The price of York

Not sure if you have costco in your area, but I booed some car rentals via them at some great prices, they also do airlines tickets, but have not tried those.

Get Chase Saphire card with 50,000 air miles promo.  Buy something (anything) with the card.  Pay for it.  Get 50K miles.  Transfer miles to Star Alliance airline network.  Book trip.  Use miles.  Opt out of program with Chase before the annual fee kicks in a year from now.

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

Between A and B---head out to the PNW---we have a fantastic RR history: logging, Class 1 etc.   Not to mention great scenery, food, ambiance and weather (ok not now)...

just sayin'!

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

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

And then there's people like me who live 15 miles away

23 miles for me!!  This will be my first "York Meet" in over 30 years.  I can't wait....

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.

You know what, I spend well over a $1,000 just getting there & home, 6 day's Food & hotel before I buy anything. Yes it's worth it. I have missed 3 meets since 1977.

It's changed for me. It used to be that you would find things that you couldn't easily (or even not so easily) locate elsewhere. I got a lot of stuff that way, particularly at the old bandit meets.

Now it's the experience and friendships. A sort of solo vacation, if you will.

Gerry

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.

there is a lot to do in the area.   i only live a little over an hour away.  if u stay further away,  u can find a cheap hotel

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.

I always spend too much and have too much fun.

So what's the problem?

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!