At Party Tripper LLC., we know that visiting a new city can be overwhelming. That's why we're here to provide you with all the information and transportation you need. Before you visit Scottsdale, make sure to check out our helpful tips to ensure a smooth trip. And when you're ready to hit the road, give us a call, and let us take care of the rest. We look forward to serving you!
Our Best Tips for Your Trip
AZ is hot in the summer but don’t let it stop you from visiting our city in the hottest time of the year. There are still plenty of activities that you can do safely in the summer. Here are some tips to plan the perfect summer itinerary:
Plan outdoor activities during the coolest times of the days. If you are wanting to do the pedal taverns, ATV excursions, Jeep tours, or any non-water outdoor activity, be sure to plan this activity with a reservation time no later than 10 AM or earlier than 7 PM at night. See our hiking section to learn more about our
recommendations for hikes.
Pool parties, Lake charters, and Salt River Tubing are great summer activities to
keep you cool. We have many service partners that can make your water
activities fun and unforgettable. From DJ’s, Cabana Boys, Floats, mobile
bartenders, and catering.
Safety is our number one concern when visiting AZ in the summer. Here are some tips to stay hydrated:
1. Drink plenty of fluids such as Pedialite’s, Gatorades, Liquid IV, and
water. Do not just drink water alone as you are sweating out important
nutrients and need to replenish those electrolytes. For every 2 alcoholic
drinks you should drink 1 glass of water. Due to our dry environment
you tend to dehydrate much faster than most climates so be sure to
hydrate often. We have the best Mobile IV partner in the business.
Jennifer and her team will take great care of you and your guests to get
rehydrated and feeling better in no time.
2. Heat related illnesses can happen to anyone. Pay attention to each
other. Once you notice someone start acting funny get them inside or
the shade and start cool down procedures immediately. Some things to
look for: red face, slurred speech, swaying, no energy, not making sense
when talking. Here is the link to CDC’s guidelines and what to watch for
on heat related injuries and the recommended cool down procedures.
3. Sunscreen! Be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and REAPPLY, REAPPLY,
REAPPLY!!! They do not call them the ASU Sundevils for no reason! The
sun is literally the devil and trying to kill you!
Surprise! AZ has a diverse climate as well as a huge range of temperatures during the cooler months of the year. We can see temperature swings of upwards of 40 degrees in one day! When coming through our perfect months of October through April be prepared for temperatures as low as 30 degrees and as high as 90 degrees. The number one comment that we get is, “No one told us that it gets this cold!” When coming between October through March be sure to pack sweaters, jackets, and pants. If you plan on going to Sedona or doing a Jeep or ATV tour, be sure to bring gloves too.
If your Airbnb has a heated pool option be sure to add it! The water will be really cold as we can see overnight lows in the 30’s and daytime highs in the 40’s and 50’s. Don’t let the sun fool you. It may look warm but can be really chilly.
Water Activities: Boat Charter, Salt River Tubing, and Pool Parties:
i. Boat charters are great and a lot of fun but if you plan on swimming in the lake
during your boat charter we would not recommend it during this time of year.
The water can be in the 40’s and the wind whipping off the water can have a
decent wind chill factor. However, if you want a nice cruise around the lake to
take in it’s beauty be sure to take a jacket, gloves, and a beanie.
ii. Salt River Tubing – this activity is only available from May to September and
closed during October through April.
iii. Pool Parties – Pool Parties are a great activity year round as long as you
have the heated pool feature on. Just be prepared to make adjustments in
accordance with the ambient air temperature. You never know what the
daytime high will be during these months and may see high’s as high as 40-55
degrees. When planning a pool party be sure to have a plan B just in case it’s too
cold. For instance, you can just move your DJ and Cabana Boys/Girls inside and
have a house party instead of a pool party!
Sedona and Grand Canyon:
If you plan a trip to Sedona or The Grand Canyon from November through
March do not be surprised if you see snow! These two locations see a lot of
snow in the winter season. So be sure to pack accordingly.
Do not be surprised to see snow. You may not see snow in the lower parts of Scottsdale but do not be surprised to see snow if your Airbnb is in Northern Scottsdale or Cave Creek. Though it’s not a lot and maybe not enough to build a snowman, you may see snow in January and February. The mountains surrounding the Valley to the North and East may be snowcapped.
Scottsdale and the surrounding cities have some of the best restaurants and dining experiences. Here are some tips to help avoid having an unpleasant experience:
Reservation times: AZ does not play around on reservation times. They do not care what the excuse is. Some restaurants have a grace period and some do not so
be sure to check the restaurants policy on reservation times. If you are late they
will either turn your party away or add you to a wait list that can be up to 2
hours long.
Making a reservation:
1. When making a reservation, take into consideration of your party size.
Large parties can come with special stipulations such as, limited menu,
minimum spend requirements, and deposits to hold reservations.
2. Dress Codes: Some restaurants have strict dress codes. If you are doing
a themed night or having everyone dress the same, be sure to check
with the restaurant to see if they allow any of the items or themes you
are planning to wear. For example, Toca Modera will not allow cowboy
hats, boa’s, or the party to wear any bachelorette gimmick items.
Reservation length: almost all the restaurants have a table time limit no
matter the party size. It is typically only 2 hours. Be sure to check with
the restaurant to find out what their table time limit is.
When in doubt, always reach out to the restaurant to find out their
policies. This will help avoid any cancellations to your reservations and
scrambling to find a new place last minute for your party.
Starting October 2024, due to safety concerns, Party Tripper LLC. will no longer take any clients to hiking trails if the day time high is 100 degrees or more. We will only take clients to Hole In The Rock at Papago Park when the daily high is 100 degrees or more. Thank you for your understanding.
AZ has some of the best hiking trails in the world and almost on everyone’s itineraries. Here are our tips on choosing the right trail for your party:
First let’s get one thing clear: During July and August you should not have any
hikes planned on your trip. This is the most dangerous time of year to be hiking.
Yes, even at 5 AM. We have seen temperatures as high as 102 degrees at 4 AM
and the sun is not even up yet. During July and August we see the most rescues
happen and even deaths on the trails. PLEASE DO NOT PLAN ANY HIKES DURING JULY AND AUGUST.
Another thing, please do NOT plan any hikes after a night of drinking. You will not be properly hydrated for your hike. Do NOT underestimate our dry climate!
STAY AWAY FROM CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN!!! This is the most recommended
and most dangerous hike we have in the Valley. Here is why we do not recommend Camelback Mountain:
1. Both Echo and Cholla trails are labeled hard. They do not even recommend dogs on either trail.
2. There are on average 2-3 air rescues per week on these 2 trails. There is a helipad on the mountain due to the many air rescues they have.
3. There is no shade on the trails. The brutal sun is just beating you down
the whole time. When you reach the summit and take in the city view to
rest before heading back down, there is no shade to cool down before
you descend.
4. There is a lot of scramble, switchbacks, and climbing you have to do.
5. You must be very hydrated, have hiking boots, and be very fit for these two trails.
6. Your whole group is not going to be able to do this trail. Your Crossfit
babes will be able to but not the whole group.
Our recommendations for picking the right trail for your group:
1. When choosing the right trail for your group you should take into
consideration the fitness level of your group, hiking experience, and
health and wellbeing of the group. When deciding if hike should be
added to your itinerary be sure to choose an easy or moderate trail.
2. Trails are categorized by levels of Easy, Moderate, Hard.
Trails labeled Easy:
The whole group will be able to do this hike. Even our
pregnant ladies! The trail is pretty level with little to no
incline. Less scramble and switchbacks.
Trails labeled Moderate:
Not everyone can do this trail but most can. These trails
have moderate inclines, moderate scramble, and
moderate switchbacks. For those who are fit and
experienced hikers you will find that this trail is a good
workout. They will be able to complete the trail with
little to no breaks and feel great. For those who are not
that fit or experienced in hiking will find this trail
challenging. They will most likely need to stop a few
times along the trail to rest and catch their breath. They
will take a longer time to complete the trail and will
need more breaks than the fit ladies.
Trails labeled Hard:
Very few people can do this trail. These trails typically
have a steep incline, lots of scramble, sharp
switchbacks, and climbing. For those who are fit and
experienced hikers will find this trail challenging. They
will most likely stop along the trail to take breaks and
catch their breath. For those who are not fit nor
experienced will not finish this trail and will head back
to the trail head shortly after starting. These individuals
are at higher risk of being rescued off the trail if they
continue.
3. When deciding on a hike be sure to download and use the AllTrails app.
This will help you in making the right decision for your group. The app
provides trail descriptions, pictures, and comments from hikers who
have recently completed the trail. This app will also indicate current
conditions of the trail by previous hikers. This is especially helpful when
we’ve had any rain.
4. Here are some of our recommendations on trails to try out while visiting
AZ:
a. Easy trails:
Hole in the Rock at Papago Park
Desert Botanical Gardens
Papago Park Butte Loop
Hieroglyphic Trail to Petroglyphs
b. Moderate trails:
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Lost Dog Trail
Wave Cave Trail
c. Hard trails:
Tom’s Thumb Trail
5. Sedona is a great city to travel to for some incredible hikes. We do offer
a Sedona add-on package that takes you to Sedona in the morning to
complete a hike and snag brunch before heading back to the Valley in
the afternoon. This package leaves Scottsdale at 6 AM and heads back
no later than 1 PM.
Devil’s Bridge is a great MODERATE hike. Great views and the
bridge is awesome. This is a very popular hike and the wait time
to get a photo op on the bridge is extremely long (upwards of
45 minutes + ).
Cathedral Rock is another popular trail and is considered HARD.
Birthing Cave Trail is another popular hike by our Bach parties
and is listed as MODERATE.
For EASY hike’s there is Chapel Trail, Bell Rock Pathway, Seven
Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass Trail, Big Park Loop, Baldwin Trail
#191, Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock.
Scottsdale has a very active night life with many options to choose from. Here is some information to consider when planning your night out on the town:
The Entertainment District:
1. The Entertainment District is comprised of many bars and clubs (20 to
be exact!) with many more in Old Town. From dance clubs, to dive bars,
cigar lounge and hookah, and the perfect blend. We have categorized
them by type in no particular order:
Clubs: Riot House, El Jefe, Cake, Whiskey Row, Hi-Fi, The District, Maya Day Club, Casa Amigos, Bottled Blonde, Pretty Please (Hip Hop and R&B)
Dive bar: Goodwood, Waisted Grain
Dive bar/club vibes: The Hot Chick, Boondocks, 50 Shades
Hookah: I-Mad
Cigar Bar: Fox Cigars
Old Town
1. Clubs: 11:11 (Hip Hop and R&B)
2. Dive bar: Patties, Gilligan’s, Rusty Spur, Old Town Tavern
3. Sports bars: Bar Stool, Social Tap
4. Wine bar: Wine Girl
5. Tiki Bar: Drunk Monk
6. Karaoke: The Grapevine
Bar Crawls are a great way to see multiple bars in Scottsdale and the best way to do it here is with AZ Party Bike.
It’s true, AZ does not practice Daylight Savings time and trying to figure out what time we are on can be confusing. When planning activities especially for the day you arrive be sure to factor in the time change. Jet lag is rough here especially in the summer!
From March to November we are on the same time as California (PST). So that
means we are 3 hours behind the East Coast (New York City, Miami, Atlanta,
Indianapolis), 2 hours behind Central Standard Time (Chicago and Dallas), and 1
hour behind Mountain Standard Time (Denver and Albuquerque). This is brutal
jet lag for our East Coasters!
From November to March we are on the same time as Colorado (MST). So that
means we are 2 hours behind the East Coast, 1 hours behind Central Standard
Time (Chicago and Dallas), and 1 hour ahead of Pacific Standard Time (Los
Angelas and Seattle).
A little trick to help remember: When you think of summer you think of
the warm air, sand, swimming, and tanning. Which is everything you get in
California. So in the summer we are on the same time as California. When you
think of winter you think of snow, skiing, and grey skies, all things associated
with Colorado. So in the winter we are on the same time as Colorado. For ease:
Summer = California time and Winter = Colorado time.
There are so many great activities to partake in while here. Here is some advice for the most popular activities in Scottsdale:
ATV Tours:
1. Wear long leggings or jeans that go to your ankles. The exhaust pipes
and the areas in the center of the UTV get really hot. Wearing leggings
or jeans will protect your legs from the intense heat.
2. For UTV’s be sure to wear a shirt with sleeves (can be short sleeve). This
is to help save your shoulders from seatbelt burn. The trails are very
bumpy and the seat belt can rub against your shoulder so much that it
leaves a burn or irritation to the skin.
3. Wear sunscreen!
4. Wear your hair in a low pony tail, bun, or braid to help protect your hair
from tangles.
5. Take a neck gator to help protect your lungs from the dirt.
6. Wear shoes you don’t care about and will throw away when you are
done. They will be so dirty. A quick run to Walmart will be great in
getting a cheap pair of shoes.
7. You will be filthy! Covered in sweat and dirt. Do not plan any activities
until the evening following your tour. This includes brunch. You will be
covered from head to toe in dirt.
8. In the summer time do not plan this activity any later than 10 AM.
9. Be sure to use the restroom prior to heading to the trail. There are no
restrooms at the trails.
10. Plan private transportation to get to your ATV/UTV trip. You will NOT be
able to get an UBER home. Either rent a car, add on the transportation
option, or book private transportation.
11. All of the rally points for Desert Dogs, Stellar Adventures, Desert
Monster Tours, AZ Outdoor Fun are 1 hour away from Old Town
Scottsdale. YOU WILL NEED PRIVATE TRANSPORT. DO NOT
UBER/LYFT/TAXI TO THESE TOURS.
12. Check with your tour company what the required check in time is. Some
companies require a half hour and some require 15 minutes prior to
tour reservation time.
13. Fill out all waivers and documents prior to arriving.
14. Make sure you bring all required items to your reservation. Some tour
companies require your drivers license and credit cards.
15. Most tour companies operate rain or shine. Check their policies
thoroughly before booking.
16. Take plenty of water!
Jeep Tours:
1. Be sure to take a mask, neck gator, or bandana to protect your lungs
from the dust. These tours get very dusty.
2. Do not plan a nice dinner after this activity as you will want to wash
your hair and body as you will be covered in dust from the trail ride.
3. Do not wear white due to the high dust.
4. Wear sunscreen and take plenty of water.
Boat Charters:
1. Be sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen.
2. Check with your tour company on what the check in time is prior to your
tour start time.
3. Complete all waivers and documents prior to arriving.
4. YOU WILL NEED PRIVATE TRANSPORT. DO NOT UBER/LYFT/TAXI TO
THESE TOURS.
Salt River Tubing:
1. If you are doing this activity please request a “Salt River Tips” email
from us for a full rundown of our tips
Horseback Riding:
1. When planning this activity be sure to account for an additional two
hours to your tour time for check-in, preparing for the trail, learning to
ride, and dismounting, checking out, photos, etc.
2. Follow all recommended advisories listed on your tours site.
3. Fill out all waivers and docs prior to arriving.
4. If you have any lung issues be sure to wear a neck gator or mask to
protect from dust inhalation. The trails are very dusty.
Hot Air Balloon:
1. Depending on the time of year you go you may need a sweatshirt or
light jacket. This is an early morning activity and high elevation activity
and may be chilly.
2. Please check to see what the check-in time is for your tour to ensure
you arrive on time.
3. Do not plan on going to bars/clubs the night prior to your tour. This is an
early morning activity. Check-in times vary due to time of year.
4. Fill out all waivers and docs prior to arrival.
5. Be sure not to plan any early afternoon activities following the tour as
you will want to take naps after this activity.
6. Be sure to read the instructions the tour company sends you
thoroughly.