Would you fly or drive?

[todzwife]

Sorry...posted before I wrote anything. Stupid touchpad.


Anyway, we don't live near a major airport. Closest one is 3 hours away. The way our trip is planned, we could break up a 14ish hour drive into 3 days (we have family along the way) or fly.

I figured it out and the time difference is only about 4-5 hours each way to fly (because of air security checks, renting a car etc.) but we'd save a good $1000 on the flight and $125+on a car rental if we take our own car. Another plus would be that we could BRING our own cooler of food instead of finding a grocery store when we arrive etc. DD has food allergies so we'll be bringing a LOT for her.

WWYD and why?

We have 2 kids. They'll be 5 and almost 3. Both like being in the car. So that's a non-issue.

 

[eduk8r26]

It's a no-brainer for me--I won't fly anywhere, so I would drive. But I like driving. I've driven cross-country 4 times with kids. You see much more when you drive. And if you're talking about spending that much money, that makes it even more of a reason to drive. But also depends on how much gas would be.

 

[mommaU4]

I would drive. I just hate to fly.

The seats are small. There's no leg room. My SIL always ends up getting a cold when she flys. My in-laws last flight to visit us here was horrible. Scary turbulance and at one point they said the plane kind of like "dropped" and several people screamed!

Flights are always being canceled, or delayed plus you have to arrive so early that there's a lot of down time waiting around the airport.

The airlines are cutting down on what they offer you, and how much luggage you can check and yet ticket prices are on the rise from what I've seen.

Flying used to be a pleasure, a luxury even. Now just about everyone I talk to cannot deny what a hassle it is.

I much prefer a road trip as to me, that's part of the fun. Especially if you can break the trip up and maybe even do some other sight-seeing along the way.

It sounds to me like with the food allergies, plus the fact you have family to stay with and the money you'll be saving, plus you said your kids travel well in the car, driving seems like the best choice.

 

[mariezp]

If you have plenty of time and the kids do well in the car driving is probably good. You really do get to see a lot more sites on a road trip plus save some money. We do have some wonderful memories from many of our drives.

However, in our case, time is usually an issue and while the kids travel well, the DH begins getting irritable after a few hours so the best option for most of us is to fly.
For several years we took the train. Then it was the train out and driving back home. It got to be such a hassle with rental cars, making arrangements for drop offs and pick ups at the stations, and finally we kept running into bad weather conditions.
Finally we have settled on flying. I can only tell you that for us it is so worth it to have everything done in 1 day. On the plane in the morning and at the park the same evening. Not to mention we get to spend the extra time we would be traveling at DL!

You can always shop online and have groceries delivered to save from making a trip to the store. We have done that and it works out great.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is the drive going to be pleasant, or is it filled with mountains and curves and people going to fast and such?

I loved driving, LOVED IT, anywhere until summer of '02 when I had a fairly large panic attack starting in Idaho and ending when we finally got to my uncle's ranch smack dab in the middle of Montana. Driving hasn't been the same since for me. I was crying, no matter who was driving, most of the way through the passes from WA to CA in September.

So that's not fun if that's the sort of drive it might be.

But since you're seriously considering it, you probably aren't like that (neither was I until that trip, man did I love driving ).

Really check out the costs, though. Taking 3 days could be more maddening than you think it will be. You're increasing your food costs as well, by dragging it out. A 14 hour roadtrip can be done with fewer days than that. But if your family will get sad if you don't visit, then of course visit. On the other hand, stopping in with family on your way to a bigger trip can be seen by some people as rude.

OK, well, um, welcome to my brain.


I'm glad to see you planning a trip again, it's been a frustrating time for you, trying to get this trip done!

 

[Katie0677]

I would definitely drive, especially since you kids enjoy riding in the car!
Katie

 

[kylieh]

We've made 12 hour trips by car with DD5. Enjoyed having our car at the other end, and broke it up overnight - day one 7 hours, day two 5 hours. We changed drivers frequently and it was pretty easy. We also didn't have to worry about overpacking, bigger than normal souveniers, etc.

You mention that you have family on the way, and I'm guess that's why the 2 stops. Can you cut down the trip to one night each way? Three days is an eternity to a 3 and 5 year olds, and it may be good to be able to say "Today we're driving to Aunty Xs house, then the day after we drive to DL." That way there will be less on the road food costs, etc.

 

[rentayenta]

I would drive too. Heck you'll already be spending 6 hours in the car to and from the airport.................We live in Utah 11 hours away and always drive. Sometimes we spend the night in St. George (the half way mark) and sometimes we drive straight through. This September we plan on driving straight through on the way there and stopping overnight on the way home. I am not sure how much I'll even save with the price of gas considering it will be only me and the two little kids but I really like having my car.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I'm a flier, but we're only an hour from a major airport... dd just turned four 2 weeks ago and has been on over 20 planes... I won't drive more than 4 hours if I can help it!

--Lisa

 

[tnd]

I'd drive if it were reasonable and it sounds like it will be in your case. Also, it's really nice to have a car at DLR because there are some good places to eat nearby that are much easier with driving.

I used to love flying, but now it's horrific. We have no choice most of the time because we live over 1000 miles from each set of grandparents (and Disney - either FL or CA), but if I could drive, I would every time. Also, I grew up in Northern California and some of my favorite vacation memories as a kid are from leaving super-early in the morning and driving to DL.

 

[mystic_path]

I would totally drive it if I were you as long as you have enough time to do all you wanted to do so you wouldnt regret it later

 

[todzwife]

Thanks

Our original plan was to leave Sunday AM, Drive to the airport and catch a noon-ish flight, get there around 3, rent a car, drive from LAX to Disney, check in, go grocery shopping and get ready for Monday-Wed. at DL and Thursday at Knotts. My family that we'll be staying with is actually going to come as well so we may just caravan out there together with walkie-talkies LOL! We'd be flying back to ABQ Friday and have Saturday and Sunday to gather our thoughts.

This wouldn't be much different other than we'd leave the Thursday before, Drive 4 hours Frida, stay overnight, drive 3 hours Saturday, stay overnight and then drive the longest leg Sunday (and get there at the same time). Leave Friday AM and do the whole thing backwards, but we'd get home Sunday instead of Friday. There's plenty of time so we wouldn't be rushed.

And with it being Thanksgiving week, I don't even know if SW will be offering their $99/way flights so the amount of $ may be even more than $1000. To drive it would cost about $200-$300 round trip.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[gramto2boys]

we have to fly, to far to drive and not enough time to take our time. but if I could I would drive it!!

 

[twinspluscade]

Sorry...posted before I wrote anything. Stupid touchpad.


Anyway, we don't live near a major airport. Closest one is 3 hours away. The way our trip is planned, we could break up a 14ish hour drive into 3 days (we have family along the way) or fly.

I figured it out and the time difference is only about 4-5 hours each way to fly (because of air security checks, renting a car etc.) but we'd save a good $1000 on the flight and $125+on a car rental if we take our own car. Another plus would be that we could BRING our own cooler of food instead of finding a grocery store when we arrive etc. DD has food allergies so we'll be bringing a LOT for her.

WWYD and why?

We have 2 kids. They'll be 5 and almost 3. Both like being in the car. So that's a non-issue.

I would totally drive, especially at it being just a 14 hour drive. I'd probably break it up into two days--but I'd be tempted to do it in one.

According to Mapquest, we have a 26 hour drive coming up this September. . Now, that has me nervous. We're going to take 2.5 days on the way there, but have only 2 days on the way back. Ugh!

Kelly

 

[50sjayne]

We're going to drive, it's a 14-15 hour drive for us, straight on one freeway. We like to leave around 4 pm and arrive just as the park opens. It's easy to sleep in the car and take turns driving and it saves one night of hotel cost. Ont he way back we'll stop and get a priceline hotel in Sacramento and visit with my husbands uncle. It's easier to drive straight through there than back for us because of the Siskious. My husband has a fear of flying and he hates all the hassle as well. I tried to talk him into it when I found $78 round trip flights last year from our own smaller airport to LAX and couldn't convince him. Lol. It's ok though -driving you can bring everything but the kitchen sink and we like to go different places like Grauman's/walk of fame, what I'd like to do this trip is go on Ellen or 2 1/2 men, something like that.