I plan on attend BM 2011. I have been looking online at prices for plane,train, and bus tickets. Rental cars and the like are out due to age and lack of credit card.I would like to know how everyone gets to BM and how much they spend just on travel. Also, your experience with all the luggage would be appreciated.
TinkTink
btw i live in TN
Travel? bus,train,plane?
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theCryptofishist
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The typical approach is to fly to Reno and rent (I know this is out, I'm just getting the basics done first) a car and buy what's needed but to bulky or heavy to get on a plane then drive out. Variations include shipping stuff out ahead of time (have to have a local address) and arranging a ride ahead of time to finding a ride at one of the ride shares (conveniently located at stores you might have to shop at) or at the burningman booth at the Reno airport.
The dog (greyhound) and Amtrak are other possibilities. But the public transit is only going to go to Reno. One of the reasons for having the event in the Black Rock Desert is that it is isolated, so services are thin on the ground there. This is where your hustle comes in. You have almost a year to meet burners in your area, and/or to charm someone on this board to the point where she/he will help you.
The dog (greyhound) and Amtrak are other possibilities. But the public transit is only going to go to Reno. One of the reasons for having the event in the Black Rock Desert is that it is isolated, so services are thin on the ground there. This is where your hustle comes in. You have almost a year to meet burners in your area, and/or to charm someone on this board to the point where she/he will help you.
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
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TerrapinStation
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I'm in the same situation as you...I'm 18 so no one will rent a car to me. I really want to go in 2011 too so I've been considering my options which come down to driving my own car there (I live across the country so that probably isn't happening), trying to find somewhere that will rent to an 18 year old (the only places I found seem shady or REALLY effing expensive) or trying to get a ride share.
The Burning Man site talks about a little plane that will fly you from Reno to the playa and vice versa? Of course it's really expensive but I guess it's an option though.
The Burning Man site talks about a little plane that will fly you from Reno to the playa and vice versa? Of course it's really expensive but I guess it's an option though.
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junglesmacks
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I came from Florida.
Flew in to Reno. Rented a 16' moving truck from Budget. Got a free set of couches from Craigslist. Bought food and water from Walmart. Slept and partied on couches. Was the envy of everyone around because I only paid $300 for my RV instead of $2000. Worked absolutely flawless. I couldn't imagine a better solution to flying in from out of town..
Flew in to Reno. Rented a 16' moving truck from Budget. Got a free set of couches from Craigslist. Bought food and water from Walmart. Slept and partied on couches. Was the envy of everyone around because I only paid $300 for my RV instead of $2000. Worked absolutely flawless. I couldn't imagine a better solution to flying in from out of town..
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
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junglesmacks
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Lol.. I wish. Next year. I ended up taking them to a transfer station and they charged me $50 to toss them. I should have just donated them, as they were pretty nice actually. I couldn't believe the lady on CL just gave them to me. I had to catch my flight though and was so burnt and ready to get on the plane than I said f it.. just take 'em.Token wrote:Did you burn the couches and launch them from the trebuchet?
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
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hummingbird
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S.C. - >> Reno, just for the airplane ticket & fees = $829
And there is zero, null, no way I could have ever done it without help from other burners. Especially Serbian ones. So, get off the internet and get involved to make the connections (like a burner friend old enough to rent a car) to get there.
And there is zero, null, no way I could have ever done it without help from other burners. Especially Serbian ones. So, get off the internet and get involved to make the connections (like a burner friend old enough to rent a car) to get there.
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junglesmacks
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C.f.M. wrote:S.C. - >> Reno, just for the airplane ticket & fees = $829
S.C.?? Are you meaning South Carolina? If so, where are you buying your tickets from that you are paying over $800??
A quick Kayak search says $488.
Drive to ATL and it's $409.
www.kayak.com
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
I'm not an idiot, my ticket research was thorough. There were time restrictions - and currently you're looking at nearly a year's advance booking.
Also, though a ticket was $100 cheaper out of Atlanta, finding somebody to drive the four hours (one way) and pay for their gas didn't save any money - or time. Same for Charlotte, Raleigh and Greenville.
Some of us have jobs and schedules we can't dick around with, and therefore don't have the luxury to spend $250 and just drive there. Or whatever.
Also, though a ticket was $100 cheaper out of Atlanta, finding somebody to drive the four hours (one way) and pay for their gas didn't save any money - or time. Same for Charlotte, Raleigh and Greenville.
Some of us have jobs and schedules we can't dick around with, and therefore don't have the luxury to spend $250 and just drive there. Or whatever.
I didn't get my license until this year, & have made it to the Burn 6 times (a few times less than I actually wanted to--getting there is one of the number one challenges a Burner can face). Here's how I did it:
Year 2000 - told by a co-worker: "you should come with me to Burning Man." (Me: What's Burning Man?") She knew a group that was going, everyone chipped in for water & gas ($100 to $200) & I travelled in the back of an RV. My 1st Burn = my cheapest.
2001 - Told an emotionally beleaguered travel buddy: "you need the desert cure". She owned a car, so I merely paid 1/2 gas. She roadtripped further after the burn, & so dropped me off in Reno with a bag or two (taking charge of the rest for a month) so I took Greyhound home overnight for probably $100.
2003 - Rideshare + a good friend who drove North to get me, and then back south to the burn. He owned a truck and drove the entire way in 1 haul. 1/2 gas, I think.
2008 - Rental SUV w/ a friend. Rental was in her name. 1/2 the rental came to $500(?), 1/2 gas came to $200, 1/2 hotel at the halfway mark was $40 (each way).
2009 - Rental (cargo van), same campmate. The cargo van cost almost $200 less than the SUV, had more space, & was easier to clean. Same stop halfway for hotel, split 3 ways (as we had an extra girl in the caravan).
2010 - Amtrak ($40) + Rideshare w/ awesome friend accustomed to driving the whole way in one straight shot, so no hotel fees. I contributed an amount of $$ symbolic of what it would have cost me to rent on my own. Amtrak allows more baggage than you'd think (see their website). However, getting to Reno by Amtrak is not very direct from most places, so using Amtrak as a way to get to your rideshare is my primary recommendation.
I think the best things you can do to increase your chances of getting to the Burn are:
1) Meet other burners at Decompression events and Regional burns (especially low-drama, can-do friends. Forget the sparkle ponies!)
2) If you want to join a camp, do it soon, at minimum before Spring, when many camps close their doors.
3) Save $ every month, starting now, so that the idea of splitting a rental with someone old enough to rent doesn't throw you into a financial panic. Rentals are pricey, but (usually) newer & better maintained than many a private vehicle.
4) Remain open to hybrid travel plans, like train + rideshare, flight + rideshare, whathaveyou.
5) Pay attention to what kind of traveler you are. if you're like me . . . a good $$ saver who loves to be prepared to the teeth, you'll probably realize that you want to pack everything in advance and rideshare the whole way so you can bring everything you want and not worry. However, if you love to travel light, fast & adventurous and don't mind going into the Burn with whatever surprise loot you can locate in a few hours at Wal-Mart, you might find it very rewarding to fly into Reno, shop, & pre-arrange to have someone pick you up there for a nominal fee & and take you the rest of the way.
Year 2000 - told by a co-worker: "you should come with me to Burning Man." (Me: What's Burning Man?") She knew a group that was going, everyone chipped in for water & gas ($100 to $200) & I travelled in the back of an RV. My 1st Burn = my cheapest.
2001 - Told an emotionally beleaguered travel buddy: "you need the desert cure". She owned a car, so I merely paid 1/2 gas. She roadtripped further after the burn, & so dropped me off in Reno with a bag or two (taking charge of the rest for a month) so I took Greyhound home overnight for probably $100.
2003 - Rideshare + a good friend who drove North to get me, and then back south to the burn. He owned a truck and drove the entire way in 1 haul. 1/2 gas, I think.
2008 - Rental SUV w/ a friend. Rental was in her name. 1/2 the rental came to $500(?), 1/2 gas came to $200, 1/2 hotel at the halfway mark was $40 (each way).
2009 - Rental (cargo van), same campmate. The cargo van cost almost $200 less than the SUV, had more space, & was easier to clean. Same stop halfway for hotel, split 3 ways (as we had an extra girl in the caravan).
2010 - Amtrak ($40) + Rideshare w/ awesome friend accustomed to driving the whole way in one straight shot, so no hotel fees. I contributed an amount of $$ symbolic of what it would have cost me to rent on my own. Amtrak allows more baggage than you'd think (see their website). However, getting to Reno by Amtrak is not very direct from most places, so using Amtrak as a way to get to your rideshare is my primary recommendation.
I think the best things you can do to increase your chances of getting to the Burn are:
1) Meet other burners at Decompression events and Regional burns (especially low-drama, can-do friends. Forget the sparkle ponies!)
2) If you want to join a camp, do it soon, at minimum before Spring, when many camps close their doors.
3) Save $ every month, starting now, so that the idea of splitting a rental with someone old enough to rent doesn't throw you into a financial panic. Rentals are pricey, but (usually) newer & better maintained than many a private vehicle.
4) Remain open to hybrid travel plans, like train + rideshare, flight + rideshare, whathaveyou.
5) Pay attention to what kind of traveler you are. if you're like me . . . a good $$ saver who loves to be prepared to the teeth, you'll probably realize that you want to pack everything in advance and rideshare the whole way so you can bring everything you want and not worry. However, if you love to travel light, fast & adventurous and don't mind going into the Burn with whatever surprise loot you can locate in a few hours at Wal-Mart, you might find it very rewarding to fly into Reno, shop, & pre-arrange to have someone pick you up there for a nominal fee & and take you the rest of the way.
The Green Tortoise has a hostel in San Francisco.
http://www.greentortoise.com/
They generally do a trip to Burning Man, and you get to camp with a group with food and water provided for the group in the cost of the ride, if I recall correctly. See
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html
for 2010 information which I assume will be updated for 2011. They claimed this year to do a pick-up in Reno-Sparks. The itinerary changes from year to year, so don't count on it till it's updated.
Louise and I spoke with a European guy this year on his 4th trip, and he loves it. Your mileage will vary.
http://www.greentortoise.com/
They generally do a trip to Burning Man, and you get to camp with a group with food and water provided for the group in the cost of the ride, if I recall correctly. See
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html
for 2010 information which I assume will be updated for 2011. They claimed this year to do a pick-up in Reno-Sparks. The itinerary changes from year to year, so don't count on it till it's updated.
Louise and I spoke with a European guy this year on his 4th trip, and he loves it. Your mileage will vary.
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TerrapinStation
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[quote="phil"]The Green Tortoise has a hostel in San Francisco.
http://www.greentortoise.com/
They generally do a trip to Burning Man, and you get to camp with a group with food and water provided for the group in the cost of the ride, if I recall correctly. See
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html
for 2010 information which I assume will be updated for 2011. They claimed this year to do a pick-up in Reno-Sparks. The itinerary changes from year to year, so don't count on it till it's updated.
Louise and I spoke with a European guy this year on his 4th trip, and he loves it. Your mileage will vary.[/quote]
Thanks for that info! Definitely something I will be looking into for 2011.
http://www.greentortoise.com/
They generally do a trip to Burning Man, and you get to camp with a group with food and water provided for the group in the cost of the ride, if I recall correctly. See
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html
for 2010 information which I assume will be updated for 2011. They claimed this year to do a pick-up in Reno-Sparks. The itinerary changes from year to year, so don't count on it till it's updated.
Louise and I spoke with a European guy this year on his 4th trip, and he loves it. Your mileage will vary.[/quote]
Thanks for that info! Definitely something I will be looking into for 2011.
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junglesmacks
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- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:54 pm
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- Location: Your mom's tent
Actually I put in random dates 2 weeks from now..C.f.M. wrote: and currently you're looking at nearly a year's advance booking.
It's cool. I believe you, just saying.. wow. I didn't think there were 2 domestic points in the US that were more than 600 max besides may e Key West or something..
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.