ReaperCon 2012

[Shakandara]

Damn, Lich. For that 6 hour layover in Houston, you could rent a car and drive there faster. From IAH, Denton is less than 5 hours. Would probably be cheaper too!

 

(Also, I can't think of anything that would upset me about a layover in Rio.... other than maybe it being too short?? )

 

~v

[Captain Murray]

LOL..

 

I just hope I can find something interesting to do at the airport as I wait for my flight.

 

Anyone knows if the airport is to far away from the city? Maybe I can use this time to explore Houston a little bit :-)

[vutpakdi]

I just hope I can find something interesting to do at the airport as I wait for my flight.

You'll burn some time waiting to get through customs and immigration.

 

I think that there is a pretty good 50's style diner with decent burgers and free wi-fi fairly close to the immigration exit.

 

Anyone knows if the airport is to far away from the city? Maybe I can use this time to explore Houston a little bit :-)

The airport is about 30-45 minutes away from downtown Houston by car. There was a direct bus line, but I think that it's been canceled.

 

If you are into shopping at all, The Woodlands (a "master planned" suburb) would be a better bet. BUT, that would require a cab ride (expensive) or a car rental. There's a decent game store (Fat Ogre) on the south edge of The Woodlands.

 

Ron

[Shakandara]

I've been in and out of Terminal E a couple of times in the last year or so; there are a group of restaurants and shops there, including a fairly big sportsbar (the Fox Sports Skybox). If you are looking for eats, and are ready to have some "local" fare, there's a Pappa's BBQ in Terminal E as well. You could do far worse than a brisket sandwich or some smoked sausage. (Pappasitos and Pappadeaux's are also owned by the same restaurant group, and would be equally good options if you are hungry for TexMex or Seafood, respectively).

 

Check out this link for more about the IAH/Bush Airport Dining/Shopping/Services available, then select your Terminal.

 

~v

[Captain Murray]

Hi Folks,

 

Thank´s for all the great tips.

 

I just checked the link to the airport you sent to me Shakandara, and it was very helpful, thank you.

 

I just realized as I get home and checked my fly ticket that I will have to wait 9 hours instead of 6 to get my connection. Maybe I should get more prepared, bringing a extra book on my luggage or loading my netbook with some series (I guess it will be my opportunity to finally watch the Game of Thrones First Season).

 

I will probably be exhausted when I arrive to Denton, but I will make a effort to participate in the Con warm up.

 

Best regards

[warhorseminis]

9 hours in Houston? Seriously, Shakandara is right, change your flight schedule, grab a rental car and drive it - it would be sooooo much easier. Interstate 45 goes through the middle of Houston and straight north to Dallas/Ft. Worth. If you're coming in on Wednesday or Thursday, traffic shouldn't be too bad. Unless you hit rush hour then it's always bad. :D

 

Or maybe hitch a ride with one of the Houstonians coming up. I'm in Beaumont, about 1.5 hours east of Houston. But spending 9 hours at IAH, I feel for ya man. I spent 4 hours on a return trip from Reno, NV. That's when Tropical storm Allison hit. We barely made it in because the airport was flooded. I was supposed to take a puddle-jumper to Beaumont but missed it. I called my husband and begged him to come get me. He wasn't sure if he could get into the airport but then discovered taxis coming and going and followed them in. It was definitely not fun. I was sooooo glad to get out of there.

 

Cheers,

Kath

[Shakandara]

I'm guessing there'd be some sort of charge to adjust your flight (though I'd wonder if your return includes the same connections if you couldn't get them to just credit you on the Houston-Dallas and Dallas-Houston legs for another flight at a later time), so depending on whether or not you'd planned to rent a car in Dallas might determine how worthwhile saving yourself about four hours of time would be. With a little advanced planning, making the drive from Houston to Denton is pretty easy There are signs for I-45 the moment you leave the airport, and as already mentioned, that road takes you about 80% of the way to Reaper. The last 45 minutes to an hour of the drive is taking I-30 to I-35E, which runs you straight to Denton. As long as you don't miss the exit for Swisher Road, finding Reaper (or the Best Western hotel at the Swisher exit) is a breeze.

 

Regarding catching a ride with one of the Houstonians, there are a fair number of us coming up, and probably at fairly spread-out times. My plan is to go sometime Wednesday ("sometime" being defined as whenever Vejlin's flight arrives and I can pick him up to get on the road). I think Blueweasel plans to come up Thursday or Friday. Vutpakdi usually comes up Wednesday or Thursday. Fist of Sokar should be coming as well, but I haven't heard from him yet as to what his schedule is. I can't say how full the various vehicles may be (including mine), but you can always check with us if you think this option might work better for you.

 

~v

[Captain Murray]

That´s the big problem in having a low budget to a travel like this LOL...

 

I will probably can change my ticket since I bought it using miles and I can´t rent a car either or I will have no money for everything else.

 

I didn´t bought my return ticket yet since I will go from Dallas to Ft Lauderdale to visit my sister who is about to move there (she spent the last year at Minneapolis and now got a new job). From there I will come back to Brazil.

 

About hitching a ride with some Houstonian coming to the Con, sounded a good idea at first, but then I realized my flight arrives in Houston 5 a.m and the connection leaves 14 p.m. I´m pretty sure no one will be crazy enough to leave Houston before the sun even go up :-D. I guess by the time I can get along with someone to get a ride and the time the trip will take, it will be more or less the same as waiting for the flight.

 

But thank´s everyone for all the tips and the worries about the trip. I´m already feeling at home with you people and i´m sure it will be lots of fun during this four days.

[Shakandara]

5am, ouch. Then I definitely recommend Pappa's BBQ, if they are open. I used get breakfast tacos from the location by my old office; they were big, and in expensive. I recommend the Link, Egg & Cheese ones. It'll be exactly what you need to keep you going in the early morning hours after a long flight from Brazil.

 

I look forward to meeting you at the con!

 

~v

[Loim]

This may seem like an odd question, and I apologize if it has been asked before, but in regards to classes, etc. at the Con, are credit/debit acceptable currency?

[Luethar]

Yes. They got a swiper at all registers.

[Rapheal]

Myself and Pandora will attend as per normal. I'm looking forward to it.

[Luethar]

Raph,

 

Looking forward to gaming with you again!

 

Lue.

[klarg1]

Maybe you experienced con-goers among you can help me out:

I'm trying to book my flights this week (BOS->DFW), but I have no experience with the texas airports. Can I get some tips?

 

Can anybody tell me what to expect out of Houston (IAH)? There are some reasonable flights available through there, but I'd have to rely on getting from flight to flight in an hour or less - something I try to avoid at O'Hare, but which I might chance at a smaller/less busy airport.

 

Similarly, some of the cheapest flights go to Love Field, instead of DFW. Is there any reason to avoid the smaller airport?

 

Thanks for the help!

[vutpakdi]

Can anybody tell me what to expect out of Houston (IAH)? There are some reasonable flights available through there, but I'd have to rely on getting from flight to flight in an hour or less - something I try to avoid at O'Hare, but which I might chance at a smaller/less busy airport.

A one hour connection at IAH could be particularly tight if you are going from a "normal" United flight serviced by a 737 or Airbus jet to a commuter flight (Embraer 145 or CRJ type) because the commuter type flights are serviced at another terminal (B for commuter, C & E for non commuter). Even between non commuter flights, an hour at IAH might be tight: IAH is a large airport. Between two commuter type jets is probably okay (since they should all be at Terminal B).

 

Similarly, some of the cheapest flights go to Love Field, instead of DFW. Is there any reason to avoid the smaller airport?

Love Field is closer to downtown Dallas and is serviced by Southwest. You'll have more of a drive and will want to leave more time to deal with traffic if you go to Love Field.

 

Ron