Navigating Travel Mistakes: How Choosing LAX over PHX for international departure Can Impact Your Journey

My husband was overdue for a trip back home to his native country of Uganda. The goal was for him to be with his children for Christmas, but the fare was much better in January leaving from Los Angeles, instead of our home airport of Phoenix, AZ. Flying from Phoenix to LAX was not an option due to the expense of traveling with extra checked bags domestically, and I did not want to drive to LA only to return the following day by myself. We decided we would book him a ticket on Amtrak from Maricopa to Los Angeles Union Station. This was the most affordable, timely option at just $55 for coach. The day that he was to depart, I decided I too would take the journey with him on Amtrak, we could get a sleeping room, and I would continue up the California coast to Seattle. I booked the reservations on Amtrak to LA with ease, then called to purchase the California Rail Pass.  I was excited to make the most of the trip to LAX with a new adventure to follow.

As the title indicates, failing to effectively plan for an upcoming trip increases the risk of failure. We absolutely encountered some issues along the way. Our patience, self-respect, and our relationship were put to the test; we suffered a bit and were stressed to the max. In the end, the mission to get hubs to LAX for a timely departure was a success. I discovered a new favorite destination (not LA), enjoyed fresh seafood, and saw some amazing views and sites. Stay with me this week for more details on the ups and downs of my last-minute road trip, and more on my LAX or PHX international departure travel mistakes.