Book a Flight – How To Explore a Brand New Neighborhood

You’re Ready for a Long Weekend – Book a Flight

Nothing shouts “I’M TRAVELING!” quite like pulling out your credit card when you go to book a flight. With your ticket in hand, your vacation options are endless.

A Note on Airfare

I preface this section by stating that while I am quite literally a professional when it comes to airplane travel, I know almost nothing about buying airplane tickets.

Since 2006 I’ve bought exactly two airplane tickets . . . Copenhagen to Amsterdam and Paris to Athens. These tickets cost me $135 USD total, and I didn’t use the ticket to Amsterdam.

I happily admit that I have no idea how much an airplane ticket should cost, nor do I know the best day or time to buy a ticket. When random passengers tell me how much they paid for their ticket I nod and smile and hope they got a good deal on their flight.

If getting a good deal on airplane tickets is important to you I’d recommend Farecompare and Priceline as great places to start your research.

Remember, knowledge is power and luck favors the prepared.

While Exploring Your Backyard, Exploring Locally and Road Tripping were fun opportunities, it’s time to really begin our journey!

Book a Flight

We’re going to take an airplane ride somewhere within the United States for a three to four day weekend.

As you ponder the fabulous American cities that deserve a place on your list you’re free to include anywhere you can fly within the United States and our territories. Destinations that don’t require a passport include:

• The contiguous-48 states
• Hawaii
• Alaska
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Guam
• American Samoa
• Northern Mariana Islands

I’d strongly recommend you keep your flight under three hours. This long weekend trip is too short to be dealing with jet lag.

How Will I Pick Just One Place . . .

There are so many options, and so many seasons! See if any of these suggestions make your heart beat a little faster:

• Fall colors in New England
• New York City at Christmas
• Washington D.C. during the Cherry Blossom Festival
• The Deep South in the spring or fall
• Florida in winter
• California beaches in the summer
• A winter ski vacation in the Rocky Mountains

You have endless options that include hiking, camping, stargazing, museums, oceans, rivers, lakes . . .  the United States literally has it all. 

Side Note

As a flight attendant I often meet families from Australia who use all five weeks of their yearly vacation at once and take an epic journey across the U.S. Their itinerary usually includes Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York, Washington DC, Orlando (apparently all kids love Disney World) and it usually ends with a week long Caribbean cruise out of Miami.

I’d guess that some Australians have seen more of America than most Americans.

There Must Be Somewhere You Want To Go

Through multiple sources of media available to you, I’d guess you’ve seen a big swath of the United States on TV and in movies. There must be some fabulous place that’s peaked your interest.

I’ve seen most of the United States and if you’re having a hard time narrowing down a three to four day weekend journey, I can suggest a few cities:

• Savannah
• Charleston, S.C.
• New Orleans
• San Antonio
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Boston
• Phoenix 

All of these destinations are easy to navigate, aren’t overwhelming and would make for a great long weekend.

Savannah and New Orleans are particular favorites of mine. They’re both very old and retain their historic charm (they’re kinda creepy in all the best ways). These cities call to me because I like cemeteries, art, history, culture and soul.

You may love the outdoors or music or beaches or snow or sun. Pull out your map of the United States and see what speaks to you. 

Consider the Weather

Once you’ve settled on where you want to go it’s time to start planning when you want to go.

It’s a very bad idea to visit Savannah, New Orleans, Phoenix or San Antonio in July and August, unless you enjoy sweating to death.

If you’re determined to take a summer trip consider San Diego, San Francisco or Portland (Maine or Oregon). 

January would be a terrible time to visit Yellowstone or Mount Rushmore, but there’s no better time to visit those places than July. 

I’m not saying you MUST plan your trip around the weather, but there are definitely better times of year to visit Las Vegas, and August is not one of them. (Last time I was in Vegas in August it was 117 degrees. I didn’t leave my room, it made me feel very irritable.) Also, be careful of Vegas in January, that’s when the Nerd Convention (CES) takes place and hotel prices skyrocket. 

Shoulder Season, (April and May and September through November) is a great time to visit most places, there are fewer tourists and hotel prices are historically cheaper.

The first two weeks of December (the lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas) is a great time to travel, especially to warm weather destinations. 

Start Your Preliminary Research

Hopefully your dream trip with ideal weather has risen to the top.

Before you request your vacation days from your boss, I’d recommend visiting Booking.com to make sure hotels are a reasonable price and/or available during the time you want to go.

This would also be a good time to check airfare prices, you can do a quick search on Priceline to get a feel for ticket prices. As I mentioned, I know almost nothing about airfare, but I recommend these sites to gauge if you’re buying at the right time.

Book Your Flight

 If you’re happy with the hotel and airfare price and your boss agrees to give you a long weekend, it’s time to book!

Prices may go down, but they’re more likely to go up. If the price looks good to you, jump in with both feet and commit. 

Now the real trip planning work begins, but don’t worry, we’ll cut it down into manageable pieces.

Transportation

I believe most folks’ biggest hurdle surrounding travel is transportation. Take a deep breath and let’s see if we can answer these basic questions:

1. How will you get from the airport to the hotel?

2. How will you get from the hotel to the sites you’re seeing and back?

3. Does the hotel offer a shuttle or transportation back to the airport?

Transferring From the Airport to the Hotel

Research all these options, including pricing (write it out for a snapshot view) 

• Does the city have a public transportation system

• Does the hotel provide a shuttle 

• Is there a paid transfer option to/from the hotel

• Is Uber/Lyft allowed at the airport you’re flying into

• Taxi

• Car rental at airport (Factor in if the hotel charges for parking)

• Does the hotel offer car rental on-site

• Are you old enough to rent a car (must be 25)

Getting From the Hotel to the Tourist Sites

You’ll need a good idea of what you’re planning to do on your mini-vacation and it will help if your hotel is in a central location. Write out for a snapshot view and see if:

• The city offers public transportation to popular sites

• Does the hotel provide a shuttle within range of what you want to see 

• Is Uber/Lyft available

• Taxi

• The hotel offers car rental on-site (if you didn’t pick up a car at the airport)

• Are you old enough to rent a car (must be 25)

Transferring From the Hotel to the Airport

Research all these options, including pricing (write it out for a snapshot view) 

• Does the city have a public transportation system

• Does the hotel provide a shuttle 

• Is there a paid transfer option to/from the hotel

• Is Uber/Lyft allowed at the airport you’re flying into

• Taxi

Although it might make your brain hurt, I’d recommend you learn everything you can about transportation. You’ll find that sometimes it’s more economical and easier to rent a car and have wheels for your whole trip. Other times a car can be a big expensive hassle, especially if you’re staying and playing in a central location.

Rookie Mistake

Learn from me. I once attended a convention in Chicago and rented a car. Parking at the hotel was $30 a day, and I only used the car to get to and from the hotel.

Research

Once you’ve figured out your transportation situation, review my Research section for a reminder on why a little research at home will start your trip off right.

As you reviewing your guidebooks keep a pen and paper handy and don’t forget to make note of these important aspects:

• Must see sights (usually designated by three or four stars)

• Should see sights (usually designated by two stars or less)

• Things that interest you

• Things that interest others in your group

• Opening and closing days/times

• Cost of entry (if you’re on a budget)

• Should tickets be bought in advance (if yes, website address)

• Is there an all-in-one pass you can buy, and what’s included with it

Time To Head Out

The big Airplane Travel Trip day has arrived and I hope you picked a great weather weekend. Put on your most comfortable shoes, pack a couple of snacks and head out on your big adventure.

If you’re worried about any aspect of your flight, review my Flight suggestions.

As you arrive at your destination, take your time, don’t rush and enjoy the experience. Read all the captions, take pictures and don’t hesitate to deviate from your original plan if you find something that interests you.

Just because you created an itinerary doesn’t mean you have to stick to it (unless you bought timed tickets for something).

Savor your meals and try something new (eat local if possible) and enjoy every bite of “Grandma’s Famous Fudge” you bought from the adorable corner candy shop.

You’re truly seeing a new city through the eyes of a tourist, what an exciting opportunity! To be honest, I’m a little jealous of you, in a healthy way of course. Everyone should be so lucky to go somewhere new!

Recommendations for All Your Trips

I don’t want to tell you how to do your exploring, but I do have some suggestions to make your trip more meaningful. (Borrowed from the Explore Your Backyard section if you skipped it.)

Local food, drinks and snacks should be a part of every journey. If there’s a family-owned shop or restaurant, make it a point to eat there before, after or during your trip. When you see a sign that says “The World’s Best Donut,” pop in and buy one.

Part of the fun of traveling is experiencing the local food flavor and supporting local business. Don’t skip this important aspect of your journey by eating only at chains and your hotel restaurant (although I completely understand if you swing into Whataburger and Raising Canes).

If you start your travel journey with good habits, they’ll serve you in the long run. 

Souvenirs/Geocache

Before you set out, there’s one final thing to consider . . . is there something you want to collect from the places you travel?

I collect Christmas ornaments, bracelets and earrings . . . things I use in everyday life. Alex collects rocks, pins and patches. Not every place we visit sells what we collect . . . except for rocks . . . unfortunately there are rocks literally everywhere. Consider what you’d like to collect and start now if you can. Here are some helpful tips for Souvenirs.

Lots of people with or without kids Geocache during their travels and collect Geocache virtual souvenirs, which can also be fun, although do your best not to look like a terrorist. 

BE INSPIRING

Make sure your phone or camera is charged. I suggest you take plenty of pictures of your big trip!

In fact, I dare you to post pictures of your long weekend in a new city (you can hashtag #longweekend).

You never know who you’re going to inspire to step out of their comfort zone by stepping out of your comfort zone.

The truth is, it’s exciting to explore and it doesn’t matter if you’re in your own backyard or on the other side of the globe. There’s a good chance that Anders from Norway is interested in that strange colored puddle you saw . . . give him the opportunity to see it. 

At the end of each day, pull out your travel journal and make a few notes about your experiences. I guarantee you’ll smile when you’re later journaling about visiting the World’s Tallest Building in Dubai or recounting your first invasive Turkish Bath and you reread your original post about the day you watched someone fall into the river on the San Antonio RiverWalk.

Repeat Until You’re Ready to Move On

America is enormous and there are plenty of these long weekend trips. Do this until you’re comfortable . . . your next stop is a week-long trip to one of our great American cities!

Thanks for Reading

Please feel free to share your questions or comments below. If you see any typos, let me know!

I encourage you to share my tribal knowledge with someone who loves or would love to travel.

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, a huge thanks to Alex for helping with photos.