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[notaprof]

The best of both worlds is to have a friend staying in the expensive conference hotel who will let you drop off your stuff, perhaps take a nap etc. while you save money staying at the cheaper hotel.  I will be doing that this month and saving over a 100 euros a night so it is worth it, even if I have to take multiple taxis each day.  Obviously my conference won't be in Philadelphia but my advice could still apply.

[collegekidsmom]

Some cities are really fine for walking around at any time to get somewhere, or have fine transportation options; others are not. In my opinion, as others have said, if it's Philadelphia-I wouldn't go too far afield unless you know the city quite well. It is not like walking around in most parts of Boston, for instance, in the evening or early morning.
Last time I stayed at a distant cheaper hotel at a conference in a different city(not Phila), a cab I had to call did not come for an hour and I had to walk in to a vitally important sit down dinner while they were starting on the main course. Even though it was a recommended (cheap)hotel, the local transportation was just not reliable. I don't know if the saved money was worth it in terms of missed opportunities. Also, I did not feel safe in that particular hotel, even though it was a chain, and I had to have my room changed. So, going to unknown places alone, I now am trying harder to stay as close as possible to the main venue.

[notaprof]

Some cities are really fine for walking around at any time to get somewhere, or have fine transportation options; others are not. In my opinion, as others have said, if it's Philadelphia-I wouldn't go too far afield unless you know the city quite well. It is not like walking around in most parts of Boston, for instance, in the evening or early morning.
Last time I stayed at a distant cheaper hotel at a conference in a different city(not Phila), a cab I had to call did not come for an hour and I had to walk in to a vitally important sit down dinner while they were starting on the main course. Even though it was a recommended (cheap)hotel, the local transportation was just not reliable. I don't know if the saved money was worth it in terms of missed opportunities. Also, I did not feel safe in that particular hotel, even though it was a chain, and I had to have my room changed. So, going to unknown places alone, I now am trying harder to stay as close as possible to the main venue.

I arrange for cabs well in advance so as not to have this problem for important events.  Cab drivers can be your best friend in a city you don't know.  If you have a chat with the first one you meet when you arrive at the airport and tell him or her of your plans for the week, they will often be happy to be there at any time you arrange in advance.  This has worked for me in cities like Phoenix where the cab drivers really counted on conference business for their income but it also worked in Miami, Montreal and even Beijing.  I also saw things I would have missed and found some fantastic and cheap restaurants thanks to cab drivers.   

[kedves]

I wish I could work out a way to make your chair happy by my staying at the Four Seasons while you find somewhere less posh.  I've never stayed in the hotel, but my ex and I had the most fabulous dinner in the restaurant to celebrate the sale of our house. 

As a former long-time resident, I don't have much advice about hotels.  It is a city made for walking, if you want to get out of the conference and feel up to it.  For tourist spots, I liked to lead visitors on a walking tour of the Old City historic area including the Liberty Bell and end with lunch or an Amish pretzel and lemonade at the Reading Terminal Market.  The Museum of Art is walking distance from the Four Seasons but further from the Convention Center Center City area.  If you have time (I suppose you probably won't), visiting Eastern State Penitentiary in person is an extraordinary experience.  The city's people are her true treasure.

Boo hoo.

[jacaranda_]

I wish I could work out a way to make your chair happy by my staying at the Four Seasons while you find somewhere less posh.  I've never stayed in the hotel, but my ex and I had the most fabulous dinner in the restaurant to celebrate the sale of our house. 

I kind of do, too, kedves!  Even though I am "approved" for this trip, I am junior and I'm a little worried that my Dean will have a small aneurysm when those receipts cross his desk.

Anyhow, thanks to all of you for carrying on this discussion.  I assume others who are attending MLA or even just visiting Phila at some point will find a lot of this info. helpful.

[tee_bee]

I wish I could work out a way to make your chair happy by my staying at the Four Seasons while you find somewhere less posh.  I've never stayed in the hotel, but my ex and I had the most fabulous dinner in the restaurant to celebrate the sale of our house. 

I kind of do, too, kedves!  Even though I am "approved" for this trip, I am junior and I'm a little worried that my Dean will have a small aneurysm when those receipts cross his desk.

Anyhow, thanks to all of you for carrying on this discussion.  I assume others who are attending MLA or even just visiting Phila at some point will find a lot of this info. helpful.

Who cares what your dean thinks, if you're productive, visible, and doing the things you should do at a conference? If you're worried about appearances, you can do things like not claim per diem or not claim cab fare. I did these things and still do them if travel budgets are tight, and then deduct them as unreimbursed business expenses on my taxes (made easier by a good accountant). Just curious: what is the room rate for MLA?

I would hope that deans would understand that we can't all stay in the penthouse, but staying at the Motel Six in Cherry Hill really isn't an option either. While I hope, I also know better.

[pink_]

Room rates at MLA are from $105-$150 for a single room.

[tee_bee]

Room rates at MLA are from $105-$150 for a single room.

That's an extremely good rate. I am used to the low end being around $135 in my social science discipline, and at some conferences in some cities (DC) it's nearer $200.

[pink_]

Room rates at MLA are from $105-$150 for a single room.

That's an extremely good rate. I am used to the low end being around $135 in my social science discipline, and at some conferences in some cities (DC) it's nearer $200.

Yes it is.  The Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton are both around $140/night.  They also have very accommodating cancellation policies.

[collegekidsmom]

That Philadelphia Ritz-Carlton is very nice. Went to a conference event there one night and it was a very convenient location. Very pretty hotel.

[lizzy]

I try to stay in the main conference hotels--in this case the Marriott and Lowe's. All the conference stuff is right there, and you don't have the stress of rushing between hotels. To me, the convenience makes up for the crowds. And one of my favorite pastimes at big conferences is sitting in the hotel bar people-watching. Because g-d knows I don't have anything better to do.

But seriously. I'm female and usually alone at conferences. I like the main hotels, because I can meet colleagues there and if there's going about the city to do, I'll have people with me. Don't want to sound like a wilting flower, because really I'm not, but convenience and a sense of security make conferences much less stressful than they can be, especially big honking ones like MLA.

My other advice for MLA:  I make it a practice to smile brilliantly at all people who look like they think they're smarter than me. In other words, just about everyone....