Hello Friends. I seek advice on getting to and from BM from a somewhat farther distance away in the country (Midwest) with my sweetie. This will be our first year attending, so I have no idea what 'avenue' to take in making the journey. I don't think driving is an option b/c we do not have enough time off from work for a week-and-a-half long trip (if we want to keep our jobs and make rent). But I don't think I can miss the Man this year (I'm selfish and self-indulgent, I know). I know nothing about finding plane tickets to Reno (where are the best places to look for reasonably priced tickets?), or renting a car when we get there (same applies)...I'm thinking perhaps I could find a ride to the Man once we make it to Reno, but if my time is restricted I might not be able to get back to Reno in time for a flight out unless I drive myself/rent a car..yes? Any advice, tips, experiences, stories, thoughts, etc..? anyone would like to share would be most appreciated! The only other way we'll make it in attendance is if we can do this the most inexpensive way possible. BRC and Burning Man is all I can think about these days!! Is it better to make travel arrangements as far as possible in advance for the best deals?! Help! Thanks for listening y'all and have a wonderful day/night/week! Much love and many blessings to each of you. Namaste. ~Nicki
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Milwaukee
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, November 24, 2007 - 12:05 AMHi Nicki..............
Glad to hear that you'll be joining us on the playa next year.
Buying a plane ticket to Reno is surprisingly easy. If you want to compare prices try Expedia.com orbitz.com or Travelocity.com
You can do car rental there as well. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 4:27 PMI've been flying into Reno from NY for the past 8 or 9 years.... then renting a mini-van so I have room for my rental bike, food gear and water.
The car rental places will hit you for a $125 cleaning fee if you return your rental dirty (I talking about the inside).
What's worked for me is flying in with several plastic drop cloths that I line the interior of the car with BEFORE I leave the car rental place. When I get to the playa I line the dash and windows with aluminum foil... keeps the car cooler and the playa dust off.
If you get your car washed before you return it and throw away all the plastic you'll pass with flying colors.
Two more things... recently I've been shipping my bags to the hotel I stay in the night before I fly home... too many times my bags didn't arrive when I did.
Also don't book a ticket for the same day that you are leaving... if you get caught up in exodus traffic (2-3 hours to leave the playa then another 2.5 hours to Reno) you will be under a great deal of stress trying to catch your plane... and the cops in the small towns love to make extra money for their towns by nabbing people that go over the speed limit by 1 or 2 mph.
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 9:30 PMTo add to Rob's post, NEVER tell the rental people where you're going (burning man).
Do NOT line your rental with plastic IN the rental lot, for the above reason.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 18, 2007 - 2:55 PMSaqatch :
To add to Rob's post, NEVER tell the rental people where you're going (burning man).
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Some car rental companies, like Budget as I have read, not personal experience have GPS trackers and will void/claim breach of contract if you take their vehicle to the playa or off road. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 11:23 PM"Some car rental companies, like Budget as I have read, not personal experience have GPS trackers and will void/claim breach of contract if you take their vehicle to the playa or off road."
This has been particularly true of Penske trucks but would be so of any rental vehicle with the little dome on top of the cab.
They can locate your vehicle 100ft of a mapped road and their insurance on the vehicle would be voided as the contract specifically forbids off-road use. Voided insurance means voided contract. They pay quite alot to insure vehicles that any monkey with credit can rent.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, February 2, 2008 - 6:24 PMSo, if your contract is voided, does that mean you don't have to pay for your rental?
What benefit would they gain by voiding the contract that they themselves wanted
you to engage in? (My insurance company insures me in any vehicle, so it's
not a problem if I drive off road, my insurance company doesn't prohibit it.) -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, March 3, 2008 - 7:09 AMAs I understand it, there's a hefty financial penalty for taking your rental vehicle off road and abrogating their insurance coverage. As for your insurance covering you personally in any vehicle you drive, I'm pretty sure the rental companies couldn't care less as they want their equipment covered by their carrier.
Besides, I insisted insurance like yours existed back in the early 90's only to have it proven that insurance policies have to have some attachment to a listed vehicle as opposed to an individual. Has that changed?
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 2:09 AMAnother site I recommend: kayak.com - it searches a bunch of other sites and accumulates the results: I found a great rental rate for my wheels through them, and a good hotel room rate I wasn't seeing elsewhere.
Also use www.fatwallet.com/t/63/521905/ to find discounts at other rental agencies.
I second the notion of returning to Reno the night before you fly back if at all possible. Otherwise leave at least 6-8 hours ahead... -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 10:33 AM>I second the notion of returning to Reno the night before you fly back if at all possible. Otherwise leave at least 6-8 hours ahead...
I'll third that. Spend the night in Reno. Eat at the hotel buffet, enjoy an long hot shower or bath, relax at the casion. Your body and mind will thank you for the break.
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sun, December 2, 2007 - 5:54 PMWatch out for the car rental on clean-up charges one last year was charging $1000 advertized right there in the airport they also didn't honor the insurace (an added expense) IF you took the car off of the pavement. There is a shuttle bus from Reno Airport to BRC and back again, but as I arrive early to help with set-up I have been unable to take advantage of it. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 9:32 PM"There is a shuttle bus from Reno Airport to BRC and back again"
Wow, first I've heard of that....
Please post particulars as these would be mondo useful to just thousands of people.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sun, December 16, 2007 - 10:03 PM -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, December 17, 2007 - 12:57 PM
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 2:08 PMWhat is the train like? Is it to expensive and to slow? I can see that a ticket from Ann Arbor to Reno would take 51 hours and cost 153.00......one way.
www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 2:27 PMand if you dont have a car (seat) then you are going to be sleeping sititng up, with a bobbing motion of the train....i have done this, for three days from CA to FL....it sucks!!!!
i would reconsider this mode of transpo. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 2:47 PMWell now we know......it's a shame that we don't have a better train system....
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 9:38 PM"and if you dont have a car (seat) then you are going to be sleeping sititng up, with a bobbing motion of the train....i have done this, for three days from CA to FL....it sucks!!!!"
I'm confused by your wording. If you don'/t have a "seat" how is it that you're on the train? They don't have standing room only tickets, I checked. If you have no "seat" how can you "be sleeping sititng up."?
Honestly, I'm not being snarky here. It's just that between the typos and the content I can't really discern your point and I'm pretty sharp so I figure I'm not alone in this.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 10:17 AM
>>I'm confused by your wording. If you don'/t have a "seat" how is it that you're on the train? They don't have standing room only tickets, I checked. If you have no "seat" how can you "be sleeping sititng up."?>>
sorry, i meant a seat in a sleeper car....i read it after posting, but figured it was obvious, until you asked the question.
i love it when people say they are not being snarky, then say things that are snarky!
i truly apologize for all my typographical errors and seeming misinformation.
please forgive me and any other person who says something that could be misinterpreted or submits any typographical errors in their posts.
also, can you ever stand on a commuter train? Or did you check that far. also, i would like to mention that our muni trains....you can stand on them.
thank you for playing! -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 11:26 PMI am a beast without excuse Angelicfiend. Please forgive me my virgo ways and I shall try to do better.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 21, 2007 - 2:22 PMnow, i just want to hug you Sas....
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 21, 2007 - 6:57 PMMaybe I rode a different Amtrak, but when I took it from Redding, CA to Seattle, WA I had two HUGE seats (size of first class seats on planes) that I could flip up the armrest and lay down comfortably with no problems.
Maybe my train was less crowded then most?
I loved it though. Cost me $53!
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 3:02 PMI've done Omaha to Reno and back-- it's doable, but I'd get off halfway there and get a motel room for the night. Fifty hours of anything can get pretty old. On the other hand, it cost about half what gasoline there and back would've cost. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 4:20 PMwhen i did this it was eighteeen years ago....and the sleeper car was three times the cost of the seat, where you could not lay down. *gasp*
so, it was $300 or $900.00! eeep! -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, December 4, 2007 - 5:00 PMIf one were to ride a horse from the east and free graze, hunt and sleep on the prairie on the way I bet it would cost very little to get to Gerlach... Now you're going to have to start out in spring.....
Oh the ride will be beautiful.
Sounds kinda funny.....but I bet it would get a lot of press. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 7, 2007 - 8:10 PMThanks for the awesome tips everyone!! I am totally stoked and can't flippin' wait to see that beautiful city. There's really a shuttle bus directly from the airport to BRC?! How would one stock up on essentials like food and water if opting to take the shuttle? Excellent suggestion about giving myself time to get back w/o having to catch a flight. It's definitely those major details that could be missed before the experience is actually lived through. Thanks so much and can't wait to see y'all on the playa! Kisses!! -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 7, 2007 - 9:24 PMI'm not aware of ANY shuttle from Reno to BRC. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 8, 2007 - 11:37 AMOkay...so maybe renting a car or carpooling will be my best option. :-) Thanks y'all!!! -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 8, 2007 - 12:56 PMThe Van rental at the airport sounds good.... (wink)
G
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sun, December 16, 2007 - 2:18 AMI took the Bio Bus from the Reno Airport to BRC for the 2007 Burn. Not sure if Peter will be transporting again next year. Here's the link to the 2007 information:
www.burncleanproject.org/
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, December 17, 2007 - 11:36 PM"How would one stock up on essentials like food and water if opting to take the shuttle?"
Now there's a good question. Is there room on the shuttle for 2 gallons (8 pounds) per day per person? Or their bikes? Etc.?"
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 11:27 PMOops, 2 gallons of water is 16 pounds, not 8. I am SO dumb : ).
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 9:49 PM"Now you're going to have to start out in spring....."
Nevermind that the horse would starve somewhere in Utah (if not western Colorado). There's no prarie west of the Rockies, friend.
Sas
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, March 3, 2008 - 6:33 AMDon't take the train! Amtrak cross-country is notoriously late, you could wind up missing half the burn.
---E
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Thu, December 20, 2007 - 2:48 PMNicki
reviewing your profile:
I have calculated using google maps it is about: 1,998 mi – about 1 day 4 hours, if you have total of four days, two days driving to and from Gerlach it is doable with your own car. I have driven from NYC to Gerlach 8 times to and from, and it has taken me as little as 3.5 days and as much as 7 days. If I were you I would reconsider. The gas, cost compared with the rental car hassle and plane tickets may not be be entirely comparable in your case. Also driving you have to factor in less days at the event, and possible hotel/motels and food cost associated along with the trip. If you are flying you won't be able to carry all or many things from home to the playa. So there are trade offs, but you are closer to NV than I am. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 2:22 PMIf you leave late Friday night from NYC, drive 24/7, round-the-clock, more-or-less at the speed limit, you can get there for Monday's opening. I don't recommend doing it by yourself though. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 3:30 PMRendall I've done it by myself 6 times round trip, this year left NYC sunday 6:30am and got to Reno tuesday around midnight. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 6:17 PM... I should have added, not recommended you do it alone unless you're Abject :o)
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 7:19 PMThe speed limits, if I recall correctly going via US 80, is follows: Illinois is 65, Iowa is 65, Nebraska 75, Wyoming 75, Utah 75, NV is 75. factor in some towns there maybe slower speeds.
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 12:46 AMI did it via train in 2007 and plan on doing the same in 2008.
You can bring a LOT of crap on an amtrak train.
This is what they told me I could bring on the train:
check up to three bags (or boxes), 50 lbs each, up to 3 ft in length.
store overhead or on lower level of car up to two bags, 50 lbs each, around 28 inches or so.
up to two personal bags, either purses, laptops, or cooler.
that is enough for a playa journey! and with many stations not having the 'checked baggage' option you are able the option of keeping an eye on your gear...
it was 2 days each direction, chicago to reno.. but It only cost $250 and it is an amazingly beautiful train ride.
My train was not very crowded, many area with two seats to sleepacross, as well as the viewing car which is empty at night.. plenty of spaces to sleep there (full booths) until the sun comes up..
Don't ignore the train! it is an amazing way to get to BRC. -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 10:18 AMWe drove from Milwaukee, left Friday 7PM. Long but leisurely drive one night (12 hrs) in a hotel and still got to Gerlach by 6PM Sunday.
About 2100 miles one way with the sidetracks (gas and stuff). -
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Sun, January 13, 2008 - 7:26 PMWe drove from New York to Los Angeles....in just over two days....I'm sure you can get from the midwest to Nevada in a day......with two drivers....its doable....alot more convenient as well considering all the supplies that one needs to bring...
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Re: Traveling to BRC
Mon, February 4, 2008 - 10:24 PMChristopher - did you hook up with someone in Reno for a ride onto the playa once you got off of the train? And what about food and water? Did you shop for all that stuff in Reno?
Did you manage to secure a bike somehow for use on the playa?
Probably obvious questions I know, but I am really curious about the technicalities of such an undertaking.
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