MEA Weekend

I can’t believe it’s already September and the kids are back in school! Now I can focus on work and finally stop feeling like a bad mom for letting my kids get an embarrassing amount of screentime. If you’re like me, you’ve already started mapping out trips for the next year. However, if you’re like most people, you don’t even know what’s happening next weekend. So if you are thinking about fall trips, MEA weekend is only six weeks away!

This year, MEA weekend is Oct 17-20. It’s a great time to get away before all the craziness of the holiday season kicks into gear. Of course all the airlines know people will be trying to get away and they price flights accordingly. It’s not uncommon to see flights to Orlando top $800. My flight to Rome this fall is$900 so you better believe I’m not paying $800 to go to Orlando. Even if it is home to my happy place…Disney World.

Four ways to travel for MEA Weekend

If you don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of money to fly somewhere, you have a few options.

1. Travel during off-peak times. If you’re okay pulling the kids out of school for a day or two, look at leaving on Tuesday or arriving back on Monday. Also early morning or late night flights are cheaper than midday.
2. Plan a road trip somewhere in MN. Head up to the North Shore or along the Mississippi from Hastings to Red Wing or Winona.
3. Fly out of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Chicago. I have family in Ames so it’s easy for me to hop down to Ames and fly out of Des Moines. The cost savings can be huge.
4. Fly somewhere unexpected. Airlines know the popular routes so they price those higher. Look at some less common options like Nashville, San Francisco or even Las Vegas (yes, it’s great for families too).

Take the time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the time off—it’s a perfect opportunity to squeeze in some quality family time before the busy holiday season kicks in!