How to Decide Between Air & Car Travel
We’ve been often accused of rallying just a little too hard for car travel, here on Frill Seeker Diary. The truth is, together, we’ve been to a combined total of about 10 states- not bad for young 20-somethings funding themselves around the world!
This year, when we started diving a little deeper into FSD, we did it with zero funding, a long list of places we had visited and wanted to cover, and a longer list of places we wanted to see, and share for the first time. Because of this, we saved up our pennies (literally… in a Poland Spring bottle!), packed the car, and started with the closest locations because, hey, we know there are others out there with impending school loans in a jobless economy, with a hunger to see the world. For others, the decision to drive, rather than fly, might not be such a clean cut response.
Flying is a quick and direct way to get to where you’re going. Pick a destination, pick a flight, and head off. Sure, it can be a hassle to get through security and wait to board, but really it’s just a few hours of issues for what could be days, weeks, or even months (you lucky person, you) of getting away.
Stopping for layovers may seem like a hassle, but time your pause correctly, and you might get a vision of another place you didn’t expect to see. Check if your layover airport has shuttles into town, or if your airline offers free night stayover programs. More importantly, for the non-traveler, flying is simple. There’s very little planning involved, particularly if you use an airline you trust, or go carry-on only, and it’s really a nice little break in the day; can’t do nothing but lay back.
For the indecisive among us (ahem), a good old fashioned roadtrip could be the key to a great getaway. What makes this a different approach to flying, besides the obvious lack of wings, is the amount of planning involved. Although you don’t need a secure itinerary, it’s a good idea to pick a destination ahead of time, and a route, or saddle up to a GPS. Also a great idea, is a roadtrip planning website or book, to get you started. Be prepared to pay up for gas, particularly near holidays, and shell out a few for a meal and hotel here or there.
The best benefit is all the unplanned stops along the way. On any given trip you could pass through tons of towns you’ve never seen and didn’t even know you wanted to see! Look into the states on your route and see which towns you drive by, which you drive through, and which you’d love to drive into- you can always replan a route around one of these. Keep that in mind with money, though. Roadtripping starts out a way cheaper option if you own your own car, but could get very costly if you don’t watch your pennies!
Your decision to fly or drive is a really personal matter. Slow or fast. Arrive immediately or take your time getting there? Set plan or play it by ear? Do you believe life is a journey or a destination?
Happy Travels!
