Flying or Driving to travel for surgery?

Justin · #1 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 02:24 PM

This service is much more reasonable in price and I've seen them all over NYC: Dial 7 Car Service.

Katie · #2 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 02:49 PM

Justin, Thanks so very much for this. It is exactly what I was hoping for...some advice from someone who has been there, done that

Is Laguardia the main airport, the one most of the flights would go into? I'm trying to take some of the stress of my husband by finding out some information ahead of time. He's got enough to worry about just living with me

I'll check out all of the links you gave me. I heard that if we have a private room, my husband may be able to stay with me? Otherwise, we are going to have to find something reasonable for accommodation for him for a couple of weeks. Since parking at the hospital was over $50 for just a few hours, I don't want to think what 'people parking' would cost!

Any help in that department would be wonderful too.

Katie · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 08:00 PM

Justin, would traveling by car, even if we broke it up over two days coming home after surgery, be a really bad idea? Would it be any worse than flying 12 hours from Germany, etc? Is it more the risk of driving & possible accidents that you are thinking is a bad idea?

I am very impressed with the prices of the Dial 7 service, and will most likely go that route, especially at just $32 for a luxury sedan from the airport to the hospital.

My husband may be able to stay at a work related facility there for the whole time though, and might want the car for other things, so that is my only thought about taking our own.

I wish I didn't over think so many details

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 08:19 PM

Hey Katie,

IMHO, flying can be difficult, maybe more so than driving. Driving you can lay the seat down taking all or most of the stress off your neck and back or even lay down in the back seat with pillows wherever you need them (seat belts please). Flying includes getting to the airport, waiting to go through security, waiting for your flight, waiting for clearance after boarding, waiting for your baggage, and driving to the hospital, and then the reverse. I know the flight is so much shorter and the trip is broken up into small segments but overall, I think driving might be more comfortable - if you're looking for an excuse to drive

Dale

Cheryl · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 08:44 PM

I'm with Dale. Even in first class the flight for me was really painful. I would much rather have been in a car that is somewhat suited to you.

I would rather have the control of my own car to stop and go as necessary.

Cheryl

Katie · #6 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 09:36 PM

So my only issue with taking the car is finding a place to put it. The parking anywhere near the hospital will cost us over $70/day x a couple of weeks. And we need to get the insurance updated to cover a private room so my husband can stay with me or else pay up to $200/night for a room. Of course that would solve the parking problem...leave it there at the hotel and take the train in

Either way, I'm hoping to not have to pay a couple of thousand dollars for accommodation for my husband while we are down there, plus the travel.

I need to get reimbursed for the consult as well, as that was about $400 cdn, but was very necessary at the time. I hope I can slip it in with the total cost to the insurance and get the hospital to give it back.

Or some such evil scheme.....

All of these are good opinions...maybe a poll is in order!

Justin · #7 (**permalink**) 04-24-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

So my only issue with taking the car is finding a place to put it. The parking anywhere near the hospital will cost us over $70/day x a couple of weeks. And we need to get the insurance updated to cover a private room so my husband can stay with me or else pay up to $200/night for a room. Of course that would solve the parking problem...leave it there at the hotel and take the train in

Either way, I'm hoping to not have to pay a couple of thousand dollars for accommodation for my husband while we are down there, plus the travel.

I need to get reimbursed for the consult as well, as that was about $400 cdn, but was very necessary at the time. I hope I can slip it in with the total cost to the insurance and get the hospital to give it back.

Or some such evil scheme.....

All of these are good opinions...maybe a poll is in order!

Hey Katie,

I think flying would be easier IMHO. You'll get a wheelchair through the airport and you will be able to board before everyone else. I know the seats can be an issue, but airfare is super cheap right now. Plus, (the BIG plus for me) the cost of storing a car in NYC is absolutely insane--it would add up extremely fast.

It would be nice to have a car to stop and go as you please. However, traffic can be horrific on I-95 (if you are using it) and traffic can also be very aggressive. The thing I would worry about would be having to slam on your brakes, which would be brutal on your neck.

About accommodations for your husband--cheap hotels are just outside Manhattan (which can easily be $200-300 a night). He could stay at a place that is close to mass transit (subway), as it is extremely easy and cheap to get around NYC that way. This could save tons of money, albeit it would require more travel time during the day for your husband.

Good luck!