posted
So, um, I'd like to start planning things, to be able to get an idea of how much money I'll need etc.
I'm thinking 3 weeks, coming in a week (or less) before the Con. That means I will definitaly be in Chicago. I (also definitely) want to visit some of the east Coast - i.e. Boston, Philly, New York. I have yet to decide if I'll be flying in to Chicago or New York.
I was also planning a trip south (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas), but I'm not sure if I'd have enough time and resources for that.
My question to everyone: Who's in those places (and in between) and is willing to either offer me a place to sleep, or give me a ride?
I'd like to be able to work out some kind of an itinerary. Make a map of people or something
Thanks
[ January 23, 2004, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Kama ]
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Kama, I’m halfway between Chicago and Tulsa, OK (where Boone lives). If she comes to the Con, you and she are welcome to stop overnight at my house on the way back. If she doesn’t, I can drive you from Chicago to Tulsa (I have relatives there). And from there it’s a one-day trip to the Texas folks.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I would be very surprised if you could manage a trip to TX in your itinerary, but maybe we can work something out if I end up driving to ChicagoCon. Not that you need to ride with me to TX, but I could drive you through the midwest if there were still people there who didn't get to meet you in Chicago.
Now, the sad fact is that the cheapest way to get around (if you aren't driving) is to take Greyhound (the bus). The reason I say it is a sad fact is that it'd be so much better if we had a decent passenger train system like they do in Europe. But we don't.
Greyhound is not a great way to go, IMHO. Its terminals are often in bad parts of town, and dirty, or even non-existent -- they just pick up and dump off at a street corner.
We really need to follow-up on our plans to pass you from one place to another as much as possible. That'd be cheaper for you as well as safer (assuming the people driving you are both competent and sane).
So, as you plan your itinerary, we need to figure out how to best get you from place to place.
I'm still game to drive you someplace. I might be able to take some extra time off after ChicagoCon if you need to get from Chicago to somewhere else...
posted
Kama, I suspect you are planning too much. Things are a lot farther apart in the U.S. than they are in Europe.
I guess you could go three places and spend one week in each place, but you will spend at least a day in travel between each time. I could see New York, to Chicago, To Dallas back to Poland or New York as an interesting triangle but the tickets would probably be about $200US each leg since they aren't round trips.
Chicago is kind of isolated, as a major city by istelf. But from New York it is easy to get to half a dozen cites on the eastern seaboard.
Also how much of the city and how much of the countryside do you want to see? Do you like outdoor activities or museums better? Most of the Midwest is very flat and boring geographically. I know mack can reccommend spectacular scenery in her area of the North East though. You aren't likely going to be able to see the Rockies unless you headed to Denver.
Do you prefer to see one place in depth or a whole bunch of places very casually?
What we need is a map. On it, we can plot people and a route. That way, we can see where there may be (will be) gaps where Hatrackers are not and you may need to use a bus to get from place to place.
Are there any web programmers out there who could create such a map?
Assuming you eat at supermarkets most days and eat out five times a week (a fair bet), you'll need $100 - $130 a week for food.
As for the other expenses, all those will be contingent on your route, and how many nights you spend where you need to pay for it. (Are there hostels in the US?)
Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Pencil me in as a tentative Boston host. My apartment is small, but it's easy access to anything in Beantown (60 second walk to Davis Sq. red line stop, for those that know about that sort of thing).
posted
I agree with AJ -- don't spread yourself too thin.
The USA is HUGE compared to what you are used to there (I wonder how many Polands could fit into our state of Texas). So it takes awhile to get places. We are pretty spread out.
That said, if you DO come by Kansas, you are still welcome to visit my farm.
by the way -- EVEN THOUGH some people THINK that the midwest is very "boring" geographically, I have found my European visitors to love it -- because they are not used to so much wide open space with so few people.
posted
Yeah, I think I'll limit myself to Chicago, because of the con, NYC, Philadelphia and Boston. That's okay for 3 weeks, right?
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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(by the way -- answered my own question. Poland has area of 120,728 square miles; Texas alone has an area of 268,801 square miles.)
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
That's a great trip - I love all three cities, and there is a lot to do. There are also Hatrackers up there.
Heck, it's a four and a half hour drive just from Dallas to Houston. I can't even imagine what NYC to Dallas is.
Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Farmgirl the midwest does have an austere beauty of its own that I have come to appreciate. But it is best when in the middle of a cornfield lying with your back on the dirt and looking up at the sky with a glass of lemonade at hand.
Driving through it, however can get tedious at times, and it does begin to resemble (for those CA folk) miles and miles of Bakersfields.
posted
Greg has an empty loft bed in his room, Kama, and he's an hour outside of philly. I'll have to decide whether i'm secure enough in my relationship to allow you to use it.
posted
You don't understand. Texans like to forget that Norman, OK exists. Especially because Oklahoma U has a tendency to kick every Texas football team's butt in shocking ways...
Posts: 11265 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Greg has an empty loft bed in his room, Kama, and he's an hour outside of philly. I'll have to decide whether i'm secure enough in my relationship to allow you to use it.
Eww, I'd never even touch Greg with a stick
So, can I tentatively write down Greg for Philly and Bok for Boston?
Is there anyone in New York?
I might do the following: Fly in to Chicago a few days/week before the con (maybe visit dkw in the meantime? exactly how far away are you from there?); get a round trip plane ticket to either of the East Coast cities after the Con, spend the remaining two weeks (or a bit less) there; fly back to Chicago, and go back home.
If I do that, I'm going to need your help buying the plane ticket - there's no way I can do it from Poland. What I'd do is trust you to find me the cheapest fare, and somehow transfer the money needed to your account. I need a trustworthy Hatracker for that, though
I would prefer to rely on people in terms of airport rides and picking-up. Any volunteers for that, too?
Banna, I think I'd rather see the cities, although I wouldn't mind some countryside. Basically, it would depend on where I'd be staying, and how much I'd be spending on that and travel.
[ January 23, 2004, 02:58 AM: Message edited by: Kama ]
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
It looks like it would be easier for me to get from Chicago to Texas and back... and there are so many cool people on th way... but then again, come to the US and not see New York?
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Maybe I'll make a trip back to NYC and be your tour guide, Kama.
I can never stay away from the city for too long. By August, I'll need my fix.
Actually, why don't you just drop Locke an email. He lives right north of the city, I believe.
But seriously, I'm probably the best NYC guide you could find. I could totally plan a trip, especially if doing so could keep you from leaving the US without having seen its best city. And it'll be a short drive to Chicago after that. We could rent a van and pick up the East Coast Clump.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Kama -- you will get to see us all at Chicago at the Con -- so you don't have to feel like you have to travel to our states.
Thanks for the offer, Bob! (Just don't count my daughter as a "kid" if you are doing your space figuring -- she is taller than me!) But riding together would save us a ton of money, and we'd be willing to pay a large portion of the gasoline.
Although...this depends on how you drive...
We will figure that out in more detail as the dates get closer.
posted
Well, it's not only about seeing the people, but also the sights, Farmgirl
Also, it just looks like travelling down South would, um, engage less financial resources
Frisco. I like the idea, but I'd like it more the other way round. I'm thinking it would be easier for me to fly in to Chicago for the Con, and then go East. But I'd love to see NYC with you.
Okay, I don't know what to do. I need more insight.
Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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I drive the speed limit. I don't mind stopping frequently. I'll even let other people drive if they have a valid license and aren't crazy!
Most importantly, I would never, ever, count a 15 year old young lady as a "kid." I was thinking of Boon's kids, actually, who are little enough to squeeze in as long as there are belts enough.
5 is the max for belts in my car, so that's all I can take anyway.
Kama, as this is your first trip to the US, I think you'll have more interest in places like NY, Boston, Philly, etc. The cities are more expensive, but they also have things to do and see that can't be found anywhere else in the world.
Now, don't get me wrong, the South and the Midwest have some unique and wonderful things too. But very few people have ever said something like "No trip to America is complete without a visit to Bryan, TX."
We'd love to have you visit here and points in between, but the truth is that the main argument for doing so would be to visit the people and see a few mildly interesting sights.
We'll see you at the Con (or before in some cases), so the personal meeting appeal is lessened.
I hate to say it, because it'd be cool to have you visit our corner of the country, but you'd be nuts to pass up NYC, Boston or Philly for Dallas, etc.
Especially if this is your first, and perhaps only, trip to the States.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
I've been to Portugal and not visited Lisbon.
I've been to France and not visited Paris.
I might just as well go to the US and not visit New York
What I need to know if I'm able to stay with Hatrackers in those cities, and if I need to fly Chicago - NYC. I'm just a poor Polish girl, you know. Posts: 5700 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
You could also take the train to NYC... Longer, not all that much cheaper, but usually a lot more convenient to be met at. Airports in the US are usually 45 minutes/an hour away from the city they service (Boston being a notable exception).
From NYC, you are about a 4-5 hour train ride to Boston, and only a 2-3 hour ride to Philadelphia.
Also, if you fly, the cheapest airline to get from Chicago to the East Coast is likely, ironically enough, Southwest Airlines. You can do a roundtrip, from Chicago to Providence RI (convenient to Boston, somewhat inconvenient to NYC... But there is a healthy Jatraqueros contingent there, I believe) for under 200 bucks.
Of course, we have no idea about your budget for this trip.
posted
Kama, take up Frisco on his offer. We'll arrange things so it will work. He's willing and funny. If you fly into New York and out from Chicago, the Con will be the crowning achievement. Trust me, you want the best part of the trip last.
Heck, I want to take up Frisco on the offer.
Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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We can easily get all those bummy Boston people to come down to Providence, or you can easily go up to Boston in an hour on the bus.
There are about a dozen hatrackers within spitting range of Boston.
BTW, what kind of sights do you want to see? Nature'esque is possible. Tourist shopping is possible. Lots of incredible restaurants. Several good museums in Boston. Historic is possible.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I checked amtrak, the national rail service, and they have Chicago to Boston, RT for 139 bucks... Which is actually a great deal. You may want to pack some food for the trip if you take this option though, the cafe car on amtrak trains charges an arm and a leg... I know, I made the Baltimore <-> Boston trip a lot in college.
Except it will take 24 hours (okay, more like 23 hours) to make the trip. so if you do this (and I assume Chicago to NYC is similar), you'll lose 2 days of your trip traveling... Which is what it would be like getting to Texas from Chicago, and depending on East Coast Jatraquero travel plans you'd get good company out of Chicago either way, but the trip back might be a bit lonely, either way.
Here are the quotes from amtrak for Chicago to Boston (and back), as well as NYC. The dates are just random ones spaced out about 3 weeks apart in August.
CHI<->BOS ---------
code:
448 Chicago Boston-South Station 08/05/04 7:00pm 08/06/04 5:20pm Reserved Coach 449 Boston-South Station Chicago 08/29/04 11:50am 08/30/04 9:20am Reserved Coach
Rail Fare: $ 136.00 Accommodations Price: $ 0.00
TOTAL FARE: $ 136.00
CHI<->NYC ---------
code:
48 Chicago New York-Penn. Station 08/05/04 7:00pm 08/06/04 1:50pm Reserved Coach 51 New York-Penn. Station Chicago 08/29/04 9:05am 08/30/04 10:50am Reserved Coach
Rail Fare: $ 144.00 Accommodations Price: $ 0.00
TOTAL FARE: $ 144.00
I'd get you a quote from Southwest, but they only are accepting reservation out until June right now
posted
There is the possibility of my tour of Chicago (So unnamed Con first) to NY, then down the east coast (including Washington DC and the Card's home town [not guaranteed to be there]) to FL and then west across the south. But it is a possibility, and like you say you won't have firm dates until the end of February. My point is that I have family I can crash with in NY, DC, and Florida. And I think there are Jatraqueros in all those places.
But then, I may be getting a job so who knows how that will jumble my plans up.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Even *with* Kama's rude remarks about my sexiness(don't try to cover it up with insults baby, we all know the truth. ), i'd still be willing to offer her a place to stay. And transportation as well.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I'm definitely not giving up on Frisco. Right now, I want to get as many ideas as possible to be able to choose the best plan. I won't be buying plane tickets before March, so I still have a lot of time to decide if I start out from Chicago or NYC. From what I've checked, though, it doesn't really make much sense to fly into one, and out of another. It's much cheaper to actually get a plane back to where I started.
If you people just make sure I don't end up alone in a strange city, it will be all good
quote:If you people just make sure I don't end up alone in a strange city, it will be all good
You know what, this will undoubtedly happen at least once.
It's okay. Even if you're alone in a city, you'll have an entire directory of telephone numbers of Hatrackers (mine, at the very least), and being alone in strange cities can be very, very fun. I backpacked alone through Central Europe, and that was a blast.
Anything that requires the coordination of lots people means at some point, something will fall through. When it does, you're going to be fine. Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
BTW, I'm not up to snuff on the MidWest/Southern contingent of Jatraqueros, but they could probably run a similar itinerary check on amtrak for travels south from Chicago.
I agree with the person-who-should-be-posting-as-kat ( ) about being abandoned at some point. I remember my Costa Rica return was delayed 2 hours at the beginning, which caused me to be stuck at Grand Central Station at 1:30am. That was a fun night with the homeless and a couple of interesting characters.
posted
Fortunately, trains have become fast enough nowadays to outrun those pesky bands of horse-robbers that caused so much of a ruckus in the 1800s. Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I managed to strand myself in the Austrian countryside on a Catholic holiday, 30 miles from the Lutheran German border. Did you know that the buses don't run on Catholic holidays? That the tourist offices aren't open? That the HOTELS are closed?
I made it to Germany after the help of a lovely German train station clerk, who made a few calls, described me as Texan, and arranged for five guys across the German/Austrian frontier to shuttle me safely to Fussen.
I love Germans.
But I was THIS close to sleeping on someone's front lawn.
Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I think that busses are far more "unsafe" than trains as far as the people that ride them. The busses tend to arrive and leave from much worse parts of towns in general than the trains do.
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