On Sunday I returned home from a 4-day visit with my mother in Florida. To get there from my hometown of Germantown, Maryland I employed a variety of vehicles without having to use my own car, pay for parking at the airport or bother a friend to go out of their way to drop me off at the airport.
First, a twenty minute walk from my apartment (with overnight bag in hand) to the Germantown Transit Center Bus Depot. Cost to me - $0.00
Boarded Route 61 bus for a 45 minute ride to the Shady Grove Red-Line Metrorail Station. Cost to me - $0.00 (Used my monthly bus pass which I already have for getting to work)
Boarded the Red-Line train for a 25 minute ride to Gallery Place Metrorail Station so I could transfer to the Yellow-Line train.
Boarded the Yellow-Line train for a 12 minute ride to Washington National Airport. Cost to me for both train lines combined - $6.00
Boarded American Airlines for a 2 hour flight to Orlando, Florida. Cost to me - $135.00
After meeting up with my sister in front of the car rental place (she flew in from Ca.), boarded her Ford Focus rental car for the 40 minute drive to my mother's house. Cost to me - $0.00
Total for the entire one-way trip - $141.00. Not bad. Now double that figure for the return trip!
I did notice quite a difference in the quality of the airports. The Orlando airport was modern looking and pleasant with a nice food court and shopping mall. The Washington airport needs an overhaul!
I may not use this method every time I travel but it's good to know I can make it to an airport without the use of a car or expensive taxi.
