Don’t get us wrong. We LOVE the city, but sometimes we need to leave this 12 mile paradise. It could be for a particular event or maybe we just need to spread our wings and venture out to greener pastures. The only problem is “how do we get there?”
Cars are a luxury (and a headache and a financial burden) in the city. This makes grocery shopping problematic let alone those delightful little weekend getaways. Luckily, the city is a major hub for other modes of transportation (in case you didn’t know) trains, buses, planes, etc. However, these modes do not provide you sassy Newlies with the one principle our fabulous country was founded on: freedom. We can’t get all wild and spontaneous- we must plan ahead.
Usually being newlywed also means being frugal (until we strike it rich!). It was a no brainer hopping on Amtrak when you were single, but now there are two of you. Is it really the best option? More often than not we rent a car when leaving the city. We’ve found that Alamo and National are typically the cheapest. An alternate cost saving option is to combine modes of transportation, i.e. taking metro-north, NJ transit, a bus, or Amtrak out of the city and then renting a car for the ride back. Keep in mind that the direction of your travel matters and it determines your rate. It’s always cheaper to do a one-way rental arriving in Manhattan. The rental car companies need vehicles in the city and they’re willing to give you a better deal because of it.
Another piece of advice: always buy the liability insurance. If you’re going to rent a car you probably don’t have one of your own and therefore you don’t have car insurance either. If you get into an accident without purchasing the third party liability insurance you can kiss your savings goodbye. Play it safe and purchase the insurance.
In closing, be a good student and do your homework. Research costs, determine departure schedules, and (possibly) coordinate with other parties. Every couple has travel preferences and every destination has different options to get there and around. So, think outside the box and explore all the possibilities.
