Oh, all-knowing flist: HALP

[tzikeh]

I have been searching for reasonably-priced travel options from Chicago to either Columbus or Cincinnati Ohio that allow me to stay the weekend, and don't arrive in Ohio at 3am.

I am stymied at every turn.

I have looked at trains, buses, and even flights. What the hell, transportation?

If anyone has ever traveled this route and knows a decent way to do it, I would appreciate your insight.

In the meantime: fuck Amtrak, fuck Greyhound, and fuck airlines.

Comments

[j00j]

Have you tried megabus or boltbus? I know Megabus has a suitable route; prices aren't going to be that reasonable this late in the game, but perhaps more so than the other options.

Road trip!!!

[vickita]

Do you drive, tzikeh? Rent a car. It's a five, six hour drive (depending on which city you're going to). Easy squeezy. You don't have to go on *anyone's* schedule; you can play your own music (or listen to NPR) (or audio books), stop for food and bathroom breaks whenever you want, not go through security, and you don't have to worry about packing light: whatever you can shove into the trunk can come with you.

I don't know about there, but gas here has fallen below the $3/gallon mark.

[cereta]

What weekend in particular are you considering, and how flexible are you about when you arrive and leave? Because depending on the answer to that and your tolerance for a 3.5 hour car ride with a 4-year-old, there is the ever-popular "take a cheap train to Champaign and catch a ride to Cincinnati with a friend and her kid who are always up for an impulsive trip to Grandma's." I couldn't, alas, offer you a place to stay, as Mom's kind of twitchy these days about strangers in her house, but a ride? No problem.

Re: Road trip!!!

[xenacryst]

Drive, yes. That's the only reasonable way to get through Indiana. Amtrak is totally borked on that line - I seriously don't know what they're thinking there, going through the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.

We used to drive from the IN/OH border to Madison happily in an easy day's drive - Chicago to Cincy would prolly be about the same.

Re: Road trip!!!

[dragonfly]

Thirding the rental car suggestion. It often astonishes me how cheaply they'll rent you a car, and gas isn't so bad right now.

Re: Road trip!!!

[tzikeh]

Alas. I looked into renting a car; it's RIDICULOUSLY expensive.

Re: Road trip!!!

[tzikeh]

Alas. I looked into renting a car; it's RIDICULOUSLY expensive.

Re: Road trip!!!

[tzikeh]

Alas. I looked into renting a car; it's RIDICULOUSLY expensive.

[tzikeh]

I am going on the weekend of the 6/7, and it's not flexible. I am visiting a friend. But I thank you for the offer!

[cereta]

Drat, yeah, we'll just have gone. Sorry!

[jelazakazone]

I am wondering about a ride-sharing board. Like on Craigslist? Or couchsurfers? I don't much about couchsurfing, but my SIL is a big fan and I met a young guy who was really into it too and he was saying that people can catch rides that way too. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

oh, sometimes you can find coupons for car rentals, especially for weekends.