I usually take it home myself but there is a UPS group at the Blue and Silver Hall in the main entrance area.
I've been eagerly awaiting the return of the York meet. I've had my hotel reservations in place for awhile and plan to have selling tables. I expect this York in particular to be very well attended!
Arnold,
Saw your name mentioned in CTT July issue. Congrats.
John
My April 2020 badge has been burning a hole in my badge holder for over 19 months now, so I will be there, hopefully in my usual spot in Blue Hall. My travel plans are not yet finalized, but my typical York trip means leaving on a Tuesday night, spending the night in Gettysburg (cheaper hotel), hitting the bandit meets first thing Wednesday morning with some of my fellow Pgh. Ind. Hi-Railers, and in the afternoon visiting hobby shops and other train-related points of interest within a few hours drive of York (there is really a lot to see and do in the area, under normal circumstances). This trip will be interesting to see if some of the small restaurants and businesses we frequent have survived the last year.
Andy
@Mark Boyce posted:I stayed at a cheap place with some Pittsburgh guys up the highway towards Harrisburg the two times I went to York.
I don’t want to drive very far to and from the hotel since I’ll still be recovering from back surgery. I realize I’ll pay more than before. What recommendations does anyone have?
Mark - I stay at the La Quinta which is in the same parking lot as Quaker Steak and Lube where we gather on Thursday night. It's a 10 minute drive from the fairgrounds and is a newer hotel (~10 yrs old). It may fit your needs.
-Greg
@Greg Houser posted:Mark - I stay at the La Quinta which is in the same parking lot as Quaker Steak and Lube where we gather on Thursday night. It's a 10 minute drive from the fairgrounds and is a newer hotel (~10 yrs old). It may fit your needs.
-Greg
Greg, thank you. I’ll check out that one too! Based on the surgeon’s expectation, a day at York should be doable in October, but I don’t want to add a car ride to the burden after a long day. It was okay before my surgeries, but …well it takes a long time to recover nowadays. I guess the company did the best thing pushing me out on retirement when I was 63.
@gmorlitz posted:What's CTT?
Gerry
Classic Toy Trains magazine. Actually someone else started a thread to congratulate Arnold today.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#155575604779680356
John
@Mark Boyce posted:I stayed at a cheap place with some Pittsburgh guys up the highway towards Harrisburg the two times I went to York.
I don’t want to drive very far to and from the hotel since I’ll still be recovering from back surgery. I realize I’ll pay more than before. What recommendations does anyone have?
The Wyndham Garden is the location of the largest bandit meet, it has a great breakfast included in the price of the room (pre-Covid, don't know what it will be in October), and there is a decent bar/restaurant on site. In the past, it's been worth the extra $20 per night for the location and amenities. However, this time around the price is a lot higher than other nearby places.
My reservation for October is at LaQuinta - near the fairgrounds, less expensive, and I've had good experiences with LQ before.
Avoid the Super 8 on US 30 and the Rodeway Inn near downtown - sketchy areas.
I recommend joining a loyalty program for whatever chain you prefer - you'll get a good rate and earn points. Don't use a third-party website - if there's a problem, you have an additional layer of bureaucracy to deal with. Use AAA, AARP, or senior discount (I've found the AARP discount to usually be the best. And be sure to get a fully cancellable reservation, because you never know what might come up.
@Mark Boyce posted:Greg, thank you. I’ll check out that one too! Based on the surgeon’s expectation, a day at York should be doable in October, but I don’t want to add a car ride to the burden after a long day. It was okay before my surgeries, but …well it takes a long time to recover nowadays. I guess the company did the best thing pushing me out on retirement when I was 63.
I've had back issues in the past - got by with injections and fortunately didn't need surgery - so I can relate. Just a fyi - the meet has a bus which goes around the meet stopping at every hall so you don't have to walk.
-Greg
@Craftech posted:Classic Toy Trains magazine. Actually someone else started a thread to congratulate Arnold today.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#155575604779680356
John
He was being facetious I'm sure. I know Gerry knows what CTT is. 
-Greg
@Jim Sandman posted:Ted,
You probably don't remember it, but I met you on my first day on my first trip to York in 2014. It was outside near where the Safety and Brown Hall. I recall you wearing a Jets shirt, and you telling me "If you see something you want for a good price, buy it. It won't be there when you get back." - You was right!!!
I believe you was still working then. I was with Chris Bojanower & MartyE.
This will be trip 5 now - long trek from Utah.
Jim
Jim,
7 years is a long time and yes, I was employed back then and retired in April 2016 doing the happy dance! Have not seen Chris there since then as well.
I always see Marty E. there as he is almost a local living near York! Glad you took my advice. Buy it when you see it!
@Greg Houser posted:Mark - I stay at the La Quinta which is in the same parking lot as Quaker Steak and Lube where we gather on Thursday night. It's a 10 minute drive from the fairgrounds and is a newer hotel (~10 yrs old). It may fit your needs.
-Greg
Greg,
I stay at the same place. Real nice, clean and rates are quite good considering how close it is to the fairgrounds. And breakfast there is good!
See you in October.
@Greg Houser posted:I've had back issues in the past - got by with injections and fortunately didn't need surgery - so I can relate. Just a fyi - the meet has a bus which goes around the meet stopping at every hall so you don't have to walk.
-Greg
Pre-pandemic, you could reserve a scooter to get yourself around the various halls. But those western Pennsylvania drivers are a bit concerning... my ankles are scared 🤣🤣🤣
It sounds like La Quinta is the place to check out. Thank you everyone!! I will take advantage of the bus to cut down the walking if necessary. Paul, I have never driven indoors, but we Westsylvanians are definitely used to dodging potholes; so dodging TCAers shouldn’t be a problem!
@Mark Boyce posted:It sounds like La Quinta is the place to check out. Thank you everyone!! I will take advantage of the bus to cut down the walking if necessary. Paul, I have never driven indoors, but we Westsylvanians are definitely used to dodging potholes; so dodging TCAers shouldn’t be a problem!
Just be sure and follow the arrows 
@Apples55 posted:Just be sure and follow the arrows
Just like in the pandemic Giant Eagle supermarket. 😉
@Greg Houser posted:Mark - I stay at the La Quinta which is in the same parking lot as Quaker Steak and Lube where we gather on Thursday night. It's a 10 minute drive from the fairgrounds and is a newer hotel (~10 yrs old). It may fit your needs.
-Greg
Thank you, Greg and Mark, for the above info.
I just made a reservation for my wife, Shawn, and me to stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Windham York. We will be checking in on Oct. 21st and staying for 2 nights.
Looking forward to meeting all my Forum friends. Arnold
Just a couple of further thoughts re accommodations...
A couple of Yorks ago, a forum member posted about having his LaQuinta reservation cancelled by the hotel at the last minute due to a "water leak". At the time, LQ's rates were far lower than other nearby hotels - my inner cynic wonders if LQ did this in order to sell the rooms at a higher price. As I recall from his posts, they weren't particularly helpful regarding finding other accommodations. I'm hoping this won't happen again in October.
If you use a loyalty program but haven't traveled recently, be sure to stay on top of it. This morning, I checked my loyalty program. Turns out that my points balance, which was almost enough to pay for a room, had been zeroed out due to "inactivity" without notice. Well duh, nobody has been able to travel for over a year! After calling customer service, they graciously made a "one time exception" and reinstated the points.
Good luck, and looking forward to October.
@Jim Sandman posted:Air, Hotel & Car reservations made for Fall York 2021....
I have the hotel reservations, and I reserved some time with my car for transportation for the grueling two hour drive to York. 
