Your thoughts please

[lbfluffy]

I have united travel vouchers that we received from our last trip. I need to use them before they expire. I'm considering using them for our upcoming cruise instead of driving. If we drove it would take us about five hours. If we fly, we would need to drive almost two hours to the airport. Then we would need to fly into Los Angeles because that is where United flies and then take a shuttle to cruise terminal. So out of our pocket if we fly we would pay $50 total for baggage fees and the shuttle round trip total would cost $64 so total $114. My husband feels this is a bad idea. He said it would still be the same amount of time either flying or driving. If we fly we would do a hotel that offers a park and fly and if we drove we would do a park and cruise hotel in Long Beach. I researched the hotel and the best western in San Francisco or long beach are the same price, plus we have gift cards for that so no money out of pocket for that. So hopefully I made sense and I can get your opinion.

[firefly333]

If I was 5 hours away I would drive for sure, sorry its not the answer you seem to want to hear.

Fly to florida, do a last minute weekend 3 day cruise?

[Nickymjw1]

Would you be saving time by flying? If not I would just drive.

I hate long distance drives but I also hate delays at the airport, which is a chance you take. Then you might have to wait on the shuttle.


I would drive.

[wrigley80]

If you have travel vouchers for United, I would fly to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa and do a quick 3,4, or 5 day cruise. Get the most out of your money on your travel vouchers

[kjunea]

You have to be at the airport a minimum of an hour ahead of time for your flight, plus flight time, plus getting luggage, then getting the shuttle and shuttle time to dock. Also, are you planning on flying down the day of the cruise?

I think your husband is right, it's pretty much a wash either way, time and money wise.

[cathyz]

Originally Posted by wrigley80

If you have travel vouchers for United, I would fly to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa and do a quick 3,4, or 5 day cruise. Get the most out of your money on your travel vouchers

I think they're already booked on the Splendor out of Long Beach, that's what they're asking about.

[cathyz]

Originally Posted by lbfluffy

I have united travel vouchers that we received from our last trip. I need to use them before they expire. I'm considering using them for our upcoming cruise instead of driving. If we drove it would take us about five hours. If we fly, we would need to drive almost two hours to the airport. Then we would need to fly into Los Angeles because that is where United flies and then take a shuttle to cruise terminal. So out of our pocket if we fly we would pay $50 total for baggage fees and the shuttle round trip total would cost $64 so total $114. My husband feels this is a bad idea. He said it would still be the same amount of time either flying or driving. If we fly we would do a hotel that offers a park and fly and if we drove we would do a park and cruise hotel in Long Beach. I researched the hotel and the best western in San Francisco or long beach are the same price, plus we have gift cards for that so no money out of pocket for that. So hopefully I made sense and I can get your opinion.

I would drive, we live in Morgan Hill and drive to cruises in SoCal all the time, and you're a bit closer than we are.

[chipq]

Sorry, another opinion for driving. If your drive time is only about 5 hours, it comes close to the time to drive to SFO, park, shuttle to terminal, check in, fly, wait for baggage, claim baggage and drag it out to shuttle stop, wait for shuttle, trip to pier. Seems easier to drive.


http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[Zolor23]

Originally Posted by cathyz

I think they're already booked on the Splendor out of Long Beach, that's what they're asking about.

Then do another one after that :P

I wish I could have that problem

[SadieN]

Just for fun
A comparison

Parking at the Long Beach pier is now $17/day $119 for the week.

Wear n tear, insurance and gas will be around 56c* a mile. It is 290 miles from Los Banos to the Dome according to Google. That's $168.7oneway or $337.40 roundtrip.
*56c/mile is what our messenger service charges us for delivery.

How much is a Cruise and Snooze package?

Time wise it is a wash. What would be better for you? A five hour drive home or flying then a two hour drive home?

ETA--- Be very careful with the hotels in Long Beach. Some areas are extremely dicey. Look for posts by Bruin Steve on the West Coast Departures Board for hotel recommenadations.

[Jason'smom]

I think you should drive.

Have you considered selling your travel vouchers on EBay?

[o-state girl]

I'm another vote for driving. There are too many variables in the flying scenario, and if anything goes wrong then your husband gets to play the, "I told you so card." If you drive, and it goes bad, then you get to play the card

[lbfluffy]

Thanks all for your thoughts. You made my hubby very happy. He loves being right. Lol!!! He better not gloat too much or he will be making friends with the couch real quick! But I cannot sell vouchers that is what terms of use say. However found out I can give them away. I thought they were not transferable. So I'm going to give them to my best friend who is flying to Miami for her Valor cruise in November. She always gives us tickets to the fair because she owns amusement park rides at the fair. So we owe her.

[rockbock]

Sell the travel vouchers on craigslist for about $200 or $250 each (no fees like eBay and they will be scooped up quickly). It won't take you too much longer to drive and you'll pocket some cash from the vouchers.

[mek]

If you drive you don't have to worry about how much your bags weigh or packing liquids. No delays to consider or the hassle of going through airport security. Flying is a PITA anymore, so I would definitely opt to drive.

[hockeyluver]

Originally Posted by firefly333

If I was 5 hours away I would drive for sure, sorry its not the answer you seem to want to hear.

Fly to florida, do a last minute weekend 3 day cruise?

I agree with Fire on this one!!

[thinfool]

Giving them away is cool.

Or you could plan a more involved trip...like flying to Vancouver...cruise to Anchorage and fly home from there.

You always wanted to do an Alaskan cruise, didn't you?

[MrFunInTheSun]

Since it's only a five hour drive, I'd drive. Save your United vouchers for another trip. If you drive the five hour's you'll have more control of your time leading up to your cruise too. If you didn't live two hours away from your local airport then that might be a different story, but if you are already driving two hours to fly, you may as well drive the other three directly to the port!

Happy cruising!