Help!

[Cali vet]

I've been looking at airline schedules Cali-St. Louis and they're pretty grim. AA requires a six to seven hour layover in Miami both coming and going and gets us in to St. Louis at 9:30 pm. Avianca charges hundreds more and gets us in at 10:30 (it's a long drive from the airport to get where we're going). Copa/Continental requires we spend the night in Houston before reaching St. Louis! So with the least worst scenario, AA what do you do in Miami for half a day with out transportation? I'm guessing cabs cost a fortune.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions. I guess I'll keep fiddling with schedules. If I can't get around the layover renting a car sounds cheaper than the cabs.

[Gator]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Did you try routing through Ft Lauderdale (FLL)?  I did a quick check and found Avianca flies from FLL to CLO.  Northwest has a STL flight that arrives in FLL about 2:30 pm. Avianca departs for CLO at 5:00 pm with one stop in BOG.  A quick look I gave this route gives a fare $676 RT

One caveat, becareful of routing through MIA are FLL during spring beak some time hard to find a flight

[Gator]

... in response to Re: Help! , posted by Gator on Feb 26, 2004

Watch the passing traffic.  Also watch the smaller airline which you have never heard of.  I think some of them wait until there is a large crowd thewn book.  Also, at some of the real small Central American airline you may see the waiting passengers BBQing a goat or maybe fighting roosters all speaking languages that damn sure are not spanish..  All in all an amaizing place to hang around.

[JimmySTLOUIS]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Do you live in St. Louis?

I always get a haircut at the barbershop in Miami.

Really - the guy is good and he has people from all over who always get their hair cut there on a reg. basis.

No that will kill off 45 min so I dont know what to tell you about the other.

Have a good trip.

TE AMO PERU!!!!!!!

jim

[thundernco]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Hi CV,

When I get stuck like that I cab it out to Miami Beach for lunch and and an afternon of hanging out on the beach.  If I recall correctly, the fixed fare is $40 USD each way.  Enjoy -TNC

[Traveller]

... in response to Miami Beach, posted by thundernco on Feb 26, 2004

Airport to my apartment on 2nd and Collins Av. is $27 one way. The beach is about a block away. Should be about the same to Ocean Drive and 5th. So, $54 roundtrip by taxi.

[Pete E]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Well,you could rent a car.You might get one for less than $30 and you could drive opver and look at Miami beach.Maybe walk on the beach,have lunch at a beachfront restaurant.You may have seen it before but your wife hasn't.Its an intersesting place to spend an afternoon.If there are tickets that are cheaper because of a layover in Miami you might consider that.We used to lay over in Miami because it was $1000 cheaper for 3 of us than the alternative that gets you to Cali in one day.The price is about the same now.Coming down From San Francisco we got in around 6.00PM and left the next day at 3.00.Going back it was better because we would get in to Miami about 11AM and have an afternoon to do something,then fly out the next day.We got a hotel on the beach 15 miles or so north of Main Miami beach,suite for $80.I'm sure its alot more around Miami beach itself.It gave us time to go to the beach,have dinner on the beach then walk it after dinner.The whole thing both ways cost maybe $250 so we still saved $750 and got some beach on our trip to Cali,where of course there are none.
To me I always look at money that can be saved on air fare as money I could do something else fun with.Or vica versa.
Pay $1000 more for 2 first class tickets?Isn't there something more fun to do with the $1000?

Pete

[AlexG32]

... in response to Help! , posted by Cali vet on Feb 26, 2004

Cali vet,
Cabs do cost a fortune in Miami and the closest place from the airport with anything interesting would be Bayside Mall on Biscayne Bay.  The cab ride is about $25.00 each way and it's only a twenty minute drive when there is little or no traffic.  I hope this helps.

[HeyNow]

... in response to Re: Help! , posted by AlexG32 on Feb 26, 2004

I wonder if it would be cheaper to rent a car at the airport and drive around where you needed to go (for the day).