Winning strategies for Giants spring training trips

Including the victory parade, the speeches and the time it took for the post-celebration hangover to wear off, the world champion San Francisco Giants' season officially ended about six hours ago. Brian Wilson probably hasn't gone to sleep yet.

Amazing then that pitchers and catchers report to Arizona in less than a month, and the first spring training game in Scottsdale Stadium is set for Feb. 25.

As a 10-year veteran of spring training - I've missed only one season since 1999, for the birth of my son - I try to secure hotels, flights and cars by early January. The Giants and the Chicago Cubs are typically the toughest ticket, and many of the good seats disappeared quickly when the box office for Giants spring training tickets opened earlier this week. If you're still deciding, swing for the fences now - and even then you'll need a lot of ambition and a little luck.

But it worked for the plucky Giants, so why not for you? Below are the eight most important pieces of advice that I'd give to a first-timer or someone who hasn't been to spring training for a long time.

(If you listen to only one, make it No. 4.)

1. Consider Tempe: Scottsdale is wonderful, but it's a traffic mess, and the hotels fill up quickly. If you're booking rooms late, Tempe is a great low-stress alternative just a few miles from Scottsdale Stadium. We've been happily staying at the Tempe Mission Palms ( www.missionpalms.com) for the last five years. The valets hustle, the pool is nice, and the hotel is stumbling distance from the heart of the college town, where most of the businesses are used to dealing with happy drunks.

2. Consider visiting other stadiums: Each spring training stadium has its own personality, and Scottsdale Stadium is a rollicking fun madhouse. Gone are the days when you could cruise up at the last minute and grab a good seat.

Pay tribute to the Giants at least twice. But if you're on a multi-day trip, and can stand the sacrilege, consider escaping the craziness for a day and travel to one of the more quaint venues. We always spend an afternoon at the Milwaukee Brewers' stadium in Maryvale, which is more intimate, has good food and usually has very good seats available. The Rangers' home field in Surprise is also great if you can handle the long drive. (Do a victory lap around the stadium in your Giants hat, and stay for a deep-fried Twinkie.) The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks are opening a new stadium on the east side of Scottsdale.

3. Avoid the bleachers in Scottsdale Stadium: The bleacher seats at Scottsdale Stadium were designed for a much smaller species of primate - think spider monkey or lemur. Leg room is nearly nonexistent. It's better to sit on the lawn or even get a standing-room-only seat. One more design flaw for high-maintenance fans spoiled by AT&T; Park: The outfield seats are not angled toward the plate, so you'll end the day with a pain in the neck. Which means you'll need to self-medicate in ...

4. Enjoy your low bar tab: The best nonbaseball part of spring training is camping out at a dive sports bar, consuming three pitchers and two dozen wings, and getting a bill for $32. (No guarantee that this will work at the swankier downtown Scottsdale bars.) Airfare and hotels are expensive, but the bars are still a deal, especially during happy hour. Consider synchronizing your trip with March Madness, which begins on March 15 and ends April 4.

5. Plan for traffic: Traffic in the Phoenix area gets more brutal each year. If you're driving, arrive at Scottsdale Stadium at least 45 minutes early. Account for that when you're planning airport shuttles and trips to far-flung stadiums. If you're driving on freeways, beware the diabolical speed-trap cameras - you can get multiple speeding tickets without setting eyes on a cop.

6. Release the hounds: If your travel down the wrong roads, you might assume there's nothing to do in the Phoenix area except got to bars and gentleman's clubs. But take a closer look. Our favorite outside-the-box outing: going to the Phoenix Greyhound Park ( www.phoenixgreyhoundpark.com) to bet on the dogs. Second favorite: hanging out in the malls while shopping for deeply discounted Amar'e Stoudemire basketball jerseys.

7. Rock and roll all night: With most games ending in the late afternoon, we always check the concert schedule a couple of weeks before the trip. Flogging Molly, Clay Aiken and Lady Gaga play the greater Phoenix area in the month of March. (Our favorite spring training possibility: Motörhead at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe on March 10.)

As a backup plan, check who's playing at the Tempe Improv. We saw Bob Saget a few years ago and he killed.

8. Turf beats surf: As a Bay Area resident spoiled by the culinary delights that the region has to offer, I've been disappointed by many of the Italian restaurants, sushi places and even some of the Mexican restaurants. For the past several years, our "nice meal" has been at a steak house, which rarely disappoints. My favorites:

-- Don & Charlies: The food is just OK, but the atmosphere is great. Filled with history - every baseball fan should go once every few years. ( www.donandcharlies.com)

-- Frasher's Smokehouse & Lounge: The St. Louis-style barbecue is delicious, and there are couches and big-screen televisions strewn around for maximum comfort. Also a great place to bump into players. ( www.frashers.com)

-- BLT Steak: On the pricey end, but Bay Area foodies won't be fazed. Last year's meal was possibly the best we've had in 10 years - and we're pretty sure Sandra Day O'Connor was throwing a party next door. We'll definitely return in 2011. ( www.bltscottsdale.com)

E-mail Peter Hartlaub at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle