How long is a drive between Boston and NYC? And DC? How long a flight? Is there a train? Is there any recommended means of transportation, of all of these?

Boston - NYC (or vice versa) is about 4 hours driving, and thus 4 hours by express bus (which can be gotten for as low as $20, on the Chinatown lines).

It is rather shorter by Acela train (I think 2 hours?), which is fast but expensive (about $100, last I checked).

(If Kristin wants to drive some, it would also be easy to put Nilly on Metro-North -- commuter train --, have her get off at New Haven, and have Kristin drive the rest of the way to Boston. The possibilities are endless.)

There are 50-minute flights, La Guardia (NY) airport to Logan (Boston), which are probably even cheap, but it's the getting to and from airports and the waiting in security that can be kind of a pain. Both train and bus drop you directly in the city (you have some choice as to where in the city).

New York has the kind of underground public transit that requires care (and a free map), but can get you practically anywhere for $2. Boston has a smaller public transit system, but by virtue of being smaller it is less confusing and is $1.25 per ride.

Right now it seems like I'll be in NYC on the Saturday of the 28th

Ooh. That theoretically works for me. Hypothetically.

Insent, Nilly. Please don't think of yourself as a burden. You'll have keys and can come and go as you please, I'm just offering a Nilly homebase for you to keep your things, rest your head, and fill your belly on breakfast before lots of shopping and sightseeing with LAistas.

Tis no burden, it's a pleasure.

Nilly, what Allyson said. Surely you don't think people would be lining up for the chance to meet you if you were a burden?

I don't know how Nilly imagines she can be a burden. If I lived somewhere with more Buffistas, I'd be vying to be able to put up a "Nilly slept here" sign on my guest room.

Nilly, there is no burden in having you as a guest. Believe me, it'll be a thrill.

ION,

Re: Kansas City

I asked them a simple question and TOLD them I was just trying to get general numbers and now I am getting proposals left and right. Sighh.... (Erin, I'm not trying to step on your toes with this though I'd be happy to help) This one looks promising:

[link]

GROUP RATES:

We can extend the following group rates for your group based upon our understanding of your room needs.

Standard Guestroom $79.00 Suite $109.00

The above rates are subject to local and state taxes. Currently the city and state sales taxes are 14.875%. Room rate quotations are based on a per room, per night basis.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:

The DoubleTree Hotel Kansas City will be happy to provide the following for your group:

· One (1) complimentary room for every fifty (50) paid rooms actualized
· One (1) complimentary suite 5/20-22/05
· Complimentary Hospitality Suite
· Our famous DoubleTree Cookies at Check-in

Please don't think of yourself as a burden. You'll have keys and can come and go as you please, I'm just offering a Nilly homebase for you to keep your things, rest your head, and fill your belly on breakfast before lots of shopping and sightseeing with LAistas.

Replace "LAistas" with "Somervillains" and Allyson is me.

Nilly!

If you're in NYC on the 28th of August(and the 29th, I presume) I could go up to see you!(Of course, if you plan to be in DC before then, that's even better!)

(Am I abusing exclamation points, or what?)

Nilly, I just rode the Boston-NYC-Washington Amtrak train about a month ago. It was nice and scenic, but cost $111 ($30 more than advertised) and the dining car wouldn't accept plastic, hence a very hungry and grumpy me by journey's end. The Acela express would be faster and more expensive, flying faster still and less expensive. But I think driving with fellow Buffistas would minimize cost and maximize enjoyment during transit.

Hey. Just got back, and got a lot more information. So much in fact that I'm going to organize it all before I post it.

- Side note- anyone who would be driving down and find themselves at the 49/10 junction, I'd like to suggest a side trip to Prejean's. I had the yummiest alligator, frog legs and seafood gumbo ever Saturday night and would love to share.