Help with Budget trip

[kymmyk13]

I have been reading up on the YES education program, and it appears that if you sign your child up for one of the sessions, you can get quite a discount on both of your park tickets. Just something to think about if you need to cut costs.

checked that out and there is only 1 for her age the week we are there and it is closed, I will keep checking thought. Thanks.

With a 7 year old, I would probably just drive. Would it be cheaper for you to buy groceries before you go and take a cooler in the car? The one thing I am leaving room for in our budget-the plan is to eat dinner at the condo every evening but I know in reality once we get there, I won't want to leave the parks so I will allow some extra money for dinner in the parks too.

The last several times we have gone we only stayed in the park late 1 time to see fireworks and we got there late that day, due to DD7 having mild Autism, we can not stay in the parks for 12 hours, she can not handle it. We get there early hit the main things she wants to do on a leisurly pace and try to leave by 5:30 or 6:00 at the latest.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

So the drive is 11 hours. The first 1-1/2 hours needs to be done whether you fly or drive, so the drive really only adds 9-1/2 hours. You need to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight, so the drive really only adds 7-1/2 hours, and that's assuming your flight leaves on time. Add in the time to claim your bags and get the rental car and get from the airport to your destination and you're probably only looking at saving about 6 hours by flying. No way would I go to the hassle of flying to save 6 hours (or less if there are any flight delays).

Don't forget the flight time. That's a mininum of 2 hours *if* she can get a non-stop. If she has to connect, it could be 4-5 hours.

It's funny because my last flight was one where an 13-hour-drive would have put me right at my destination. I left my house at 4:30 a.m. and arrived at my destination at 1:00 p.m. My original flight & my connection were on time, and the destination airport was RIGHT ON the highway that led to my destination. In other words, best case scenario for me. 8.5 hours to fly, or I could have driven it in 13. My return trip took 10 hours due to traffic gridlock in a city I wouldn't even have been in had I driven. Whew boy, sure came out ahead on that one -

 

[Marionnette]

So the drive is 11 hours. The first 1-1/2 hours needs to be done whether you fly or drive, so the drive really only adds 9-1/2 hours. You need to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight, so the drive really only adds 7-1/2 hours, and that's assuming your flight leaves on time. Add in the time to claim your bags and get the rental car and get from the airport to your destination and you're probably only looking at saving about 6 hours by flying. No way would I go to the hassle of flying to save 6 hours (or less if there are any flight delays).

My own personal preference is to fly if the drive is over 300 miles. 11 hours in a car is still 11 hours sitting in a car. Waiting at the airport has never been an issue for me. I just grab my Kindle and pass the time. I can't read in the car, so I would have to take a Dramamine and close my eyes for the trip (if I'm not driving, LOL!) It's not the way that I like to begin my vacation.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My own personal preference is to fly if the drive is over 300 miles. 11 hours in a car is still 11 hours sitting in a car. Waiting at the airport has never been an issue for me. I just grab my Kindle and pass the time. I can't read in the car, so I would have to take a Dramamine and close my eyes for the trip (if I'm not driving, LOL!) It's not the way that I like to begin my vacation.

Basically anything under 250 miles, you're actually faster to go in a car. 250-400ish is kind of a tie - sometimes faster to fly, sometimes not (particularly if a connection is involved). Beyond 400, it starts to tilt in the direction of flying *speaking strictly in terms of time* even if a reasonable connection is involved. Probably a little further if a stupid connection is involved (like a long layover or flying way out of your way).

It's at that point you start having to weigh things like:

*cost
*packing (you have to leave a lot of stuff at home if you fly)
*whether or not there's anything interesting between home & your destination