Phoenix & Scottsdale from Des Moines, 13 – 18 Nov: £923 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £93 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale, rated 8.3 by 1,060 guests
- Free cancellation at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 41h 43m in all.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Phoenix & Scottsdale were $245 per person, or $490 for two, for Nov 13–18, 2026 (5 nights) when we checked. The fare combines G4 and F9 with 1 stop, so it isn't nonstop, and normal highs that week run 71–81°F. The best-value hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale, is $734 for the stay with breakfast included.
The total, before you go
£923 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £369 |
| La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | £553 |
| The total, before you go | £923 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £151 |
£93 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £38 each way per bag on Allegiant, £151 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£185 per person, return
£369 for two, taxes and fees included · G4 + F9 · 1 stop · 41h 43m
Out Fri, Nov 13, 10:25 PM – Sat, Nov 14, 1:33 PM · back Wed, Nov 18, 7:21 PM – Thu, Nov 19, 9:56 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| G4 + F9 | £185 | 1 stop | 41h 43m |
| American | £271 | nonstop | 3h 19m |
| Frontier | £216 | 1 stop | 30h 47m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 02:21 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $245 per person round trip, all-in, this fare is $124 below the highest fare we saw for these dates. That's a 34% gap across the 12 offers we checked, which ranged from $245 to $369 per person. Here's the full math for two: $490 in flights, $734 for the best-value hotel and $1,300 set aside for spending, which comes to $2,524 for the 5 days. Mid-November is well clear of the June-to-September heat. Normal highs run 71–81°F with lows near 54°F, and the week starts clear before turning overcast. That's comfortable weather for sunrise hikes, garden walks and a long afternoon at a spa. Prices are what we found when we checked, and they can change before you book.
The kind of trip this is
This is a desert getaway built around warm days and easy evenings. Mornings go to trail hikes and cactus gardens, afternoons to a pool or a spa, and nights to dinner and drinks in Old Town Scottsdale. It suits couples and friends who want sunshine and good food without a packed schedule, with room to add an architecture tour or a balloon ride. The pace is relaxed, and the only thing you have to be up for is sunrise.
Weather in Phoenix & Scottsdale, 13 – 18 Nov
Typical highs 71–81°F, lows near 54°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov | 80 °F | 54 °F | Clear |
| Sat 14 Nov | 81 °F | 54 °F | Clear |
| Sun 15 Nov | 79 °F | 54 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 16 Nov | 72 °F | 55 °F | Overcast |
| Tue 17 Nov | 74 °F | 52 °F | Overcast |
| Wed 18 Nov | 71 °F | 52 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Phoenix & Scottsdale
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale is the best-value pick at $734 for the 5 nights ($147 a night). It's rated 8.3 from 1,060 reviews, includes breakfast and has free cancellation. It's in North Scottsdale, which is known for big desert resorts, golf and spas. ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection is the top-rated option at 9.4 from 261 reviews. It costs $1,291 for the stay ($258 a night), room only, with free cancellation. Camelback Cozy is a vacation home listed as the budget choice at $753 for the stay ($151 a night), room only, with free cancellation and no review score listed. If you want to walk to galleries, bars and restaurants, look around Old Town Scottsdale. For lower rates and the arts district, try Downtown Phoenix.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale
£553 for 5 nights, two guests · £111 a night
See roomsADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection
£973 for 5 nights, two guests · £194 a night
See roomsCamelback Cozy
£568 for 5 nights, two guests · £114 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Phoenix & Scottsdale for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in Phoenix & Scottsdale
- Old Town Scottsdale: Walkable galleries, bars and restaurants with resort-style hotels nearby.
- North Scottsdale: Large desert resorts, golf and spas.
- Paradise Valley: Secluded luxury resorts beneath Camelback Mountain.
- Downtown Phoenix: Arts district, sports arenas and lower rates.
- Tempe: Lakeside hotels near the university and the airport.
What to do in Phoenix & Scottsdale
- Hike Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak at sunrise, while it's still cool
- Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
- Walk the Desert Botanical Garden on one of the clear days early in the trip
- Spend a spa day at a Sonoran Desert resort
- Take a hot-air balloon ride over the desert
- End an evening at the bars and restaurants of Old Town Scottsdale
Also worth it
- Catch spring training baseball in the Cactus League
Tours and tickets in Phoenix & Scottsdale
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Phoenix & Scottsdale | Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) |
| Flight time | 41h 43m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,145 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 5 nights in Phoenix & Scottsdale costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £369 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale) | £553 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | £980 |
| Total for two | £1,903 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to Phoenix & Scottsdale
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £185 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £180 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Price checks | 4 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Phoenix & Scottsdale.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed: it's a domestic trip, and you pay in US dollars.
- Phoenix is 1 hour behind Des Moines.
- Heads-up on the $245 fare: it leaves Friday, Nov 13 at 10:25 PM and lands Saturday, Nov 14 at 1:33 PM, so plan your hotel check-in around that.
- The return leaves Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7:21 PM and gets back Thursday, Nov 19 at 9:56 PM.
- All three hotels listed offer free cancellation, and only La Quinta includes breakfast.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
We found $245 per person round trip, all-in, or $490 for two, on G4 and F9 with 1 stop. If you'd rather fly nonstop, American had $359 per person ($718 for two), leaving at 8:10 AM and landing at 10:29 AM on Nov 13. Fares can change after we check.
How long is the trip there and back?
The $245 fare lists 41h 43m of total travel time across both directions, because of long layovers. The American nonstop takes 3h 19m. Des Moines International (DSM) is 1,145 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX).
What is the weather like?
Normal highs for these dates run 71–81°F, with lows of 52–55°F. The forecast pattern shows clear skies Nov 13–14, then overcast from Nov 15 to 18. Bring layers for the mornings and evenings.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Des Moines, and everything is priced in US dollars.
Is 5 nights enough?
Yes, for a relaxed pace. Five nights covers a sunrise hike, Taliesin West, the Desert Botanical Garden and a spa day, with evenings left open. On the $245 fare you land Saturday afternoon, so you'd have four full evenings in town.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
We estimate $2,524 for two: $490 in flights, $734 at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix Scottsdale and $1,300 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
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All trips from Des Moines · Phoenix & Scottsdale from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in November 2026 · Home
Phoenix & Scottsdale in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Melanie Brumble / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Tom Jackson / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Tom Jackson / Pexels, Pexels License