Travel Has Changed a Bit
Posted on July 16, 2010 - Filed Under Simple Life, Travel | 7 Comments
When I left Canada, I had a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, two changes of clothes in my pack (plus what I was wearing), a guidebook and about $2,000 CAN in the bank. I headed out for parts unknown, blissfully unworried about the possibility of running out of money because I knew I’d be in Spanish speaking territory by then and could teach English.
Fast forward 9 years and holy schmoly, travel is different. First, there’s the fact that airlines have gotten wonky in the years since I was last on one (over 10 years ago, since I came down in bus). I’ve been searching and searching for decent flights and they are ALL super expensive. At one point, I was super happy because I found a flight on Delta for $540 each. Awesome! It said “plus taxes and fees”, I figured that would be fifty bucks at the most, no? Uh, right. The flipping taxes are almost as much as the ticket! And, since we can’t buy tickets until Irving’s papers are done, I’ve had the joy of watching the prices inch up and up and up over the past few weeks.
Then there’s the fact that I’m a mom. You know, having kids changes EVERYTHING. Whereas I would be perfectly willing to hang out in an airport for 35 hours to get a cheaper flight, there is NO WAY I’m doing that with kids. I could easily handle two back to back flights without eating because, hello, airlines apparently don’t give you food anymore. Um, kids not eating for 11 hours? So not going to happen!
Add to this the extra worry that I’m taking a guy who looks like a terrorist/job stealer to anyone who has never traveled outside of North America and travel is suddenly very, very different.
However, provided I can actually manage to earn the money to do this trip (cue panic attack) and we survive the ear popping and racing from one terminal to another with small children in two, once Irving has been granted a visa to Canada, it will be easier to travel with him. Which means, when I’m rich and famous, we can go country hopping. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
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7 Responses to “Travel Has Changed a Bit”
Talk to Me, People!
Oh God I know what you mean,a ticket to CR is $325 right now and I found one for $180 (my soul returned to my body) then found $210 taxes! for a one hour flight!
I’ve gone home for $120 round trip..I use http://www.farebuzz.com/
You will make it! there is still time to work a LOT and arrange everything!
Good Luck!
Thanks for the encouragement, Natalia. I just don’t get the taxes . . . I thought they were a percentage! As in 7-10% or something . . . not 95%! It’s ridiculous.
I think it is the “fees” that get you, they seem so random! I’m sure that it will all come together and it will be worth it once you get there!!!!:)
Just flew Continental from BZ via Houston to Seattle and they fed us twice. Sure it was a turkey/ham sandwich with mini carrots and mini M&Ms on the international flight and a chicken wrap, mini carrots and the M&M’s on the domestic but it was food. Two services of drinks, it was actually okay, I am saying okay lightly. Some Canadian Charters are way, way worse.
And just remember if you get a layover there is always the food fair at the airport and the kids can run around and burn off some energy!
The taxes, as far as I know, are often fluid/a sliding scale to use to deal with changes in oil prices. At least in Japan, where I live, they call them simply a “fuel surcharge” and it’s changed every three months. The problem is that the charges are then locked in for that period, no matter how much oil prices might change. Two years ago I booked tickets that had the fuel surcharge locked in at peak prices, then the prices plunged and were down 25 percent by the time I flew. Unlucky me…
Try priceline.com
Recently got awesome car rental prices through their bid for services deals. And no, do not have any affiliation with them
Thanks, Poppy. The problem with Priceline is that they are for Americans only, or they did last time I checked. Other US folks who read here might be able to use them, though!