drive instead of fly

paying3tuitions
Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:57:44 +0000

If I’m going solo, I now take train or bus for anything under a 10 hour drive. That way, I can work/sleep/read/space out while someone else drives and takes all that risk and stress off my head.
If I’m going with other people, we drive and share costs, since the many air tickets always make it cost-effective to drive.

On any solo drive more than 9 -10 hours, I break it up into two parts and stay in a roadside motel. If you can drive without fatigue for hours on end, that is not necessary for you, but for me it is Also I knew a young person who drove too long across half the country, fell asleep at the wheel and was killed when nearly home. That forever changed how I assess risks/costs relative to staying in overnight lodging rather than pushing on.

On some trains from the Midwest, you can even buy an overnight “roomette” instead of a coach seat. Then you sleep and work in privacy, with your own bathroom. ETA: Those need many weeks advance booking, as they sell out.

I book a simple coach seat, but friends of mine prefer upgrading to business class seat. Either way, we arrive well rested with some work accomplished, rather than just driving, driving, driving. Train lets you walk around more than a bus, obviously.

I see that from Indianapolis to Philadelphia is 15 or 20 hours by those means. (I looked at Trailways and Amtrak).

I agree that flights have become so irritating that when I see I’m going on a “puddle jumper” commuter flight under 600 miles, I prefer train or bus for cost as well as ease on my nerves. Your distances are greater here, however (Indi to Phila) and you are younger, so all of these are factors.

I appreciate when people consider alternatives to the air industry. Maybe they will notice.