Tucson in United States of America

If you go walking in the desert parks, or on your own, learn desert safety tips. Take water, always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get back, and if you have a cell phone, take it with you and have it on. It's disturbingly easy to get lost in the desert. Also, watch for snakes and bugs, as a few are dangerous to your health. When hiking, for example, rattlesnakes are easy to come across. When putting your slippers on in the morning, scorpions can be an unpleasant surprise.

Crime is an issue in the city (as it is in all urban settings). Midtown (specifically the section along Alvernon Road between Grant and Ft. Lowell) and the South section of the city are not the safest places to be-but there are no real attractions in these areas anyway. Downtown is heavily occupied until 2AM when the bars close. If you are downtown after 2AM, be cautious. While murder rates are fairly low, they are violent and sometimes random. There is gang activity but for the most part it is directed against rival gangs. There are many homeless people downtown. The center city is populated heavily by the young and restless, so it may seem a spooky to more conservative travelers due to the dirt and noise the youngsters create.

Occasionally, you might encounter a homeless person or a beggar who appears to be walking aimlessly in a parking lot (no area of the city is immune from this type of activity), and then suddenly confront you as you enter or exit your car to beg you for money. A simple, but firm, reply of no to the beggar is usually more than sufficient to send the beggar away to their next opportunity.

Getting your car stolen is certainly a hassle you can certainly do without in your life. Unfortunately, Tucson has one of the highest rates of vehicle theft in the USA (ranked # 10 in the nation), and there are a few locations in the city you're more likely to have your car / truck stolen at than at any other place in the town. The following are usually the top three places in Tucson to get your car stolen (2007's most popular theft locations): The Tucson Mall, Park Place Mall, and Wal-Mart on 1650 West Valencia Road. Use all precautions to secure your vehicle (i.e. a visible steering wheel locking tool, do not leave keys in the car, fully roll-up windows, lock all doors, activate the car alarm) to minimize the opportunity of a thief stealing your car or truck (it won't stop a car thief from stealing your car, but it may make it a little less appealing to steal...time is a thief's worst enemy). SUV's, large off-road 4x4 trucks (expensive customized trucks), and some on-road trucks have been considered as high target items in the area by car thieves.

During the monsoon season, Tucson does experience flash flooding. Under no circumstances should you attempt to drive across a flooded road that is barricaded. If your vehicle becomes stranded in your attempt to cross the flooded road: you will be issued a traffic citation by the police under the 1995 stupid motorist law, a fine of $2000, and pay for all rescue costs (usually $1000 or more). Also, if you knowingly drive a vehicle into a flooded road with a child under the age of 15, you can also be charged with child endangerment (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3619) in addition to the previously mentioned penalties.

As of May 2008, an outbreak of measles has struck Pima county with at least 21 confirmed cases. It is believed that the outbreak has peaked out, as confirmed cases of measles has not increased. Nonetheless, ensure that you have had vaccinations against this disease, and avoid contact with people who have flu-like symptoms. Those at most risk for this contagious disease are: children less than five years old, those with compromised immune systems, and those without immunity (no vaccination) against measles.

Newcomers to the southwest often hear about a lung infection called Valley Fever (the proper medical name is called, coccidioidomycosis). Although it's rare to contract this disease, it should be taken seriously as its difficult for most doctors to accurately identify it (a blood test called a coccidioidal must be done to accurately diagnose this illness), and it takes weeks for the symptoms to fully develop for an experienced doctor to recognize them. Exposure to very dusty conditions (ATV riding in the desert, construction, getting caught in a sudden dust storm) increases the opportunity to become infected. It is recommended to wear a face mask if you intend to be exposed to dusty conditions. There is currently no cure for this disease, only long term treatment.

Drink plenty of water or sport drinks (i.e. Gatorade) during the summer months (especially when temperatures reach above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or over 38 degrees Celsius), and avoid drinking alcohol if you are going to be in the direct heat and sun. This cannot be emphasized enough if you plan to make a trek in the desert mountains.

Mosquitoes can be bad after a monsoon (usually in the months of July-September), so consider wearing mosquito repellent with a high concentration of DEET to reduce the risk of acquiring diseases typically transmitted by these annoying insects.

Be sure to wear a good waterproofed high SPF rated sunscreen (at least SPF 35 or higher), polarized sun glasses, and a hat during the hot summer months. It's easy to sunburn and windburn out in the desert, and the UV rays are very intense.

By plane

Tucson International Airport, 7250 S. Tucson Blvd., Tel. (520) 573-8000, http://www.tucsonairport.org/. Served by a number of airlines. Some people fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor and then take a shuttle to Tucson. In recent years the cost savings and the cost of shuttle service going up because of gas prices has made this less and less of an attractive option unless you don't care about time and really want to save money.

By train

The local Amtrak +1 520 623-4442, http://www.amtrak.com/stations/tus.html/ station is at 400 N. Toole Avenue, and is served by the Los Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited line.

By car

I-10 from the north and southeast, and I-19 from the south.

I-10 from West Prince Road on the north side of Tucson to the I-10/I-19 interchange has been reduced to two lanes of traffic each direction and drivers aren't allowed to enter or exit the freeway between these points due to construction that is expected to be completed sometime in 2010. You need to exit the freeway and take the frontage road if you want to take any streets into downtown. This appears to have not created any major traffic problems in these areas, as locals appear to be avoiding the area altogether during commute times.

By bus

Greyhound Lines, Station: 471 W. Congress St., Tel. (520) 792-3475, http://www.greyhound.com/.

By Bus. Extensive metropolitan bus system, Sun Tran By Car. I-10 and I-19 are the only freeways in Tucson. East-west travel on surface streets above I-10 can be slow during the work day. Tucson has far fewer miles of freeway than other U.S. cities of its size. All east-west travel and all travel on the east side is done via surface streets. By Bike. Tucson is a bike-friendly community, and has an extensive system of bike routes and paths (but something you don't want to do in the summer unless you are experienced riding in very hot dry weather).