New UK ConGower saying a little hello for the first time!

In my area, Regular Unleaded (87 Octane) is $2.88 per 9/10 per gallon. Mid-Regular (89 Octane) is $2.98 and Premium (91/93) is $3.08. That's the cheapest in my area. Other places, they're more expensive. Diesel, IIRC, is about $3.20.

Thankfully, I don't have to pay for diesel in my rig, but I feel bad for my boss. My saddle tank will take 60 gallons of that stuff when I'm down to 1/4 of a tank.

Heck, I just spent $41.00 on 14.3 gallons for my car last night.

Welcome, Tazz, to the world of Fan Conventions! Almost every one is different in character, though Furry Conventions tend to be similar in general theme and feel; each specific convention has its own personality, partly because of the specific staff working to set it up and run it, but as much due to the specific crowd that it attracts; very much like planning to invite the "right" mix of guests to bring a party alive.

I gather from your posts that you wish to go "Whole Hog" in attending AC08, with the supersponsorship, the staff volunteer (BLESS YOU!) and everything, and such enthusiasm is to be encouraged!

But such enthusiasm need not be quite so expensive. Unless you are a determined fursuiter, it isn't necessary to spend money and or make a fursuit; most Furry Fans do not own or wear fursuits, as much as we may wish to; that might cut down substantially on your expense, right there.

And then there is the matter of room expense - if you can hook up with other UK Furs who are AnthroCon-bound, consider sharing a room.

Depending on how much time before or after the convention proper that you can devote to travel, it might be cheaper to travel from New York to Pittsburgh by train; an increasing number of Furry Fans who live in the mid-atlantic states do this each year, but again, it eats time and is less flexible, schedule-wise, compared to air-travel.

Indeed, I would like to recommend that your planning be directed by the dictum, "Travel Light". Pittsburgh in summer is a hot and humid place, so light summer kit would be advisable; while the convention center and hotel are provided with air conditioning, just where you are and what you are doing and how many folks are around you will determine how chilly the artificial environment is, so a light wind-breaker would not be amiss. And - if you are staying at the Westin - you can practically experience the whole convention without having to step outside; but if you do, be aware that the seasonal weather may include summer thunderstorms, so the windbreaker may also need to repel a bit of rain.

A useful item, which doesn't take up much space itself, is a canvas "book bag", which is convenient to carry when in the dealer's room, to carry purchases around in. I tend to pack 2 or 3 of these canvas bags (usually purchased at other conventions, or promotional items - you can never have too many fabric bags with handles or drawstrings!), and if I buy more than will fit in my luggage, a couple nylon cableties secure the things, and I have additional carry-on capacity for the return home.

This raises the question - where is the best place and time to exchange money? I don't think that the Westin has any provision for that, though I may be wrong - and while you can put meals eaten in the better restaurants on plastic, you will need some cash to deal with the furry dealers, many of whom - most of whom - shall not have any ability to handle a charge card.