This reader’s email was jam-packed with questions about a summer trip to Prescott, Arizona, but we were equal to the task and supplied just as many answers.
Dear Arizona Travel:
I am traveling in early August to Prescott for a one-day seminar at Yavapai College (located at 1100 E.Sheldon St in the Performance Hall.) I am not familiar with the area and was wondering whether there are any hotels/motels within walking distance to the college. I was planning to take the shuttle into Prescott from Phoenix and then return to the airport after the seminar. Would this be okay in terms of getting around the area and to the seminar or is it advisable to hire a car from the airport? My other thought is to stay on for a few days to relax either at a spa or hotel with a pool – what is the average temperature around the week of 8th August?Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
Regards
Alasdair from the UK
ChristinaToo says:
Hi, Alasdair:
There are a couple budget-friendly motels within walking distance of Yavapai College; the closest is the Best Western Prescottonian just 0.2 miles from the campus. You can view rates and book this hotel on our handy Prescott.com booking tool.
Certainly, you can take a shuttle to and from Prescott and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. A popular choice is “Shuttle U.“ If you’re up for just a bit of walking, you can certainly walk from the campus to downtown Prescott – it’s just 1 mile from the college to the downtown square where you’ll find lots of restaurants, museums and shops.
If you prefer to rent a car at the Phoenix Airport, be aware that the taxes are nearly 30%, so you could spend more than the round-trip Shuttle U price, especially if you extend your trip over several days. I encourage you to shop around and compare. FYI: Current gas prices are around $4.15/gallon… and they’re sure to go up by August… so take care to factor that expense into your decision.
There are some nice hotels with pools in town, but the two I recommend – Prescott Resort & Conference Center or the Forest Villas Hotel – are not within walking distance to the Yavapai College campus. Perhaps you could stay one night at the Best Western I suggested and your remaining nights at a resort-type hotel like these. A stay at one of these resort-like hotels will require taxi rides to local attractions, shopping and restaurants or staying put at the hotel; unfortunately, none of the hotels I’m familiar with in Prescott offer local shuttle transportation.
Another option is to spend your whole stay at the Best Western and pay a visit to the brand-new, beautifully designed Mind, Body and Soul Day Spa. Located in north Prescott, it’s just a short 5.5 mile taxi ride to the spa… check them out on Prescott.com’s day spa page.
The average temperature in early August is 71 degrees F… with a high of 84 and a low of 57. Average precipitation is 3.2” for the month.
Enjoy your trip!
-Christina
Hi there Christina,
For future knowledge, the Marriott SpringHill Suites is within walking distance to Yavapai College – about 6 blocks. SpringHill is also a frequent stop for Shuttle U – it stops there several times each day. It would be very easy for someone to use the shuttle, stay at SpringHill and be able to walk to the college and to the downtown area – all possible without renting a car! Hope this helps for future inquiries.
Margo – VP Marketing, Prescott Marriott Hotels
That is great input, Margo – thank you so much for contributing!