Travel!

[marykaykare]

I'm considering giving myself a trip to Readercon as a birthday present. I've never been and always wanted to go. I've bought a membership and reserved a room, but the airline tickets are a nightmare. The cheapest flights at even semi-reasonable hours involve flying into Manchester in Wednesday and out of Boston on Monday. Has anyone done this

Comments

[lilairen]

The Manchester to Boston drive is not a bad one; I've done it a number of times. I believe there are shuttlebusses as well, but would have to look it up.

Looking it up is easy: http://www.flymanchester.com/transportation/shuttle_service.php
Okay then. :}

Uh, not sure about the rest of it. But that's at least an option that might address your car rental concerns.

[batwrangler]

I could pick you up at Manchester airport and deliver you to Readercon.

[marykaykare]

Hmm. Well, I'm coming in on Wed. and the con starts Thursday. Would you be willing to pick me up at a cheap airport hotel (assuming such are available at Manchester) on Thursday and give me a ride form there? What time on Thursday would we be talking?

MKK

[batwrangler]

I can pick you up at a hotel, or you can spend Wednesday night at my place. I have two guest rooms. (I also have dogs, but they aren't generally allowed in the guest rooms.)

[marykaykare]

Oooh, staying at your place would be really swell. (I know it's acceptable in fannish circles, but I always have trouble inviting myself...) I'll get on to you tomorrow with final details. Thank you!

MKK

[erikvolson]

The compelling question is "where, exactly, is the Readercon hotel?" Manchester may be a better answer regardless.

[ckd]

Burlington, so not far off the line between MHT and BOS.

[marykaykare]

It seems that arriving in Manchester and departing Boston are my only option for relatively reasonable price and not absolutely hideous times. However, I've looked at car rental prices and they're awful too. $305 was the cheapest and that was Thrifty and I don't all together trust them. And at that price I might as well take the more expensive flights into and out of Boston and cadge a ride there.

MKK

[ckd]

Getting from MHT to Burlington: driving (or getting a ride a la batwrangler's offer) is likely to be the best bet. The shuttle bus from MHT would get you to Woburn, which is a different suburb east of Burlington, and I don't know what the cab situation is like at the Anderson RTC. (Google Maps calls it about an 8 minute drive from there to the hotel.)

Getting from Burlington to BOS: I don't know how you'd feel about spending Sunday night in Boston rather than at the con hotel, but you might either get a ride (if you didn't rent a car) or drive in and return the car (if you did) on Sunday, then take a cab or the T to the airport on Monday. It shouldn't be a bad drive from the hotel to the airport, though; get on 95/128, go to 93, follow the signs to the airport.

I don't know about one-way charges MHT-BOS, but in picking up in Providence and dropping off in Boston I've never hit any (at least from Avis, who I normally use).

[lmarley]

Kay Kenyon and I fly direct from Seattle to Boston on Alaska, and use a car service. It worked out beautifully last year, so I expect it to do the same this year!

[marykaykare]

The cheapest fare on Alaska is $200 more than the flights I've got on United. Also, I have status on United which makes flying a little less unpleasant. But thanks for the suggestion! Maybe next year if I start planning earlier...

MKK

[lauriemann]

Well, you could come to Confluence... ;->

OK, so we're not Readercon, but we have a good program, lots of filking, and our hotel is a free van ride from the airport to the hotel.

[marykaykare]

Actually, I hope to, someday but not this year. I've decided to drive to Denver and then on to Armadillocon so I'll be busy getting ready. And I've researched the flights to Pittsburgh and United reeeeeallllly doesn't want to take you there.

MKK