Post by honestlabrat on Nov 19, 2012 17:07:45 GMT -5
Bottom line, we're all doing this for the money. Many lab rats don't bother to travel beyond their hometown clinic, and hey, that's cool. To each their own. But if you travel you can have the benefits of seeing other parts of the country you might not have experienced plus you'll be able to try out other clinics you may like better. If you're doing a long stay you'll see that obviously some clinics are better than others etc.
Anyhow for those that travel here are some tips
If you dont have a car and dont like to drive long distances, you hopefully have the option of bus or amtrak, depending on where you live. Megabus is always better, UNLESS its the greyhound express bus which are nicer and have wifi.
When you're on a greyhound, if you don't want trouble sit near the front, NOT THE BACK. I know people how have gotten their cell stolen and other things messed with, and once a bunch of guys in the back that just got out of jail were all drunk and once we got to our destination they got arrested for fighting on the bus. Also another guy I know was on a greyhound and it got stalled because someone had a gun, etc, if you're on your way to a screening or check in, these random things could screw you over.
Make sure you map out how far the clinic is away from the bus stop/amtrak stop/airport etc. Cab fares can quickly add up. There is usually always a local bus line if you do your research. For example, taking a cab to quintiles if you have no car can easily be 50 bucks or more one way depending on where you are since it's in the burbs, etc.
If you have no car, make sure you keep in touch with other lab rats and offer to chip in for gas, so they're motivated to invite you a long.
If you're flying, and going to use hotels, hotwire.com is usually the cheapest last min. If you have more time do a bid on priceline. If you travel frequently, use hotels.com because with them after 10 bookings you get to get a night at most hotels free.
If you're flying a lot, think about using spirit airlines 9 dollar club, which is an annual fee of 60 bucks, but allows you to get emails of cheap flights, well worth it if you live near an airport that has spirit air. Otherwise, orbitz, travolocity, etc are usually pretty similar, I try to use southwest if I can since they have no change fees so you can stay longer or leave earlier which comes in hand with studies since you never know in many cases how long you're going to stay.
Also, remember to utilize hostels, usually half the price of hotels, some hostels are better than others but usually they're around 25-35 a night as opposed to a discount 1 or 2 star hotel for 50-60 a night.
When driving, gas stations right near the highway are always the most expensive, when you see cheap gas on a local road take it and dont wait until you have no choice. Also if you live in a city with expensive gas prices and have a costco nearby with a gas station, the gas saving are worth the 50 dollars a year in itself besides having access to their warehouse.
If you have an older car that may or may not break down (or you think it could at any point) get a triple A membership, its only 50 bucks a year and has saved my *** many times. You're entitled to free towing, gas if you run out, lock outs, etc, very well worth it not to mention discounts on amtrak, and other stores etc.
If you dont want to get a hotel and are driving far for a screening simply drive through the night and get to the clinic parking lot and sleep. (this only works if it's somewhere not freezing of course) I dont do this anymore because I dont like driving at night (there are too many things that could go wrong including hitting a deer, etc) and think it's worth it to get a good nights rest before you screen anyhow.
And finally, try to limit the amount of online spending you do while you're in a study. Yeah you're saving money by being in the study so you're not ing food, entertainment, etc, but some people end up getting so bored they surf the net all day looking at things to and waste a huge portion of their check ing things they dont necessarily need or end up regretting,.
Anyhow for those that travel here are some tips
If you dont have a car and dont like to drive long distances, you hopefully have the option of bus or amtrak, depending on where you live. Megabus is always better, UNLESS its the greyhound express bus which are nicer and have wifi.
When you're on a greyhound, if you don't want trouble sit near the front, NOT THE BACK. I know people how have gotten their cell stolen and other things messed with, and once a bunch of guys in the back that just got out of jail were all drunk and once we got to our destination they got arrested for fighting on the bus. Also another guy I know was on a greyhound and it got stalled because someone had a gun, etc, if you're on your way to a screening or check in, these random things could screw you over.
Make sure you map out how far the clinic is away from the bus stop/amtrak stop/airport etc. Cab fares can quickly add up. There is usually always a local bus line if you do your research. For example, taking a cab to quintiles if you have no car can easily be 50 bucks or more one way depending on where you are since it's in the burbs, etc.
If you have no car, make sure you keep in touch with other lab rats and offer to chip in for gas, so they're motivated to invite you a long.
If you're flying, and going to use hotels, hotwire.com is usually the cheapest last min. If you have more time do a bid on priceline. If you travel frequently, use hotels.com because with them after 10 bookings you get to get a night at most hotels free.
If you're flying a lot, think about using spirit airlines 9 dollar club, which is an annual fee of 60 bucks, but allows you to get emails of cheap flights, well worth it if you live near an airport that has spirit air. Otherwise, orbitz, travolocity, etc are usually pretty similar, I try to use southwest if I can since they have no change fees so you can stay longer or leave earlier which comes in hand with studies since you never know in many cases how long you're going to stay.
Also, remember to utilize hostels, usually half the price of hotels, some hostels are better than others but usually they're around 25-35 a night as opposed to a discount 1 or 2 star hotel for 50-60 a night.
When driving, gas stations right near the highway are always the most expensive, when you see cheap gas on a local road take it and dont wait until you have no choice. Also if you live in a city with expensive gas prices and have a costco nearby with a gas station, the gas saving are worth the 50 dollars a year in itself besides having access to their warehouse.
If you have an older car that may or may not break down (or you think it could at any point) get a triple A membership, its only 50 bucks a year and has saved my *** many times. You're entitled to free towing, gas if you run out, lock outs, etc, very well worth it not to mention discounts on amtrak, and other stores etc.
If you dont want to get a hotel and are driving far for a screening simply drive through the night and get to the clinic parking lot and sleep. (this only works if it's somewhere not freezing of course) I dont do this anymore because I dont like driving at night (there are too many things that could go wrong including hitting a deer, etc) and think it's worth it to get a good nights rest before you screen anyhow.
And finally, try to limit the amount of online spending you do while you're in a study. Yeah you're saving money by being in the study so you're not ing food, entertainment, etc, but some people end up getting so bored they surf the net all day looking at things to and waste a huge portion of their check ing things they dont necessarily need or end up regretting,.
