Trip to See old Freinds
Dec 22nd, 2006, 05:14 AM
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Trip to See old Freinds
Hi to All on the US forum - I've not been on this one before!
Before I go into detail let me explain - I am no longer a confused bride 2 be - I first registered for this when I was planning my honeymoon last year!
This is my predicament.
My Mother-in-law has two sets of close freinds, one in Houston TX and one in Tuscon AZ. She has not been to visit them since her husband passed away 5 years ago & would realy like to go back - but she has not done the trip on her own before, always with her husband and we have offered to accompany her. However,as you can see they are not very convenient for one trip & the freinds are not in the best of health so cannot travel to either one.
We would like to accompany her to both places - but then take off and do her own thing when she is staying with freinds.
The international portion of airline tickets is not bad ( price or schedule) as Delta has a direct flight from Edinburgh, Scotland where we live to Atlanta & then easy connections to Houston and for the return from Tuscon to Atlanta to Edinburgh.
I have been quoted for this portion either £600 per person for Edinburgh - Atlanta - Houston - Tuscon ( with a stop in Salt Lake City) - Atlanta - Edinburgh. Or £400 for just Edinburgh to Houston ( open jaw) Tuscon - Edinburgh.
So my first part of this question is: Would it be cheaper to use someone like South West to do internal flights rather than take the ones Delta are offering?
My second part - what should we do when Mother in law is both in Houston and Tuscon.
We are not afraid to hire a car & indead have done many times before.
Re Texas it seems that San Antonio looks good for visiters? Would it be out of our reach to go to Memphis or Nashville (could fly?)
We hope to have two weeks away and will consider a non-even split of time if things justify it.
Re Arizona - Scottsdale? Monument Valley? We have been to Las Vegas many times before & wouldn't mind going again.
We are both mid 30's enjoy scenery and cities and culture - a good mix of all would be ideal.
I know this is a bit vague at the moment but I'm just trying to gather ideas!
Thanks in Advance
Liz
Before I go into detail let me explain - I am no longer a confused bride 2 be - I first registered for this when I was planning my honeymoon last year!
This is my predicament.
My Mother-in-law has two sets of close freinds, one in Houston TX and one in Tuscon AZ. She has not been to visit them since her husband passed away 5 years ago & would realy like to go back - but she has not done the trip on her own before, always with her husband and we have offered to accompany her. However,as you can see they are not very convenient for one trip & the freinds are not in the best of health so cannot travel to either one.
We would like to accompany her to both places - but then take off and do her own thing when she is staying with freinds.
The international portion of airline tickets is not bad ( price or schedule) as Delta has a direct flight from Edinburgh, Scotland where we live to Atlanta & then easy connections to Houston and for the return from Tuscon to Atlanta to Edinburgh.
I have been quoted for this portion either £600 per person for Edinburgh - Atlanta - Houston - Tuscon ( with a stop in Salt Lake City) - Atlanta - Edinburgh. Or £400 for just Edinburgh to Houston ( open jaw) Tuscon - Edinburgh.
So my first part of this question is: Would it be cheaper to use someone like South West to do internal flights rather than take the ones Delta are offering?
My second part - what should we do when Mother in law is both in Houston and Tuscon.
We are not afraid to hire a car & indead have done many times before.
Re Texas it seems that San Antonio looks good for visiters? Would it be out of our reach to go to Memphis or Nashville (could fly?)
We hope to have two weeks away and will consider a non-even split of time if things justify it.
Re Arizona - Scottsdale? Monument Valley? We have been to Las Vegas many times before & wouldn't mind going again.
We are both mid 30's enjoy scenery and cities and culture - a good mix of all would be ideal.
I know this is a bit vague at the moment but I'm just trying to gather ideas!
Thanks in Advance
Liz
Jan 4th, 2007, 12:32 PM
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Liz - It really depends upon when you're coming as to where to go. Spring can be lovely in Texas and I highly recommend San Antonio or Austin (the "hill country"). I do have a friend that used to drive to Memphis from Houston in a day, so that's also a possibility. Memphis can be quite fun - they have a great zoo, entertainment district & of course, Elvis monuments.
As for flights - I would definitely think you could book less expensive flights on SW - but you'll have to check on line for that.
As for Arizona - Sedona is lovely and not like much you'd see at home. You could also head towards San Diego or Baja depending upon what you're in the mood for.
Good luck!
Lynae
As for flights - I would definitely think you could book less expensive flights on SW - but you'll have to check on line for that.
As for Arizona - Sedona is lovely and not like much you'd see at home. You could also head towards San Diego or Baja depending upon what you're in the mood for.
Good luck!
Lynae
Jan 4th, 2007, 03:55 PM
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www.artshound.com
This is a great website that includes everything artsy that is going on in Houston. Houston has a fabulous visual arts community--cost of living is low, so artists like it here. If you come in late February--Early March, go to the rodeo. www.rodeohouston.com
This is a great website that includes everything artsy that is going on in Houston. Houston has a fabulous visual arts community--cost of living is low, so artists like it here. If you come in late February--Early March, go to the rodeo. www.rodeohouston.com
Jan 4th, 2007, 07:07 PM
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Hi Liz,
My best guess is that Southwest would be something like $130.00 each for a one-way to Tucson. So figure about £130.00 total for that leg of the journey if you go Southwest.
One thing that is important to know is that your Delta flight will probably come in to Bush Intercontinental Airport, while Southwest will depart from Hobby. Bush is north of the city, about 45 minutes from downtown, while Hobby is in the southeast-central part of the city. So if your mum-in-law's friend lives in a northern suburb like Spring, it would be much more convenient to fly out of Bush.
So things to do might be to check Southwest's web site for the fare for a one-way ticket to Tucson and compare that with the Delta deal, and also find out what part of town the friend lives in. Houston is very big, and you don't want to save $50.00 on airfare just to spend it back again on a taxi.
For the second question, I do think it would be a bit of a pain to come to Houston and then fly off to Memphis or Nashville. Unless you have a strong reason like you're a huge Elvis fan. But since you perhaps like music towns, my suggesion would be to rent a car and drive to Austin, which is a very lively, hip, and laid-back city known for its music scene, both country and rock.
Once you're in Austin, San Antonio is only an hour's drive. You're also in the heart of the beautiful Hill Country, full of hills (duh), small lakes, and in spring, beautiful wildflowers. The coolest place to go is Gruene, Texas, which is a small town near Austin that has an old dance hall with live bands on the weekend. You will really feel like you're in Texas if you go to Gruene Hall!
My best guess is that Southwest would be something like $130.00 each for a one-way to Tucson. So figure about £130.00 total for that leg of the journey if you go Southwest.
One thing that is important to know is that your Delta flight will probably come in to Bush Intercontinental Airport, while Southwest will depart from Hobby. Bush is north of the city, about 45 minutes from downtown, while Hobby is in the southeast-central part of the city. So if your mum-in-law's friend lives in a northern suburb like Spring, it would be much more convenient to fly out of Bush.
So things to do might be to check Southwest's web site for the fare for a one-way ticket to Tucson and compare that with the Delta deal, and also find out what part of town the friend lives in. Houston is very big, and you don't want to save $50.00 on airfare just to spend it back again on a taxi.
For the second question, I do think it would be a bit of a pain to come to Houston and then fly off to Memphis or Nashville. Unless you have a strong reason like you're a huge Elvis fan. But since you perhaps like music towns, my suggesion would be to rent a car and drive to Austin, which is a very lively, hip, and laid-back city known for its music scene, both country and rock.
Once you're in Austin, San Antonio is only an hour's drive. You're also in the heart of the beautiful Hill Country, full of hills (duh), small lakes, and in spring, beautiful wildflowers. The coolest place to go is Gruene, Texas, which is a small town near Austin that has an old dance hall with live bands on the weekend. You will really feel like you're in Texas if you go to Gruene Hall!
