My husband and I are planning a family vacation. We got our plane tickets yesterday and our plane departs at 6:00 a.m. on the day we leave. The airport we will be leaving from is a couple hours away. We are taking 2 small children with us.
There is a hotel close by the airport and for 130 bucks we can rent a room there the night before our plane leaves and leave our car parked there for up to 14 days. We'll only be gone a week.
To leave your car parked at the airport for a week is 50 bucks.
I think it would make more sense to drive down the night before, spend the night with the kids, and not have to wake up at 2 or 3 and drag kids out that early to get to the airport in time the day our flight leaves.
My husband seems to disagree...
2007-03-26 02:30:23 · 28 answers · asked by Jen F 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
I think it's reasonable. It's more convenient and easier for the kids so they don't have to wake up at such an early time.
2007-03-26 02:53:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, were it me, I would stay at the hotel the night before leaving; it wouldn't even be a question! Personally, unless the money differential really makes a huge dent in the budget or is somehow insurmountable, I think your husband is the one who is being unreasonable -- or, at the very least, not thinking this through.
Air travel is more frustrating now than it used to be, and you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time at an airport before you board. (I don't know where you're going, but clearly, if it's an international flight, it's even worse.) Granted, I've gotten to airports two hours before departure to find I really only needed about half an hour, but who wants to take that chance? And with two kids in tow, everything takes longer.
So let's see...you can "sleep" at home the previous night which basically amounts to getting a couple hours of sleep -- if that -- leaving in the middle of the night for the airport, leaving enough time to go to the "long term" parking lot and taking a shuttle bus to the terminal, and then starting the long, boring process of checking in, going through security, and boarding.
OR, you can do what you suggested, get a decent night's sleep so you start your vacation in something other than a frazzled and exhausted state, get up a few hours later than you would have had to awaken had you "slept" at home, take the shuttle bus to the terminal...and start the aforementioned annoying process of checking in, etc. All for about $20 per person (since the hotel option will end up costing you $80 bucks more than staying at home).
Is this your first vacation (or at least, first air travel) with the kids? You may need to really spell it out for your husband -- just what it will mean to do it his way. (It's not like you can just say "we'll get the kids up at 2 because we have to be on the road at 2:15".)
I absolutely agree with you...but unfortunately I'm not the one you need to convince!! Good luck with that, and, enjoy your vacation!
2007-03-26 09:43:33 · answer #2 · answered by ljb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having done exactly what you want to do, I agree that the little extra money is very worth it. Getting kids onto plane is hard enough. But having to get them up that early would be impossible. If you do get up early and park the car at the airport, when it comes time to pay, say you lost your ticket. They can only charge you for 24 hours. Instead of a week.
2007-03-26 09:37:45 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. E. Bunny A.K.A. Andy. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you are absolutely right and your husband needs to get with the program. I couldn't imagine having to get up in the middle of the night by myself, even worse with small children, and driving to the airport for a 6am flight. At least if you go the night before you are more likely to be better rested and don't have to worry about being tired and driving 2 hours at night.
2007-03-26 09:36:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He must not be used to being around children much! Personally, I'd spend a little more to have less cranky children and stay at the hotel by the airport. Otherwise, it makes for a horribly long, exhausting day of travel for your entire family.
2007-03-26 09:35:41 · answer #5 · answered by §Sally§ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh--you are soooooooo right. I once did the "drive down the morning of" with my daughter, and it was HELL! I swore that I would never do that again. It really was not even becasue of my child that it was so bad, it was just hard to get all that going so early, and I was exhausted even before the trip got started. I would DEFINITELY pay the $ and go down the night before. Make it easier on yourself--life is hard enough. Good luck.
2007-03-26 09:38:52 · answer #6 · answered by Sabrina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We left out car parked at an airport for 10 days...when we got back, it had 4 flats....it was obviously tampered with...if for no other reason, it's wise to go to the hotel
2007-03-26 09:37:43 · answer #7 · answered by EvelynMine 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think spending the night would be best --- you don't want to deal with two cranky little ones on the flight.
Have Fun on vacation --- Can I go ??? I really need a vacation !!
2007-03-26 09:33:42 · answer #8 · answered by bye bye 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends how $ is in your household, there is an $80 dollar difference between these two options. If money is tight that is another $10/day you can spend on vacation.
2007-03-26 09:36:08 · answer #9 · answered by CrazyFarmer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I totally agree with you.
And just tell him you'll do it his way if *he* gets up at 2am, gets the kids up, fed, clothed and ready to go so you can leave, drive 2 hours, find parking, unload the kids and go wait to board.
Bet he'll change his mind pretty doggone quick. ;-)
2007-03-26 09:38:56 · answer #10 · answered by Enchanted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋