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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I've been to The Tour 3 times...maybe 4? I've always felt very proud of myself telling my wife how cheap I can do it.
I said the same thing last time, but she did the math and informed me that the cost was $500. She wasn't happy about it since she thinks this interest of mine is about as vital to real life as video games (well...maybe slightly more, but not much).
Anyway...I know all of us have different traveling situations, but I was curious: Has anyone else done the math? What was your cost to make the trip? Add some details like: fly or drive; McDonald's or fine dining; no drinking or...well...plenty?
John <>{ |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | im hoping that the tour isnt the same weekend as the o.c car show..if it is im sitting the tour out again this year....we just bought a new car so the fuel wont kill us to drive to ct. im figuring i can make the trip on $500-$700.00. thats just a rough estiment with out knowing the price of the hotel,dining,ect..ect...jason |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | For me, it's between $800-$1000, between airlines and hotel.... And my wife pushes me to go. She thinks it's important. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7211
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Transportation = $??.00
Food and Drink = $??.00
Lodging = $??.00
Meeting and chatting with the people that built the guitar you are playing, learning about how it was built, and participating in one of the best factory tour experiences available in ANY industry = ...
PRICELESS!!!!!
Of course, let's not put the cart before the horse. They have to schedule the open house before we can attend it, and that won't even be on their radar for several more weeks. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Rough estimate
Gas $ 100.00
Hotel $ 240.00 (2 nights) rough estimate
Photos $ 130.00 Film/Processing/filmscan/disc
Video $ 40.00
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Total $ 410.00
Photo cost will be less this year with my NEW digital camera.
I'm going to be in West Hartford during Martin Luther King weekend. That's only about 17 miles from the factory :) . My sister In Law is going to take my kids to Ski Sundown :D . I will be heading back home on Monday MLK day. So if the factory is open and if there is anything that I can pick up for anyone, let me know. :cool:
WOW I just noticed what number post this is for me :eek: :confused: .. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | If it was just me it would be about the same to fly as pay for the gas. Splitting that cost with BrianT saves some money. We would like to split that up even more. Any Michiganders want to joint us next year????
Sharing a room helps. Brian & I both snore like chainsaws. But that only matters to the guy who stays up the latest.
The rooms are not cheap, but they are very nice. I really don't need a kitchen, living room and fireplace. What makes it worth the price is the way we are accepted and treated in the lobby.
All in all... it's worth every penny to me. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | For last year's Tour I sold a Breadwinner to cover the:
cheapest Red-eye SEA-?-BDL $325
Homewood Suites - where the peoples was - $240
required souvenirs from airport - $50
Spare change for stuff - $100
It was worth it but probably have to skip this year. I had a great time meeting everyone!
If and when I return I would ship my guitars to the Hotel! |
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Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
she thinks this interest of mine is about as vital to real life as video games (well...maybe slightly more, but not much).
{ NOTHING about guitar playing is vital to anything. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | OFCers get a great deal with the hotel. Two nights last year was about $240 with tax and that included two breakfasts. There were no food expenses the day of the tour last year as Ovation provided pizza for lunch at the factory and dinner (with beer and wine) at the ski lodge post-tour jam. I live about 150 miles from the factory and I guess my total cost was about $300. Considering the GREAT time that my son and I had, it was a bargain.
For any of you members who have not gone to an OFC tour, make it a priority for this year. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | no matter the cost i will make the tour if they have one this year...jason |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Woody - ship your guitars to me and I'll drive them up there for you. I figure I would need at least a couple of weeks to makes sure they all fit in the car, pre-inspection, post-inspection and so on.
I would say that $240 for 2 nights in connecticut is a pretty good deal. How far from the factory was the hotel? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . she thinks this interest of mine is about as vital to real life as video games . ."
My Sympathies.
". . NOTHING about guitar playing is vital to anything . ."
'cept maybe your own well being.
Same can be said about religion, and some people spend a sh!tload more money on that . . . |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
How far from the factory was the hotel? Last year Ovation provided two (I think) club vans for transportation from the hotel to the factory and then to the ski lodge. We had about 10 of us in each van. It's about 20 miles one way to the factory from the hotel and another 10 or so to the ski lodge. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by cliff:
". . NOTHING about guitar playing is vital to anything . ."
'cept maybe your own well being.
Same can be said about religion, and some people spend a sh!tload more money on that . . . Well put Cliff!
I don't mean to offend anyone, but the mere act of creating music is religion enough for me. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . and it's a HELLuva lot cheaper than a therapist . . . |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I just did a quick and dirty search and i came up with a few hotels in the $75/night range about 10 miles from the factory. I put in the middle of may - 2 weekend nights. One of them was a fairfield inn which is a decent hotel. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | You can ride in the vans (pretty exciting if you get Rick Hall's van), or take one of our exclusive "Adventure!" tours with either "Andretti" Al Pepiak or "Off-route, recalculating" Phil Wong. |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | i reckon ill get my room where ever the action is gonna be..lol jason |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I'll have a van as well... no comment on driving skills... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
I just did a quick and dirty search and i came up with a few hotels in the $75/night range about 10 miles from the factory. I put in the middle of may - 2 weekend nights. One of them was a fairfield inn which is a decent hotel. You'll spend a lot of time at the Homewood Suites. That's where all the truly embarrassing events take place.
Plus they serve breakfast and there's coffee available 24 hours. |
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Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | You miss my point. Of course it's not vital. But it is something the guy wants and enjoys. It's part of his hobby, and it's not all that costly. To deny him that small pleasure is something I don't understand. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | hey mike,im married to the worst driver this side of the mason-dixon...i dont thing any one can top her...just dont tell her that.lol..jason |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | The trip to & from the factory is much further if you are in Phil Wongs car.
I don't think its 20 miles to the factory from the hotel. Maybe 20 minutes. And the ski lodge is closer than 10.
Mitchrx... were you riding with Phil???
And...
What Wabbit said. You would be very sorry if you did not stay where the action is. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Jason - that's why I drive fast... to avoid the bad drivers. I didn't know what a bad driver was until I moved to NJ from NYC.
About 15 yrs ago, I was doing some work for the phone company driving a coin collection truck in manhattan... i learned alot then :cool: |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | its not so much shes a bad driver..its she has no sense of dirrection...and i prefer not to drive anymore with my medical condition...jason |
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What price Connecticut?
