Drive vs Flying

[gimpysfamily]

Here's the deal. We are taking the 6 day Freedom for Spring Break and planned on driving from Indianapolis to Fort Lauderdale. 1200 miles. 18 hour drive. We picked this cruise because it does allow us to have time to drive. Kids don't have Friday off so we would have to start after they get out of school on Friday, Mar 19th. Drive as far as possible and spend the night somewhere in Georgia. Then drive all day to get close to FL so we can board on Sunday. We planned to try and get to FL and take a shuttle to port from a hotel that will allow us to park our car for free.

There are five of us. On the stop in Georgia we will probably find somewhere we can all sleep together. In FL, we will probably spring for two rooms. I was checking airline prices and found a DIRECT flight for less than $1000 for all of us plus about $25 a bag checked luggage. We will probably check at least 4-5 bags. Also, we'd have a car at airport for 7 days (we'd fly in day early). Airport has since been redone to a new terminal and I'm not sure what parking rates are. I don't remember seeing more distant park and fly places available the one time I have been there.

It may seem like a no brainer but there are advantages to driving. You can pack what you want without too much concern. We have a nice mini van and our kids are good travelers. Oldest can help drive, too. Kids are 10, 13, and 16.

It would be great to have a extra day to recover from traveling as we must go back to work on Monday when kids return to school.

What advise can you offer?

Carnival Freedom 3/21/10
Carnival Miracle 11/28/09
Carnival Valor 12/21/08
Carnival Glory 3/11/06
Celebrity Infinity 5/05
Carnival Paradise 11/16/03
Carnival Triumph 1/26/02
Celebrity Century 3/01
Carnival Imagination 12/13/99
Carnival Fascination 10/26/96

[firefly333]

I drove to Fl from Texas and my Dad broke his hip and had to have it replaced, so I had to rush home. My Dad put this big guilt trip on everyone, I was 1 hour and 30 minutes late picking up my mom and getting to the Rehab center where they transferred him. He made me promise not to cruise out of Florida over the fact I drove, so I had to drive my car home, couldnt fly home (my sister doesnt drive).

Im flying next time, if I ever decide to go out of Florida again. ... and there are only two of us. I love to drive but not with elderly parents I guess.

[CruiseLover824]

In 2008, a group of my friends and I drove from Toledo, OH to Miami for our Freedom cruise when the ship was docked there! We too didn't like the idea of paying almost $800 a piece for plane tickets. (We booked late.) We didn't find that the drive down was too bad. Of course everyone was excited and we couldn't wait to get there. It was also great because we didn't have to worry about airline restrictions for our bags--and being five women, we had a lot of bags!!

I will say that the drive home was horrible!! We had been busy all week long, so we were all pretty tired, and the drive home seemed to take forever! One of our friends stayed in Florida, so we had 4 drivers on the way home---but no one wanted to drive!! Plus, the traffic going up north was bad because everyone was going home! One plus was that we were able to bring the duty free liquor home without worrying about it breaking!!

We flew down for our 2009 cruise---and it was great! No worries about falling asleep on the road! Most of the same people are cruising again in April of 2010, and we have to fly--because we are sailing out of San Juan. We booked as soon as we could, and ended up with flights for only $370 from Detroit.

[ManyMore]

Driving could be a fun adventure just make sure you weigh everything out. I think mapquest will give you an estimate of gas you will use and how much it will cost from there and back. Remember you have a hotel for 2 nights plus food on the way down, 1 nigh plus food on the way back, gas, tolls, parking at the port for a week. I think it could end up costing the same to drive as fly if you can get 5 for $1000.

[don24]

we drove from rhode island (no its not in new york)to Miami on two different cruise and i liked it.be shure to give more time than you think you need and consolidate stops .we lost more time thinking we would stop for 5 minutes and ended up 20 minutes .at 60 mph thats a lose of 20 miles.price was cheaper to drive even with my donations required by police in dc and Georgia.

[golfadj]

We live in Va and usually will drive to ports in Florida. Can be a pain at times but has it advantages as well.

This way we come and go as we please and do not have to put up with what the airlines are doing to their customers.

We go thru open country and traffic has never been an issue and as a plus we spend the night with my sister in Ft Lauderdale.

I would make sure your car is in good shape and enjoy the adventure of driving.

When you get into the state you will be spending the night stop at rest area and get a coupon book for hotels. Will usually save quite a bit.

[milton333]

FWIW, if you're able to drive through the night with a well-rested driver, that makes the trip extremely easy. Very little traffic on the road at night beyond cross-country truckers. We've driven from KC to South Carolina, leaving in the afternoon/evening and driving straight through. It's not for everyone, but my work is more flexible, and I can take departure day off and sleep during the day so I'm fresh to take over when my husband is too tired to drive any farther. A rented minivan is a great cross-country vehicle, too, plenty of room to move around in and stretch out in the back.

My only thought on driving 18 hours is not the first leg of the trip, when you'll be all excited about the vacation. It's driving home. I've done several cross-country drives, including a couple of moves, and after completing those I've not wanted to set foot in my car again for weeks. When you're all vacationed out, the prospect of that drive home can be really daunting. It would be easier to do this leg with an overnight rest stop, and possibly to schedule in a vacation-y stop somewhere along your journey for everyone to look forward to.

[canner2u]

For me, I would be of 2 minds as well. I would enjoy the drive down, but hate the drive back as we would be let down since the cruise was over and we had such a long drive ahead of us.

A thought for you. When I lived in WI, I would drive to Milwaukee the day before my flight and spend the night at a hotel that offered a Stay & Fly package. With spending the night before my flight, I was able to leave my car there free and get a shuttle to the airport. Then when I got to Miami, I would grab a cab to my hotel, we always stay at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, and then the next day grab a cab to the port.

Many hotels in Ft Lauderdale offer shuttle service from the airport and a shuttle service to the port, so I would look into finding a hotel there.

I did not have to worry about a possible vehicle problem while traveling to or from the port, I was not tired from the drive and was therefore very refreshed and able to enjoy even the embarkation part of my cruise. My family were all rested and when the cruise was done, it was only a matter of a few hours and we were home. No cranky, grumpy people on the drive back.

Just my thoughts.

[DanJ]

I think that planning to average 67mph on that long of a drive is serious wishful thinking. We were 10 hours driving the 500 miles back from Baltimore last week, and that was moving along at a good clip, and managing to coincide washroom stops with meal and gas stops, which doesn't always work when you have a group. And this was August, not March which always has some weather surprises up it's sleeve.

If you leave after school hours, you are probably near Atlanta around midnight. Getting past there at night would be preferable than in daytime, even for a Saturday. Even then, you are still the better part of 12 hours to Ft Lauderdale. If your work schedules allow, I'd pull the kids out of school that Friday and leave earlier. One thing that seems to be universal is that the last school day before spring break is a wasted day anyway.

I'd be taking that airfare deal without even pulling out the calculator to see how much extra it really costs.

[MamaParrotHead]

No way would I drive. To me, the best case scenario is that it zaps you and devoids you of all energy for days after arriving. The worst case scenario is that you could have an accident of some sort and miss the ship and/or having a family cooped up in that small of a space for that period of time could be a crappy way to start a vacation.

No brainer, I'd fly.

[ultrairnmn]

Our family have driven a couple times to get on a cruise. Once it was 550 miles, other around 900. I wouldn't do any drive that takes over 1 day.

As mentioned, coming back is no fun, but its no fun coming back on the plane either.

[ladyd11933]

We also live in Indiana and parking is $7.00 a day at the economy parking at Indy.

We flew to Miami last spring break and we paid $1152 for 4 of us so I would say $1000 for 4 of your aren't bad. What airline? I am also looking for flights for spring break and can't find any that cheap.

Our friends who went with us drove and they said the trip down wasn't bad but the trip back seemed like it took forever - 17 hours 40 minutes with just bathroom breaks back.

I have debated driving for next Spring Break but know that I will dread it, hoping to find flights cheaper.

[Whimsy]

We live in Illinois and have taken to flying when traveling to Florida. I just find the cost is a wash and we are in a lot better mood and less tired without that long drive. Have you looked into a flight with Southwest, they don't charge for luggage. Each passenger is allowed 2 checked bags plus one carry on. Plenty of luggage even for an over packer like me!

Either way I would still fly in a day early. The Hyatt Place has free shuttle service from the airport and to the port the next day. You will feel so much more relaxed without the long drive. You could even stay over the day after your cruise if you don't want to hurry back. We have done that and it's so nice not to be in rush to return home.

[misguidedangel]

I envy those of you who have the ability to drive to port. It may take time, but you can bring as many bags as you want and you don't have to pay those annoying airline fees for luggage. Also, you can bring back the rum/booze that is over 150 proof! Airlines won't let you take it on the plane

First of all, I do not drive, so that would mean I would have to fly. However, I live in Canada, and if me and whomever I was cruising with wanted to drive to Florida it would take us at least five days of 12 hour day driving to get there, and then same going back....I am not opposed to driving cross Canada and US, but I'd have to pack for a near 3 week trip!!! Therefore, I pay a higher price to fly to the port and the extra costs for the nerve to bring two suitcases on my vacation...

[Edeno]

I agree w/DANJ, I would either pull kids out of school or just fly...If you can get on the road at 4am Friday, most of you can sleep 3-4 hours, then switch drivers, and you could be in Ft. Lauderdale by 10pm, then have 2 full days to recover and get ready for the cruise...this is what we would do since DH doesn't fly...I have been on road trips to Vegas, LA, Seattle and even Orlando (from Texas), with all the tech. toys we bring the time FLIES by and even the drive home (to me) isn't all that bad. Good luck! and have a wonderful cruise!

Edeno in Sacramento

[donaldsc]

You need to figure the true cost of driving - not just the out-of-pocket cost. If it is 1200 each way, that is 2400 miles. The IRS allows you to deduct $0.45 per mile from your taxes so figure half of that per mile or $540. Add to that the cost of meals for 5 people each way unless you plan to brown bag it of maybe $50 per person per trip trip or $500. You could pull over to a rest area but if you stay in a motel, that adds an additional $200. You need to park your car in Florida but you would have had to park at the airport at home so thatis a wash.

That comes in $1240 and when you get to Florida, you will all be beat and will not want to talk to each other.

Yes - you can take a bunch of bags in the car but I am not sure that this is a positive as you will end up taking a whole bunch of stuff that you will never use.

IMHO, I would fly.

DON

[BrytEydBelle]

My husband and I will be driving from Michigan to Ft. Lauderdale in February for our first cruise. We frequently vacation to the south, primarily Florida and South Carolina, and always drive, since my husband is terrified of flying. It actually isn't too bad if you plan it right. We typically leave Michigan around 6 p.m. and drive until around three and get a motel. We then continue on the next day at 10/11 a.m. and drive essentially the rest of the way, taking turns. That first night of driving is invaluable, since you miss traffic for about eight hours and it makes such a big dent in the trip since you aren't stuck. It is a long way, but you can save a lot of money plus get to avoid all the annoyances of air travel.

[we're sailing away....]

Fly you be happer

[cardinalfan]

It sounds like you got a great deal on airline tickets. I would fly.

[osiebosie]

We went over the Fourth of July, and we drove, as the couple that went with us wanted to drive. Mr. M is a very large man, and flying is uncomfortable for him. We did like the fact that we could pack without worrying about the weight of the luggage. We got to do alot of talking on the ride down and back.

It was a 16 hour drive for us, and we broke it up on the way down, but made it in one day on the way back. Coming back sucks, however you have to do it.

Enjoy your cruise, no matter how you get there.

Shay