ok so we got word yesterday that my oldedst step daughter is getting married in june and proabably going to go to fl to get married on the beach. i've looked up car rental's, and plane tickets to see what our best means of travel would be and when i went to get an est on plane ticket, it did not give me an option for children. How old does a child have to be to be considered an adult and do they allow children? Does anyone know good national car rental companies that have good deals. i looked at enterprise but the trip home would cost us almost 300 in mileage usage, we have a decent dependable vehicle, BUT i don't want to travel THAT distance and something happen and the car break down and be LITERALLY screwed, so i'm trying to find alternate means of transportation.
Krista, yes i have and will consider my husband going alone, it would be fly in the day before, and fly out the day after if we go that route. however, since he is not working, we'd have to work out day care while i am at work, i'll have 3 weeks of vacation (maybe more because it's my 5th year at my job) so time off work is not an issue...it's getting there and home.
Most airlines offer CHEAP fares into and out of airports near Disney. You didn't mention where in FL the wedding would be, but you might look into flying into a slightly farther airport with better prices and driving a little to get there.
We have always driven to save money, from STL to Destin. There are no childrens tickets, if your child takes up a seat, you pay full price for them. Some airlines will allow you to let a child sit on your lap, and you dont have to buy a ticket for them. We have always found, between airfare and rental car, we could not afford the trip, so we drive.
on a plane, i believe an 'adult' is everyone over the age of 2y. usuaully the travel sites like travelocity.com will ask child ages. not that the ticket price is different.
National Car Rental
Alamo Car Rental
Budget Car Rental
Look for deals on unlimited mileage.
Children under the age of 2 can fly on your lap. Over 2, they are on their own! Many airlines do not distinguish b/w adults and children when ticketing b/c they do not have separate pricing.
As for rental cars, Enterprise is great (my sister works for them) and make sure if you call ANY of them you mention any organizations, alum associations or unions you belong to- many offer add'l discounts.
Renting a car is not always the cheapest way to go for many reasons:
1. Gas is very expensive and varies highly from state-to-state
2. Tolls can get pricey in FL if you are taking the Turnpike
3. Hotels
4. Frequent stops for food and breaks (which usually result in snacks)
5. "Stuff" to keep the kids entertained during the drive
6. Insurance on the rental
Add up all of the "related costs" for both methods of travel and see which looks more feasible. Also keep in mind that your time is worth something as well. Unless I am recalling incorrectly, you are the primary source of income for your family and you have an alotted number of vacation days. If you don't have "time" to drive and will end-up with missed pay due to over-drawing on your days then that isn't worth it either!
Just a thought... would you consider having your husband attend his daughter's wedding without you and the kids? We've done this before with family events when the cost or time will not allow us all to attend.
Most travel sites should have a place to select how many kids and how many adults. A minor is anyone under 17. A ticket must be purchased for anyone 2 and up, but if you have a lap infant you will need to call the airline directly to book that ticket (domestic is usually free).
We always used Costco for car rentals. It was always cheaper. We recently started using Priceline and always do the "name your price" option. Having done it only a few times, I now know that I should really low-ball the price. If it's rejected, I think you just have to wait 24hrs until your next bid. It can be a little nerve-wracking if you need to rent carseats, though. The priceline rate is only for the car, and if you need anything extra, such as navigation or carseat, you have to call the rental company. They basically can't touch the reservation, so they only say you have to take care of it at the counter. We've never had a problem getting a carseat, but when we travel for Christmas, we're going to bring our seat and not take the chance over a big travel holiday.
Like the other posters said... if they are taking a seat then they will be charged full price. Children under 2 are allowed to sit on the lap of a parent.
What airline are you flying? Southwest is the only one with child fares left. If you are flying Southwest, at the airport they refund you your child fare cash. but you pay full price up front.
Thrifty is who I went through for my car rental, cheapest there is.
