Both airline ticket and gas prices are skyrocketing at present. If you are planning for your next vacation, it would be hard to tell whether flying or driving would be a better value. Driving cost estimates include the gas prices, the required overnight stops, the driving time etc.
On the other hand, flying estimates take into account the airport transfers, airfare, and other associated costs and times. There are several other things that you need to keep in mind while deciding whether you want to fly or drive to your destination. For example, what if your wife suffers from motion sickness, and how your kids behave while traveling in a car. If driving is going to take more time than flying, what will be your professional losses?
Here, we are trying to find out what is more cost efficient, driving or flying.
Your
car’s gas mileage: You already have an idea of what gas
mileage your vehicle provides. But in order to be really precise and estimate
the cost of a long drive, get it tested from a good resource and have exact
miles-per-gallon estimate for both highway and city driving.
Gas
prices: Determine how much it will cost to fill up your fuel
tank. Find a source where you can find gas rates in different states across
your country. Compare the costs, and fill your tank in the place where you can
get cheapest fuel. If it is cheapest in your city, then make sure to fill your
tank to full, and carry an extra cylinder too.
Cost
of hotels and tolls: Do not forget the total amount of
money you would be paying as toll taxes. If you are driving a long distance,
you may need to halt over, and pay for foods, teas, snacks and even room rents.
Consider the number of tolls between your city and your destination. Some
routes have many, while others have none. If there is another route, try to
take the one that has minimum tolls. But make sure that you do not end up
spending more on gas prices.
Number
of people traveling: The number of people
traveling plays a great role in determining the cost of your trip. If you are a
couple traveling alone, then traveling by road may cost more than air tickets
for only two. But if you have an entire family or group of friends traveling, then
traveling by air may cost too much. In that case, it would be more
cost-effective to travel by road.
Check
the airfare and compare: Before making your
final decision, check the cost of airfare between your city and your
destination, and compare the related costs. If you are searching fares online,
keep in mind that not every airline shares its data and airfare over the
Internet through online travel agencies. So, you may have to visit their
company website or check their airfare individually to have an idea of the
estimates.
Finally, do not forget
the cost of buses and trains that take you to your destination by road too.
These may provide some really affordable options. If you are going for a
vacation, find out which option will be more cost efficient, driving or flying.
All these points will help you decide which way you should travel to your dream
destination, by air or by road.
Personally, I like to drive because you see so much more that way. The only downfall is it takes longer, but I guess it depends on how much travel time you have.
ReplyDeleteI love to drive as well! Although it can be tiring being on the road a lot but you get to stop and see what different places has to offer.
DeleteI love this series! I like the fact that flying gets me to my destination quicker, but once you add in getting to the airport early, the flight, possible layovers, airfare cost plus baggage cost and being restricted on what I can take sometimes I wonder if it's really quicker/easier, unless I am going really far.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paris! Great points you made about flying. You got to think, although you get to your destination faster by flying you have to think about the whole cost of it and delays may happen.
DeleteI prefer driving over flying unless it is really too far for me to drive.
I haven't flown in several years and don't look forward to going through an airport and TSA so I have been thinking about taking the train for our our next vacatio Taking time to see the country side while traveling seems like fun.
ReplyDeleteYou know what Antionette, I have never been on a train before. I want to someday to avoid driving.
DeleteIt is fun seeing everything while traveling. That's the best part when I travel by car.
For us, it depends on how far we're going. If it's anywhere six hours or less away, we tend to drive. Both of our cars are good on gas so we can usually go six hours or more on one tank of gas. I prefer to fly any places further than that. I have also flown to places under six hours away but it was cheaper due to hotel fees, etc.
ReplyDeleteIt has been years since I've flown by plane but if I need to go to places like New York or California, I'm definitely hopping on a plane.
DeleteAs a frequent traveler to Central Florida from Georgia, I always have to evaluate this! Thanks for giving me so many things to help make that decision!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Amy!
DeleteSo funny to run across this post because we have been researching a trip my family is planning to take and that is our major challenge, to drive or fly? Sometimes traveling with kids makes you want to fly because that is the shorter option... until of course you find out that flying is going to break the bank!! Road trip here we come!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't fly, it cost way too much nowadays. Plus, road trips are really fun and my daughters enjoys the ride too.
DeleteSarah, you and your family enjoy your vacation!