Thinking about going to Las Vegas for the GR Convention

[Rex in Pinetop]

I've never been to a GR Convention or any other train convention for that matter.   Las Vegas isn't very far so I was thinking about hopping on plane and taking in the vendor floor for a day.  Would it be worth the $95 registration fee and the $107 round trip airfare?

Rex

[vsmith]

I cant say whether its worth it or not as I've never been but $95 seems very steep to me, you might check as the vendor floor at most conventions like this are usually free (or nominal) admission to the public.

I had to choose this year between the Big Train Show here in SoCal or the GR convention in Vegas both being within a month of each other, I ended up choosing the BTS for a few reasons;

A: I knew alot of people who would be at the BTS

B: The floor would be almost the same vendors at both shows

C: It was only a 30 minute drive, not a 5 hour drive,...and

D: More importantly, admission was only $10.

Next years convention is in Chandler, Arizona, and once again I'll still choose the BTS, again.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Rex,

 

If you'd like to visit the railroads on tour, you'll need to register. You'll also need to either rent a car, carpool, or buy a ticket for the bus ($25) per day. I don't know how many railroads are open each day, but previous conventions had anywhere from 8-15 open per day. You'll also have access to as many clinics as you'd like to attend.

 If you'd just like to see the vendor hall, you can pay the daily admission. I could not find the price on their web site. There are usually bargains to be found in the hall.

Every convention is different, and I know little about the railroads on tour this year, so even we at GR have some surprises ahead. The conventions are usually fun, though, and you meet many friendly people.

[Rex in Pinetop]

I got an email reply back from Tom Smith, the convention chair, providing the following information:

"The Vendors Hall will be open all 4 days of the convention to those that register for the convention. The vendors will be selling product to the attendees.

The daily rate on Wednesday and Thursday is $25 per person, per day. This rate gives you access to all workshops and a map to the layout tours for that specific day

For those that just want to attend the vendors hall.....It will be open to the general public without access to the other convention activities on Friday and Saturday of convention week.  Public admission fees to only the vendor hall have been set at $10 per person, per day.

Tom Smith"

So now my up and back trip will be just the airfare plus a max of $25.  I think I'll go check it out.

Rex

[Rene Schweitzer]

For anyone who'd like more information, here's the convention web site:

http://2007ngrc.com//index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 

[vsmith]

Let us know how it was, and post some pics.