Planes, Trains, And Automobiles: Travel Tips For Smoother Transit
- Updated: 04/08/2022
Part five of our ten-series “Amazeballs Guide To Better Family Travel.”
Before I go all-in on a travel destination, I take time to make sure the costs of getting to the place I want to go won’t blow my budget.
There are few things more disappointing than starting to plan a dream vacation, then realizing round-trip plane tickets are running an out-of-reach $1,500 or more.
There are few things more disappointing than starting to plan a dream vacation, then realizing round-trip plane tickets are running an out-of-reach $1,500 or more each during high season. For a family of four, this adds up quickly. Expensive tickets often make me rethink my plans altogether.
When Fares Are Too High, Stay Flexible
Sometimes I will do an about-face and drop existing plans to jump on a great fare to a more exotic location. Like when I saw round-trip tickets to Rome cost only $50 more than the plane fare to Salt Lake City, where we were planning to fly into for a spring break, and I booked the tickets to Rome instead.
Other times, I skip flying altogether and drive instead to save money and have a more relaxed trip. I find the slower pace of car travel less stressful with no rigid timelines or packing requirements. Plus, I’m a geography-geek. If I’m not driving, I like to navigate, following along the map as we make our way.
I view long car trips as an American rite of passage that help ensure my kids don't take plane travel for granted.
I also view long car trips as an American rite of passage that help ensure my kids don’t take plane travel for granted. After a summer driving trip from Chicago to South Carolina – which included an excellent en route stay at Great Smoky Mountains National Park – I no longer hear complaints from the kids about the length of any driving vacation. One massive car trip and the rest of them pale in comparison.
Travel Transportation: Money Vs. Time
At various times in my travel life – saving the maximum amount of money on transportation was key and dictated my travel decisions. I would fly at inconvenient times, take an overnight bus, or change my travel dates without a second thought to save more money.
However, now I am older with a family, I have less time, reduced flexibility, and a bigger travel budget. These days, convenience and ease play a determining factor in making my transportation decisions. I’ve learned the hard way – after being the recipient of repeated and vocal objections – that the rest of my family does not think waking up at 3 AM to catch a more affordably priced flight is a good idea.
So, I opt to avoid repeat mistakes, and whenever necessary, adjust my trip plans and budgets to accommodate reasonable and easy transportation. Even if it costs a bit more, keeping everyone less grumpy is priceless.
I’ve broken down my top learnings into four transportation articles displayed below, covering planes, trains, and automobiles. Happy travels!
Transportation Breakdown: Four Articles In This Series
Love to travel? Sign up for my monthly Gather & Go Travel Discovery Newsletter and get a free trip budget calculator.
Hi, I am Janice and and I run the Gather and Go Travel blog. I am a travel writer, blogger, and bookhound, specializing in family and group travel. I have traveled extensively domestically and internationally to 40+ countries. I am fascinated by other cultures, religions, and languages—and love to share what I have learned in my writing. For more on my background, read my bio, our story, and how to work with me.
Instagram...
love this post?
Would you like to read more? Sign up for our Discovery newsletter + receive our FREE Trip Budget Calculator.
