In my Reunion Package $16 per day parking was mentioned. Since I and probably many others plan to drive, will this daily fee be in addition to the $1061 Package Fee we are paying? To me an extra $48 to $64 seems like a lot of money to leave your car at the Hotel where you are staying.

There aren't many downtown hotels in major metropolitan cities that don't charge comparable rates for your vehicle. I'm sure it's not included in the Reunion package price since the majority of those attending will probably be flying in.

Since you won't need your vehicle during the reunion, you could choose to leave it at an outlying garage. For example, perhaps BWI has long-term parking for $5 a day and you could spend $22 for the round-trip Super-Shuttle into the hotel.

There may be some municipal garages a few blocks away where you could leave your vehicle for less per day, but without the security the hotel garage provides.

$16 a day to park in a secure facility isn't outrageous. It isn't cheap either. In Boston it would probably cost you $25 a day.

I'm driving down which makes it a little simpler to pack all the reunion goodies into the car when it's time to return home.

Consider the $16 a day charge as the price of protecting your vehicle.

Bob

We're leaving the car at home and flying in. And we bought an extra suitcase with a thick foam liner for the reunion goodies to bring home in
Won't trust the airport with it, it will be my carryon luggage on the trip home.

We are only 78 miles from the Inner Harbour. we are driving and paying the $16.00 per day which is still cheaper than local commuter train rates for the three of us. Yes it is perhaps a little high but not like NY or Boston and well worth the peace of mind.

[This message has been edited by Lonnie Davidson (edited 11-23-2000).]

There was a charge to park at the hotel during the Providence reunion which was not included in the reunion costs, I don't remember the price but I look at it like this trying to find alternate cheap parking does not out weigh the value of my time compared to the cost of the hotel parking, you can load your car at your leisure at the hotel and not be standing in some big lot elsewhere with all your luggage and reunion goodies in a rain storm a quarter mile from your car. By the time you park and ride a shuttle to and from the hotel you will have a couple extra hours of your time invested in saving a few bucks, Is it expensive? yes, Is it worth the peace of mind? YES.
And how safe is your car on the street if you should find parking?

$16/24 Hours = 67 cents per hour. Not a bad price for the convenience and security.

"Keeping The Flame in New England"
Ron

As they say welcome to the big city. In many cities a $16.00 per day charge is cheap.

Mo mentioned this fee when she registered us for the reunion. I don't think that this fee would keep me from going to this GREAT EVENT.

KEEP THE FLAME!!!!!!!!!!!

After reading all of the above messages, I guess I do need to get out to the Big City more often. I will see you all next year in the Parking Garage.

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There is a light rail line that runs from the north and south suburban areas. The northern terminus is at Hunt Valley Mall, just off of I-83. There is no charge for parking and it will cost you a couple of dollars PP to ride to downtown. The downtown stop is at Camden Yards which is 3/4 mile from the Marriott. There is also a subway line from Owings Mills off of I-795 that goes downtown and has other lines to other parts of the city. I'm not sure how close a station is to Inner Harbor East Area. You may find that on the internet. The Baltimore Public Transportation System is known as MTA.

You are probably better off to pay the daily rate at the hotel than to go thru all of the hassle to use public transportation.

If you need any other local information let me know.

Jim Thomas

What is the full name and address of the hotel for the reunion?

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by Suzanne Murphy (edited 11-26-2000).]

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21202


"Keeping The Flame in New England"
Ron

I have done quite a bit of work in the metro area of Charlotte and, while $16/day sounds like(is) alot,I`ve come to find that convenience is the biggest expense.Given that its 24 hour a day security,its fair.IMO

Terry

Will anyone be staying at a nearby hotel before and after the reunion for the lighthouse tours? Did anyone find a less expensive place to stay?

[This message has been edited by Suzanne Murphy (edited 11-26-2000).]

Thanks!

You may have to pay $20.00 or $25.00 a day here in Chicago, and you may or may not have wheels and tires when you get back. Heck, you may or may not have a CAR when you get back! Since We have 11 months to save up, I won't complain to much about the $16.00 a day.

I hope they let us park there for the LH Tours before and after we register (on Wednesday and Monday)?

Larry and I paid $18.00 to park for about 4 hours in San Francisco. Although $16.00 does seem like an excessive amount to pay for parking, I'm in agreement with the majority of others here and believe it is a pretty good deal. Larry and I will be going on some of the bus tours before the reunion but will probably stay at the Baltimore Marriott....I hate to pack and unpack, once you open my suitcase its very difficult to get everything to fit again

The Kat

Suzanne, I will be staying at a less expensive hotel somewhere close. But I have not had a chance to check into it yet.

When we stayed in San Francisco, the parking charge at the hotel garage did not cover daily in and out privileges. Each time we went out we had to pay the full fee again when we returned. This was a great incentive to do more walking and to use public transportation. Does anyone know if the Marriot will let us go in and out multiple times each day for the $16 daily fee?
My husband, Henry, is a native of Baltimore and says that there are many things to see and do nearby.If you come early or stay late then you might want to go in and out of the garage each day.

ladylightkeeper
Keep The Flame

Hat's off to the HL crew for telling us about the parking up front! We've been to many events(including, I believe "Reunion #1 in San Diego) where there was no prior mention of parking fees for hotels.

Not that I "like" paying to park, but at least it's a known cost...no doubt there will be enough goodies to offset the parking fee!

We are excited about going to the Reunion in Baltimore. But, if it was held in Michigan up around the Mackinaw Straits area, parking at the hotel would be free. Thats right! free, come and go as often as you like. It is something that we in the mid-west (except Chicago) have grown accustom to. We expect free parking just like the "Big City" people have been accustom to paying big bucks just to park their car. 3-4 nights of free parking would pay for another nights stay in the hotel. Providing free parking and security should be a prioity for hotel to supply for the quests that stay there.
And besides that if all you people came here and saved all that money on parking, you could buy a lot more Harbour Lights.
PS just thought I would stir the pot.
Jake

Yea but Jake,
Free parking in the water doesn't count!

We are flying in but I really do not know if we need to rent a car. What are the rest of you doing that are flying in?

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Jo Ann/Texas

Good news folks! When I was in Baltimore last weekend, the news was carrying a store about the city looking to up the parking tax by 15%. All the parking around the hotel and vicinity was in the mid to hi teen range as we already knew.

Dave

"Free parking in the water doesn't count"!

But don't forget about the beautiful sunsets while the car is sinking!!!

Parking seems to be an expense wherever you travel, but I'm with those that will pay the price of convenience. To stress ones self to finding a fair rate, and added transportation to compensate for the lost convenience, well, that is a no-brainer.
I know someone who would disagree with me, but oh well, he hardly evers reads the Forums!

We're coming in Tuesday night and staying & sightseeing on the Delmarva peninsula until Thursday afternoon. I was originally planning on keeping the car to go down to Solomons on Sunday after the Reunion ends before heading to the airport to go home. But now, we're planning on going to the airport Thursday afternoon, returning the car, taking SuperShuttle to the hotel, and then seeing sights in the downtown area Sunday afternoon which won't require a car.

FrankB

Anyone that was just at the Chicago Regional I'm sure won't have any problem paying the price for parking. I'm sure they spent a lot more that $16.00 to park around Navy Pier!

Mike

Staying at the "Club Quarters" in Chicago for the Regional event, the hotel validated our parking ticket and we paid $19 a day, instead of the posted $25 a day fee at a parking ramp, located 3 blocks from the hotel.
We walked to the Navy Pier on Saturday morning, about a two mile walk, had breakfast, and saw parts of Chicago, (like park bench sleepers, walked along the Chicago River, saw boat traffic, smelled the undergroud subway, saw four men living together within the confines of four store-front window displays at the Sears retail store on State Street, etc....) that you wouldn't see in a car, yet alone a speeding Taxi! What a great walk! MEMEORIES!!!