Advice needed: 1st trip to Raleigh (chapel, houses, neighborhoods)

[StandingRoomOnly]

My husband and I are considering a move to Raleigh from San Jose, CA. We're a young couple (one among many) who do not want to spend 600k on a starter 2 bedroom house in the ghetto. We've narrowed our towns-of-interest down to Raleigh, and feel it would be a good fit for us, especially when we are planning to start a family.

We would like to plan a trip sometime in the next 2 months. My husband has a week off during Christmas (Dec 23-31), and I was hoping we could make the trip after Christmas. I've been looking around for airfare, but I can't seem to find anything under $350 a person (SJC to RDU). I would like to find airfare around $200 a person if at all possible. I've tried most major sites...does anyone here have any secret-tips or suggestions for finding really cheap airfare? Relatively unknown web sites?

Any other advice for a 1st visit to Raleigh?

Thanks

[NCHomeFinder]

Is that $350 roundtrip? That's really good this close to the holidays. Do you have an idea yet what part of Raleigh you'd like to live in? If not, my suggestion would be, first, read everything posted here , then, when you get here, focus on one area each day - don't try to see everything at once, and make sure you have a great map (You can buy one, or you can get one from a great realtor, *wink*)

[leighbhe]

I would check on the website airfarewatchdog.com they seem to have very good fare finders and suggestions. The major airports around here, well, of course there is raleigh durham (rdu) but sometimes it is cheaper to fly into charlotte (about 2 1/2 hours from here).

Southwest flies into raleigh and has direct flights to phoenix, so it may be cheaper to fly to another city on the west coast, then come here.

I would say for your first trip, have a plan! I have met many people here on fact finding missions. I have shown them houses just so they can get a feel for the area, which neighborhoods and towns they like. If you have the opportunity to ride around with a local you can get a great feel for the place. I would visit cafes, strike up conversations with people (everyone will have an opinion about the area!!!), go to some parks, if you are a church goer, take in a service. I think the more you can integrate yourself in the community the better feel you will get for it.

And, to me, the "tour" wouldn't be complete without a walk down franklin street in chapel hill, or driving around duke university campus and gardens, etc.

Hope this helps.
Leigh

[DebbieF]

I just got my ticket to go to Connecticut between Christmas and New Yearsand it cost me about $370 Highway robbery, but oh well gotta go see family. Maybe if I didn't wait so long. I also hate hate hate to change planes. I like flying direct, so you pay more. I went a couple months ago at the last minute and it cost me $650 You can go to Hawaii for that. The cheapest I ever got it to go to Conn was $135 It all depends, and play with the days and the times. Sometimes that makes a difference in price. Hope you find a better price than I did last minute and Happy Holidays.

Debbie