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04-03-2012, 08:35 AM
|  | He who has ears let him hear .... | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Happy Bottom, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Gard  Minor updates/comments:
I will be speaking with the folks at both the Marriott Downtown (the one Pete mentioned) as well as the Marriott Airport (further out, but not THAT far, and much closer to the GTG location - if it is my house) to arrange possible group discount rates for attendees. I will keep posting updates on this - but I do ask for input on this: would the collective prefer closer access to the shop/downtown, or closer to the airport/hangout spot?
On airport choices:
Charlotte is a PITA to travel thorough, but at least the ride is all interstate. IF you choose Charlotte, DO NOT arrive or leave during traffic times, or you WILL BE SORRY. Traffic in Charlotte is among the STOOPIDEST I've ever experienced - and I've spent significant time driving in Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta, Paris, London, etc. I AVOID Charlotte at all costs, personally, YMMV. It is about a 90 minute drive (under best possible circumstances - a RARE occurrence, IME), and it is a US Air hub, for those considering that carrier.
Raleigh/Durham is easy in and out, the traffic can be bad at high-volume periods, but the airport itself is outside the city areas, and to the west of them, which means you don't have to go THROUGH the built-up areas going to Greensboro (unlike Charlotte, the airport there is on the south side of town, and you have to go right through the middle of the city heading north to Greensboro). It's about an hour drive, under most circumstances, and is a Southwest and American Airlines hub for those that are considering those carriers.
Greensboro will be the easiest, and sadly most expensive option. The airport is small-ish, but located really well for this trip - it's 10 minutes from the shop & downtown GSO (as well as the Marriott Downtown), and not even 5 minutes from my front door (for the GTG...airplane freaks, we can sit on our back porch and plane watch!  Here's an interesting example). Access to and from is the easiest I've EVER experienced, period (short term parking is literally at the door to the concourse!). There is a Marriott on the airport proper, so it could be a good choice for those trying to avoid driving as much as possible. Traffic is never an issue here, so to and from for anyone traveling through GSO/PTI for this will be a cinch. Unfortunately, there is no major hub here at all, which will put a bit of a premium on flights into this choice, and will force at least one plane change for almost anyone coming in via air.
Short version: If "money don't matter", choose GSO; if you don't mind an hour's drive and want to avoid stress, go RDU; (IMO) if you want to torture yourself, Charlotte. (...is my distaste for the city of Charlotte evident? Hey, the Pampers play there, what did you expect?! ) | I agree with all of this! I actually much prefer GSO over the other 2 for the reasons mentioned. spend the extra dough and screw the hassle..
__________________
He who has ears...let him hear....
Christian P&W #404
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04-03-2012, 08:52 AM
|  | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RocketMusic ... G'boro is a bit more of a regional airport (sort of, it is actually international)... | Little history tidbit:
The reason GSO is an "International" airport (Piedmont Triad International is the "official" name) is because Wrangler Jeans was (and their present parent company still is) located here. They would cut all of the fabric for the jeans locally, load it on an old DC-3, fly it down to Puerto Rico to be sewn, pick up the previous day's now sewn jeans, and fly back, each day.
Present day cool fact:
The Honda Jet factory is on the property at GSO now: http://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1 |
04-03-2012, 08:58 AM
|  | Registered User
Owner, Rocket Music | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Blacksburg, VA | | I'm driving down from Blacksburg, and I'm going to drive WAY out of my way through Charlotte just to prove that I love it so.  
Raleigh is an extra hour away from me/Blacksburg, that's why I use Charlotte when I fly. Oh, well, sounds like Raleigh is the better idea for those coming to this GTG! |
04-03-2012, 09:00 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Niagara Falls, ON, Canada | | Hmmmmm. BUF-GSO is actually a pretty affordable flight  |
04-03-2012, 09:04 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RocketMusic I'm driving down from Blacksburg, and I'm going to drive WAY out of my way through Charlotte just to prove that I love it so. | ...contrarian.
NO BUD LIGHT FOR YOU, THREE MONTHS!!! Quote: |
Raleigh is an extra hour away from me/Blacksburg, that's why I use Charlotte when I fly. Oh, well, sounds like Raleigh is the better idea for those coming to this GTG!
| Yeah, if you're trying to save a buck or two over the GSO option, I highly recommend RDU for several reasons (easy access, closer). Charlotte is just for those masochists in the group, right Greg? |
04-03-2012, 09:05 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Moote Hmmmmm. BUF-GSO is actually a pretty affordable flight | DOOOO EEEETTTT!!! |
04-03-2012, 09:11 AM
| | Registered User
Owner, Rocket Music | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Blacksburg, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Gard Charlotte is just for those masochists in the group, right Greg? | A jolly good spanking is part of this clinic, right?!? |
04-03-2012, 09:17 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RocketMusic A jolly good spanking is part of this clinic, right?!? | Well, intellectually/musically/and probably psychologically - yeah....
...but if you're looking for THAT kind of "clinic", you may want to look elsewhere...  |
04-03-2012, 09:38 AM
| | | | I've been looking at the NYC to GSO+hotel option on expedia and the price isn't too bad. I'd rather pay for smooth convenience than save some coin and be miserable. I can get a little hostile when travelling... I'm from Nu Yawk, baby! |
04-03-2012, 09:43 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Gard Well, intellectually/musically/and probably psychologically - yeah....
...but if you're looking for THAT kind of "clinic", you may want to look elsewhere... | How far elsewhere if you wanna do both?
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The impossible dream, made possible...
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04-03-2012, 09:45 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkstrike How far elsewhere if you wanna do both? | Oh, there's something to be had for everyone within a short drive, I'm sure...
...if that's your sort of thing, that is!  |
04-03-2012, 09:47 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DAMON I've been looking at the NYC to GSO+hotel option on expedia and the price isn't too bad. I'd rather pay for smooth convenience than save some coin and be miserable. I can get a little hostile when travelling... I'm from Nu Yawk, baby! | This is my recommendation for everyone - frankly, you may save ~$150-200 by using Charlotte/RDU, but lose a lot of piece-of-mind, and time traveling to and from.
I'm strongly leaning toward the Marriott Airport as my #1 recommendation, but let's see what they come up with for us. |
04-03-2012, 09:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Niagara Falls, ON, Canada | | | Throwing out a preliminary feeler before I nail down any plans:
Anyone else coming in from out of town and travelling solo? I'd be interested in splitting accommodations and that would certainly make things a lot more affordable for me. |
04-03-2012, 09:50 AM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Moote Throwing out a preliminary feeler before I nail down any plans:
Anyone else coming in from out of town and travelling solo? I'd be interested in splitting accommodations and that would certainly make things a lot more affordable for me. | Very good idea.... |
04-03-2012, 10:07 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Chapel Hill, NC | | | RDU isn't bad at all. I live fairly close to it and the drive to Greensboro from there isn't bad at all. maybe a little slow at rush hour, but otherwise not too bad |
04-03-2012, 10:11 AM
|  | Roscoe FANatic | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Jupiter FLA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Gard Charlotte is a PITA to travel thorough, but at least the ride is all interstate. IF you choose Charlotte, DO NOT arrive or leave during traffic times, or you WILL BE SORRY. Traffic in Charlotte is among the STOOPIDEST I've ever experienced - and I've spent significant time driving in Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta, Paris, London, etc. ) |
Spot on! During my last trip to Roscoe, I also visited my daughter in suburban Charlotte (Huntersville) during Thanksgiving. 3 days of bad roads and bad drivers - reminded me of Miami
Thinking about making it up there again, but the timing isn't real good...
__________________
Jim
Roscoes LG3000(#4694), LG3005(#4895), LG 3000FL(#6244), SKB3006(#4654)
Lull M4, Lull M5
6.0 Shuttle, ShuttleMax 12.0
ACME Low B-2(x2)
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04-03-2012, 10:39 AM
|  | Cogito Ergo Idiot | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SF Bay Area, CA | | | [ Tangent ]
My first trip to/thru Charlotte was a total, "What's so bad?" experience. No traffic, great food, nice folks. Good times.
My second trip...on a Nascar weekend. Wow.
[ /Tangent ] |
04-03-2012, 12:37 PM
|  | Moderator Moderator | | Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Fargo, ND | | | For me, it was only 3 bucks per person more to fly into Greensboro, so thats a no brainer. We will fly out of Fargo, stop in Chicago (yuck), and then hit Greensboro.
I am about certain we will stay at the airport Marriott. From the pricing info I got, it will be substantially cheaper there than the downtown one. The price difference for the two of us more than makes up for a decent car rental (not an economy car).
All I need to do is confirm/pay for everything when I get home this week, and me n Jackie are good to go. Our schedule looks to be flying out of Fargo at 5:50am on Thursday, and arrive in Greensboro before noon. Then we will fly home Monday at around 12:30pm I think it is, and arrive in Fargo around 5 something pm.
__________________
Roscoe Century 3005 #6091/Roscoe Century 3005-J #6264/Roscoe Century 3005-JM #6393/Eden WT1205/ Eden D610XST
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04-03-2012, 12:43 PM
| | Registered User
General Manager, Roscoe Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, USA | | | ^that was my thinking...
...the Marriot Downtown is a bit pricey-er , and really not any different other than "location, location, location" - which is really not THAT much of an advantage in this situation.
I'm leaning on going with them for the "group rate" discount, Ryan, I'll check to see if there's anything they can do for folks that pre-book online...  |
04-03-2012, 01:06 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota | | | Leave GFK at 8:15 am Thursday, arrive GSO 4:15 pm, stay at airport Marriott, drive a cheap car = $1,230
Buy a bass at Rocket Music to use for lesson = $3,000
Lesson = $175
Food and Drink = $200
Gas = $30
Hanging with forum friends = priceless
Trip total = $1,635 ($4,635 with bass purchase)
Maybe possible without the bass purchase, but I don't know how I'd be around all that Roscoeness without having one shipped home. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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