I got the green light to attempt to plan some of our travel for 2016.
Hubs had his time off in May approved so it looks like another trip to Louisiana is in the offering...maybe.
Instead of driving there I wanted to look at other "options" for travel. Hubs does all the driving on this trip and I think it's unfair that he drives almost the whole time we are on the road and then at our destination.
Plus we are always up for a new experience/adventure.
So I considered taking Amtrak as the "Crescent" Train runs from NYC to New Orleans daily. We'd get on in Philly and leave the train at Meridian MS. Of course we'd have to take the bus to Philly and from Meridian to Shreveport(Amtrak has a connector bus that goes from Meridian MS to Dallas TX.).
I am a bit reticent about train travel as both of my experiences have not been very happy.
Here is what is involved to get there via train---
Take a bus to Philly $150
Take the train to Meridian MS $583
Take another bus from Meridian to Shreveport LA $76
Rent a car for 8 days while in Shreveport $228.04
8 Nights of hotel stays $850.51
Take a bus to Meridian $76
Take the train to Philly $583
Take a bus to Wilkes-Barre $150
$2696.55
And this doesn't include meals(other than 8 breakfasts at the hotel in Shreveport).
Now if we tack on an excursion to New Orleans for 2 nights......
Bus to NO and back to Shreveport $152
2 Nights in Downtown hotel New Orleans $400 approx.
2 Taxi Rides(from Union Station to hotel and back)$25 + tip
$572 + $2696.55=$3268.55 Total plus meals
Going this route also means we can't stop and see people along the way or back, we can't bring anything with us or bring anything home that won't fit into our suitcases.
So then I looked at flying down............
Round Trip Flight for 2(2 Layovers going, 1 Layover coming back) $1800
Car Rental while in Shreveport $228.04
8 Hotel Nights $850.51
$2878.55
Add in an excursion to New Orleans($572)and we have a total of $3450.55 plus meals
So going by train is slightly cheaper than flying by about $200.
But both are still quite high compared to driving.
But by train you get there in about 30 hours. and 7-8 hours by plane.
*sigh*
Decisions, decisions..........
Is anybody out there reading who lives between Wilkes-Barre PA and Shreveport LA who would like a visit from me?
The trip is still very much up in the air(due to some other issues)but I am continuing to ponder it.
How do you prefer to travel for pleasure?
Road trips and stopping for the unexpected experience?
Flying quickly and spending your time at a destination?
Have you ever taken a long train trip?
Sluggy
