information.

Being largely allergic to the metric system, we follow the United States Customary System (also called the American or English system). Common U.S. measurements include:

•  Weight: ounces (oz), pounds (lb), tons
•  Liquid: ounces (oz), pints, quarts, gallons (gal)
•  Distance: feet (ft), yards (yd), miles (mi)

That said, we measure soda and wine in liters, medicine in milligrams, foot races in meters and kilometers, and our food nutrition labels are metric. Don’t worry – you’ll catch on.

• Standard electrical outlet: Type A and Type B
• Standard voltage: 120 V
• Frequency: 60 Hz

Yes – most major carriers offer short-term plans for international travelers visiting the U.S. Here are four to consider:

• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Verizon
• Sprint

Though recreational marijuana is legal in Arizona, the city of Scottsdale has limitations on where marijuana can be purchased, possessed and used. For more details on the city's ordinance, click here.