Side Trip To South Padre Island - So Was It Cheaper To Drive Than Fly?

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Was it worth it to drive 1000 miles each way to Kansas City?  I think it was.  We used GasBuddy along the way as well as senior discounts wherever they were available.  The Airbnbs were the best deal overall but it required some work.  Many were not open to negotiating the price and as I said in the last post, they have so many additional charges that it can raise the price considerably.  Our best deal was in Liberal, Mo where there were no charges, just a flat rate with sales tax.  

The tickets to fly to Kansas City varied in price depending on the departure city.  There were five but four required driving, gas, and tolls; Monterrey, McAllen, Laredo, Harlingen, and San Antonio.  Monterrey, McAllen, and Laredo were all very close in price, go figure.  

Driving took us two days but it really seemed to be much more fun.  It was long at times but having a great copilot serving me hot coffee and snacks made it even better.  We could stop and take pictures and pee breaks.  Here is a simple breakdown of what the expenses were.  We took advantage of both the hotels and the Airbnbs to make coffee and fill our thermos.  We took our own coffee and filters so we were able to do that.  At the hotels, they had very good hot breakfasts.  We took a couple of hard-boiled eggs, a bagel, and cream cheese along with other things to have for lunch.  

Gas $280

Tolls $48

Food $200

Total $528

The airfares were $1399 plus stays, rental car, and fuel.

We have friends in South Padre Island who have lived there full-time since 1989.  They have a fourth-floor condo and a fifth wheel.  They traveled extensively in Mexico and have now decided to sell the fifth wheel.  Gene is 88 and Dana in her mid-80s.  Gene is a true example of how I want to be when I'm in my 80s.  He swims every day and rides his bicycle around the island.  He is in very good shape and you would be hard-pressed to believe he is even in his 80s.  

We also knew that our friends Paula and Jerry were going to be there and we decided to stop by for a couple of days to surprise them.  It was a blast and everyone was surprised we were there.  

 

We wanted to make it a visit to remember based on various circumstances so we spent our time together mostly hanging out together, chatting, and sharing meals.  Gene invited us over one day for his special strawberry shortcake which was really great including the fresh whipped cream on top,  

After the stress of the funeral, family, and mega-driving, it was great to just relax and decompress.  They were days well-spent.  I was able to see my sister and leave knowing she is in good hands and that we had an opportunity to see our friends in SPI. 

Would I do the drive again?  Anything for my family.  They may not feel the same but in the end, it made me feel good that we did it.