So, is an official "Attendees List" avaialble? I'd love to know who's going that I met last year!

As this will be our second conference, we're trucking the whole family out this time, and including a few days extra to hit the Canyon and Las Vegas!

Anyone else getting stoked for this one? My son is literally driving his mother (the uh, "custodial parent") NUTS!!

Anyone?

M

I'm still planning on going, although because this year's dates are later than last year, I can't use my free plane ticket that I gained when last year's flight home was cancelled. Travel has to be completed by June 15th for me to use it, and that just obviously isn't possible.

But I still plan on being there!

Hello,

We don't put out a list of attendees as their whereabouts could be considered 'personal information'.

Hard to believe the conference is only a month away. Can't wait to see everyone.

Cool!

See ya there!

m

I'll be there!!

All-

If you haven't already, don't forget to register for the conference!

Do it here: http://atshq.org/shop.htm

Wade

who would miss it.! I mean Roger Farley, Tom Prentice, Joe Bigelow, Warren
Savary, and AMNH DNA talk !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Roger Farley is enough to get me bouncing off the walls.

Zach

Is anyone from South Texas (we're in the Houston area) going to the ATS Conference willing to car pool? We desperately want to attend the conference and are trying to make sure at least Elizabeth gets there with Mike (I might have to stay home with Aunt Nina and the animals), but with the price of gasoline, our decision on whether or not to go changes daily.

However, if we had someone definitely willing to go with us and share gasoline costs, it would cinch our decision to go. We have a 15 passenger van, so actually the more the merrier!

So, if you live in South Texas or have to drive through Houston from somewhere else and want to car pool, please, please let us know. Either post it here or email me directly at tarantulakidsmom@yahoo.com or reallysgm@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Susan

I finally booked the room for me and my husband. I just kept on forgetting about it. If there is anyone else like me who has been putting it off...call soon! I just got off the the phone with the very nice woman at the desk, and while there are still rooms, they are filling quickly.

Has everyone who is renting cars already lined that up, or are you planning on doing it at the airport? Which way is cheaper? I'm all about car trips usually, so I'm kinda out of my element with this whole flight trip thing (but darn it, I think this will be worth stepping out of my comfort zone!).

My new 12 bulb LED UV flashlight just arrived today and I am officially REALLY excited!

See y'all there!

Lindsey

Hello Lindsey,

From what little I've checked (I don't rent a car at the airport in my own city) the rates at airport car rentals here seem comparable to those elsewhere though you might get a special deal in the middle of nowhere. Given their chains, rates seem to be fairly consistent throughout the city.

Skyharbor Airport, the one I presume you'll be flying into, recently built a new facility with all the car rental companies under one roof. If there's a car in town you can get it there.

People who don't wish to rent a car might take a Supershuttle from the airport to the hotel. They're generally cheaper than a cab or a rental car and they're a lot nicer than cabs. The hotel is far enough away from the airport that no free shuttle is available but the Supershuttle can be handy, especially for one. Those with many may find a cab or rental cheaper because they have the same cost for one or many whereas the SS is per passenger.

I think Lindseys's asking if it's better to get a reservation for a rental or to just wait until you get there. The only deciding factor, I think, is availability as cars may not be available during peak season. Darrin can correct me if I'm wrong, but summer is not the the peak travel season to Phoenix!

I don't know if the price is better. Once I booked a car rental through a travel agent (who assured me it was the best deal available) and arrived to find the counter closed! Hwever, the provider at the next counter was open and had cars and it turned out to be cheaper than the one the travel agent had found!

Of course, if you can find a good deal on the internet, it may be worthwhile.

Wade

Wade,
I've always reserved a car on the Internet. Just get the cheapest rate possible, and decide for yourself on the options. For example, in El Paso I never bought insurance because the driving experience to Carlsbad was traffic-free. Phoenix is a big city with lots of traffic, and I drove many miles within the city limits, so insurance was needed.

In my personal experience, I've found Enterprise to be the cheapest, and last year I had stellar service with them. I would check on airport taxes... once you move a rental place near an airport, many states have silly taxes applied. The new "all-in-one-garage" theory is nice, but it can cost you quite a large percentage.

If anyone checks on this, or knows about this, please post it here.

Christian

Thanks all!

I have been looking around on the internet but some of the details of renting have been confusing me. They want such specific pick up/drop off times. What happens if you are earlier/later than you were planning (fees!?)? That is concern is one of the reasons I'm thinking of waiting until I get to the airport to figure it out (Yeah, this is only the second time I have flown and I'm starting to freak out about the details a little bit, forgive me. I think I have seen "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" a few too many times. )

Figured out that the supercool site I used to find the cheapest air fare also does car rentals: http://www.bookingbuddy.com/car.php
So far the cheapest I have seen is $13.00 a day.

Lindsey

Whoa, that sounds pretty good to me, especially since I'll be sharing the expense with you! Of course, there's always other fees so the price tends to creep up regardless of who you rent with. They break it down in such a way to make it seem cheap as possible, but when all's said and done it'll probably be twice that, or three times if you get the insurance which may be needed.

I don't think there's any fee for early pick ups or drop offs. Late pick ups may affect availability, but not cost unless it's very late. Late drop offs may incur a fee, but since you have to be at the airport by a certain hour anyway that shouldn't be a problem.

Is it with a company at the airport? If not, it might not be worth the hassle.

Wade

It is with Enterprise at the airport.



Yup! Total works out to be $64.65 with taxes and such. Insurance would be an extra $35.97:eek: I could get a nice centpede for that much! I'm thinking you or Michael are going to be driving:) . It is a Chevy Aveo or someting similar (looking at the pic of the car, the SNL skit about the clay "Adobe" car comes to mind! A-A-A-Adobe!)

Lindsey

Lin and Wade,
another quick word about the car rentals. Your pickup and return time for the auto should coincide with your flight arrival and departure times. Just add an hour fluff time either way and you are safe.

Also, last year in Phoenix (I forget the company), my car was already reserved via the Internet. I took a free shuttle from the airport to the off-site car rental place which on the way to the hotel. It was a breeze. I opted to do business with an off site vendor because they were cheaper than the others. It must be cheaper for them to run a shuttle than it is to rent space at the airport. You just follow the signs to pickup the next available bus. I waited about ten minutes for my shuttle.

If you arrange it all on line ahead of time, you can pretty much plan out your steps. Flights are on time less than half the time, so simply ask the rental place what happens if your flight is delayed. There may be no penalties or problems because after all, nearly 100% of their business comes from the airport. I recall one time my arrival flight was late and they still held my car reservation for me and even upgraded it for free because the car I originally wanted was no longer available.

I rented from Avis, Hertz, Dollar, and at least two others. Never had a problem. They are all in fierce competition for your business.

Rhys

If that's the total and not daily, I'd say it's still pretty good! Insurance may be worth it, but many credit cards cover all the same things already so you might want to check on that.

They get funny about who can drive it. Sometimes they charge extra for each driver you want to add to the rental agreement. They'll nickle and dime you to death!

You should have seen the geo metro I had one year. I wouldn't have been surprised to see a rubber band under the hood!

Wade

Here's the easiest way to cut car rental costs, pay using the right credit card. Capital One for example insures rental cars for the following:

Covered losses are:

■ Physical damage and theft of the covered rental vehicle.

■ Valid loss-of-use charges imposed and substantiated by the rental agency through a fleet utilization log.

■ Reasonable and customary towing charges, due to a covered loss, to the nearest qualified repair facility.

All you need to do to get it is use one of their cards that offer it and decline the insurance the rental agency offers. Many other credit card companies offer similar deals on existing cards.

Of course if you run into someone else's car you're still on your own. Nice to know you don't have to pay for it if it gets stolen and you don't have to pay the cost of insurance the agencies charge for nothing.

Rhys Brigida wrote:

Wade,
I've always reserved a car on the Internet. Just get the cheapest rate possible, and decide for yourself on the options. For example, in El Paso I never bought insurance because the driving experience to Carlsbad was traffic-free. Phoenix is a big city with lots of traffic, and I drove many miles within the city limits, so insurance was needed.