vacation ideas

[buzz2400]

My son and girlfriend have southwest credits that expire next may. they are under 25 so if they rent a car they would pay a big price. They are on a budget. What is a good vacation spot that you do not need a car rental other than disney.

 

[powellrj]

Vegas?

 

[Alesia]

Chicago?
New York?

 

[worm761]

San Francisco. DC.

 

[elaine amj]

Any big city really

I would use southwest's search by map option - put in your departure city and preferred dates and it will show you where they fly with the prices for each spot. I love it since sometimes I just don't know where I want to go. I just know i want to go somewhere!

A note: check how they would travel from the airport to the city.

For DC if you fly into Reagan, they can take the subway easily. But if you fly into Baltimore Washington (I do because it is much cheaper), it's a bus/subway combo or $50 one way uber ride.

For Chicago, Southwest flies into the west side of the city and public transit is accessible (I stayed at an airport hotel there on my last trip).

For NYC, I personally found the cheaper airports (that SW flies to)...that it was difficult/time consuming to access the city (then again, I only researched it briefly).

For Vegas, its a quick cab ride to the Strip. Hotels are cheap, but food and shows (and gaming) can add up very quickly if they are not disciplined about budget.

Charleston? I did Louisville, KY with a cab ride from the airport (not too far).

If the airport is not too far from the destination, cab rides/uber can be very reasonable especially if things are concentrated into walking distance in the destination.

 

[Praying Colonel]

New Orleans. Get a cab ride to a hotel near the French Quarter and you'll have plenty to do there, plus good mass transit (street cars!) to go throughout the city. Just spent 3 days in NOLA and just scratched the surface. Good times.

 

[buzz2400]

thanks for the replies. I think it will either be new orleans or vegas.

 

[MomToOne]

Paris. (Yeah, I know - Southwest doesn't fly there. But no car needed!)

 

[ldo]

BWI (Baltimore) is super easy and cheap to DC via MARC commuter train-about 25 minutes and $7 each way straight into Union Station. Make sure to arrive/depart during hours that MARC runs.
For no car, I like DC, NYC (easy via commuter train LIRR from Islip--where SWA flys), San Fran, maybe Boston? however, NYC and Boston could be $$$ for the hotel. For DC, they can stay on a metro (subway) line farther out to save on hotel. Vegas might be a good idea if they can get a hotel deal. Miami would also be OK without a car, if they took a cab and then just stayed in the S. beach area, they could go by foot to a lot of places with a few cabs.

 

[mjkacmom]

Cruise?

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's another vote for a cruise.

 

[elaine amj]

BWI (Baltimore) is super easy and cheap to DC via MARC commuter train-about 25 minutes and $7 each way straight into Union Station. Make sure to arrive/depart during hours that MARC runs.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the MARC train. We did the bus to connect to the Metro one time. The last trip, I added it up and for our family of 4, it was cheaper (and faster and easier) to uber it. We ended up using uber for our whole Washington trip because public transit with a family of 4 got pricey.

 

[HeatherC]

If they go in the winter, Fort Lauderdale or Miami can be fun.

 

[Colleen27]

For DC if you fly into Reagan, they can take the subway easily. But if you fly into Baltimore Washington (I do because it is much cheaper), it's a bus/subway combo or $50 one way uber ride.

Taking the train in worked really well for us. We got a great rate into BWI and took the commuter train to Union Station. We did catch a cab to our hotel from there ($15 w/tip) because we had all three kids and luggage for 5, but had it just been DH & I and our rolling luggage I'd have called it reasonable walking distance to our downtown hotel. If you're arriving during hours the commuter train doesn't run, Amtrak can work too; we did that for the return trip because we flew home on New Years and the commuter train wasn't running, but for our arrival I preferred the commuter train since for that you don't need to pre-book tickets.

 

[TravelMommy]

I also suggest a cruise, a lot of fun and no need to drive anywhere.

 

[tink9702]

I've found Miami, New Orleans & Boston to be very easy without a car.

 

[tiggerluver12]

Just because he is under 25 does not mean it will cost a fortune. I just rented my 21 year daughter a car from the Santa Ana airport in LA because her car broke down. Yes, there was an extra $125 security deposit we had to put on it, but when she returns the car, it will be refunded. I rented the car for around $110 a week.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I vote for a cruise, your food is included in the price.

 

[ImDMous]

Portland OR is a great place for young adults and has a huge craft beer scene and a great public transit system.

 

[kathy884]

What's their vacation budget? That might help us make better suggestions. Some of the places mentioned can be pretty pricey. And just because there is usually a 25% premium on car rentals for younger drivers wouldn't completely and totally rule that out. Also what do they like -- nature / national parks, beach/warm, fun city activities. And what kind of lodging accommodations do they prefer. (e.g. DS 19 for example will be going to London after a study abroad five week class and that will be pretty economical because he'll be staying in a youth hostel and doing some of his own cooking. Big cities, though, can be pretty pricey depending on what kind of accommodations you are looking for vs. smaller places.)

A cruise or all inclusive place would be really easy if they like that kind of thing and that works with their budget.