Gonna visit the family for christmas but not sure how to travel! ~ 2010

[tinkinpink84]

So my son gets out of school dec 11th. Hubby is in texas until april so I plan on visiting my parents in florida for xmas. But I cant decide if i wanna go by train or drive my car! Driving the car id bring the dog. it would be me , my 5 yr old , my almost 4 yr old and an 85 lb dog. Posotive note is id have my car there and its prob near $80 if that to drive there one way. But I hate hate hate driving long distances it freaks me out on the highway. Plus I dont know if the kids will behave or be holy terrors. Train would be $281 round trip, I would use my FTCC student ID to get a 15% discount and my kids the military child to get 10% discount. I emailed them to ask about this to be sure i can do that. so the $281 is with that. if i just used military on all 3 it would be $289. But i wouldnt have my car there. And id have my FIL or someone take care of my animals or dog while im gone. But id be able to chill out and relax on the train and not have the stress of driving. But I cannot for the life of me come to a decision! i want to be able to figure out the best mode of travel for us. And seriously this is keeping me up tonight! I cannot sleep because im trying to figure out wich way i wanna travel!!!! aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

[foggierbard9]

If you're worried about your kids in the car, will they behave on the train?

For me the savings in $$ to drive would prompt me to drive, but we tend to drive for all our trips.

[couponmommyof3]

Hmm, tough decision but I completely understand. I am NOT a huge fan of driving long distances either, but to see my parents for Thanksgiving I could have waited for my hubby to drive us around his work schedule OR I could drive myself and get 2 extra days to be with them. I drove, 5 hours. The longest I had ever driven before that was an hour and that was just 2 weeks ago, and before that, maybe 20 minutes. I am not a driver.

Here's what I would think about:

Driving:
Wear and tear on car-is it new or older, any issues before? Hubby ALWAYS gets the car checked out thoroughly before a trip including an oil change.
How long would it take? I imagine you would stop to eat, I always choose places with play areas so they can run around and get rid of energy.
Do you have a DVD player or a portable one? Things have gotten MUCH easier now, granted you need to listen to Dora or something BUT it keeps them quite and occupied.

Train-
How long would you guys be stuck on a train? A sleeper car or just seats?
Again the DVD player would be nice here too.
I've never been on a train so I assume you can get up and move around but maybe not run around like kids want to do. But you could pack a bag of toys for them, nothing with too many pieces.

Good Luck in making the decision. My hubby would rather have me drive in this situation but after the complete check-up on the car and gas, we might as well take the train.

[CW&M Mom]

I wouldn't count on the train drive being more peaceful than the car unless you don't take your children LOL.

How many hours is it for both?

See for me to go home for Christmas...it's a 2 day drive...aprx 23 hours...so that is just frackin misery with the kidlets. One day of driving isn't as bad.

[tinkinpink84]

it is the same amount of time by train or driving myself. With the train if the kids get unruly i can handle them alot easier. We dont have a dvd player anymore. Peices got lost in the many moves over the past few years. My son when the husband isnt around gets unruly! And driving would include a dog! so stopping for the dog and such. But if i take the train my FIL would watch the dog. My car is an 09 and i just had the oil changed and all that jazz this morning. I beleive i may do the train just so i am not driving. Highways freak me out with all the 18 wheelers and such. Id be bringing benadryl,dramamine. coloring books and crayons and stuff. I think alot of it would be at night time driving by the looks at the tickets i have been pricing. I am just talking to my SIL about how the luggage stuff works and such.

[tinkinpink84]

I caved. I got the train tickets! The kids have never been on a train before so this will be somewhat exciting for them! It leaves at 1:24am so chances are the majority of the trip they will be asleep! And from reading the rules you can check in 3 bags per person so i should be all set on that! I can fit my coupon binder! lol.
So aside from snacks and coloring books what kinds of activities can i do on the train with a 3 and a 5 yr old? We have no portable dvd player any longer. I had one from wags black friday back in like 04 but that is broken and missing things. Woulda been nice ifi still had it. Now i must find good deals on snacks to take along and get out the suitcases. We leave on the 11th!

[couponmommyof3]

LOL, I think the train was the way to go. As far as stuff to do, bring what you know they like. My 5yo DD could color all day, and I give stickers for special occassions like that. For my 3yo DS he loves trains and cars. I take a few tracks enough to make a circle and one of his trains. Considering you'll be doing most of it at night, hopefully just a few things would do well. I imagine they'll need some toys at your parent's house anyway. Also juice boxes-LOVE those things!

[Sweet_Southern_Mama]

I was going to say take the train! I think it would be so worth the money if the kids were rowdy! At least on the train you're free to settle them down. If you were driving you'd have to pull over to safely take care of any issues. I'm sure it will be worth the extra money to be under less stress.

[tinkinpink84]

yeah, my son sometimes he can be well behaved other times hes just a holy terror! Never know when he decides he wants to misbehave. Jordynne she will be fine coloring. Ah i must buy juice boxes, i have no stock left since my son stopped taking lunch to school! Im bringing a few of their gifts in a suitcase with me. My grandma offered to get them some clothes while we are there so i wont have to pack as much. I have a week to pack! You can actually bring 3 suitcases per person and 2 carry ons per person! More then an airplane. Joseph will be the trouble, to occupy and keep busy, i think if he gets bored thats when he starts acting up. I think at least half of the trip there they will be asleep for. I cant wait to finish packing! And leave! Super excited to see my family and them get to see the kids! my grandma only saw the kids when she visited us in germany back in 07. Jordynne was only about 4-5 mths old then and now shes gonna be turning 4!

[tinkinpink84]

I wouldn't count on the train drive being more peaceful than the car unless you don't take your children LOL.

How many hours is it for both?

See for me to go home for Christmas...it's a 2 day drive...aprx 23 hours...so that is just frackin misery with the kidlets. One day of driving isn't as bad.

I would never do that drive! 8 hrs to georgia was enough for me wich i just did in september! My sister and her husband drove from georgia to new york when they moved! lets pray for some well behaved children on my travels!