Me and a buddy priced out a car from NYC to Boston, and between gas, tolls, and parking it just wasn't worth.
Im probably just going to MegaBus it up and Amtrack it back
Would you mind sharing your insight with me? How much did you factor gas and tolls to be?
Hotel parking prices are just stupid, for 3 days you're already over $100 deep depending on your hotel. Thankfully I'm usually lucky and can swing a ride into Boston from somebody, or the T/commuter rail if necessary.
I don't know if it beats the convenience of being able to leave when you want and not have to plan ahead to leave for your bus/plane. AT least for my group, that convenience outweighs the cost, plus if you know your car's capacity, you may fit more than you could bring on the bus/plane comfortably.
+1
DominoKeizen MikazukiNew York, NYRegistered Userregular
Me and a buddy priced out a car from NYC to Boston, and between gas, tolls, and parking it just wasn't worth.
Im probably just going to MegaBus it up and Amtrack it back
Would you mind sharing your insight with me? How much did you factor gas and tolls to be?
From NYC, you'll be tolled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I haven't driven the route in 4.5 years so I'm going to use a rough estimate of $12.5 per state or about $50 total. Gas-wise is peculiar, but it's not out of range to estimate about $30 one way, $60 total for round trip. Then there's parking in Boston which I've never seen lower than $20-40/day, so about $60-120 for the entire trip.
I want to say roughly $170-230 for car travel. Split 4 ways you can get it to $42.50-57.50 each. I'd rather just take Peter Pan or Greyhound for $20 roundtrip ($21.5 due to booking fee) and they allow 1 stowaway and carry-ons free of charge. Not to mention the person driving now can sit with his friends and just chill.
As a Connecticut resident, just want to point out that we DO NOT have tolls.
If you drive from NYC, I would recommend driving to Alewife station and taking the train in ($2.50 each way) and parking is $7 nightly (if I recall). The red line drops you right at South Station which is a short walk to the BCEC. All in all (without gas) you'd be looking at $7x4(nights of parking) + $11.00 (toll both ways) + $5(train ticket round trip)= $45.
I wouldn't worry about a car in Boston, as driving there is a.) A nightmare and b.) public transportation is reliable. It's about a 450 mile round trip, and gas is about $3/ gallon right now. Assuming your vehicle gets 25mpg it'd cost $54 bucks in gas.
I'll say this, as a Montrealer, it makes way more sense for us to drive down than it does to say, fly (A bus would be cheaper, but take longer and well...2 of my crew do the BYOC thing, I can't blame them for not trusting baggage handlers with their rigs).
Just rough math, if we rent a decent-size car/van (Necessary since none of our cars are big enough for 4-5 people + luggage), plus gas, plus toll (which is a grand total of $2 for the drive) plus parking (even at a hotel), it comes out to roughly $100 a person.
A flight is MINIMUM $350 for us each (which is not direct- we'd need to transfer in Toronto. A direct one is about $450). and would take almost as long to get there (Flight time is about an hour, plus customs, security, etc, would take 3-4 hours to get to the hotel door-to-door, 5 or so if we had to do a connected flight).
It takes 5-7 hours for us to drive down, counting stops for stuff like lunch, duty-free, NH liquor store, etc. And I get to choose the tunes for the drive down, since I'm the trip planner- the annual 'PAX Megamix' is always a blast to see what I crammed on there, leading to many a joke and running gag for the weekend (such as Rollins rants, busting out the organ riff from 'I use my powers for evil' and Bane impersonations). The drive down becomes as much of the PAX experience to us as the con itself.
And we park at the hotel because well, the additional 10-25 bucks each for us is worth not having to take the T or whatnot to get to the con or haul our metric crapton of stuff to the hotel (Only one of us has mastered the art of packing light. I'm a complete clotheshorse, plus well...the BYOC guys).
Translation: If you're in Montreal (and I'd say Ottawa), flying isn't worth it.
Yea if i had to do a transfer or direct was just too expensive i would not do it, i am flying direct out of Toronto island only about 350 for both ways.
Also do some hotels not have free airport shuttles, some easy money saved right there?
Sgt.Mays on
Gaymer, Nerd and Fan of Freeman's Mind/Half-life/GTA/Red Vs Blue
Attended: East 14, 15 and West 16
Attending West 2019
Having taken a bus from Canada to the US more than once, LoonyEclipse, I have to agree with you: Don't take the bus. They are not very nice to those taking the bus to cross the border, although it seems warranted as every time I've done it there's someone who has their stuff so far out of whack they end up in some kind of silly trouble. In the end, you'll sit there in the bus waiting for an hour or longer watching cars go by. And then you get to line up and wait for the border guys to, very slowly, have their way with you and your stuff (they even X-Ray it... just more pain in the ass). Every single belonging, even your handbags/backpacks, along with your luggage has to be paraded through their inspection booth. And left alone there while, again, other agents have their way with it. And then all of it loaded back on the bus (better hope people are nice and don't steal your seat if you had a good one). Was a really bad experience when you're bringing a child who is too young to walk. Would just be a major inconvenience otherwise.
Take a car, a train, or the plane (yes, even that is easier from my experience, amazingly). Much less hassle.
I drive from further away from Toronto (but not much), it's a very simple drive down there. Not much of a problem at all until you hit Boston city limits.
I agree with LooneyEclipse. Me and my friend did a little factoring ourselves today and split 4 ways, the car rental, gas, tolls and parking comes to about $100 per person. That's not bad if you see what the car brings as luxuries. Personal storage (So many times I wanted to buy stuff but didn't want to have to carry it back on the bus with me). Also, because we decided to bring a car, we were able to really save on the hotel. Getting a hotel that was right next to the BCEC wasn't as important so we went with the cheapest and ended up saving about $400 on the hotel bill. We also plan to cosplay and I know it will be -COLD-, so it is also a big deal that we exit the hotel and spend less than 2 minutes outside before getting in a warm car.
The expenses are QUITE real as the good people were so generous to point out (seriously, thanks guys for not letting these blind side me and my friends). But in the end, I think the savings from the hotel break even and we still get to enjoy all the benefits of having a car.
Yea if i had to do a transfer or direct was just too expensive i would not do it, i am flying direct out of Toronto island only about 350 for both ways.
Also do some hotels not have free airport shuttles, some easy money saved right there?
Should have gone to Buffalo. I bought a ticket with Jetblue for 148CAD round trip. Even with gas/parking that's cheaper, and porter charges for baggage.
Plus I hated clearing customs in Boston, you end up in a line with all massive international flights from AMS/LHR. I waited for an hour to get through last year.
0
pilferkMaster of UnlockingCTRegistered Userregular
From NYC, you'll be tolled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I haven't driven the route in 4.5 years so I'm going to use a rough estimate of $12.5 per state or about $50 total. Gas-wise is peculiar, but it's not out of range to estimate about $30 one way, $60 total for round trip. Then there's parking in Boston which I've never seen lower than $20-40/day, so about $60-120 for the entire trip.
No tolls in CT. I drove from NW CT last year...we spent just north of $10 in tolls (and we could have avoided those in MA, if I'd really wanted to...there are "non-toll" options other than the MA pike/95..they're just not as direct). I don't think there are many tolls on 95 North of NYC til you hit MA..and you can VERY easily end around those parts of 95 and still be on highway/expressway the whole time (and probably avoid some nasty traffic snarls). I drive down to NYC from CT all the time and pay 0 tolls unless I'm feeling lazy.
0
pilferkMaster of UnlockingCTRegistered Userregular
Hotel parking prices are just stupid, for 3 days you're already over $100 deep depending on your hotel. Thankfully I'm usually lucky and can swing a ride into Boston from somebody, or the T/commuter rail if necessary.
Our parking, for hotel guests, at the Seaport was about $20-$25 a day. Some places (the Seaport did last year) give you a slight break if you're going to "park and forget" (as in, you park, leave it in the garage, and the car doesn't leave til you check out) if you ask. Our parking for the trip was just under $75, Thurs - Sun.
It IS pricey. For us, it's worth it....but I can see why it might not be for other folks, for sure!
Our parking, for hotel guests, at the Seaport was about $20-$25 a day. Some places (the Seaport did last year) give you a slight break if you're going to "park and forget" (as in, you park, leave it in the garage, and the car doesn't leave til you check out) if you ask. Our parking for the trip was just under $75, Thurs - Sun.
It IS pricey. For us, it's worth it....but I can see why it might not be for other folks, for sure!
Seaport will also give you one night of valet parking free if you drive a hybrid.
Grabbed a room at the Renaissance just now. As of 11:05 AM EST today they are still showing up as an option for booking, so get it if you want a closer hotel.
From NYC, you'll be tolled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I haven't driven the route in 4.5 years so I'm going to use a rough estimate of $12.5 per state or about $50 total. Gas-wise is peculiar, but it's not out of range to estimate about $30 one way, $60 total for round trip. Then there's parking in Boston which I've never seen lower than $20-40/day, so about $60-120 for the entire trip.
No tolls in CT. I drove from NW CT last year...we spent just north of $10 in tolls (and we could have avoided those in MA, if I'd really wanted to...there are "non-toll" options other than the MA pike/95..they're just not as direct). I don't think there are many tolls on 95 North of NYC til you hit MA..and you can VERY easily end around those parts of 95 and still be on highway/expressway the whole time (and probably avoid some nasty traffic snarls). I drive down to NYC from CT all the time and pay 0 tolls unless I'm feeling lazy.
If you are taking I-95 prepare for the crazy traffic in Rhode Island especially around Providence area. It can be alittle confusing to drive through there and I almost got lost there one time.
Dumb question- can you get cots at the Seaport? If so, do they charge for them? (It's a quad room)
Do you have a room with two beds or one? In my experience, hotels usually only give rollaway beds for rooms with one bed, not to doubles, but there are exceptions. Some hotels charge for them, some don't. The spreadsheet lists them as free at the Seaport, but that can always change.
Dumb question- can you get cots at the Seaport? If so, do they charge for them? (It's a quad room)
We talked to a slew of people, last year, who did, at the Seaport...so I'm gonna say yes.
BUT, that being said, it's first come, first served. They have a finite number of cots, and a lot of folks request them for Pax..sooooo....maybe have an alternate plan.
0
DominoKeizen MikazukiNew York, NYRegistered Userregular
Update: I was able to get a full Westin Waterfront reservation today! Shame that it was for the one bed though, will have to keep hoping for a Thursday to pop up for the two beds. #almostdone
Update: I was able to get a full Westin Waterfront reservation today! Shame that it was for the one bed though, will have to keep hoping for a Thursday to pop up for the two beds. #almostdone
Seriously!?! ARGH! I feel like Charlie Brown...I just keep missing that football.
I would say just keep checking. There's bound to be more people releasing extra rooms they no longer need, or suddenly realize they can't make it, as we get closer. I was also in that boat where it seemed like I always just missed it, but I finally got lucky.
im checking every few hours but no luck so far. I gotta get a room at the Westin or my friend is gonna be pissed (he's getting out of surgery 3 weeks before the con for his foot and kinda said i had the room >>; )
Get some cookies, so you can eat 'em and grow up big and strong and kick Piston in the butt-butt.
0
DominoKeizen MikazukiNew York, NYRegistered Userregular
So I'll be nice and announce that I've released my two two bed Renaissance reservations (thurs-sun) because I have two one bed reservations (thurs-sun) at the Westin and that two bed reservation at the Westin (Fri-Sun). If only someone would show me the same kindness to give me that Thursday two-bed for the Westin so I can release my two one-bed reservations for others, but I know better XD
Greetings all. Sadly after much consideration and budgeting projections for 2015 I have decided not to attend PAX East 2015. While I'm sad not to go, it does mean my hotel reservation is now up for grabs. It's at the Seaport Hotel, which is the second closest one from BCEC and was reserved for Thursday 5th March to Monday 9th March. It's a single room with one bed. Best of luck in grabbing it!
I checked a couple hours after kropotkin posted and it looks like the Seaport was already gone. I checked this morning and I was able to get the Renaissance Waterfront! Yay luck!
Steam - Verbena | 3DS Friend Code - 0576-4430-7964 | Xbox - Verbena Zero
Hi there
So i'm 18 and got a room at the Westin and noticing now the check in age is 21. Are there any hotels that people want to trade for that are close or have any recommendations to what to do?
Thanks guys!
Posts
Hotel parking prices are just stupid, for 3 days you're already over $100 deep depending on your hotel. Thankfully I'm usually lucky and can swing a ride into Boston from somebody, or the T/commuter rail if necessary.
Trade me pins! - https://pinnypals.com/pals/TheAggroCraig
From NYC, you'll be tolled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I haven't driven the route in 4.5 years so I'm going to use a rough estimate of $12.5 per state or about $50 total. Gas-wise is peculiar, but it's not out of range to estimate about $30 one way, $60 total for round trip. Then there's parking in Boston which I've never seen lower than $20-40/day, so about $60-120 for the entire trip.
I want to say roughly $170-230 for car travel. Split 4 ways you can get it to $42.50-57.50 each. I'd rather just take Peter Pan or Greyhound for $20 roundtrip ($21.5 due to booking fee) and they allow 1 stowaway and carry-ons free of charge. Not to mention the person driving now can sit with his friends and just chill.
If you drive from NYC, I would recommend driving to Alewife station and taking the train in ($2.50 each way) and parking is $7 nightly (if I recall). The red line drops you right at South Station which is a short walk to the BCEC. All in all (without gas) you'd be looking at $7x4(nights of parking) + $11.00 (toll both ways) + $5(train ticket round trip)= $45.
I wouldn't worry about a car in Boston, as driving there is a.) A nightmare and b.) public transportation is reliable. It's about a 450 mile round trip, and gas is about $3/ gallon right now. Assuming your vehicle gets 25mpg it'd cost $54 bucks in gas.
All in all it'd be $99 for the travel.
Just rough math, if we rent a decent-size car/van (Necessary since none of our cars are big enough for 4-5 people + luggage), plus gas, plus toll (which is a grand total of $2 for the drive) plus parking (even at a hotel), it comes out to roughly $100 a person.
A flight is MINIMUM $350 for us each (which is not direct- we'd need to transfer in Toronto. A direct one is about $450). and would take almost as long to get there (Flight time is about an hour, plus customs, security, etc, would take 3-4 hours to get to the hotel door-to-door, 5 or so if we had to do a connected flight).
It takes 5-7 hours for us to drive down, counting stops for stuff like lunch, duty-free, NH liquor store, etc. And I get to choose the tunes for the drive down, since I'm the trip planner- the annual 'PAX Megamix' is always a blast to see what I crammed on there, leading to many a joke and running gag for the weekend (such as Rollins rants, busting out the organ riff from 'I use my powers for evil' and Bane impersonations). The drive down becomes as much of the PAX experience to us as the con itself.
And we park at the hotel because well, the additional 10-25 bucks each for us is worth not having to take the T or whatnot to get to the con or haul our metric crapton of stuff to the hotel (Only one of us has mastered the art of packing light. I'm a complete clotheshorse, plus well...the BYOC guys).
Translation: If you're in Montreal (and I'd say Ottawa), flying isn't worth it.
YMMV, of course.
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
Also do some hotels not have free airport shuttles, some easy money saved right there?
Attended: East 14, 15 and West 16
Attending West 2019
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
Take a car, a train, or the plane (yes, even that is easier from my experience, amazingly). Much less hassle.
I drive from further away from Toronto (but not much), it's a very simple drive down there. Not much of a problem at all until you hit Boston city limits.
The expenses are QUITE real as the good people were so generous to point out (seriously, thanks guys for not letting these blind side me and my friends). But in the end, I think the savings from the hotel break even and we still get to enjoy all the benefits of having a car.
Greyhound is currently (or at least, was as of 2 days ago) charging $20 roundtrip between NYC and Boston. That's not a bad price at all.
Should have gone to Buffalo. I bought a ticket with Jetblue for 148CAD round trip. Even with gas/parking that's cheaper, and porter charges for baggage.
Plus I hated clearing customs in Boston, you end up in a line with all massive international flights from AMS/LHR. I waited for an hour to get through last year.
No tolls in CT. I drove from NW CT last year...we spent just north of $10 in tolls (and we could have avoided those in MA, if I'd really wanted to...there are "non-toll" options other than the MA pike/95..they're just not as direct). I don't think there are many tolls on 95 North of NYC til you hit MA..and you can VERY easily end around those parts of 95 and still be on highway/expressway the whole time (and probably avoid some nasty traffic snarls). I drive down to NYC from CT all the time and pay 0 tolls unless I'm feeling lazy.
Our parking, for hotel guests, at the Seaport was about $20-$25 a day. Some places (the Seaport did last year) give you a slight break if you're going to "park and forget" (as in, you park, leave it in the garage, and the car doesn't leave til you check out) if you ask. Our parking for the trip was just under $75, Thurs - Sun.
It IS pricey. For us, it's worth it....but I can see why it might not be for other folks, for sure!
Seaport will also give you one night of valet parking free if you drive a hybrid.
If you are taking I-95 prepare for the crazy traffic in Rhode Island especially around Providence area. It can be alittle confusing to drive through there and I almost got lost there one time.
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
Historically, even with rooms with 2 beds, we've had no issues getting a cot/rollaway (Renaissance, Hilton downtown, Omni), though.
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
Lucky, I've always had the opposite
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
Just call them.
PSN: L00nyEclip
Steam: Loony Eclipse
Twitter: @Loonyeclipse
We talked to a slew of people, last year, who did, at the Seaport...so I'm gonna say yes.
BUT, that being said, it's first come, first served. They have a finite number of cots, and a lot of folks request them for Pax..sooooo....maybe have an alternate plan.
Seriously!?! ARGH! I feel like Charlie Brown...I just keep missing that football.
I will have to check the reservations a lot more often.
So i'm 18 and got a room at the Westin and noticing now the check in age is 21. Are there any hotels that people want to trade for that are close or have any recommendations to what to do?
Thanks guys!