I checked airfare this morning, and as of today over $400 round-trip from KC to fly in and out on that Friday. If I can get a last minute airfare for under $150 then I might be there too.
Megabus goes from KC to Chicago. Its pretty cheap and not like greyhounds. I am thinking of doing it from Minneapolis.
I think downtown, but close to the L. From there I was just going to take it to O'hare and figure out how to get to the show from there. My wife has taken megabus and said she felt safe and slept on the trip.
That's what I was thinking, looks like it leaves KC at 8:45 PM on Thursday and arrives at 6:45AM on Friday. Could take the Ohare Express up there like you were saying, then return to KC on a bus leaving the loop at 11:45PM that Friday night. Price is right, less than $100. The biggest downside I can think of would be arriving Friday morning at the show without having taken a shower in 12+ hours and having slept in my clothes. By the time I got back to KC early Saturday morning I would look and smell like a refugee fleeing some repressive regime.
Dang, I wanted to go this year! But nooo I have to take stinkin finals. This education thing is really getting in the way of coin shows
No, the best part is dealing with Manhattan in January when the locals are renowned for their hospitality. I loved the NY show before 9/11, when it was in early Dec. That can be a wonderful time to be in manhattan. Pricey, but great. About the only thing that would drag me to the NYINC now would be a chance to meet Arditirion.
At least the NYINC is actually in New York! Have fun in Rosemont. I wish it were in early December, too. That might be one of my favorite parts about the SFHB. Have you thought about going to the ANA show in Philadelphia this summer?
With my son still being a baby, probably not. Tell you what, though, I will see you in Chicago for the ANA next year!
Well, looks like I'm going to CICF too. Doing the Megabus thing as suggested earlier in the thread. Costs about 15% of flying, and by the time you park, deal with airline check-in, the TSA goon-squad, and all the other related BS of flying, it really doesn't take that much longer to get there. Now, the only question is: -what do I blow the $400 that I will have saved on? I am thinking probably an Italian coin from between 1900 and 1936. One last question about the show if anyone knows. I looked at the list of dealers, and while PCGS, the ANA, ANS and all the other usual hobby organizations will be there, I noticed that NGC will not be there. Is there a story that goes with that? Just curious...,,
They told me a few years ago that it was because "they just can't attend all the shows everywhere". Seems kind of stupid to not attend when your competition will. All they need is a booth and safe to collect submissions. I suspect they will attend in the future as the show is growing in size and with Heritage doing the auctions it will likely only continue to grow. I will be at the show as usual. It's a good show and attracts a different type of dealers than the NYINC show does.
FWIW, I've ridden the Megabus from STL to CHI quite a few times - and it drops you off at Union Station (Canal St, I believe). It's quite a pleasant ride, now that they've updated their buses with free Wi-Fi, double-deckers, etc. Plus, you can always get a cab at Union Station...my only recommendation is to either fight and be first in line to sit down (to sit directly over the driver) or wait until last to make sure your bags are last to go in...meaning they'll be the first to come back out (and you can make whatever connection you have afterwards...)
Agree that the show has grown considerably as has the entire world side of the hobby. Much healthier overall than the US side of the hobby just based on what I see at local coin shops.
