We traveled to Topeka, KS for a funeral from July 27, 2007 to July 29, 2007. We flew from PDX to PHX, PHX to MCI all via US Airways (America West). Our flight from PDX was late about 10 minutes and the flight from PHX to MCI about 45 minutes. By the time we landed in Kansas City it was almost midnight (scheduled 11:03 pm arrival). Despite the distance from the plane to the baggage claim being less than 100 yards, it still took a good 20-30 minutes to get the bags unloaded. The airport itself is laid out well, it is very compact. I liked the airport.
KCI has a rent a car center similar to McCarran in Vegas (actually I think they opened before McCarran’s did). All the companies are in the same building and a universal bus takes one there. At that time of night there were only a few busses running and they stopped at all the terminals. Still, there were few passengers so it was only a 10 minute ride to the rent a center.
Hertz via Hotwire for my car. All was in order; I upgraded even and easily found the car. We were on the road a scant 10 minutes from arriving at the rent a center. Toyota Avalon, which was a nice car.
Drive to Topeka from Kansas City – approximately 1 hour, including $2.15 on the Kansas Turnpike
Hotel: Holiday Inn Topeka – West. Decent hotel, older, in need of remodeling. Priclined the room and received the standard PL room, even though I called and requested a quiet room immediately after winning my PL bid, letting them know we were in town for a funeral. Pros – good location, the lobby area has been converted to a “holidome” with a pool, games and a waterslide. The water slide was a welcome diversion for myself and the kids of the deceased who needed a break. The room comes with free continental breakfast or upgrades for discounted prices for hot breakfasts. Coffee pot in room. Free high speed internet (awesome!)
Cons – rooms are small, and there is very little room between the bed and the desk, so if someone were at the desk using it, no one would be able to walk behind to get to the bathroom. The shower was either scalding or a trickle. The drop ceiling in the bathroom had tiles with large chunks missing. Parking got fairly full, there always was a spot but it took some looking sometimes.
Ate at Perkins Family restaurant, Boulevard Pizza and Church’s chicken. Perkins was good, but the floor of the dining room was very dirty. Boulevard pizza was very good. Church’s wasn’t as good as I remembered, but the biscuits were excellent. The food at the breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn was good and service great.
We also spent time at the Super 8 on Topeka road. This is an excellent newer motel and I would recommend it for travelers looking for someplace to spend the night. We still paid less on PL for the Holiday Inn, but I was impressed with the two room suite and the standard room at this Super 8.
Returning the car was a cinch, in and out of the rent-a-center in about 15 minutes. Tip – get gas in Topeka then top off at the gas station at the return center. It will save one about a dime per gallon.
Kansas City International Airport is now one of my favorite airports. So easy to navigate, no long lines, and Arthur Bryant’s in the airport. We ate at the Home Turf since I wanted AB’s I should have stopped at the restaurant on the way, but we did not want to miss our flight. The food was good but the menu limited.
Amazingly both US Airways flights home were on time. Everything on the way back went as smooth as can be.
I was never so happy to return to Portland ever. Usually we travel for business or for fun, so traveling for a funeral makes traveling much more tiring. Loved being back in the PNW, with lower humidity, less bugs and no smell of farms, cattle and fertilizer.
Good luck and happy travels!
TR to Topeka, KS via US Airways, Hertz and Holiday Inn
Noticed your comment on the luggage. We just flew from Denver to KCI on United. When the plane stopped, we could see them unloading our luggage. We walked into the terminal, turned right, and walked a very short distance to the baggage claim area, from which we could see our plane right out the window. I thought to myself that this was good, and would mean that our luggage would be right out. Boy, was I ever wrong! We stood there for nearly an hour waiting for our bags to come up to the carousel. In the time we stood waiting, I think I could have carried all the bags in.
Don%26#39;t know what the deal is with KCI luggage handling.
Anybody got a clue on that?
TR to Topeka, KS via US Airways, Hertz and Holiday Inn
I%26#39;m a firm believer in Carry On.
I love flying in and out of MCI, but it is a dull place to get stuck for a few hours.
Was traveling with The Lovely Wife.
It would take one of those car-compacter things to fit her stuff in a carry-on!
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