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I just priced my annual October trip to York (Figured I would try to book early) Anyway to arrive late Weds and leave on Sunday (I like to spend Sat  photographing the area) Airfare, Hotel and Car is close to $1100. Gonna have to keep watching and hoping for some airfare and car rental deals (Hotel is already pretty bare bones)

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Chris,

I've gone to York for many years and get excited when I find deals and blowout prices.

 

But when I figure my rental car expense, fuel, food and lodging, just to get there and get around, I could probably stay home and buy my trains on the Internet at full MSRP, and get more trains for less money.

 

But there is something about the excitement and "the hunt" that makes the York trip one of my most anticipated journeys twice a year.

 

This past October my adult son came with me and now he wants to come again in April and has joined TCA to do so.

 

Good luck on finding the cheapest way to get there.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I couldn't afford to buy enough stuff to have the savings cover the expenses. So yes I do look at it as a social event/vacation. Besides York, I have really found myself enamored with the Pennsylvania countryside and don't want to reduce the trip to fly in Weds fly out Friday even though that would save me quite a bit. Just getting tougher to do and trying to get creative. Been using Google a lot  and different travel sites trying to find something.

 

Sometime in April we get our yearly bonus, not sure how much it will be this year, but as long as it's close to $1000 I should be able to make it.

As is usually the case: people are always going somewhere else.  I'm thinking of skipping York entirely (1st time since joining the TCA in 1995) and heading out West again. Thinking of spending perhaps two weeks in Santa Fe, then  North & West into Idaho. (As posted elsewhere: I figure Y/04/10-2012 will be less then a rewarding experience, while conditions seem promising for a classic road trip ... )

 

Cheers

For those who have to travel far distances to attend York you have to look upon it as a destination. There is no way you can justify the cost of travel, food and lodging in an attempt to save money on buying trains.

 

Traveling to York can only be justified as a vacation of sorts in which you get to do and see and participate in a hobby and interact with like minded train enthusiasts.

 

I live pretty close to York, about 50 miles, so it isn't the travel or the cost of food that will deter me from enjoying York. For me it is how much time can I spend at York. I now find myself in the unenviable position of being physically unable to really walk around the various buildings due to spinal stenosis and arthritis in my back.

 

This April I will probably only attend on Thursday and hopefully be able to attend the Thursday at Friday's dinner session. If my back holds out maybe I can try again for Friday.

 

Steve Tapper

"For those who have to travel far distances to attend York you have to look upon it as a destination. There is no way you can justify the cost of travel, food and lodging in an attempt to save money on buying trains."

 

Yes, Steve, that is the way I am looking at it. We'll drive there from St. Louis, and it will be a vacation for us. I am looking forward to meeting some, or better yet, many of the forumites whom I have never met, and yet seem like old friends. I also plan to visit other attractions and perhaps some of 'my friends' layouts.

 

I guess I better start looking at hotels!

 

Alex

Originally Posted by steve tapper:

 ....There is no way you can justify the cost of travel, food and lodging in an attempt to save money on buying trains....

 

 

Steve Tapper

 

In fact, it's always the opposite for me. I'll often see an item I like for a few dollars more than I was hoping to spend on it. But, I'll say to myself, "What the heck, I've spend so many $$$ on hotels etc. why not a few extra for this item." -- and then buy it anyway!

 

It's the whole experience and seeing friends as well as trains that keeps me coming back. 

 

Jim

I HATE TO SAY IT CHRIS BUT MAYBE YORK IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY.

 

JUST THINK - BUY NOTHING AND YOU SPENT $1,100 BUCKS !! IS IT WORTH IT ??

 

I HATE TO BE THE BAD GUY AND DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER BUT MONEY IS MONEY AND SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T PAY.

 

JUST ASSUME THE FRIENDSHIPS AND ACQUAINTANCES ARE WORTH IT AND MAYBE IT WILL FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

Originally Posted by freightrain:

I HATE TO SAY IT CHRIS BUT MAYBE YORK IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY.

 

JUST THINK - BUY NOTHING AND YOU SPENT $1,100 BUCKS !! IS IT WORTH IT ??

 

I HATE TO BE THE BAD GUY AND DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER BUT MONEY IS MONEY AND SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T PAY.

 

JUST ASSUME THE FRIENDSHIPS AND ACQUAINTANCES ARE WORTH IT AND MAYBE IT WILL FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

Look at it like this. Life is a collection of days. How we spend those days is very important. Money can get us things or experiences and interactions. Sometimes the who and how is more important than the what. But you are right, each person must decide for himself.

Originally Posted by eddie g:

Who want's a cheap hotel? I want a nice hotel with an indoor pool, gym, A game room with a pool table, a nice restaurant, a bandit train show inside & outside, nice people at the front desk, nice maid's that clean your room.That must be the hotel where I am staying.

Eddie, that's the stuff I like too, but I never seem to have time for them while at the York Meet.  Too much train activities and socializing!  For years I pack my swim trunks for the York trip and haven't used the pool yet.  Probably the one time I don't pack the swim gear is when I'll want to go in the pool!

York. A train related social event occurring twice yearly for the purpose of fun, and emptying my wallet, maxing out the old plastic. Yes, come and spend without a care.

Think not of the cost, but the enjoyment you will experience. But more than anything, spend, buy trains, after all you can't take it with you. Give your money to the dealers in the halls before you go, for they will enjoy it long, long after you have gone.....

 

 

 

I go every year, and run myself ragged. I can't wait to get there, and then I can't wait to leave. I always go with my wife, as she is a great supporter of my hobby. We live about 2 hours away by car, or 25 minutes if we fly in to York airport, and get the loaner car. The trains are great, the food is terrible, the traffic tough, but York is York and nothing else compares.

 

Lou

My way of justifying the cost is to skip the feeding frenzy during the convention sales and make the TCA Museum, SRR and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania a off season vacation destination as many have noted going there solely for buying trains is hard to equate with my common sense and available discretionary money. Take the wife and add the other areas attractions and it's a good fit, from my location in North Carolina. I really don't need more trains unless a had a twenty track mainline or whatever. I think it's still a great destination but more relaxed in the off season.

York is an experience. The cost of what I purchase is fairly irrelevant. I want to get good deals, but the cost of airfare, gasoline and lodging negate them. If I just want good deals, I can go to DuPage, which is only 30 miles away. Between gas, admission, and the obligatory hot dog, it costs me 25 bucks or so to have a pleasant day at DuPage. The same goes for the local TCA meet.

 

However, train people should try to experience York occasionally, provided they have the means, time and ability do so. There's nothing else like it on this continent.

My father started me on York in 89.  We went every year, some with my young son.  He passed in 97 and it wasn't the same but the last few years I hear him telling me what he likes....  

 

I usually just do Thursday for a few hours.  Just like the new stuff now.  Last Oct I found myself wanting to do more so maybe I'll be adding Friday.  

 

Always enjoy the Museum open house and seeing dad's memorial bricks in the entrance.

Looking forward to the Gilbert display (only have a few Flyer items but love Erector).

 

Funny thing about making a list of things to buy, I have none.  Changed my mind so many times but I'm sure I'll be bringing home a Legacy steamer that'll fit on less than 054.  And probably one or two of those neat electric signs...

 

Hope the weather's okay, have fun, John

 

 

I have always felt that even if I only had enough money to get to York, to eat and pay for the hotel, I would still go anyway. Even a bad day at York is better than a good day at work!

 

Where else can you go where you can see so many things you have never seen before, and hang out with a whole bunch of like minded people.

 

For me the major attraction of York is the fellowship. I see a lot of people there that I only see twice a year.

 

The fairgrounds are sort of the coda to the week. I typically walk them Thursday and leave for home first thing Friday morning, having been there since Monday afternoon.

 

The real fun is getting a group of York buddies together for a dinner and showing the treasures we have found.

 

Roland

I'm surprised no one has started a York-Board a Forum Friend list.  For people that live close by if they have an extra room they could let someone use it for the 3 days of York saving on hotel costs.  If I didn't live 3 hrs north(or I lived near a larger airport) I would certainly offer boarding to anyone on the forum, especially if you are coming from Utah or Maine!  

 

Another note:  If you stay at Gov Pinchot State Park it is like $35 a night in the cabins.  Of course you have to bring sheets and the bathrooms are about 100 ft away and community type.  But it is just up the road about 10 mi.  You do have to get reservations way early though.  This is where I have stayed to save money.

 

See you on Wed at the DCS users meeting or Thurs!  Gosh, this is better than Christmas!

 

 

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