Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

DH and I are having a debate on which is cheaper. We would like to go to Florida with our infant (will be 5 months old at the time) for the week of Labor Day. We stay with my SIL so we hardly spend any money while we're there since we usually eat at their house or his aunt's house.

To fly, we would have to go Wednesday-Wednesday or Thursday-Wednesday to get the cheapest flight. It would cost us $500 for 2 seats and DD would be in our laps. We wouldn't have to bring a car seat, stroller, or PNP b/c DH's cousin has a 2 year old and they still have all of his infant stuff. We would use my SIL's car if we wanted to go anywhere.

To drive, we have a Prius that fills up w/ $35 and that's when gas is avg. $3.89. We could probably go 450 miles on a full tank so between driving to and from Florida + use of the car while we're there, I'd say no more than 6 fill ups. We would need a room at a motel for each way. We would leave either Friday afternoon or late at night and get there sometime Saturday. We'd start heading home Friday morning to get back by Saturday night so we can get a Sunday to relax before going back to work. DD is excellent in the car (so far!).

So which do you think is cheaper and what would you do?

Thanks!

Message edited 7/23/2014 10:26:51 AM.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

I would fly.

Driving will be slightly cheaper but, not enough to make the difference and the amount of time worth it by the time you add in hotels, gas, tolls and meals on the ride down.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

I would fly. By the time you add tolls and the cost of the motel and eating out along the way, your savings would be minimal. I generally drive, but not in this case.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Do what makes you feel more comfortable :) We are driving down to my parents in Oct because it will cost us $200 or more if we flown then it will be to drive.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

FLY !!!

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Fly. I don't care how much you might save to drive you are wasting at least a day each way if you drive through and if you do that you are shot the next day.

Take advantage of the fact you do not need to buy an extra plane seat as it ends before you know it.

Plus all that time in a car with a infant....i'd strangle someone by the end.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

No question fly. Especially with a five month old

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

It probably isn't that much of a price difference to fly or drive and you would lose the days to driving...that said, we drive. We have 3 kids, so it is 5 airfares and need a minivan once we get there, which is super expensive. For us, its cheaper and easier to just drive...no changing car seats from car to plane to car...we get in and go. If I still had 1 kid or even 2, I would probably fly.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

I would fly for all of the reasons mentioned.

I would also spend the extra $250 and get DD a seat. Respectfully, I would never rely on holding a child on a plane. It moves at 500 plus mph over 30k feet. It's not worth the risk.

Even at $750 for tickets you won't come out that much ahead by driving.

I think driving is only worth it if you are looking at over $1,000 for tickets.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

No way would I drive that far with an infant. I don't even think it's fair to keep them in a car seat for that long IMO.

We flew with dd to Florida at 4 1/2 months. $500 for 2 tickets is actually cheap and by what you said you don't have to pay for hotel, food, car, rental baby gear

Not to mention losing a full day there and a full day back if you drive.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

You couldn't pay me to drive down to Florida. It may be slightly cheaper to drive but you are not factoring in your time. You will lose at least 2 days in driving time.

It is hard enough to drive 1-2 hrs with an infant. Can't imagine how torturous it would be drive down all the way to FL with an infant.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

I would drive.
Last month we took a road trip down to Lancaster. I had reservations, but DS was fine. Stayed awake and looked out the window the whole time (he is almost 3).
I like the ability to stop and just walk for a few minutes. Though with my son, that was a nightmare trying to get him into the car, but it always is. You can also stop at interesting attractions on the way. Leave late at night, like between 8-10pm and drive. Family just drove to NC and made it in 11 hours, left at 8pm Saturday night.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Since you are a family of 3, fly. I wish I could say it would cost us $500 to fly to FL., I would jump on that

As a family of 5, we would save money but I don't think we would do it. We drove to Niagara Falls when I had 2 kids and they were 2 & 3 and I ofter wonder how I made it back sane, lol.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Since its only you and DH and your DD is a lap infant i would fly. If you ever became a family of 5 then i would drive lol.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Posted by ElizaRags35

Posted by JennP

I would fly for all of the reasons mentioned.

I would also spend the extra $250 and get DD a seat. Respectfully, I would never rely on holding a child on a plane. It moves at 500 plus mph over 30k feet. It's not worth the risk.

That's one of the reasons why I want to drive. We just don't have the money to buy 3 seats, let alone 2. I was hoping for a cheap OOS trip but it looks like it's not going to happen.

DD is a dream in the car so far. We drove to Philly last month, were stuck in awful traffic, and it took us nearly 5 hours to get there. She was just perfect.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

In your situation, I would say fly.
We drove with my 18 month old, but we were bringing lots of baby gear, needed a car there, and I hate flying. It was a looong drive with lots of stops. Maybe you could do quicker stops with a 5 month old, but my DD needed time to get out and move around a bit.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

I would fly. DD was a lap infant but luckily we were able to get her a seat with a few upgrades....we paid for the person in the middle of us to move. It was cheaper. If the plane was full...she would have been on my lap. I bought the B'Air which is a lap harnest...if you want. I also bought a pack and play when we got there. SUPER Easy! You could do Walmart site to store for $39

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Thanks everyone. Prices went down slightly on flights so I think we're going to end up flying this time.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

DH and I drove to FL once when we were younger and had no DC.

We only stopped for gas and at South of the Border for fireworks.

Our eyes were SO tired but we took turns and it was a great adventure to do. Now with DS being 6, we are toying with the idea again.

For us, the decision is more because we love that you aren't limited to what you can bring with you there and back. If it fits in the car, it goes!!!

Plus, when we drove to FL, we didn't go to Disney or anything. Just a hotel in Panama City Beach and if we didn't drive, we would have needed to rent a car so that would be an additional cost.

ETA: I don't think I would do it with a baby though, I would opt to fly

Message edited 7/27/2014 11:15:03 AM.

Re: Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

We drove to Florida two months ago for medical reasons. It wasn't much cheaper. Our air was for a family of four. We rented a car, stopped at two hotels, gas, tolls, food..it came to about $200 less. The ride was honestly not bad, I would probably do it again.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

We are planning to drive down next May and take the kids to Disney. Trying to cut down the cost of flying, we would need to purchase 5 tickets. It isn't an option for us to fly on off days, like Wednesday to Wednesday. I honestly don't think it will be that bad, many people do it! The advice I always hear is to leave in the evening, so the kids fall asleep for the night.

Cheaper to Drive or Fly to Florida? And WWYD

Time is money, traffic is money, gas is money. In my opinion, it isn't worth the time and aggravation to drive. Think of all of the time you could be spending enjoying the beautiful sunny coast of florida instead of spending it on I-95 asphalt