First time help

[wirejock]

I just started my Vans RV7a and 2013 will hopefully be our (me and the Mrs.) first trip to Airventure. It appears from what I've read, we are planning too late. Hotels are really expensive, dorms appear to be gone and RV rentals seem to be booked. We could camp but it's not our first choice. We prefer a nice double bed, air conditioning and bath. There are a few hotel rooms available and I'm ok with spending a few nights to hit the big days. Any ideas? What are the must see days?

[rleffler]

You may be able to find a hotel room, but they are going to be 30-60 minutes away. I would look out in the Green Lake area for some. That's not a bad drive. But with a hotel, you have to put up with the inbound traffic congestion. There are places that will rent and deliver camping trailers, but most require a full week rental. Camp Scholler isn't that bad. You'll leave with new friends. Even better if you can find some other RV-7 builders to camp with. When I started camping with other RV-10 builders, I learned more about building a RV-10, than I could learn from any of the forums.

Since you are a RV'er, I would recommend Mon-Wed. Starting Wed, many RV'ers start to depart. By the end of the week, a fair amount of the RVs will be gone. The Van's dinner is usually Tuesday night. You'll want to attend that to meet the Van's staff and other RV'ers.

BTW, there is a craft tent near the Van's tent if your wife is into simple crafts. The museum is air conditioned and is a good place to go if you wife gets overwhelmed with the heat or just wants to get away for while. The Seaplane base is another activity in which she might enjoy as well. Then if she gets really bored, there's the outlet mall across the freeway from the airport.

[Floatsflyer]

If you're amenable, you might book a hotel further afield like Green Bay or towns in between. Green Bay is far enough away to avoid the gouging that goes on during AV. We've been staying there for years. It's only a short easy 45 minute car ride, easy access to I40(?)there's lots of very reasonably priced brand name hotels to choose from and a wide variety of great restaurants. I can't remember the name of the main street we stay just off of (many hotels on this strip) but it's the same street that Lambeau Field is on. If renting a car is not in the cards for you there is a scheduled coach bus service during AV(I think it's called Lawsons) that picks up at a number of these hotels direct to AV and return. I haven't taken it for about 5 years but back then it was $25 return.

If you choose Appleton for a possible hotel site, stay away from the Days Inn on the main east/west street. It's super cheap and there are reasons for that. Good luck and enjoy. And don't forget the sunscreen.

[CarlOrton]

Ditto what everyone said about the hotels. (for some reason, carriage return is not working, so this post will be all run together.) Green Bay and other outlying areas will have regular normal rates, and the drive isn't bad. Just plan accordingly to get to the show on time. If you want to stay in the dorms, they're fine, but they *are* dorms. As in two twin beds, common bathroom/showers/etc. We stay there every year. While they may be full now, call 'em up and see just how low you'd be on the wait list. You may be surprised. Of course, they won't open up until after June 15th when we all have to pay the balance due on our reservations. The first year I took my wife, we booked 5 days (sat-weds). *SHE* made me extend our reservations by 2 days the next year, and now we're staying the Saturday before thru ending Sunday. If your wife likes aviation, she'll LOVE it by the time she gets there. I don't even see my wife until we take the bus back to the dorms in the evenings! OH - here's a suggestion. If you decide to stay in a hotel, drive to the dorms, park in their lots (free), and take the shuttle bus over to the show. Get a bus pass for the week. That way, you won't be fighting the parking traffic.

[lkorona]

I just started my Vans RV7a and 2013 will hopefully be our (me and the Mrs.) first trip to Airventure. It appears from what I've read, we are planning too late. Hotels are really expensive, dorms appear to be gone

Regular dorm rooms are still available according to their web site. Just a few miles from the field, with bus service to drops you off right at the front gate. Also has food services and reasonble rates. I've stayed at the UW dorms all 4 times I've been to OSH, great experiences each time.

http://gcc.housing.uwosh.edu/guests/eaa

[gbrasch]

I agree with what Bob said above, I have been attending since 1984 with all of those years except one in the campground. I have made lifelong friends there. Think about renting an RV (the 4 wheel type) and staying there. Also, a couple of years ago they put in place a few rows of electric sites, so you can run your A/C all you want without a generator. Worth the extra $ in my opinion, but you have to come early, they go fast. Before I had my own camper I user to rent from an outfit in Crystal Lake, Illinois. They always had brand new quality equipment. Sorry I can't remember the name but you can search for it, might have been called Crystal Valley RV. Hope this helps. Glenn

[wirejock]

Thanks to everyone. I'm going to start looking for rooms in Green Bay. It's important to me to keep the better half happy since she has been so supportive of the project. We will be driving up so no issue with transpotation. I love the tip about parking at the dorms.

[Floatsflyer]

Good choice. I forgot to mention that most of the room rates in our area of GB include a full breakfast. Great deal.

[wirejock]

I picked up a room reservation at the Ramada. Reviews looked tolerable. From the current schedule it looks like some long days and nights with not much sleep. I'm pretty excited. Maybe next year we will get an RV and stay on site. I didn't want to take the chance the electric hook ups would be gone. Must keep Sweetie happy!

[Bill]

... Must keep Sweetie happy!

If you value your future airplane, keep that as rule number 1, 2, 3, ....

[PaulDow]

I see you're all set, but I'm surprised no one brought up the option of renting a private room. There's plenty available within just a few miles of the airport. http://www.visitoshkosh.com/eaa-lodging/private-listings/
It may not be what you prefer, but it can work out well.

[Bill Greenwood]

Green Bay is a long ways away. Do you really want to spend about 3 hrs round trip drivng each day?I would try the Ramada in Fon du Lac, which is only 18 miles south, has bus serivce to EAA and a fun llittle airport there. If not keep trying to find a room at a motel in Appleton or find there are many people who rent rooms in houses in the area.
And yes prices can be higher than you might hope, but this is the one big event for the area in the year and there is a lot of demand for housing.
Don't give up.

[Floatsflyer]

Green Bay is NOT a long ways away. It's 50 miles and it's an easy 45 minute drive each way. We've been doing it for years. If you want to stay in a hotel closer like in Fond du Lac or Appleton you will pay the same gouging rates as in Oshkosh so you might as well just find one in Oshkosh. Green Bay is outside of what I call the PGZ(price gouging zone). We go there because of the amenities, the cost savings, the uncongested airport and the great FBO we deal with. Why spend an extra $1000-1200 per week for a hotel when you don't have to.

[WLIU]

If you are flying in, which I highly recommend, I believe that you will be surprised at how well the camping works. No A/C, but you can get a hot shower pretty much 24/7, food is right there and in the last few years the food quality has gone way up. You do not have the motel noises that often make it hard to sleep.

Just bring a decent tent and a couple of the self-inflating air mattresses.

If you want to keep the spouse happy, you might spend a little of your exhibit hall time at the "gold lady" booth.

Off the end of runway 27 there is a mall. You can go over there and get anything that you could not fit into the airplane. And there is also a Goodwill store so you can donate back anything that you do not want to carry home.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[Bill Greenwood]

FLOATS , everyone can have their own opinion, but for me, adding 104 miles round trip at Green Bay driving to each and every day's travel is a bad way to spend your time, especially with the traffic congestion that can occur at Airventure time. And there are often highway patrol cars that set up speed traps along the road. But then I am someone who doesn't enjoy or find relaxing driving on freeways and in heavy traffic. I flnd flying much easier and more relaxing.
Besides, if you drive in from the north, you have to go through Appleton, and you don't see any of the EAA activites as you come to the field, other than the blimp perhaps.
And if you are going into camping near the south 40 , when you come from the north you are on the west or wrong side of the freeway and don't you have to overshoot the airport and go past it to cross the highway and then come back up the access road. I'd be surprised if you get from G B to parking at EAA in 45 minutes , but then I have not tried it.My calculator says you would have to average 69 mph to make the 52 mile trip from G B to Oshkosh in 40 minutes ( city center to center). What year Corvette are you driving or maybe you know a short cut. I have driven in from the Appleton airport and I think that takes about 40 minutes.
Where do you stay in GB and what price?

As I said for me, driving in a pack of cars on a freeway is not fun, but others may enjoy it. I can't fathom driving all the way from Texas to Wisconsin, unless it was that much cheaper or there were things to see along the way. I'd guess each way is two days, so 4 days round trip spent in a car. Texas is a big place, a thousand miles wide from side to side, and almost as long., so what part of the state you start in can add a day. I once drove from Houston to Canada, but that was a long time ago with a lot less traffic and I was young and driving a Porsche.

As for camping, that is fine for many people , gnarly old guys and kids, but it you really want to have the MRS. enjoy the experience, ask her opinion. Ask if she prefers to be outside with no air cond,no flush toilet, and having to walk to the shower, versus some kind or hotel or motel, even Ramada which is usually about 3 stars. As a wise man in Washington recently said, "When Mama is not happy, no one is happy."

Today, March 23, the hotel in FLD ,(former Ramada) has rooms at $199, 2 people, 1 queen, 4 day minimum, which is the same price quoted by the Hampton in G B. The Microtel in FLD has rooms for some of the days at $130.
We stay at the Holiday Inn, which is about 3 1/2 stars. It would not be worth $250 most times of the year , but I have used them for 25 years and the people are nice. And at $50 more daily, than a good place in G B ,that is $300 extra I pay for the week and don't have to spend much of my day on the freeway.
Good luck.

[wirejock]

I didn't mean to start a hotel flame war. We actually are driving up from Colorado. The trip to OshKosh will be fun. After 30 years I know my Sweetie pretty well. If I told her we were camping with no bathroom, she would still be excited and never let her disappointment show. I can't put her through that. I also know how she feels about spending $250 a night as opposed to $75, that she hates noise when it's time to sleep, would not like a dorm with a community bath or sleeping in someone's house who she does not know. We both were professional drivers. We are from Texas so a 45 mile commute is nothing. We measure trips in days in Texas. I know the commute will not be a problem. We will be fine. Once again, thanks. Now if anyone has tips for once we get in the gate...Keep 'em coming!

[Bill Greenwood]

Wirejock, can you share which motel that you found for $75 is?

And I am not sure what you mean by "hotel flame war"? I think the more info people share the better for all of us, and you asked for suggestions.

I just spoke to my hotel today and they aren't quite full yet, but they are expensive. I started staying there decades ago when our group, before my time, got asked to leave the hotel in Osh for some r rated hijinks.
The folks in FLD are so glad to have us that they tolerate some foolishness, and once the entire hotel maid staff, as part of a joke, short sheeted all the beds in the hotel.
We also used to have free van service right into the flight line at EAA several times a day, which saved a lot of money in not having to rent a car, or even having to park.
The folks at my hotel are very nice so I have mostly stayed with them over the years and also I use the airport at FLD.
I did try one or two years going to a cheaper and newer motel, but they raised their prices once they got filled up and they were not as personable as the Hol Inn folks.

As for noise, you got me there. The Hol Inn is not always quiet, often there is a "wake up call" when a Mustang or such flies over in the morning. It's music to my ears. but might be just noise to many.

And I don't know where I got the idea that you were coming from Texas. I will be flying up from Boulder myself.

[Ann S]

Now if anyone has tips for once we get in the gate...Keep 'em coming!

A "must see" to add to your list is a visit to the Seaplane Base..... you can drive, but the best way is to hop the Bus from either the Bus Park or the Amphib Parking Area at the south end of the airport. A great way to spend a morning, afternoon or all day! $3 round trip.

[Dave Stadt]

I see you're all set, but I'm surprised no one brought up the option of renting a private room. There's plenty available within just a few miles of the airport. http://www.visitoshkosh.com/eaa-lodging/private-listings/
It may not be what you prefer, but it can work out well.

That is what we have done for a number of years and it is wonderful. We have an entire floor in a new house with bedroom, living room, big screen TV, kitchen area, bar, private bath, breakfast waiting for us every morning and air conditioning. It is 10 minutes to the west so there is little to no traffic coming or going. It is far beyond what any hotel in the area can provide. Best part is it's $85 a night.

[wirejock]

We reserved a room in the Ramada Inn in Green Bay.

[Kevin O'Halloran]

After years of camping--started renting a room at the Holiday inn 30 minutes away (300.00 per night )
Now we rent a house in the woods between the north 40 and pioneer airport--we can go home and eat lunch and rest in the A/C
With this kind of comfort--will probably keep going to Oshkosh untill my late 80s
Kevin

[mwunsworth]

I camped in scholler the first time last year. Rented a popup camper and traveled there from Michigan. I was skeptical about camping when we arrived to find the camp ground quite full. We ended up in the south west side closer to the highway, about a mile from the entrance gate. It turned out really good. We were about 100 yards from one of the new bath houses and the bus / shuttle pick up was right there. Our normal routine was get up around 7am, eat a quick bite at the camper and walk to the bus pick up. We never waited more than 5 mins for a bus to arrive. After a long day, head over to the bath house to take nice shower to cool off. Showers not crowded in the evening either. Open up the all the sides of the popup camper. Turn on the battery operated fans and with the breeze slept very well. One day it was 100 degrees and it still cooled off enough at night to be comfortable sleeping. Heading back this year. Might fly the Archer this time and tent camp in the North 40.

[malexander]

I keep plugging for Sleepy Hollow campground.:) So here's another one. We've been staying there for the past 11 years. Wouldn't even try to consider anyplace else.
The folks ther are GREAT.

[Marc_CYBW]

If you're up for a B&B outside of town, in 2008 we landed at Appelton and stayed at the Green Fountain Inn in Wauseca.
It was recommended to us by another AirVenture visitor and turned out to be great! A lovely place, a pleasant country drive before and after a day at the show in the hot sun and many great restaurants between on the way back to and in Wauseca (about a 30-45 min drive).
http://www.greenfountaininn.com/.

Last year we landed at OshKosh, parked in the North 40, rented car and stayed a private B&B (that is now closed). But again it was a great arrangement.

[Cary]

For those who haven't tried it, don't knock flying in and camping with your airplane. Even on really hot days, OSH cools off reasonably at night, and if your tent has good ventilation, you'll be comfortable. Whether you're nearer the brick and mortar shower houses or a shower trailer, the showers are all great--plenty of hot water, plenty of "force" to the showers, nice & clean, etc. If you must have flushing toilets, well, in some places that's not going to happen, although there are more and more of them. Otherwise, they do maintain the porta-potties well, so they're not objectionable, although mid-day isn't comfortable, just from the heat. The solution to the bugs issue, which in past years has been raised in these forums, is the "OFF" bug repellent fan, available in your home grocery stores or drug stores, which works amazingly well--even Wisconsin mosquitoes are kept at bay. :)

The camaraderie in the airplane camping areas is what makes them special. Once in awhile you'll find some fool who wouldn't be a good neighbor under any circumstances, but those are rare.

One last thought: For those who have never taxied on grass, you do NOT, repeat DO NOT, need to be only 3 knots under lift off speed , and you do NOT, repeat DO NOT, need to be carrying 85% power to keep from getting stuck. Keep your speed down, just like you would when taxiing on any ramp area, and you may have to carry a tiny bit more than normal taxi power, but not much. Literally every year I've been there, some inexperienced idjet blasts through the area, practically running over the flaggers, blowing tents and camping paraphernalia around, because he/she is scared of getting stuck in the grass, and that is simply not necessary--and surely not very neighborly.

Cary