Traveling

[Bayushi Shiori 17]

Hey Guys!

 

Thanks to some unexpected money income I will be able to attend GenCon Indy '17!!!! Yeyyyyyyy!

 

It is also thanks to my friends who adavanced our trip to New York so I can go to both things. Yeyyyyyy for them too.

 

So, here's the thing. Barcelona is like far far far away from Indiana and New York. Moreover Indiana does not have an international airport, so travelling there from here is like a holy crap ton of money. So I've been investigating how to travel there and from Indiana to NY. I have 2 basic options, but since I'm no expert in travelling inside USA (first time coming yeyyyyy) I came here to ask for advice to the only (almost) people I know that can understand a guy who wants to travel to Indiana just for the GenCon.

 

Option 1

 

Barcelona - Indiana (Plane)

GenCon

Indiana - NY (Bus/Train/Car, whichever is cheaper and easier to take)

Stay with my friends in NY

NY - Barcelona (Plane)

 

This will be 650-700$ not having in mind the bus/train/car trip, just the plane.

 

Option 2

 

Barcelona - NY (Plane)

NY - Indiana (Bus/Train/Car, hopefully taking it the same day I got to NY in order to not spend a night alone in NY)

GenCon

Indiana - NY (Bus/Train/Car)

Stay with my friends in NY

NY - Barcelona (Plane)

 

This will be 500-550$ the plane alone plus the 2 bus/train/car trips.

 

I don't have any idea how the internal transport in the USA works, so I have no clue how to even start looking or what is cheaper or what, so any care helping a humble scorpion going to GenCon and buying L5R LCG before it gets to the old continent?

 

Thanks in advance fellow samurais.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kakita Shiro 991]

As a New Yorker, I can tell you that you're best off driving with friends from NY to Indiana in one of their personal vehicles. If that is not an option, then the bus is fine and runs about $90-150. The train is just a few bucks cheaper than a flight, so if you're considering that then you might as well fly.

 

Have you factored in the costs of attending Gen Con?

[IsawaChuckles 104]

internal transport within the united states is kind of wonky compared to Europe.  Our trains and busses cost about as much as a "regional" (small-plane) flight, but take 3-8x as long (although they're considerably more comfortable than the sardine cans our planes have turned into).  I'd either go with the direct flight to Indy, or, if you really want to have mobility while in Indy (although most useful stuff is within walking distance of the Con), you could go to NY and grab a car for a week, for ~$280 or so (depends on where you look/what their policy for driving it out of state and/or long-trips is).

If you take a bus from NY to Indy it's ~$85-100, and takes roughly 18 hours.
A train from NY to Indy is ~$105-140, and takes nearly 23 hours.
A plane from NY to Indy is ~$180-250, and takes ~2.5 hours

The car ride takes ~11.5Hours.

The price of all these things also ramps up the closer you are to the day of, so it's important you choose early.

Normally I'd suggest car-tripping so that you can haul all your loot home without worrying about it getting wrecked in the airplane's cargo hold, but unless someone's renting submersible cars it'd probably be a bit challenging of a road trip.

Edited January 5, 2017 by IsawaChuckles

[kempy 391]

First I suggest to all travelers to find Plan B games to play instead L5R. What about situation if Rings LCG won't be finished, still in Beta in August?

[Bayushi Shiori 17]

As a New Yorker, I can tell you that you're best off driving with friends from NY to Indiana in one of their personal vehicles. If that is not an option, then the bus is fine and runs about $90-150. The train is just a few bucks cheaper than a flight, so if you're considering that then you might as well fly.

 

Have you factored in the costs of attending Gen Con?

 

I wish I have NY friends to do a road trip with them hahaha. Is there even anything resembling a sharecar app or something?

 

From what you say I think that my best bet is the bus, but still pretty expensive, in Europe they are far more cheaper.

 

I haven't factored the costs of attending GenCon, but I have more time to save money for that. First comes the travel. But yeah, I have that in mind. Between Indiana and NY I plan on spending 2400$ or so, but every dollar saved counts (?).

 

 

internal transport within the united states is kind of wonky compared to Europe.  Our trains and busses cost about as much as a "regional" (small-plane) flight, but take 3-8x as long (although they're considerably more comfortable than the sardine cans our planes have turned into).  I'd either go with the direct flight to Indy, or, if you really want to have mobility while in Indy (although most useful stuff is within walking distance of the Con), you could go to NY and grab a car for a week, for ~$280 or so (depends on where you look/what their policy for driving it out of state and/or long-trips is).

If you take a bus from NY to Indy it's ~$85-100, and takes roughly 18 hours.

A train from NY to Indy is ~$105-140, and takes nearly 23 hours.

A plane from NY to Indy is ~$180-250, and takes ~2.5 hours

The car ride takes ~11.5Hours.

The price of all these things also ramps up the closer you are to the day of, so it's important you choose early.

Normally I'd suggest car-tripping so that you can haul all your loot home without worrying about it getting wrecked in the airplane's cargo hold, but unless someone's renting submersible cars it'd probably be a bit challenging of a road trip.

 

Fot those prices I think you're right and I should fly to Indiana directly and then go to NY by bus and I'll definitely have to thing about my luggage. Thanks for putting the prices! Really helpful.

 

 

First I suggest to all travelers to find Plan B games to play instead L5R. What about situation if Rings LCG won't be finished, still in Beta in August?

 

I'm pretty sure I won't be bored any minute if I'm at GenCon, I will play many more things than just L5R.

 

Thanks all of you for your responses!

[Kakita Shiro 991]

 

As a New Yorker, I can tell you that you're best off driving with friends from NY to Indiana in one of their personal vehicles. If that is not an option, then the bus is fine and runs about $90-150. The train is just a few bucks cheaper than a flight, so if you're considering that then you might as well fly.

 

Have you factored in the costs of attending Gen Con?

 

I wish I have NY friends to do a road trip with them hahaha. Is there even anything resembling a sharecar app or something?

 

From what you say I think that my best bet is the bus, but still pretty expensive, in Europe they are far more cheaper.

 

I haven't factored the costs of attending GenCon, but I have more time to save money for that. First comes the travel. But yeah, I have that in mind. Between Indiana and NY I plan on spending 2400$ or so, but every dollar saved counts (?).

 

 

internal transport within the united states is kind of wonky compared to Europe.  Our trains and busses cost about as much as a "regional" (small-plane) flight, but take 3-8x as long (although they're considerably more comfortable than the sardine cans our planes have turned into).  I'd either go with the direct flight to Indy, or, if you really want to have mobility while in Indy (although most useful stuff is within walking distance of the Con), you could go to NY and grab a car for a week, for ~$280 or so (depends on where you look/what their policy for driving it out of state and/or long-trips is).

If you take a bus from NY to Indy it's ~$85-100, and takes roughly 18 hours.

A train from NY to Indy is ~$105-140, and takes nearly 23 hours.

A plane from NY to Indy is ~$180-250, and takes ~2.5 hours

The car ride takes ~11.5Hours.

The price of all these things also ramps up the closer you are to the day of, so it's important you choose early.

Normally I'd suggest car-tripping so that you can haul all your loot home without worrying about it getting wrecked in the airplane's cargo hold, but unless someone's renting submersible cars it'd probably be a bit challenging of a road trip.

 

Fot those prices I think you're right and I should fly to Indiana directly and then go to NY by bus and I'll definitely have to thing about my luggage. Thanks for putting the prices! Really helpful.

I've never heard of Sharecar or any such app, but maybe this forum will help you arrange a ride. Buena suerte.

[Toqtamish 3,643]

I'll see you there. My first time attending. Flying in day before from Canada. Going for L5R launch mainly.

[Ser Nakata 348]

Have fun, I was planning to attend, but my first baby will be just a few months old at that times, so spending so much money won't be an option at that time

But please, don't forget to post as much information as possible while you're staying there ! 

[Kakita Shiro 991]

But please, don't forget to post as much information as possible while you're staying there ! 

Keep an eye out on the L5R Facebook group. I expect tons of pictures and commentary to be going on.

[IsawaChuckles 104]

"I find their decision to replace Humans with Pterodactyls most intriguing."

[Bayushi Shiori 17]

 

But please, don't forget to post as much information as possible while you're staying there ! 

Keep an eye out on the L5R Facebook group. I expect tons of pictures and commentary to be going on.

 

 

Can you tell me how to find the aforementioned group? I can't seem to find it.

 

Thank you!

[sndwurks 1,223]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160842683946823/

 

I would also echo the sentiment of either Driving with Friends for cheap, or flying for slightly less cheap. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are in my experience the two least expensive airlines when flying out of the Northeastern USA to all domestic destinations. JetBlue is better if you want assigned seating, Southwest basically flies planes like they were buses. Trains, sadly, are stupidly expensive and slow in the USA, and buses are just slow.

[Bayushi Shiori 17]

I would also echo the sentiment of either Driving with Friends for cheap, or flying for slightly less cheap. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are in my experience the two least expensive airlines when flying out of the Northeastern USA to all domestic destinations. JetBlue is better if you want assigned seating, Southwest basically flies planes like they were buses. Trains, sadly, are stupidly expensive and slow in the USA, and buses are just slow.

 

For what I have seen, it seems that a flight will cost twice a bus ride, or are this companies like super cheap?

 

Thank you.

[sndwurks 1,223]

For what I have seen, it seems that a flight will cost twice a bus ride, or are this companies like super cheap?

 

Thank you.

No, that's about accurate. Though if you grab a Southwest ticket now? It might only be 1.5x the price of the bus ticket. The main difference is that a bus ride is actually going to take you longer than driving. A bus from NYC to Indianapolis is going to be about 18 to 19 hours, as opposed to a 10 to 12 hour drive. I'm seeing price at $68 USD each way on Greyhound.com. Flying out of NYC on Southwest is aboug $130 to $150 each way, and is only 2 to 4 hours. I did a little checking, however, and found that if you can get to Newark International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, which is LITERALLY a 35 minute train ride, Southwest offers a DIRECT FLIGHT from Newark, NJ to Indianapolis for $59 either way.

So, I think I have the solution for you. Take the train from Penn Station, NYC to Newark Airport (30 to 35 minutes at $28 to $35 USD), and fly Southwest from Newark International Airport to Indianapolis Airport direct (2 hours, 5 minutes, at $59 USD) is the best travel plan to get there for the least time spent in transit, and least money spent. That's only $77 each way, and sure as hell beats sitting on a bus for 20 hours.

Edited January 8, 2017 by sndwurks

[Kakita Shiro 991]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160842683946823/

 

I would also echo the sentiment of either Driving with Friends for cheap, or flying for slightly less cheap. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are in my experience the two least expensive airlines when flying out of the Northeastern USA to all domestic destinations. JetBlue is better if you want assigned seating, Southwest basically flies planes like they were buses. Trains, sadly, are stupidly expensive and slow in the USA, and buses are just slow.

JetBlue does not fly to Indianapolis and you cannot schedule flights through Southwest for August this far in advance. The price will go up in the intervening time as it always does. I think the cost through Southwest is something like $250-350 in April, when they open up booking for August and beyond.

Edited January 8, 2017 by Kakita Shiro

[sndwurks 1,223]

JetBlue does not fly to Indianapolis and you cannot schedule flights through Southwest for August this far in advance. The price will go up in the intervening time as it always does. I think the cost through Southwest is something like $250-350 in April, when they open up booking for August and beyond.

 

Did not know that about JetBlue. However, regarding Southwest Airlines? They are currently selling tickets through August 14 as of today. I would expect them to sell tickets for the timeframe of GenCon 2017 by the end of the month.

[Kakita Shiro 991]

JetBlue does not fly to Indianapolis and you cannot schedule flights through Southwest for August this far in advance. The price will go up in the intervening time as it always does. I think the cost through Southwest is something like $250-350 in April, when they open up booking for August and beyond.

 

Did not know that about JetBlue. However, regarding Southwest Airlines? They are currently selling tickets through August 14 as of today. I would expect them to sell tickets for the timeframe of GenCon 2017 by the end of the month.

August 14 is somewhat unhelpful since you can't price out a round-trip flight without a return date.

[Bayushi Shiori 17]

 

For what I have seen, it seems that a flight will cost twice a bus ride, or are this companies like super cheap?

 

Thank you.

No, that's about accurate. Though if you grab a Southwest ticket now? It might only be 1.5x the price of the bus ticket. The main difference is that a bus ride is actually going to take you longer than driving. A bus from NYC to Indianapolis is going to be about 18 to 19 hours, as opposed to a 10 to 12 hour drive. I'm seeing price at $68 USD each way on Greyhound.com. Flying out of NYC on Southwest is aboug $130 to $150 each way, and is only 2 to 4 hours. I did a little checking, however, and found that if you can get to Newark International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, which is LITERALLY a 35 minute train ride, Southwest offers a DIRECT FLIGHT from Newark, NJ to Indianapolis for $59 either way.

So, I think I have the solution for you. Take the train from Penn Station, NYC to Newark Airport (30 to 35 minutes at $28 to $35 USD), and fly Southwest from Newark International Airport to Indianapolis Airport direct (2 hours, 5 minutes, at $59 USD) is the best travel plan to get there for the least time spent in transit, and least money spent. That's only $77 each way, and sure as hell beats sitting on a bus for 20 hours.

 

 

 

I cannot stress enough how much I love you right now. Thank you very much, you just solved my trip