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Author Topic: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015  (Read 12186 times)

milorafferty

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Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« on: July 14, 2014, 05:34:47 PM »

Before reading any further, I don't care about your opinion on USBC, the Open, El Paso as a location for the Open, how unfair that the Open is never close to where you live, that the Open is in Reno too much, etc, etc...  ;D

I'm going to El Paso next year in June to bowl the Open. Although I took a flight to Baton Rouge, I intended to drive to El Paso.


1137 miles, so figure 18 hours +/- of driving time. Car rental would be around $500 (I would never drive my car on such a trip), gas @ $4 a gallon would be $300 +/-. Figure if I didn't stay in a motel, my cost to drive would be around $800.


Then I read this article and it got me thinking of checking it out.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2014/07/13/greyhound-transformation-100th-anniversary/12364103/


I've done the bus travel thing in the past, but like 30 years ago. However, after checking out the details, I will probably make the trip on Greyhound to El Paso.


Ticket cost $133 round trip. Travel time would only be about 5 hours difference. No need for a motel. I would rent a car in El Paso once I got there, but it would knock at least 3 days off the rental period. You can take one bag free, plus $15 for a second bag. If you want to take more, say a four ball box, that would cost you $77.


Seems like a no brainer, the bus has WiFi, you can sleep, and would be stress free unless you got someone's smelly Uncle Fred next to you. A rental car for three days less, same car actually is a lot less expensive than where I live in Stockton, CA. That would be around $250 when considering three less days of rental. I won't need a motel on the way there, even if I get sleepy. No chance of getting caught in a speed trap either. These buss's have WiFi and many have TV.


$800+/- to drive, or $575+/- to take the bus? I think I will go Greyhound.


Anyone have recent experience taking the Greyhound Express service?
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

 

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #31 on: July 15, 2014, 03:13:18 PM »
Milo,
   If you just move your dates up to April, we could commute together, plus it won't be as hot as June! LOL.

I would, but I have 9 other people who will scream and yell at me!
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

Jorge300

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #32 on: July 15, 2014, 04:21:22 PM »
Most of them can move to April and the one's that can't can be replaced! LOL
 
Besides you used to post in the Misc Non-Bowling forum, you should be used to that.  :P
Jorge300

Pinbuster

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #33 on: July 16, 2014, 08:10:10 AM »
I've driven to Reno a few times. By the time I take a few side trips it is generally about 3500 miles round trip.

I rent a car for the trip and it cost me about $200. The car I rent gets better gas mileage
and I don't get the wear and tear on my car.

If I dove my car it would take an oil change and a 1/15 of the cost of a new set of tires and another $50 in gas cost. Not even counting prorating any repair cost that will come earlier. I figure it is a no brainer.

Urethane Game

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #34 on: July 16, 2014, 08:47:16 AM »
A greyhound by any other name is still a greyhound.  You forgot to budget for hold up money in your analysis. 

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #35 on: July 16, 2014, 09:49:19 AM »
I've driven to Reno a few times. By the time I take a few side trips it is generally about 3500 miles round trip.

I rent a car for the trip and it cost me about $200. The car I rent gets better gas mileage
and I don't get the wear and tear on my car.

If I dove my car it would take an oil change and a 1/15 of the cost of a new set of tires and another $50 in gas cost. Not even counting prorating any repair cost that will come earlier. I figure it is a no brainer.

I'm of the same mindset Pinbuster. I always rent a car for anything over 200 miles or so. Even though the rental will not get the gas mileage my Honda does, I still feel I come out ahead in the the long run.

One thing to consider about the cost to drive your own car, my company reimburses $.56 per mile if an employee uses their personal car for travel. Although we have a fleet of cars available, it's an option the company offers and is up to the employee. I've done the math before and you could actually rent a car, and still come out ahead with the $.56 per mile figure.

There is a bigger expense to driving your own car than just the gas.
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #36 on: July 16, 2014, 09:50:30 AM »
A greyhound by any other name is still a greyhound.  You forgot to budget for hold up money in your analysis. 

Ah, now see I didn't figure that into my budget! Maybe RaiderH20Boy can talk to Raider Fan and get me a pass.  ;D
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #37 on: July 16, 2014, 09:54:53 AM »
I've read a few reviews of Greyhound online and it doesn't paint a pretty picture. LOL

I figured I can actually work while on the bus, so might not have to use vacation days for the trip, but not if it's as bad as the reviews make it sound.
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

spmcgivern

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #38 on: July 16, 2014, 04:40:22 PM »
Milo, perhaps a good idea would be to take a sample trip before June to decide if the accommodations on the GH bus are ok for you.  Nothing too fancy, perhaps a trip to Vegas or San Diego, someplace not too far but far enough to get a good idea of expectations. Then you can decide if you want to take a longer trip.

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #39 on: July 16, 2014, 04:49:11 PM »
Milo, perhaps a good idea would be to take a sample trip before June to decide if the accommodations on the GH bus are ok for you.  Nothing too fancy, perhaps a trip to Vegas or San Diego, someplace not too far but far enough to get a good idea of expectations. Then you can decide if you want to take a longer trip.

Good idea, I could take the initial leg of the trip to LA. That would allow me to see what the bus is like, see the type of folks who take the trip to LA and the type of people who get on the bus to El Paso.

It would only cost me $39 round trip, so that wouldn't be bad. Except it would waste a day. LOL
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

itsallaboutme

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #40 on: July 16, 2014, 08:51:06 PM »
Just go spend an hour at the bus station.  Then go home and take a shower.

milorafferty

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #41 on: July 16, 2014, 08:57:31 PM »
Just go spend an hour at the bus station.  Then go home and take a shower.

Lol

Thats probably exactly how it will happen!
"If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?"

"If you don't stand for our flag, then don't expect me to give a damn about your feelings."

raiderh20boy

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #42 on: July 17, 2014, 05:38:32 PM »
A greyhound by any other name is still a greyhound.  You forgot to budget for hold up money in your analysis. 

Ah, now see I didn't figure that into my budget! Maybe RaiderH20Boy can talk to Raider Fan and get me a pass.  ;D
OUCH!!!

avabob

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #43 on: July 25, 2014, 10:35:42 PM »
I probably wasn't going anyway, but after seeing what is happening to the prize fund, there is no way I incur the expense of going to El Paso.

DrBob806

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Re: Thoughts on traveling to El Paso in 2015
« Reply #44 on: August 10, 2014, 10:32:25 AM »
I think I may fly into Phoenix or Houston (from Cleveland), then rent a car. I have family in both places.