| Posted by: Zooped, May 22nd, 2008 |
Orlando
What many call America’s playground is a theme park mecca, catering to a variety of likes and offering plenty of activities for the whole family. Hotel, food and transportation can be found with relative ease and often at big discounts. We picked New York City as our hub of origin.
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Plane: $1592 plus tax for 6 hours of roundtrip travel
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Train: $1332 for 42 hours of roundtrip travel
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Automobile: $334 plus tolls for 34 hours of roundtrip travel
The verdict: Clearly, travel by car is the most cost effective way to go. But 34 hours is one lengthy trip, and that’s not counting the hidden costs of long journeys by car, from lodging to food. Add those dependable potty breaks, and paying close to four times more to travel by air (3 hours each way) suddenly starts to look like a very good option. The New York to Orlando air route is popular enough that plenty of travel options (from carriers to times) are available. Train travel in this particular case is not only costly but perhaps, illogically long.
Chicago
Chicago, one of America’s great cities, is a walking town. You don’t need a car to cruise the Magnificent Mile, and the city’s public transportation system is a well-oiled machine. This is where great dining, shopping and entertainment come together in a breathtaking big-city setting. We picked Indianapolis as our point of origin.
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Plane: $696 plus tax for 2 hours of roundtrip travel
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Train: $174 for 10 hours of roundtrip travel
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Automobile: $56 plus tolls for 6 hours of roundtrip travel
The verdict: The hour flight each way doesn’t count the extra time it takes to get to the airport, wait for your plane to take off and get yourself from O’Hare to your hotel. By car, you’ll have to shell out an extra $25 to $35 a night to park at your hotel. But train travel is affordable; a 5-hour train ride each way also serves to keep the kids fascinated during the commute. And since you’ll end up in a city where you can walk everywhere and spend cash on cab rides rather than parking tickets, rail may be the way to go here.
San Diego
For Memorial Day travel, there’s a clear and present military reality to San Diego; the city’s beautiful Harbor is a U.S. navy base and troops train at Camp Pendleton. But don’t forget the sunshine, beaches and all that amusement, from SeaWorld to Legoland and the famed San Diego Zoo. We elected to start our journey from Phoenix.
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By Plane: $752 plus tax for 2 hours of roundtrip travel
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Train: $1011 for 34 hours of roundtrip travel
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Automobile: $104 plus tolls for 12 hours of roundtrip travel
The verdict: The train route here is inconvenient and costly. The non-strop air route is dominated by one airline (U.S. Airways). But taking the highway is surprisingly affordable. Yes, you will need your car to get around the expanse of San Diego County, so that’s more gas you’ll be spending on, but keep in mind that even if you flew, you’ll need a rental car once you’re there. San Diego’s greatest attractions are conveniently located but far enough away from each other. The Phoenix to San Diego drive is easy (and popular).
New Orleans
The Big Easy is making a comeback. The city offers the constant buzz of music and the allure of some of the best food in the South. Many American travelers are making their way back to New Orleans for the fun, albeit with a certain sense of pride (we can call it patriotism on Memorial Day) that comes from lending a neighbor a helping hand. No doubt, tourism will be key to reinvigorating this city. We started our journey from Atlanta.
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By Plane: $2004 plus tax for 3 hours of roundtrip travel
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Train: $492 for 24 hours of roundtrip travel
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Automobile: $137 plus tolls for 14 hours of roundtrip travel
The verdict: Even in the midst of the New Orleans’ (slow but sure) return to glory, airlines providing non-stop flights are keeping pricing on some routes, including this one, high. You’ll save money if you connect, but the limited time of this holiday weekend makes it an inconvenient option. The train route here is long. But again, making this trip behind the wheel is affordable and the seven-hour one-way drive will get you there in time for brunch if you leave at dawn.
Just a note: I’ll be in Atlantic City !
Tags: Memorial Day, Memorial Day Weekend, mini vacation, Popular Memorial Day Weekend Getaways, vacation
