Posted by Todd (216.199.5.25) on May 10, 2000 at 16:40:21:
In Reply to: Example of air/hotel package deals to Vegas posted by Maryse on May 10, 2000 at 15:46:50:
Here are a few examples for me;
Jacksonville, FL to LV, including hotel from 8/2-8/7
Monte Carlo $954
Four Queens $575
If I switch to Atlanta (Jax is like Wichita..expensive to get in and out of)
Palace $454
If I cut back to the 3rd - 6th
Monte Carlo $666
Four Queens $412
I spent 15 years flying 3-4 times per week, every week on business. Your best deals will almost always be from a hub, like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Charlotte, etc. A connecting flight will also cut the cost. Atlanta's 300 miles from me, but the drive is worth the savings.
If you live in Albany NY or Philadelphia, check NYC and Newark. You can take the train or a shuttle from home to the airport.
If you're close enough, consider renting a car and driving. You can get some good rental car deals, but make sure you get unlimited mileage. Check to see if your employer has an arrangement with one of the rental agencies. If you're over 50, join AARP and get a break. (Plus cheaper coffee at McDonald's :-)
Also, the downtown hotels are cheaper than the Strip, but not nearly as fancy. Most are fairly old, but there are still some that are clean and neat, if a bit 'shabby'.
Perhaps the solution is to forgo the 'fancy stuff' at the MC and settle for just one group dinner somewhere. Rely on everyone to host their own mini-hospitality suites.
Carl's carpooling idea is another good one. Live close enough to someone you feel close to? Rent an RV together. Transportation and lodging in one.
I agree with DJ and BobL...Wichita is expensive to get to. KC and St. Louis are two other 'centrally' located cities, and both are hubs. And, since they aren't particularly 'convention cities', maybe we can really think 'out of the box' and try hitting up the C of C, major corporations (insurance companies, HMO's, drug companies, etc), JCC, YMCA, etc and perhaps get a hall donated for one big get together, and maybe the use of a park for a cookout, like Carl suggested. OUCH IS a non-profit, remember. Heck, have the 'dinner' catered by Blimpie's subs or Pizza Hut-$5/person tops. Is the point a fancy sit down dinner or a chance to get a couple hundred clusterheads together?
I'm just tossing out ideas here, trying to get everyone thinking. This site has proven that clusterheads are creative, intelligent and imaginative. Surely we can solve this problem.
KTSSU,
T