Cost of Going to the Nationals

[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

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Cory

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!

Which hotels? Staying at the Omni with 4 people for 4 nights is $950, but the FIRST package is $1100. The Marriot Marquis is $640 and again, the FIRST package is $1100.

Yes, you do get a lot with the FIRST package, and are decently priced for what you get (depending on the hotel). But, you exagerated way too much.

[pink967]

It's going to cost us $160 each, technically it's supposed to be $225, but since our PR/Finance team ROCKS (yeah, i'm on it... ) we got money from our school board to pay $85 of each person's fare...plus we're taking a bus not a plane from IOWA...it's gonna be a long ride.

[swdshfsh]

We have over 30 members traveling to nationals this year. Originally each member was going to have to pay in the area of $600 per person. Last week our school board amazingly decided to give our program $10,000. Our school does not have the money to pay for it, but somewhere they found it, most likely due to our win in St. Louis! (Thanks 16 and 967) Each student only has to pay about $150 now and we will be taking a plane and staying for four nights with the FIRST package. After reading the other prices for teams, I feel incredibly lucky for what our team has been given. Good luck to all the other teams traveling. Don't give up on business sponsorship and funraisers. They pay off!

~Hannah, Charger Robotics Team 537