It becomes especially troublesome for people that are already looking at a 5 hour plane trip combined with losing three hours due to time zones just to make it to the east coast. I do that trip a lot and even with an 8 AM direct flight it's 5 PM before you land in most west to east flights. If an hour or more in the car is added to that it gets pretty brutal very quickly.

I'm very much in favor of the location being near some kind of reasonably sized airport.

What javachik said.

Speaking of easily accessible cities, has Boston been mentioned yet?

Do we have anyone in Maine? Cause we've learned that there needs to be someone on the ground in the host city, even if they're not the one who's organizing. I mean, we could make Frank stay with his family for a while, but I don't know how he'd feel about that ;)

Heh. While not as remote as Vermont, flights into Portland are a limited option (though Boston and, I believe, Manchester NH are often used as a nearby substitute). And while I wouldn't mind doing a little a ground work (I do try to get up there once a month or so), you most definitely do not want me as the point person.

Speaking of easily accessible cities, has Boston been mentioned yet?

I think lack of reasonable hotel rates has always been the big sticking point there - between the colleges and the sports teams, there aren't many times of the year that aren't filled with people coming into town.

Boston and New York both have financial issues. I'm going any where Buffistas gather, but right now Providence, Philly, and Baltimore sound good.

I'm with Laura.

Also, I would be driving to any of those places, from Virginia, and would be glad to have company, if that made travel easier for anyone.

Boston and New York both have financial issues.

They both have things that might balance that out, however. Cheap flights, little/no need for cars, and cheap food if you know where (which you would) can go a long way.

At least one year we did bids (or nearly) didn't we? If we pick the date first Pimpers can then see what deals they can get with hotels for New York and Boston. Then people can get an accurate idea of what each will cost. It would also spare surprises like (iirc) Madison where we were SURE we'd find something inexpensive but then had to go pretty far out of town to do so.

Can we work on booking ourselves into a hotel with some church groups (as in DC)? that was entertaining in itself.

Maybe we can split the cost with a church group.

My church would love the Buffistas. I say that without sarcasm.

Can we work on booking ourselves into a hotel with some church groups (as in DC)? that was entertaining in itself.

If not a church group, then definitely the Mary Kay ladies. It's as good as a cult.