The benefits of traveling by car

 When you are planning to travel, cost often plays a big role on where you go and how you get there. Sure, flying is faster, but is it really a better experience?  Road trips are not only about the destination, it is also a part of the journey. You have much more freedom when you travel by car. You are not on such a tight timetable. You don’t have to worry about being at the airport two hours early. You don’t have to worry about making your connection, or what you will do to kill time during your layover.  A couple hour layover can turn in to a long delay where you are at the mercy of the airline. You have to worry about the weather in another place a thousand miles away, because that is where your plane is coming from. If you miss your flight due to a delay, then you have all the added stress of getting on another flight. Depending on when you travel, that can be hard because most flights are already full.

You also have less packing restrictions. You can bring pretty much anything you want if you drive. You don’t have to worry about the weight limits or what you can or cannot bring. You can bring more gear for your kids. You can bring strollers, portable cribs, and other things that you can’t check or cost extra.  You tend to pack less when you fly, you have to either pay extra or lift them up in to the overhead compartment. Packing less, leads to having to do laundry on your trip. Who wants to do laundry on vacation?

 

You will also save money because you will not buy those extras at the airport or pay outrageous prices for fast food, you can get on the road for half the price. Since you can’t bring beverages, you are required to purchase drinks at the airport. If you are on a road trip, you can have a cooler full of cold drinks. You can also bring unopened bottles of wine if you wish to drink at your destination. Some hotels charge high prices for wine.  You also don’t have to rent a vehicle. You might think you are getting a good deal on a rental but by the time they add all the extra fees, it becomes outrageous.

You are your own boss. You can stop where you want to stop. You can see what you want to see. You control when you leave and what you do. You are not at the mercy of anyone else’s schedule. You aren’t cramped in a small seat next to a guy who is snoring and drooling on you.  You can stop at playgrounds and parks to stretch your legs. You can try unique restaurants and visit different welcome centers.

You get to see the beauty of our country. Sure looking down at the ground on a plane is cool, but most of the time, you don’t even know where you are. If you go on a road trip, you can stop and experience it.

You can save on food, and control what kinds of food your family consumes on a road trip. Some airports don’t have a great selection of places to eat. If it is a small airport, there might only be one or two restaurants that are extremely crowded and maybe not be your family’s preference.

You can control what your children are exposed to. You don’t have to worry about foul language, strange behavior or just people with bad attitudes. Not everyone is considerate of children. You may have to answer some uncomfortable questions.

You will create live long memories and stories to share with others. Getting there on a road trip is part of the fun. Keep a good attitude and enjoy.