By Mary Gallagher
The best stress relieving travel tip this road warrior can pass along is to stay the night before departure at an airport hotel unless you live five minutes away.
When I lived in the Washington, DC area finding the cheapest flight could mean using Dulles or BWI as well as my closest Reagan/National. Depending on traffic, Dulles and BWI could mean a long hairy journey for departures at just about anytime. Once, I took Super Shuttle to BWI and in spite of leaving multiple hours early for my flight to Jamaica we didn’t get to the airport in time! From that day on I spend the night before many departures at an airport hotel.
Leaving from Newark on a morning flight to Malaysia, I took a train to the airport the day before, got off in the airport called the hotel shuttle, spent a restful night and left the next morning with plenty of time and energy to spare for a very long journey.
While living in North Carolina 90 miles from the Raleigh /Durham NC, Richmond or Norfolk, VA airports left open a lot of options. I’ve confirmed that the money spent for at least your departure night at an airport hotel that will also care for your car is a very good plan. If you stay on the outbound side you’ll be rested and relaxed for that cross country or overseas flight and believe me that is a plus.
Then if you chose to stay at a hotel on your return as we did after a winter storm caused mega delays in departing Minneapolis and Chicago making us hours late, it was a much safer and more relaxed plan to drive home in the morning after a good nights rest at our favorite Cambria Suites.
An outstanding example of an airport hotel is the Cambria Suites, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, NC. We’ve always found the staff welcoming and accommodating. This upscale property provides very clean super size suites, wonderful beds and their room service has great hamburgers and classic club sandwiches. If you care to, one can dine in the cozy dining room or sit at the bar.
Previous to a recent flight, arriving in Raleigh about noon we perused the popular Annual World Beer Festival, coming back April 14, 2012, and after a nice lunch at the nearby popular Ed’s Restaurant, drove a short distance to the hotel. Free wifi kept us working and the fitness center and indoor pool were thoroughly enjoyed.
In spite of the hotels location close to the airport it’s quiet. We never waited more than a few minutes for the courteous van drivers.
The Cambria Suites is a popular property with business travelers and many local groups find it a great place for business and social functions. It’s location off I-40 less than a mile from the airport provides easy access also to events and attractions in the area.
The fly and drive package includes free parking for up to seven nights and free 24 hour airport transportation per stay.
Cambria Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport
300 Airgate Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
P: 919.361.3311 | F: 919.361.3399
info@cambriasuitesrdu.com
Cambria Suites are currently in 12 States check their website for more information
www.CambriaSuites.com
World Beer Festival locations and information.
http://allaboutbeer.com/gather-for-beer/world-beer-festival/general-information
Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant in the heart of the Historic Raleigh City Market.
220 Wolfe Street, Raleigh (919) 836-9559