I find the transportation issue personally interesting, because it directly affects my willingness to attend a convention in the first place. I'm in the odd position of never having learned to drive; and with few close friends (I'm more of a distant acquaintance kinda person) I attend cons on my own, if I can arrange sharing a hotel room. I've managed to get in on road trips occasionally, but most of the time I assume I'll be making my own way.
What I really appreciate are public transit instructions on the con's web page. These are often not provided, or minimal at best. Understandably they can be difficult to write, especially if it's possible to approach the con from several different directions, or if the availability of public transit changes over the course of a weekday or weekend. So I've come to rely on doing research in advance.
Furfright was one of those "possible from several different directions" ones. From Canada, I ended up flying to the New Jersey airport, taking a train to the downtown train hub, hopping on Amtrak to Connecticut (limited schedule, had to be careful there) - and then the last step was the most difficult one, finding a way from the train station to the hotel. Didn't know the local taxi services, and the station's pay phone was beaten up but still working. Managed to avoid sharing a taxi with Insane Kangaroo, luckily.
Furry Migration in Minneapolis was pretty straightforward, there's a light rail system that goes from the airport to the downtown. Once you get downtown, it's either a bit of a walk to the hotel, or catch a crowded bus and walk a block or two. However, the price varies depending what time of day you're using the system. Toronto's Furnal Equinox is similar, commuter line from the airport to downtown, then either walking or taking an underground streetcar as the last step. Fur-Eh in Edmonton was complicated, the airport is *way* outside of the city. First you take a bus that brings you to the far end of the light rail system. Buy a ticket from one machine, get it stamped in a different machine. Ride a couple of stops, then get off and wait for a train that will be taking the alternate fork to the station you need to reach. From there, catch another bus.
Related to this, what will also affect my decision to attend are the availability of places to eat. With close friends, it's not unusual to hop in someone's car and drive someplace, but that's not usually an option for me, so I have to rely on walking. Surburban conventions can either be in the middle of nowhere, or might be near a strip mall. If there really isn't much dining choice, I might pay for sponsorship-level registrations that include meals, and then hope I don't have any panel schedule conflicts. Overall though, my personal social/transport situation is very much in the minority and I wouldn't expect to be catered to, but having an idea of the public transit and restaurant options on the web page is a *huge* help.
I find the transportation issue personally interesting, because it directly affects my willingness to attend a convention in the first place. I'm in the odd position of never having learned to drive; and with few close friends (I'm more of a distant acquaintance kinda person) I attend cons on my own, if I can arrange sharing a hotel room. I've managed to get in on road trips occasionally, but most of the time I assume I'll be making my own way.
What I really appreciate are public transit instructions on the con's web page. These are often not provided, or minimal at best. Understandably they can be difficult to write, especially if it's possible to approach the con from several different directions, or if the availability of public transit changes over the course of a weekday or weekend. So I've come to rely on doing research in advance.
Furfright was one of those "possible from several different directions" ones. From Canada, I ended up flying to the New Jersey airport, taking a train to the downtown train hub, hopping on Amtrak to Connecticut (limited schedule, had to be careful there) - and then the last step was the most difficult one, finding a way from the train station to the hotel. Didn't know the local taxi services, and the station's pay phone was beaten up but still working. Managed to avoid sharing a taxi with Insane Kangaroo, luckily.
Furry Migration in Minneapolis was pretty straightforward, there's a light rail system that goes from the airport to the downtown. Once you get downtown, it's either a bit of a walk to the hotel, or catch a crowded bus and walk a block or two. However, the price varies depending what time of day you're using the system. Toronto's Furnal Equinox is similar, commuter line from the airport to downtown, then either walking or taking an underground streetcar as the last step. Fur-Eh in Edmonton was complicated, the airport is *way* outside of the city. First you take a bus that brings you to the far end of the light rail system. Buy a ticket from one machine, get it stamped in a different machine. Ride a couple of stops, then get off and wait for a train that will be taking the alternate fork to the station you need to reach. From there, catch another bus.
Related to this, what will also affect my decision to attend are the availability of places to eat. With close friends, it's not unusual to hop in someone's car and drive someplace, but that's not usually an option for me, so I have to rely on walking. Surburban conventions can either be in the middle of nowhere, or might be near a strip mall. If there really isn't much dining choice, I might pay for sponsorship-level registrations that include meals, and then hope I don't have any panel schedule conflicts. Overall though, my personal social/transport situation is very much in the minority and I wouldn't expect to be catered to, but having an idea of the public transit and restaurant options on the web page is a *huge* help.