Enga mellom fjella

Thumbing for a ride

Remind me to do my blog then stress out over other things!

I've spent hours trying to figure out how to get to Costa Rica without spending more hours on the bus and/or hours in the air and at a price I can afford. Not impossible, but nerve-wracking. My nerves are totally gone.

The best I can come up with is Allegiant Airlines to LAX and Lacsa to SJO... 16 hours there and 22 back, direct flights, but bad overnight 14 hours layover in Los Angeles on the way back. (00:18 to 14:15) Possible dates are July 1-15. Even sent an email to Costa Rica about a place to stay.

Those of you who can fly direct out of Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver or Miami should consider yourself blessed indeed!

Orbitz is giving me prices of around $850 from (MSO) Missoula, but I can get that down to $500... I think.

One thing about Allegiant. They fly to Des Moines, IA; Rochester, MN; Peoria, IL and a few other interesting places through either (LAS) Las Vegas, (LAX) Los Angeles or (IWA) Phoenix/Mesa. Unfortunately connections cannot be arranged and staying a day/night in the airport? Yikes! But... if there are other cheap flights with a 2 to 4 hour time gap it would be quicker, cheaper and less painful than a bus. I can get costs to Rochester down to $116+ (So maybe... <$160) for the entire round trip (I cannot get there by bus ).

Peoria? 42+ hours by bus and $188 (21 day advance; last minute is double). By plane? Good connections going through Las Vegas; bad coming back and around $118 if I booked today (therefore ~$160).

If there were good train connections, I'd gladly go by train. I can walk on the train (better for my legs) and even sleep on the train. Train is relaxing. There is very little train service throughout the Americas though.

When I figure this out... I usually de-stress once I have the tickets and itinerary.

Montana: cold, wet 46 degrees this evening. Never got warm today.