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From: Michigan
Originally Posted by Mountain-man,Feb 24 2011, 05:28 AM
HEY!!!! I NEED A CRASH COURSE ON THE HOTELS AND COSTS AND HOW/WHERE THINGS ARE DONE!
I REALLY wanna go, and now have the time to go, but right now I'm panicking because I don't know how much all this will cost beyond the registration. I'm not worried about gas, its everything else, and how you guys typically go about this whole business, and what the hotels generally run, and for how many days. And I know I need to register really soon to get the Fontana discount thingy....
Just PM me an answer or whatever.
I REALLY wanna go, and now have the time to go, but right now I'm panicking because I don't know how much all this will cost beyond the registration. I'm not worried about gas, its everything else, and how you guys typically go about this whole business, and what the hotels generally run, and for how many days. And I know I need to register really soon to get the Fontana discount thingy....
Just PM me an answer or whatever.
Hotel on Wednesday night in Cinci - Holiday Inn Express $95 + taxes & fees. There are other and certainly more cheaper options, we've stayed at the Extended Stay in Blue Ash many times in the past, they are around $60.
Fontana Village - Lodge room is the cheapest option, I believe those are $100 at most a night. Cabins are more money, but if splitting with someone, they can be a cheaper option.
I'd estimate you are looking at $500 for lodging & food for the entire trip.
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From: On a rock wall somewhere...
Originally Posted by sw05s2k,Feb 24 2011, 09:43 AM
I'd estimate you are looking at $500 for lodging & food for the entire trip.
Im not sure I want to stomach that amount... Ill check into some other options ... but not looking so hot right now. If ya wanna know why, Ill pm ya but not going to post it here. Not that it makes much difference as I posted that elsewhere.
I guess lodging is the biggest cost next to gas. That should be the easiest to reduce but I wouldn't be able to hang with the rest of the crew if I go the route im thinking of...
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From: Royal Oak, Michigan
Lodge rooms are $79. So, if you're very miserly, you could probably get by on a budget close to $400, not including gas. And gas will be a big number. Brisk drives on mountain roads does not equal outstanding MPGs.
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From: On a rock wall somewhere...
Originally Posted by Kamron,Feb 24 2011, 01:42 PM
Lodge rooms are $79. So, if you're very miserly, you could probably get by on a budget close to $400, not including gas. And gas will be a big number. Brisk drives on mountain roads does not equal outstanding MPGs.
Gas is a given that it will be a large number. It's food and lodging that I'm concerned about. It all adds up to a number I really cringe about for a weekend trip.
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From: Royal Oak, Michigan
I think you're right Sam, it looks like right under the Dam (I've seen tents there before). $20-30. Great view too!
Not a ton of sites, but it is a kinda cool location by the river and dam, here's the map:
http://www.fontanavillage.com/contac...campground.pdf
Not a ton of sites, but it is a kinda cool location by the river and dam, here's the map:
http://www.fontanavillage.com/contac...campground.pdf
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From: On a rock wall somewhere...
Just so that everyone knows my (tentative) plans in case they want to caravan:
I will be leaving Chicago on Wednesday, either around noon if I can take a half day or around 4:30 if I can't, heading for the hotel Sam linked in Cincinnati. I would like to meet up with the cincy crew at the Hooters that night, but I can't guarantee until I have my time off work finalized.
Then, I'll be cruising with them down to Fontana and staying at Fontana Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night.
Finally, on Sunday, I'll be leaving pretty early and making the return trip in one day, which is DEFINITELY much better with a caravan and FRS radios to keep things interesting.
If you don't want to pay for a hotel Wednesday night, you could do what Scrapdog, Timbagoo, and I did last year and make the drive from Chicago down to meet up with the Cincy crew en-route (Arbys somewhere in Kentucky, I think) and head the rest of the way to Fontana, all in one day. It's a bit exhausting, but do-able.
Again, I would highly recommend FRS radios, both to communicate during any potential caravans AND around Fontana, since cell phone reception is virtually nonexistent.
If any of you who plan to go don't have my cell phone number, PM me and I'd be glad to share it.
I will be leaving Chicago on Wednesday, either around noon if I can take a half day or around 4:30 if I can't, heading for the hotel Sam linked in Cincinnati. I would like to meet up with the cincy crew at the Hooters that night, but I can't guarantee until I have my time off work finalized.
Then, I'll be cruising with them down to Fontana and staying at Fontana Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night.
Finally, on Sunday, I'll be leaving pretty early and making the return trip in one day, which is DEFINITELY much better with a caravan and FRS radios to keep things interesting.
If you don't want to pay for a hotel Wednesday night, you could do what Scrapdog, Timbagoo, and I did last year and make the drive from Chicago down to meet up with the Cincy crew en-route (Arbys somewhere in Kentucky, I think) and head the rest of the way to Fontana, all in one day. It's a bit exhausting, but do-able.
Again, I would highly recommend FRS radios, both to communicate during any potential caravans AND around Fontana, since cell phone reception is virtually nonexistent.
If any of you who plan to go don't have my cell phone number, PM me and I'd be glad to share it.
My plan is leaving Thursday after work, and then taking it easy on Sunday for the trip back. If weather and other things permit, I may be taking the long way back on some more good roads and taking off work on Monday. I was really hoping I could meet up with you guys. Maybe I'll be up for a return caravan. We'll see how things go. My brother will be coming with, both as a passenger and alternative driver. He's one of the few who I've trusted my car to. Otherwise, it's a cannon-ball run all the way down for Friday Morning and I'll likely be pretty wiped to truely enjoy the day...
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From: The land of corruption, cachaça, and caipirinhas.
I haven't heard enough of an official who-is-going-when to know if there is much of a group caravan up until Cinci. I don't know if anyone will be joining me in my drive down there Wednesday evening (possibly Timbagoo?), but it did sound like a number of people will be leaving the Chicago area early Thursday morning.
If you're leaving Thursday after work, you won't be able to meet up with the Cinci crew at all, but I would advise that over leaving Friday morning.
If you're leaving Thursday after work, you won't be able to meet up with the Cinci crew at all, but I would advise that over leaving Friday morning.