2nd R-AMA Conference: Travel

[Boris]

To all:

If you plan to go to the Conference and need help with travel arrangements, please, let us know.
Boston Logan Airport is one of the busiest in the country, so it is fairly easy to find a flight in and out at a convinient time.

If you are traveling from a place where many people plan to go, you may want to travel together, so we can arrange for a bus pick up, or you can carpool.

Order plane tickets early, when they are the cheapest. If you need ideas about web sites - say so...

[Boris]

I suspect that more than 20 people will fly to Boston on the same day for the Conference.

Cleveland is a hub for the Continental Airlines. The ticket price right now is $136 for the round-trip. We may be able to get a group discount. If you have the OnePass account with Continental, you will get some frequent flyer miles.

Chase Bank issues credit cards in association with Continental. When you open an account you get 6,000 bonus miles. If you open a business account you get 12,000 bonus miles. Using the card gets you free tickets.

Look for your airline promotions. Different companies have hubs in different cities.

[Boris]

If you are traveling alone, one of the ways to lower the cost is to split a hotel room, a rental car or other cost. Look for other people who are willing to do it.

[Boris]

Answering a frequently asked question:

I hope the price of the hotel will not deter anyone from coming to the Conference. There is no requirement to stay in the Double Tree Hotel. You can stay in any hotel in the area. Choose the best for your money. We just suggested this one to keep the majority of the people together.

When we started the preparations for the Conference, this hotel offered us a very competetive rate ($149/night - regular reservation and $127 - NetDirect) but with conditions that we pay 50% for 100 rooms in advance. We could not do it at the moment and now the best rate we can get is $177 - NetDirect.

We will do better next time.

[Alisher]

Boris,
Where is Double Tree Hotel situated? It looks like there are at least 3 different Double Tree Hotels/Suits in Boston. Is it Double Tree Hotel Lowell? By the way, what is NetDirect?

[Boris]

Look at the front page - link to the info about the Conference - link to Lodging.

Net Direct - just another way to book a room - the only problem is that it is non-changable, non-refundable, unlike regular reservation that you can cancel anytime.

[Alisher]

Boris,
Thanks! So, how would I get a discount price? Is there any promotional code that I could use?

[Gallblader]

Предлагаю наити что нибуть подешевле, а то и подальше ( по мне и в лесу хорошо) , а разницу использовать на сьем Van или нескольких.

[Alisher]

How about going to Conference and coming back to your hotel? I guess, Boston is a big city. Appositely, is the hospital in the vicinity of the Double Tree Hotel?

[Gallblader]

Я думаю Boston небольше Toronto, за час при знании местности можно вибраться из любого города, кроме NY and LA. Из опита знаю, что за городом отели на порядок лучше за ту же цену и лично я предлагаю шашлыки неофицал'ные на природе.

[Alisher]

и лично я предлагаю шашлыки неофицал'ные на природе.

Sounds good to me :P

[Boris]

Like I said in one of the posts - you are free to stay in any hotel. Boston has good public transportation, it is not a problem to get to the hospital.

Go to the hotel web site to book a room. The link is on the front page. Look for NetDirect prices.

[Boris]

Do not forget - all this expences are tax-deductible. Adk you employer, if he will be willing to pay for all or part of this. Most clinical and research institutions have abudget for this. Ask...

[kmm]

Хотелось бы напросится пассажиром, к тому кто едет на машине в Бостон из NY или ближнего NJ.

[Boris]

At first we counted on the Hospital to provide transportation. They are working on it, but it is still unclear at the moment. I think I will rent a minivan, so we will have some transportation. It looks like Thrifty Car Rental has minivans for $55/day.

[Alisher]

Hi there!
I am curious to know if anyone is staying outside Double Tree Hotel and if he/she is staying, then where and what was the price. Thanks!

[Surgeon]

I think mally just posted a note about a different hotel nearby.