Before we start talking about where to go and what to see, we should talk about how you're going to get there. There are many options which you already know, airplane, bus, train, rental car, your car, ect.. One rule of thumb I have always kept is "Fly over Five". If it will take me less than five hours to drive, it is usually easier on your wallet (or purse) if you do indeed drive. If it is going to be over five hours the drive will not be cost effective compared to your comfort.
Example: If you were to take a trip from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA it driving would normally take you 5 hours and cost you roughly $60-$70 on gas and food. Flying would take approximately 3 1/2 hours and about $350. Throw in time for departing, landing, delay's, and baggage claim you are looking at about the same time as driving. You would be better off driving in this case.
BUSINESS TRAVELERS: Most business travelers fly early morning or evening. If you are trying to get a free upgrade, try flying during the afternoon hours. There is a better chance to have available business and first class seats on the airplane.
MISTAKE ZONE: Sign up for the frequent flyer miles and try to stick to one airline. I flew for 2 years, taking different airlines, thinking i was saving money because one airline was 30 dollars cheaper than the other one. What the frequent flyer God's don't tell you is that everytime your flight is delayed, you can send an email to the airline and complain "blah, blah, blah" and request free miles. AND THEY GIVE THEM TO YOU! I don't do this on flights that are delayed due to weather because that is out of the companies control, however flights delayed due to technical errors or staffing problems, oh yeah. They make enough money to keep their planes up to date and there are plenty people out there that need jobs. This also counts for rental cars and hotels. Sign up for them and stick with one.
Lets talk about retal cars for a moment. There are plenty of them out there and to be honest with you, they are CHEAP! You can rent a car for a week for under $200. Oh yeah, if the car breaks down on your trip, they will get you another one. If your car breaks down when your 300 miles away, guess who gets to fork up the money to fix it. There really isn't any PRO to taking your own car, maybe you can think of one but I can't. The rental car company i go with is National. They have great rates and a nice emerald club program that you earn points with for free rental days. There are also some locations that leave the keys in the car for you if you are a member, all you have to do is make your reservation online, walk up to the car from baggage claim, get in and drive away! Saves time and you don't have to wait in line with the other non-members.
Buses. I have never had a "pleasant" bus ride. Have you seen your bus station lately? The bus stations I have been to are magnets for gangbangers and the mentally ill. If you feel like being robbed, bothered by pandhandlers, or asked, no told "Give me a cigarette", by all means, hit up the bus station. However, if you want to avoid those situations, try a different mode of transportation.
Trains. Train stations can be in the same category as bus stations but not all. The good thing about trains is that you can purchase your own cabin for some privacy. Trains are faster than buses but slower than taking a rental car. Trains also don't have as many stations or destinations so it could be hard to find one going where you are vacationing.
Trains or Buses. If you have to take a train or bus, make sure you don't arrive at your destination late at night or during the early morning hours. Taxis can be hard to find at most places and you don't want to be playing the "I stare at you" games with the local troublemakers.
Well there you have it, hope you have enjoyed my first travel blog. Next time we will go over one of my vacations and talk about the do's and don'ts that I wish I would have known before I got there!
Take care!
