Southwest Airlines: flights and fares

[STL Don]

I work in Baltimore quite often, it's an easy 2 hour drive for me. I wouldn't go to Baltimore for any other reason than I am getting PAID to go there. Their waterfront is polluted and smells like gasoline. The aquarium is a bore. You can go to a Cheesecake Factory or Planet Hollywood or Barnes and Noble anywhere. In comparison to anything in SoWal, I think you would be sorely disappointed.

Alternatively, Washington DC is an awesome place to visit and a short drive away. Stay in Crystal City, the Metro runs underneath the hotels and you can get anywhere you want by just walking downstairs. There's also Olde Alexandria, which is quirky and quaint, we love it there, and it's also a Metro ride away from the Smithsonian and key points of interest.

I wish this meant more to me, being able to fly Southwest to Sowal, but not really....I need my SUV to transport my crockpot, boogie boards and dog.

***I am editing my post because I just checked fares from Baltimore...woooooo hoooo! -- We can now fly down for long weekends at $220 rountrip. And we have a free RT flight we were saving for Vegas...not anymore! I think I'm gonna ♥ this!

So far no savings flying from St Louis--around $300 round trip which we could get before on the other airlines

 

[John R]

Olde Alexandria? Old Town?

 

[Paula]

Lately I've been finding low fares to Fort Walton Beach (VPS) from Detroit Metro (Delta). Some were under $250 which is great because fares are usually $350 and up. But you have to keep an eye open for the sales. I'm hoping these lower fares will continue. I found them for the fall and early winter.

What's the least expensive way to get from the airport without renting a car?

 

[nodilberthere]

Olde Alexandria? Old Town?

Alexandria, VA: Travel and Historical Information

 

[Big J]

I hope they add the Dallas area by summer. I used to drive but started flying last year, if its just me and Kim its not bad but when we ask the kids to come it gets kinda pricey, tickets in Oct were 365 each, times 7., 100 or 150 sounds a lot better to me!

 

[John R]

Alexandria, VA: Travel and Historical Information

my house

 

[Lynnie]

DC is so fabulous! I took my two daughters two years ago (ages18 and 26) and we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Washington, it was perfect all the way around. There is a metro station at the hotel. The Metro can take you anywhere you want to go. I agree that everyone who has a chance to see our nation's capital should do so. Do ALL the tourist stuff including the International Spy Museum, it was so cool. Of course, the Holocaust Museum is a must. OMG the Washington Monument, The White House, on and on.
As for food, the best Mexican food I have ever had (besides in Mexico) was the Rosa Mexicana in DC, dining al fresco and drinking Pomegranite Margueritas, yes, good times.
I will definitely be going back to DC with my girls and perhaps the grandkiddies will join us this time.

Everything in DC is fabulous! Absolutely everything!

I work in Baltimore quite often, it's an easy 2 hour drive for me. I wouldn't go to Baltimore for any other reason than I am getting PAID to go there. Their waterfront is polluted and smells like gasoline. The aquarium is a bore. You can go to a Cheesecake Factory or Planet Hollywood or Barnes and Noble anywhere. In comparison to anything in SoWal, I think you would be sorely disappointed.

Alternatively, Washington DC is an awesome place to visit and a short drive away. Stay in Crystal City, the Metro runs underneath the hotels and you can get anywhere you want by just walking downstairs. There's also Olde Alexandria, which is quirky and quaint, we love it there, and it's also a Metro ride away from the Smithsonian and key points of interest.

I wish this meant more to me, being able to fly Southwest to Sowal, but not really....I need my SUV to transport my crockpot, boogie boards and dog.

***I am editing my post because I just checked fares from Baltimore...woooooo hoooo! -- We can now fly down for long weekends at $220 rountrip. And we have a free RT flight we were saving for Vegas...not anymore! I think I'm gonna ♥ this!

I love the Smithsonian!

I have to agree about Baltimore, however. Not to be disparaging, but it's stinky. Can't remember why I flew through there on an international flight, but clearing Customs was plain miserable. I have avoided it at all costs.....literally.

As far as the cheap flight from Panama City, an adventrurous person could jump on the train into NYC - that would be a funn trip!

 

[nodilberthere]

Everything in DC is fabulous! Absolutely everything!



I love the Smithsonian!

I have to agree about Baltimore, however. Not to be disparaging, but it's stinky. Can't remember why I flew through there on an international flight, but clearing Customs was plain miserable. I have avoided it at all costs.....literally.

As far as the cheap flight from Panama City, an adventrurous person could jump on the train into NYC - that would be a funn trip!

I think a stay-over would be necessary, though, it would be a really long day by train from Washington. Long, but funn! I think a good long weekend plan would be 1/2 hour in Baltimore , 2 days in Washington -- but you really need 3) -- for the Smithsonian, the monuments, the zoo, and a visit to Mount Vernon....then 2 days in NYC (one for the Met and Museum of Modern Art and the other for shopping and drinking and Time Square) then back to Baltimore for another 1/2 hour.

Not that I'm bragging but we went into New York with friends on a whim last week, saw the tree, shopped our butts off, had a few cocktails and had dinner at Carnegie Deli. Always a great time in New York ♥ even if you're just walking around! You really can feel excitement in the air. And you can't beat the smell of those kebabs grilling on wood at the vendors stands on a cold crisp day...Christmas in New York really is something that should be on every bucket list.

 

[aggieb]

I think a stay-over would be necessary, though, it would be a really long day by train from Washington. Long, but funn! I think a good long weekend plan would be 1/2 hour in Baltimore , 2 days in Washington -- but you really need 3) -- for the Smithsonian, the monuments, the zoo, and a visit to Mount Vernon....then 2 days in NYC (one for the Met and Museum of Modern Art and the other for shopping and drinking and Time Square) then back to Baltimore for another 1/2 hour.

Not that I'm bragging but we went into New York with friends on a whim last week, saw the tree, shopped our butts off, had a few cocktails and had dinner at Carnegie Deli. Always a great time in New York ♥ even if you're just walking around! You really can feel excitement in the air. And you can't beat the smell of those kebabs grilling on wood at the vendors stands on a cold crisp day...Christmas in New York really is something that should be on every bucket list.

sounds funn. i just realized not long ago that the travel distance to nyc is less than when i drive south to home. i'm all over it and ready to go to nyc, dc, richmond, alexandria, williamsburg, the greenbriar, the homestead. i wanna do it all.

 

[Lynnie]

I think a stay-over would be necessary, though, it would be a really long day by train from Washington. Long, but funn! I think a good long weekend plan would be 1/2 hour in Baltimore , 2 days in Washington -- but you really need 3) -- for the Smithsonian, the monuments, the zoo, and a visit to Mount Vernon....then 2 days in NYC (one for the Met and Museum of Modern Art and the other for shopping and drinking and Time Square) then back to Baltimore for another 1/2 hour.

Not that I'm bragging but we went into New York with friends on a whim last week, saw the tree, shopped our butts off, had a few cocktails and had dinner at Carnegie Deli. Always a great time in New York ♥ even if you're just walking around! You really can feel excitement in the air. And you can't beat the smell of those kebabs grilling on wood at the vendors stands on a cold crisp day...Christmas in New York really is something that should be on every bucket list.

I agree - even the muggers in NYC at Christmas are festive and funn! Great City for Christmas and New Year's Eve!

sounds funn. i just realized not long ago that the travel distance to nyc is less than when i drive south to home. i'm all over it and ready to go to nyc, dc, richmond, alexandria, williamsburg, the greenbriar, the homestead. i wanna do it all.

You should go Aggieb! I drove once! Just once........