Hotel w/Airport Shuttle vs. Airport Parking

[tinkermom23]

Ok, I know all of you budget minded Disers will have good advice!

We live more than 3 1/2 hours from the airport. The departure day is fine but the day we get back to MN we are scheduled to land about 10:00pm.
Parking at the airport or park-n-fly will cost between $90-$130.
The cheapest hotel with airport shuttle and parking will cost $170 minimum.

DH thinks we will be wide awake and good to drive home. He wants to sleep in his own bed and save the $50+. I am worried that we will be tired and will stop 1/2 way home at a hotel if we can find one. Then we will be paying for airport parking AND a hotel somewhere.
By the way, we lose one hour with the time change too.

We can't switch to an earlier flight because this is the only nonstop for the day.

So.... wise Disers.... what would you do???

 

[Tinkerbelle9980]

Have you checked the park sleep fly website? See if they have anything that isn't too expensive for the return night. That way your hotel room and parking while you are gone will be included.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd drive home. With the 2 of you switching off it wouldn't be bad. You could also park somewhere for a 20 minute snooze, sometimes that is all it takes. Just be honest with each other and only drive what you can even if it means switching every 30 minutes. The first hour or so you will be wide awake just from the "excitement" of landing getting off the plane, getting the luggage, getting the car. By the time the first person starts to get tired I would bet you are half way home if not more. We have done this more times than I would like to remember!

 

[momofsamandeden]

Most of the hotels on hotwire in the MSP section closest to the airport have parking fees that are less than if you went with park and fly and you do get a night out of it. We have actually done it both ways where we have bought the night before a flight and paid for the parking or we have bought the day of the return and paid for parking before hand. I know that the Holiday Inn off 494 was nice to stay at and had that option and it was 39 a night over Christmas with a Green Mill attached to it. When we flew out this past Christmas the storm was in high gear and although they did not feel safe running the shuttle they did pay for everyones taxi to the airport.
Generally we get the hotel on hotwire and then call to make the arrangement to park there longer.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Have you searched online to see if there are any off-site long stay parking lots/garages that shuttle to the airport? We use them in JAX and you can save a boatload using them for the $5.50 a day instead of the $15 the airport charges. Try something like http://www.parkrideflyusa.com/. Just a thought.

 

[tinkermom23]

Thanks for all the replies. We're looking at other options now....
Thanks!