Cost of Going to the Nationals

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by mtangolics

I'm kind of annoyed at my school at the moment. Right after our last regional they told us we should be prepared to pay $900 per person to get to Atlanta. This seems quite ridiculous in that they're making us pay, and that they gave such a high number. I searched on travel booking sites and found several deals that included airfare, hotel, AND a rental car for TWO people for under $800. I'd just like to get some input from other teams on how much they're being asked to pay to fly to nationals.

They are probably looking at the package cost of hotels still available. You can probably shop around for cheaper, but you won't get food, transportation, and other things like you do in the package. Remeber, you are paying for convenience with a package. I know one team is paying for $800 per person plus for bus, hotel, and transporation.

[Nate Edwards]

We are paying about $600 per person for Hotel through THS and Airline. We payed about $850 per person last year in houston. It can get rather expensive. But this year we got ahead got cheap airline and got our hotel so we don't have to worry about possible over $900. It all depends on how many flights go to Atlanta from where you are.
Nate

[Tom Bottiglieri]

we arent going.. but it would be somewhere around $1400 per person. Please dont complain..

[Mike Norton]

We just bought plane tickets out of Hartford for $295 round trip on Delta nonstop Wednesday returning Sunday.

If you have any question about rooms you should ask team 386. They have some great ideas and cheap hotels. $49 a night. this works out to be $370 for air and room per-person. the hotel is walking distance to the site.

[Team311]

we didnt know we were going until saturday so its gonna cost like 1500 a peson to go unless we do a lot of fundraising

[Gabe Salas Jr.]

ouch...

Our team does year-round fundraising. I think you guys will hate us if I post how much each person on Team PINK has to pay in order to go to Nationals. I would just say it is really affordable, and all that fundraising (and hard work) really pays off. No pun intended. Seriously.

[Heretic121]

its about $350 for round trip bus, and hotel... we have to buy our own food and use the marta *subway, taxi, etc i think* to get around but the georgia dome is walking distance so no worries about that =D

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Team311

we didnt know we were going until saturday so its gonna cost like 1500 a peson to go unless we do a lot of fundraising

We're staying out at the airport and the cost is approximately $70/night/room. Airfare from LA is about $230 round trip depending on the airline. Food is on your own, but the hotel has a free breakfast.

So we'll probably be running around $400 each. So if we can do it from LA for that, and $1500 each is what you just HAVE to pay, then somebody has some unrealistic expectations. Either that or you are sending a minimal team, and expecting those traveling to cover the entry fee as well.

BTW our reservations have been made in the past week, so it's not like we're getting huge advance discounts. We are also traveling as several small groups, rather than one big one. Sometimes groups wind up paying a premium to stay together.

ChrisH

[KTBSPASonya858]

I'm mot sure how much it's costing us, but instead of flying were riding a charter bus.

[Cory]

Around $550 for us, albeit we made our reservations almost a month ago.

flying to Georgia should be much cheaper for EVERYONE than say flying into Houston, or Orlando.

Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world afterall

Cory

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Cory

Around $550 for us, albeit we made our reservations almost a month ago.

flying to Georgia should be much cheaper for EVERYONE than say flying into Houston, or Orlando.

Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world afterall

Cory

Actually, we get cheaper accomedations at Orlando than Houston or Atlanta.

[jonathan lall]

Have you accounted for the fact that the FIRST package of the post-event team social is nearly $100? You might be staying in expensive accomodations, and also take into account the fact that you are likely paying for your mentors to some extent. We are taking a bus down, driving overnight, sharing it with 1088, and coming back right after in order to cut costs.

[Chris Fultz]

Cyber Blue is renting 3 vans, driving, and statying at a Homewood Suites about 15 miles from downtown. Less convenient than right downtown but it kept the trip affordable.

[Penny]

As both a team mom and the school vice-principal, I realize there are two sides to this cost issue. Teams that travel cheaply tend to travel as clubs, i.e. non-official school activity. As soon as the school travel policies, insurance, "cleared" chaperones, etc. are brought into the picture, the costs begin to climb astronomically.

Unfortunately in today's lawsuit happy society, the first mishap to a team member has the potential to bring thousands of dollars and gobs of unwanted publicity upon a school district and they are understandably nervous. IF you are traveling as a school function, it will not be cheap.

The Beach Bots travel cheap, but we have no "school" insurance protecting us -- all students and mentors are paying their own way to Atlanta -- all students are traveling with a family member or are being "adopted" by another parent for the trip -- all are traveling as individuals on a trip who happen to be going to the same place to compete in the same competition.

If your school will let you travel in that way, you can save considerably. If not, then start fundraising now for next year!

Penny

[Cory]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Actually, we get cheaper accomedations at Orlando than Houston or Atlanta.

Which is why I said flying...

And besides, the FIRST packages are EXTREMELY reasonable for what they give you. Just staying in some of those hotels for 2 nights would cost more than the entire package does for four nights, plus you get tons of other included stuff!

Cory