Going to the airport - your preferred method of travel

I treat each trip back to the island just as it were my first and each step involved with me getting there is a big deal - including my method of travel going to the airport. I've done taxi, train and airport shuttle but this time around I want to go all out and hire a town car or maybe even a limo service to start the trip off on a special note. Am I the only one that believes that the trip to JA starts once we leave for the airport, not when we actually arrive on the island? How do you all prefer to get to your airports?

Oh, I think the trip starts for sure on the way to the airport. Unfortunately, we live so far away we have to drive! I would definitely take a limo if we were close enough!

Can't say I know when one trip ends and the next starts. I call the yard twice a week and talk to Mommy here in the States just as often.

It's only 5 - 6 hours door to door from my house in the States to the yard in Spring Garden. Just your basic commute.

Since my return two years ago I (we) physically go for a long weekend or a week four times a year.

Seems like I'm always there. The good part is that I'm leaving more clothes at the yard each time.

Pretty soon I won't have to carry much at all.

Our vacation most definitely starts with the trip to the airport. It takes us 3 hours to drive to Chicago but once we're at our hotel: let the celebration begin! Just not too much celebrating, no fun to fly with a hangover.
If we lived closer I'd hire a limo for sure! :)

TFW do you use short/long term airport parking? The few times I've driven to the airport I usually have a family member drive my car back and keep it to pick me up upon my return.

Captaind can I just say that I'm a bit envious of your proximity to yard? LOL

Rumrunner now that sounds like a great start to a trip (hotel room the night before)!

Shuttle service. I don't have to stress over parking, leaving my car unattended, the cost (expensive when it's for several weeks), traipsing around w/ luggage (minimal w/ the shuttle service), etc. It's only a 20-25 minute drive so not too pricey. I feel like my trip begins when I get to the airport.

I live Philly not too far from the Airport. My first 6 trip I took a Taxi. Easy breezy rice and peasy. Trip #7 I took puplic transportation. I left out at 410 in the AM. I'm only a block from the bus stop but it seemed like the longist walk ever. 1 suit case, 1 laptop bag, 1 carryon. Was surprised to see so much traffic out at that time of morning. Get the bus stop 10 min early, just to have the bus come 10 min late. Took the bus to the train 30 min wait. This Friday I'll go back to taking a Taxi!

we drive to Chicago the day before, check into Hotel,have nice dinner...take free shuttle to OHare.......
(car is parked at Hotel for 1 to 2 weeks for free)....call Hotel upon arrival, the pick us up, drive to to Hotel Parking lot...and 2 hrs later were home........
sleep

Long-term parking :(
I always ask a family member if they'd drive us and they always say no, lol.

This time our flight is at 07:30. That's a bit to early to get to MCO from St.Augustine so we're staying at one of the 19 billion motels in Orlando and going out to one of the 13 Billion restaurants.

We stay at a hotel the night before departure and also on our return. It extends the vacation and it's so much nicer to get on the road after a good night's sleep.
We keep an adult beverage in the trunk of our car in case we get in late and the bar is closed. :D Planning is everything.

I park and fly from Sioux Falls, SD, then from there fly to Minneapolis where we spend the night and do some shopping (both coming and going), and then get up VERY early (3 a.m.), and take the shuttle to the airport for, typically, a 6 a.m. flight. Usually in MoBay by 2 p.m. The motel we stay at by the Mall of America has a free shuttle that leaves every hour to/from the airport, so that works out great.

3 1/2 from STL, 4 1/2 from ORD, We have done it all, including the leave Burl at 6:00 p.m. fight storms to park and fly at 2:00 a.m. and hit airport at 4:00 a.m. (you notice I didn't call it Park - Sleepp & Fly.

Here is a video from early 2000's where we took limo to and from Midway, a limo company owed me some bucks and I took it in trade, 4 1/2 hours, l.o.l. you can see a marked difference in going and coming

http://www.mydeo.com/videorequest.as...784&CID=179643

For us, we have a very small airport in town that is about 15 minutes away from our home. There are options in bigger cities (nearest probably 2-3 hours away) but generally, if we consider the drive, gas, hotel, dinner...it comes out better if we fly out of our home town airport. Quite frankly, considering the state we live in, I feel lucky. Our connection times are really great. We can leave here at 7am and generally be in Mobay by 1-2pm. Only one stop in Charlotte, NC. We generally drive ourselves and then have one of our kids come up to pick up our car the next day. When staying 3 weeks or so, the fees add up quickly.

Then, the kids generally drive the car back up and park it....or just come and get us. For us....I don't feel the vacation begins until I am checked in......then, I am in Vacation Mode!!!! From then on out, I am in a state of bliss!!! I learned a long time ago, that once I step onto the plane...I have to leave all my troubles behind. There is nothing I can do when I am in Jamaica......except enjoy. If by chance something big comes up.......we can get back and deal with it. SO for now, I just have to wait for out next trip. Seems so very far away, but one thing I have realized is that the older I get....the quicker time goes by. So, hopefully, soon come!!

Family gets up super early to drive us to the bus station, 3:00am. Then we take the bus to O'Hare to catch a 6:00am flight. Usually one connecting flight then we're in JA.

mmmm, we catch a little airoplane (20 seater) to leave our Island, fly for 45 mins to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, then hop a jet for an hour to London, overnight in hotel, then 10 hours to Mobay. Total time from home to Negril, normally 26/28 hours. Worth every bloody minute. :)

I've done the shuttle, Long Term parking AND when I'm really rushing to get there (I'm late for everything) I have even had to suck it up and pay the outrageous daily parking fee to park in the lot right across from the terminal...yikes! I am always rushed and frantic the morning of a flight. Always double checking I have everything, and triple checking for passport, makeup bag...you know, the 2 most important things! Once I get to the gate and see they have not boarded yet...then I can relax! whew!

Wherever I live, I make sure it is within a 20 minute drive to an International Airport...I have my priorities :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rambo

we drive to Chicago the day before, check into Hotel,have nice dinner...take free shuttle to OHare.......
(car is parked at Hotel for 1 to 2 weeks for free)....call Hotel upon arrival, the pick us up, drive to to Hotel Parking lot...and 2 hrs later were home........
sleep

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If this was an option for me (out of NYC) I'd do it! But the last few times has been I drive down to NYC, (75 min), leave my car in the neighborhood by in-laws house & cab to airport. RT cab still cheaper than Long Term Parking - and it saves me the whole struggle with luggage thing. :)

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For us, it depends on what time the flight to JA departs. When it is earlier than 7am, we remove all stress by staying at the Renaissance Hotel(pretty posh, in a Phillipe Starck way) the night before for $109 for a king suite, which includes parking for the whole time we are away! We just wake and roll to the lobby where the 24/7 hotel shuttle whisks us the 90 seconds across the interstate to the East Terminal. When we return, I call them before getting to Immigration/Customs and the shuttle is there waiting for us...

When the flight departs later than 7am, we generally just drive ourselves to a certain pay lot that is literally a stone's throw from the airport. We get the aviator parking rate, which is about 1/2 price. The only bad news about this lot is, if you park in the lower section and are gone for more than a couple of days, the grime from the interstate settles on your car creating.....ick...

I get up around 3:00 a.m. and drive half hour to bus stop. Get on the bus to the airport (1 1/2 hours). Get on plane, usually a brief stop in ATL and on to Montego Bay (4 1/2 hours of flight) Get out to the bus lot and another 1 1/2 hours to Negril. I'm wiped out by the time I get there, running on pure adrenaline and love.

I have family take us to/from the Philly airport which is about a hour or so drive. We may use log term parking next time though. We haven't decided yet.

I also have traveled to the airport various ways. I've done the Super Shuttle, regular Taxi Service, Private Sedan driver service, Road with my girls and did long-term economy parking.

This year I was going to get my son to drop me off and keep my truck but his license is suspended so I will probably get my friend or my sis to do it.

Few years back there was a boardie by the name Calikent. Any chance you are one and the same???

My journey back usually begins when I press the button, between that moment and touch down at Sangster it is just a blur.... :)

I agree- it all begins with the "trip to the airport" of which I have reserved towncar for my 2 am pick up...I'm all packed and ready to go....

Only way I go is car service to JFK . I leave my house at 2:45 AM, and 9 hours later I am at my hotel in Negril.

I don't feel like my trip has begun until I am in the air headed for JA on a direct flight. At that point I know I am setting foot in the land I love in about 3 hours and that ecstatic anticipation sets in. But everything up until then is a bit of a chore--packing, taking care of pets, getting to the airport--all lumped in the chore category. I have gotten to the airport many ways--subway, bus, taxi, town car. It depends on my budget and time constraints. But I would never blow extra money getting to the airport. For me, it is all about when I arrive in JA.

I used to have someone drop me, but last trip in 2009, I drove myself & daughter to the airport, and it was great! Parking was approx. 7.00 a day. Cab or shuttle would've cost way more as I'm about 40 miles away from Austin Bergstrom airport. I always take the first thing flying out, usually 5:50 am, so its dead easy to drive at 3:30 in the morning, no traffic! That flight is usually about 5 1/2 to 6 hrs total with a 1 hr layover in Atlanta. Then coming home, I take the last flight out which usually results in a 4 hr layover in Atlanta, so I'm not home until midnight. Again, no traffic tho... When the coast road from MoBay to Negril used to be that hellish bone jarring, kidney wrenching, agony inspiring endurance tester, I took the little plane, cost about 50-55 including tax. Now the roads aren't so bad I take the ground transpo, usually a van, for about 45.00 round trip, cause the little planes are around 100 or more 1-way, yikes. And I'm one of those that actually LIKES seeing all the little towns and people on the way! Especially Lucea. Someone always invariably shouts LuuuuCEEEEE (like Ricky Ricardo) LOL!

Calikent is back?????????

When going to Jamaica, from Vermont we drive to Newark, NJ, and stay at the Best WEstern sleep and park and fly. The price is more than reasonable, we drive down the afternoon before so there's no pressure in traffic, stay the night in a jacuzzi suite, have the comp breakfast and take the comp shuttle. Worth every penny! The way back is a little more hassle, having to take the in-airport transportation to the shuttle pick-up, but with only two carry on's, one suitcase, and a case of rum, it ain't that bad! The rum makes it ALL worth it!

Dave

I enjoy reading everyone's options for getting there to get THERE. The bus service from Midtown to the airports is fair. My biggest problem is I live 65 miles north of NYC. I used to go out of JFK and use long term parking. That was back when I could get a really cheap non-stop to Mo'Bay and gas was not quite so dear. Now most of the flights I get are not non-stop (one stop is my limit), the drive costs more and parking has become more expensive. LaGuardia is worse than JFK when it comes to parking, but is easy to get to. So, I have tried different ways - Metro North, to the train to the plane - economical but hell. That is a trip in itself!! I could do it but one time my plane got in late, I missed the last train and ended up overnight at Grand Central. Nope, that doesn't work for me. Since I still manage to get decent airfares, I hate spending more to get to the airport than it costs to fly to JA. It is an ongoing challenge, but keeping down the costs is what allows me to go so often.

I think my family is jealous. When I was coming home on Christmas Eve, I asked my son who was coming in from out of town with his girlfriend if they could pick me up at the airport @ ~10:30pm. I figured since they were planning to be in the city that evening, it would be easy. His response was "No. How could you expect me to keep her out that late just to pick you up after you've had your fun?" Excuse me!! Would it been OK if I promised not to have had my fun instead? LOL I guess I know better than to ask for that again. He thinks I shouldn't travel so much. I should be home, baking cookies for grandchildren and settling into old age. yeah, right...:D

So, of course I am open to suggestions. I have a system for now but if anyone knows a better way, please share.

http://www.iberostar.info/ticker/ima...2Xs1Xsoon come

SweetSue, that is terrible lol! Sounds like the green-eyed monster ;)

I agree, I am loving the stories of how everyone gets to the airport. For me, probably because I have an overabundance of excitement, my trip starts wayyyyy before we ever get to the airport. I'm in vacation mode going to the store to buy supplies! We always fly out of Memphis, which is almost five hours away, because we're either dropping off the dog or the daughter at my parents'. So I can add two or three days to my vacation excitement! Strange to say, I can remember at least one song playing on the radio we have heard on the way to the airport for every trip we've gone on.

I know! I start getting excited as soon as I settle on my airfare - even if it is months in advance. Every time I go to the store for everyday stuff, I find myself considering what to buy for my trip. Now I keep a small box in my room as a braking system. Once it gets full, I have to stop! Otherwise, I go overboard. :)


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I decided to see what the price would be for taxi/sedan/limo service to and from the airport and I think I'm gonna stick with driving and parking! One way for my traveling party was $135! One place wanted to pick me up at 11:00pm for a 5:45am flight. I think not! I'll just drive and park and spend all of $60 actually half that cause I'm splitting the cost!

ok - now you're just making me jealous! :) lol


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