BUDGET TRAVEL

Does your group want to attend the AGM but you need financial help?

The AGM is a key opportunity to meet activists from around the country working together on many of the same issues you face in your own community. There are many creative solutions for funding travel to the AGM.

Here are some ideas:

• Get volunteer subsidies from your regional office. Here's how
• Your group can raise money by selling fair trade chocolate. Here's how
• Ask for financial assistance from your school or local AI group.
• Share costs by traveling together in carpools with members from other local and student groups.
• Save with special low air fares from Seagate Travel Group
  (toll free 800.645.3392 or 888-706-3841; email: lois.trinka@seagatetravel.com)

TRANSPORTATION FROM EACH OF THE THREE MAJOR AIRPORTS

From Laguardia:

Subway: Take the 7 Express Train into Grand Central Station. Switch to the 4 or 5 Train, heading downtown/to Brooklyn, getting off at the first stop in Brooklyn, Borough Hall. Head East one block on Joralemon Street, taking a left on Adams. The Marriott is on your right. Travel time: 45 minutes to an hour. $2.

Taxi: The quickest way to the Marriott, but also the most expensive. Count on spending at least $20, with the trip taking 20-25 minutes.

From JFK:

Subway: Take the A Express Train (via AirTrain JFK) to Jay Street /Borough Hall. Head south on Jay Street one block, taking a right on Joralemon. Go two blocks and take another right on Adams. The Marriott is on your right.

Taxi: Not a whole lot faster than the subway and will cost $25-$35. Trip will take 45 minutes to an hour.

From Newark:

Subway: Jump on the AirTrain (3 trains per hour, $11.15), which will take you to Penn Station. Take the A or C train to Jay Street/Borough Hall. Head south on Jay Street one block, taking a right on Joralemon. Go two blocks and take another right on Adams. The Marriott is on your right.

Taxi: Flat rate to downtown Brooklyn, where the Marriott is located.

SUBWAYS AND CABS

Unfortunately there are no shuttles from any airport to the Marriott Hotel or vice versa and it's too expensive to organise one. The concierge at the hotel tells me that sometimes, depending on the shuttle driver, they might drop you in Brooklyn if you ask them. Most shuttles are in the $10-$15 ball park. They could say no so it's up to you to take that chance. Go to the ground transportation desk and ask if they'll accomodate you. There are several shuttles from each airport but to Manhattan, from there you can take the subway to Brooklyn.

If you can share a cab with another person, it's not too expensive to take a cab and very convenient with luggage.
-A cab to La Guardia (which is the closest to the Marriott Hotel) will cost you $20-25 and will take anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
-A cab to JFK will cost approximately $30-35 and should take around 45 minutes.
-A cab to Newark will cost $50 and take 45 minutes to an hour.

Subways are fast and cheap if you have no luggage (or very little). Many subway lines access the Marriott , Borough Hall is the stop. The lines are: R, M, A, C, F, 2, 3, 4, and 5. You can catch one of these from most anywhere including Penn Station and Port Authority should you be coming by train or bus. There are links provided below showing subway maps anf further details on transport.

Traveling to New York by air can be much less expensive than what most people may believe. With a little effort on your part, you can often find exceptional travel bargains.

• GET MORE IDEAS FOR AIRFARE ON A BUDGET
  (link to pdf document, AIdiscount travel.pdf)
• PREVIEW OPTIONS FOR AIRPORT GROUND TRANSPORTATION
  http://www.newyorktransportation.com/airports/index.html

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From New York/La Guardia (LGA) - LGA (10 mi E) Grand Central Pkwy west to Brooklyn/Queens Expressway(I-278) to Tillary Street/Manhattan Bridge exit. Make left turn at Adams Street. Proceed to second light. Hotel is on the left.

From Newark (EWR) - EWR (20 mi SW) NJ Turnpike to Holland Tunnel(Exit 14C). Exit onto Canal Street East to Manhattan Bridge. Exit onto Flatbush avenue Extension. Right turn onto Tillary Street. Left turn onto adams Street. Proceed to second light. Hotel is on left.

From New York/JF Kennedy (JFK) - JFK (20 mi E) Belt Pkwy west to Brooklyn/Queens Expressway(I-278) east; exit Atlantic Ave, turn right at light. Continue 4 lights to Boerum Place and turn left. Hotel is 5 blocks ahead on the right.

From I-95 (points north)
· Exit Bruckner Expy ( I-95) via ramp to Bruckner Expy, (I-278) and go Southwest for 0.4 miles
· Continue on Bruckner Expy,I-278 and go Southwest for 1.5 miles
· Exit Bruckner Expy,I-278 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 47 I-278 W to Triboro BR / Fdr Drive / Grand Central Pkwy" and go Southwest for 0.3 miles
· Continue on I-278 and go South for 3.2 miles
· Exit I-278 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 4 I-278 W Bklyn-Qns Expwy to Verranzano BR" and go Southeast for 300 feet
· Continue on I-278 and go Southwest for 8 miles
· Exit I-278 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 29 Tillary St to Manhattan BR / Bklyn Civic Center" and go South for 800 feet
· Turn right on Tillary St and go West for 0.4 miles
· Turn left on Brooklyn Bridge Blvd, Adams St and go South for 800 feet to New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

From New Jersey Turnpike (points South)
· Exit New Jersey Tpke via ramp at sign reading "I-78 to 14-14A-14B-14C / Newark Airport / Holland Tunnel and US-1 / US-9 / US-22" and go Northeast for 0.7 miles
· Continue on New Jersey Tpke Ext,I-78 and go East for 8 miles
· Continue on 12th St and go East for 0.3 miles
· Continue on Boyle Plaza and go East for 300 feet
· Continue on Holland Tunnel and go East for 2.0 miles
· Continue at sign reading "Downtown / Brooklyn" and go Southeast for 190 feet
· Bear left on Beach St and go East for 400 feet
· Continue on Walker St and go Southeast for 0.3 miles
· Turn right on Lafayette St and go Southwest for 0.3 miles
· Bear right on Centre St and go Southwest for 500 feet
· Turn left on ramp at sign reading "Brooklyn BR to Kennedy Airport / La Guardia Airport" and go Southeast for 300 feet
· Continue on Brooklyn Brg and go Southeast for 1.2 miles
· Turn right on Brooklyn Bridge Blvd/Adams St and go South for 0.2 miles
· Turn right on Tillary St and go West for 50 feet
· Turn left on Brooklyn Bridge Blvd/Adams St and go South for 800 feet to New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

From I-78 (points West)
· Exit I-78 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 58B US-1 N / US-9 N" and go West for 0.3 miles
· Bear right on US-1 & 9,US-9, US-1 and go East for 7 miles
· Bear right on US-1 & 9,US-9, US-1 and go East for 7 miles
· Continue on 12th St and go East for 0.5 miles
· Continue on Boyle Plaza and go East for 300 feet
· Continue on Holland Tunnel and go East for 2.0 miles
· Continue at sign reading "Downtown / Brooklyn" and go Southeast for 190 feet
· Bear left on Beach St and go East for 400 feet
· Continue on Walker St and go Southeast for 0.3 miles
· Turn right on Lafayette St and go Southwest for 0.3 miles
· Bear right on Centre St and go Southwest for 500 feet
· Turn left on ramp at sign reading "Brooklyn BR to Kennedy
· Airport / La Guardia Airport" and go Southeast for 300 feet
· Continue on Brooklyn Bridge and go Southeast for 1.2 miles
· Turn right on Brooklyn Bridge Blvd/Adams St and go South for 0.2 miles
· Turn right on Tillary St and go West for 50 feet
· Turn left on Brooklyn Bridge Blvd/Adams St and go South for 800 feet to New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge