by Hope
I believe I have shared that my mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia this past winter. She and my dad came for a week in April, and we anticipated it would be her last trip. She has a lot of problems getting around, is not stable and is in constant pain.
My dad is her sole caretaker. They both have handled the diagnosis well. My mom’s philosophy is that she is going to do as much as she can for as long as she can. But most likely that will not be for too long.
Then my dad was rushed to the emergency room two weeks ago in excruciating pain. They have not found a specific cause other than muscle spasms. And the neurologist said he will need to do exercises for the rest of his life.
That’s not terrible, but certainly doesn’t help in light of his role as caretaker for my mom.
Trip to Texas
Because of my mom’s diagnosis, I hoped to drive down to Texas this summer to see her. I always joke that I want to see her again before she forgets who I am. But that’s really not a joke anymore.
Needless to say, with our financial situation, that was not going to be possible.
My dad has graciously booked us (Princess, Gymnast and I) airline tickets next week. The day after the kids return from camp, we will leave for Texas.
Princess and I will stay a week, and Gymnast is going to stay several weeks and help them out. He is so excited. I am so excited for him.
I think he may be most excited about getting to fly home alone. But he and my mom have had a special bond since he was born. She watched his birth and gave him his first bath. And until they moved away from Virginia several years back, he was the apple of her eye. They were inseparable.
The Cost of the Trip
Because the travel is completely covered by my dad’s airline points, (yeah for credit cards that give airline miles as awards,) my only costs are parking the car during our week away and food. Thankfully, we can use food stamps in any state, which I did not know until recently.
Parking the car is another issue. I have looked at riding MARTA to the airport. But it costs $8 per day ($64) to leave a car there AND then I have to add the cost of 5 single way tickets on the trains. Parking in the economy lots at the airport is $14 per day (total $98 for the time Princess and I will be gone.)
Our flight leaves at 8am, so I think we need to be in the security line no later than 6am. Atlanta is a beast to fly through.
One good thing about all this is that I do not have to take off work to go. We are traveling to and from on weekends. I will be able to work as I do at home. No loss of income or dedicated time to building my business.
Any regular travelers in the Atlanta area have any words of wisdom for parking our car to what will amount to almost 8 days? I really need to keep the costs as minimal as possible
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
I don’t know if they do it in Atlanta, but in California there are hotels that will let you keep your car parked in their parking lot if you just stay 1 night and it has been MUCH cheaper for us to do that than pay for parking at the airport. What about Uber or Lyft….is that an option?
Can one of the twins or someone from your church drive you and bring the car home?
The twins are both in VA for the summer. Or they would be going with us.
And I hate to ask someone to take a 4 hour round trip drive to take us to the airport, especially at 4am in the morning.
Has here been any talk of relocating to TX to assist more? Lewy Body is no joke from what i’ve read. I know it’s another move but you don’t have anything tying you to this little town I don’t think…(can’t remember why you moved there)….and it doesn’t seem like any of you like it too much because it is such a small town with small town culture, etc….?
I don’t know about Atlanta, but this is what I have found in Houston. There is a super shuttle service that picks one up at one’s home and takes on to the airport (you can also book round trip). If you have them, I suggest planning on having them pick up about 30 minutes earlier than you normally would. The hotels are another option. Here you can park at a hotel for a bit more than if you stay overnight at the hotel. You might also check into the cost of uber, lyft, or a cab to the airport. If your return flight is at a better time of day, I am certain people from your church would be happy to help. I know that I find it really hard to ask someone to get me to the airport at 5:30 or 6:00 am but don’t mind asking them if it is later in the day.
I’ve had great luck with Super Shuttle in a variety of cities, but I’m not sure how far they pick up outside of the metro area. FWIW, I don’t think $98 sounds bad for on airport parking. Sometimes there are parking lots just beyond the official airport parking that will be a couple dollars per day cheaper as well. You’d just want to be certain the shuttles run 24-hour.
The closest airport shuttle to us is in a city an hour away, the airport is 2 hours away.
I am leaning towards the $98 option as well. That would allow us to walk to the airport from the lots if the shuttle is not running.
Park-ride lots A and C charge $3.00 an hour or $10 a day maximum. I think that would be the best.
That’s what I was thinking too. Especially since we can walk from both lots and I won’t have to worry about our super early arrival or late night return.
Try Uber it might be cheaper.
Unfortunately, there is no Uber or Lyft service in our tiny town.
The airport is almost a two hour drive from here as it is on the other side of Atlanta from us.
If you are a AAA member, check with them for parking advice and if any of the offsite parking businesses offer discounts. Alternatively, your credit card may have a travel service who can help, or you could check with a travel agent. We’ve used FastPark in Raleigh for early morning flights, but it looks like the Atlanta location drops off at the international terminal and then you’d have to use airport shuttles to get to the domestic terminal. Best wishes for safe travels and a good visit with your parents.
I must have missed a post because I didn’t know about your mom! I’m so sorry to hear it! Hugs!!!
$98 sounds very reasona me. Another option is to see if Atlanta has a Park’N Fly. I’ve used that service in several locations and it’s always saved me money and worked out great.
It may be about the same price to find a hotel near the airport that has a shuttle and will let you leave your car. Most allow for up to 14 days.
Probably after your trip at this point, but we fly out of Atlanta frequently. We are in Alabama, so nearly a 3 hour drive for us as well. We always use either airportparkinginc.com or spothero.com. They sell spaces at hotels close to the airport for around $3/day. You park there, then take the free shuttle to the airport. Often we will stay overnight at that hotel, but booking parking through the outside website is cheaper than getting it through the hotel directly.