Phoenix was once a small, non-descript agricultural town. Today, it is a thriving commercial city which continues to develop every year. It is brimming with skyscrapers, posh resorts, golf courses and shopping malls. Life in Phoenix literally bursts with the excitement of state-of-the-art sporting facilities, cultural delights, enormous shopping malls and a lively nightlife.

New Year's Day: a huge parade and annual college football game is held at the Arizona State University Sun Devil Stadium to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. The ground is always packed out, with much of the city in attendance.

Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX) can be found just five kilometres southeast of central Phoenix and caters for thousands of travellers every day, who arrive on flights from Europe and throughout America. It is the main gateway into Arizona, offering non-stop services to over 100 cities around the world.

Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday 
Banks: 09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 21:00, daily, some closed on Sundays
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, some open at weekends
Post Offices: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday