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Post by freecharlie on Apr 13, 2016 4:09:00 GMT
I am looking into taking the family to an event this summer. Because the event is so big that the hotels in the area are selling out and the prices are higher than normal.
So would you
1) stay in a 3.9 stars, #19 on tripadvisor within 10-15 minutes of the event for 3 nights for $631
2) stay in a 4.8 stars on expedia, #1 on tripadvisor for the area, 3 three nights, but it is an hour away, cost: $337
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Anita
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Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Apr 13, 2016 4:11:52 GMT
If I had the extra cash and it wasn't a hardship, I'd stay as close as possible and pay the extra. The time saved is worth the money spent.
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 13, 2016 4:12:42 GMT
My time in the car might outweigh the cost. How many times would you be traveling back and forth from the hotel? Are the miles interstate or city? I much prefer comfort+time on vacation. A number one hotel would only be important for me if it was in a safe area and food and rink came with the room. Otherwise a 3.9 would be fine if I was just there for part of the day. May I ask where you are going??
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Post by cawoman on Apr 13, 2016 4:14:00 GMT
I would stay at the closer location.
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Post by smokeynspike on Apr 13, 2016 4:15:42 GMT
I need more info.
Are you going to be going to the event each day? What hours? Will you be able to reenter the event multiple times in a day?
An hour away is a lot of driving each day for me when you consider coming and going and traffic. I think in certain situations I could do #2 but it would not my first choice.
Melissa
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by luckyexwife on Apr 13, 2016 4:16:26 GMT
Does the hour away take into account the extra traffic due to the event? It could turn into a 2 or 3 hour drive. I would pay more and stay closer.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 13:01:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2016 4:17:53 GMT
If I am going there for the event, proximity is going to be more important to me, so I'd go with #1. I wouldn't want to waste at least an extra 90 minutes every day in the car.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 13, 2016 4:18:51 GMT
If the first hotel is within walking distance of the event and you want to easily go back and forth, I would go for it even though it isn't as highly rated. I assume there will be transportation and parking expenses for the second hotel that will partly offset the price difference. I'm also assuming the second hotel is an hour away in the best case scenario, not in summer, big event plus rush hour traffic.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Apr 13, 2016 4:25:42 GMT
Option 1.
Reason: time, parking
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 13, 2016 4:30:54 GMT
We would be going to a couple of games (fingers crossed, trying to get the tickets, not saying what/where because I don't want to jinx it (yes, I am totally superstitious when it comes to sports)). We currently drive 1.5 hours to get to Denver to watch the Avs, Rockies, or Broncos and/or 30 minutes a couple of times a month to watch our minor league hockey team.
So an hour doesn't seem like much (google maps says 50 minutes). We'd only drive to the other city for the game and then probably head back to the city if we stayed in the 2nd option.
ETA: There is a chance at a 2nd game, so we could have to drive in two different days.
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Post by cmpeter on Apr 13, 2016 4:36:50 GMT
I lean towards the closer location. Are they name brand or independent? Is airbnb or vrbo an option?
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 13, 2016 4:40:38 GMT
Depends on where that 50 minutes is. Chicago? Estimates are lies when it comes to events. If I knew for sure I could rely on time estimates and two days of parking plus gas did not approach the higher one, then I might go cheaper.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 13, 2016 4:41:24 GMT
I lean towards the closer location. Are they name brand or independent? Is airbnb or vrbo an option? Good idea. I've never looked at airbnb. |
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 13, 2016 4:45:30 GMT
Depends on where that 50 minutes is. Chicago? Estimates are lies when it comes to events. If I knew for sure I could rely on time estimates and two days of parking plus gas did not approach the higher one, then I might go cheaper. We will have to pay to park at the event at either place. According to google maps, 46 of those minutes (or 50 miles) is interstate driving. The event is 2-4 miles off the interestate |
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 13, 2016 4:50:56 GMT
Depends on where that 50 minutes is. Chicago? Estimates are lies when it comes to events. If I knew for sure I could rely on time estimates and two days of parking plus gas did not approach the higher one, then I might go cheaper. We will have to pay to park at the event at either place. According to google maps, 46 of those minutes (or 50 miles) is interstate driving. The event is 2-4 miles off the interestate Can you check typical traffic patterns for events in that area? If you were 50 miles from Chicago, you'd be on Interstate most of the way, and would do well until you got to the choke points on all the roads, for example. Any event makes it so much worse. Eta. And check construction. Tis the season. |
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Post by anniefb on Apr 13, 2016 5:01:14 GMT
I'd stay at the closer location.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 13, 2016 5:06:09 GMT
We will have to pay to park at the event at either place. According to google maps, 46 of those minutes (or 50 miles) is interstate driving. The event is 2-4 miles off the interestate Can you check typical traffic patterns for events in that area? If you were 50 miles from Chicago, you'd be on Interstate most of the way, and would do well until you got to the choke points on all the roads, for example. Any event makes it so much worse. Eta. And check construction. Tis the season. that is a good point, I tend to think of interstates as open roads, but when they go through cities, they do bog down. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 13:01:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2016 5:17:05 GMT
It would depend on traffic.
An hour away in Seattle could turn into 2-3 hours.
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Post by pretzels on Apr 13, 2016 11:10:47 GMT
No. 1, for sure.
Last summer, we went to Orlando to go to Universal. I booked a very nice condo on the other side of Orlando from Universal. It was a NIGHTMARE getting back and forth to the park. The hotel site said it was 35 minutes away, but with the traffic, it was more like an hour or more. It was particularly bad at night when we were exhausted and trying to get back to the condo.
We're going to JazzFest in New Orleans next weekend, and I booked a hotel close to the venue. It's costing us, but it will be worth it just to mitigate the aggravation.
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grinningcat
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Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Apr 13, 2016 11:14:57 GMT
Closer for sure. My time and money are too valuable to waste on an hour's drive to a hotel. There's really no point in going somewhere if you're going to stay an hour's away to save a couple bucks.
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Post by annabella on Apr 13, 2016 11:19:41 GMT
The ratings on tripadvisor are fake. I've seen really fantastic hotels not be in the top 10. I see lots of fake inflated reviews planted by the hotel themselves. You can tell this because the reviewers are new to tripadvisor or have no other reviews.
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Post by maryland on Apr 13, 2016 11:26:46 GMT
We have done both when traveling for dance competitions. If we had the money and it wasn't a hardship on our budget at all, we stayed closer to the event. But we have a college student now  , so we are on a very tight budget and would stay at the cheaper hotel. But for dance competitions, we are there at the event all day, so only at the hotel to sleep. We don't have to go back and forth during the day, just in the morning and at night. Also consider gas prices. The cost of gas or toll roads would also factor in to which would be the better option for us. If that would put the prices pretty close, we would stay in the closer hotel. If money wasn't an issue at all, I would stay closer! |
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Post by Karmady on Apr 13, 2016 11:26:53 GMT
Closer for sure. We are doing the exact same thing and paying 3 times the amount. I'm not necessarily happy about paying that price but the convenience of walking outweighs the driving and time wasted. I just factor it into the cost of the vacation. Work more, save more is my motto  |
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Nanner
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Post by Nanner on Apr 13, 2016 11:48:07 GMT
I'd stay in the one that was closer.
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Post by hop2 on Apr 13, 2016 11:57:49 GMT
Id probably stay in the closer one.
I'd also ask peas from the area for any tips on little known places to stay.
For example in my area there is little known inn with 10 fabulous rooms. They focus more and are more known for their restaurant, they do not show up in trip advisor, or anything. They might show up if you google bed n breakfast but they are a true inn from a long time ago. Yet the rooms are out and out georgeous and recently redone and are $200/night.
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christinec68
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Post by christinec68 on Apr 13, 2016 13:34:10 GMT
I'm not exactly following the plan but if you will be at the event for all three days, I would stay closer to the event. If it's a one maybe two day deal, I might consider the hotel further away if there were fun things to do there also.
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paigepea
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Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Apr 13, 2016 13:37:05 GMT
If I could I'd stay as close to event as possible. We always book a year out for things like this to get as close to event as possible. When we've been further out, waiting for the buses, etc just create more schlep and hassle.
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Post by Merge on Apr 13, 2016 13:47:18 GMT
I'd look at AirBnB. Our experiences have been so good, I'm not sure we'll ever stay in a hotel again. Failing that, I'd choose to stay closer.
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Post by myshelly on Apr 13, 2016 14:15:25 GMT
I couldn't/wouldn't stay an hour away.
Vacation time is too precious to waste.
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Post by *KAS* on Apr 13, 2016 14:24:59 GMT
I'd lean toward #1. But I would probably just give more detail on where I was going to go and where my options are to stay and let the peas guide me, because somebody probably could offer better advice if they are more familiar. But I'm not superstitious. |
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, so we are on a very tight budget and would stay at the cheaper hotel. But for dance competitions, we are there at the event all day, so only at the hotel to sleep. We don't have to go back and forth during the day, just in the morning and at night.
