Don Smith

I like to use Southwest Airlines because of the low price and dependability. They fly to many cities so here goes my question:
Which SW Airline City would you recommend flying to, renting a car (or not) and taking a short 3-4 day vacation? For example I live in Santa Fe, I would recommend flying on SW Airlines to Albuquerque, renting a car, and driving up the Turquiose Trail in July or August. Stay in Santa Fe and go to the Santa Fe Opera. Drive to Taos the next day and stay there. On the way back visit Puye or Bandolier ruins.

David

Vegas or Orlando are fun (if you're into tourist areas)

Sal

Don,
We did almost the exact trip you described from Tampa via SWA and loved it. The flea market was a lot of fun also. We have also used SWA for the following:
--Flew into San Francisco and did 4 days in the city. Stayed at the Hyatt on Union Square, saw Alcatraz, China Town, city tour, Golden Gate, the wharf and a couple of Museums. You definitely do not need a car in SF. We also spent a few days in Pacific Grove at the Grand View Inn and loved it. Overall, a Great trip.
--Flew into San Jose, did the 17 mile drive and spent two days and in Half Moon Bay on the coast. Not a lot there, but it's a cute little ttown. We went on down to Carmel and stayed a few days eating and shopping. Loved that trip too.
--Flew into Providence and went to Boston and stayed at the Copley Marriott which was very nice. Boston is a great walking city.We also rented a car and drove the New England coast up to southern Maine.
--Flew into Seattle and did a lot of the Pacific NW and BC. Seattle is a great city with lots to do. YOu could also drive up to Victoria which is very lovely.
--If you decide to come our way, you could fly into Tampa. There are several ways you could go depending on your tastes. If you live in SAnte Fe, I doubt that Orlando/Disney would be your style. The beach communities about an hour south of Tampa, are very relaxing. Anna Maria Island (Bradenton barrier Island) is a charming old beach town with cute cottages, a nice selection of restaurants and beautiful beaches. Longboat Key, to the immediate south, is more upscale and close to St. Armand's shops, galleries and restaurants.
Most of these trips were more than 4 day, but you could easily do part of these itineraries in the time you have.
Have fun wherever you end up.

Sal

I forgot to add that you can get to the wine country in less than an hour from San Francisco. 3-4 days is a good length of time to spend there.

Christie

I recommend flying into Harlingen, Texas and driving to South Padre Island for a weekend of relaxation. We did this in mid-August this year and it was great!

Of course, New Orleans is also another very viable option!

kam

We fly SWA a lot and if you're willing to work within their system, it works well. Flying into Phoenix and driving up to Sedona was great. Be aware if you are going to the wine country you are best to fly into Oakland to avoid the SF traffic. I don't think SWA flies into SFO at any rate. Fly into San Jose to visit Carmel/Monterey/the Central Coast and Ontario to drive to Palm Springs.

Jeanette

I have also taken quite a few SW vacations and have experienced numerous other vacation package deals with other airlines. True SW is no frills and that some people feel "cattle carred" because of their boarding pass system and peanut menu atmosphere BUT in Chicago anyway, and imho, this is one of the very few airlines that works for me on these quick 4 day getaways. National is another one. This week has been one monster storm after another and O'Hare was all cots last night. Guess who got out Monday and Tuesday? I have gotten some of the very worst flights from much higher priced and full service airlines, like United and Northwest. The more I travel, the more I realize that being there safely is all that matters to me. I love their frequent flyer perks too although the plan is not easy to understand and there are time restrictions. They are the ones who have made it possible for me to be "free to move around the country." Maybe in my next life I'll have the bucks to waste.

Don Smith

Thanks for all the tips. I've done the San Fransisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix trips. I also flew to Orlando but we didn't go to the Orlando attractions, rather we stayed with family in Leesburg and went to the Gulf Coast to visit Homosas Springs and Tarpon Springs.
I tried flying to Salt Lake City and drove to Yellowstone. This is more like a one week trip instead of a long weekend. Our next trip is to Hartford, Conn. to visit family and a new Native American musuem near Foxwood's casino.
I have to stick with SW Airlines because of the low prices and safety record. The South Padre Island and Tampa trips sound interesting. I would also like to go back to San Fransisco and travel north to Point Reyes National Seasore soon.
Thanks.

yasha

Consider San Antonio - steeped in history but comfortable and accommodating to visitors. It's sort of like visiting Mexico without having to worry about the water. While prices have increased with popularity, it's still a darn sight cheaper than most other places.

FrequentFlyer

I have been a frequent flier for many years now. Southwest Airlines is my airline of CHOICE. They do their job better then anybody else around. NO, I am not an employee of Southwest nor any other airline. I am simply a very satisfied customer. Like Kam says, learn their system and how to work within it and you will do fine. SW customer service and maintenance is second to none. They don't gouge you will all kinds of penalties for changing flight plans on restricted tickets.

Don Smith

Yasha:
I am interested in the San Antonio trip because of interest in the Mexican-American war. I know the Alamo is there but would you know if there are other attractions that I would interested in. I'm a history buff who would never turn down a taco so this sounds like a good trip for me.