I’m flying into El Paso tomorrow afternoon for the ISPCS in Las Cruces, and I apparently didn’t reserve a car in time, because there are now none available. This is complicated by the fact that I’m not staying at the conference hotel, so I would also need a ride from where I’m staying to and from the Ranch Museum. Is anyone else getting in about that time (late afternoon) with a car who could at least get me to the Encanto?
[Update a few minutes later]
Well, there’s a shuttle for forty-five bucks (fifty if I don’t reserve today). So I guess that’s my fall-back.
Take an El Paso cab. Only slightly less frightening than one frm Juarez…..
I pulled some strings and think I’ve gotten you a car reservation. Check your email for details.
It’s amazing how, when you travel for business frequently, the cars, trucks, transportation ONCE there get laid aside somehow.
I once flew to Montreal, had business in Forestville, managed to schedule 2 tons of eqpt, parts, various eqpt / process fluids, tools, etc from NC to Forestville, through customs and all, and I hit the GROUND and headed to get my luggage before I EVER thought about how I would get up there.
It’s weird, but my boss did this same thing, headed to LA (lower Alabama) that same week. Got to Huntsville, sans car reservation! He called the office and git someone from the visited business to pick him up. I’m betting he put it off on THEM, that was his style.
(I hope nobody I know reads my stuff in here, I’ve never admitted to this Quebec thing before IN MY LIFE! not even to my wife…she’d laugh at me!)(and she’d tell everyone that Mr Plan, Mr Check Every Note Three Times, Mr Travel screwed the pooch in Quebec, car wise)
Have you considered using a travel agent? I always “outsource” the air/car/hotel logistics for business.
Driving from Las Cruces out to Holloman AFB for the 2007 X-Prize Cup was fun.
It was dawn, the roads were empty and the rental car was performing nicely. There’s a downhill part following by a flat long straight highway, it’s easy to pick up speed. As the sun rose over the horizon I started seeing little lumps on the road ahead. They seemed to move around in little circles and occasionally one would move quicker than the others. I figured it was some kind of optical illusion, perhaps the heat of the new sun hitting the cold road.
Nope, they were bunnies. Thankfully they consistently dispersed seconds before the car got to them. This happened for mile or two. A bit like parting the red sea.
You could rent a pickup tuck from U-Haul. No, really.
Great suggestion, Bruce. I just made a reservation. $19/day, sixty cents a mile, and they’ll pick me up at the airport.
I’ve rented trucks from U-Haul three times. Based on my experience, I have two warnings:
1) Don’t trust the trucks to be properly maintain and perform well enough to feel safe on the road.
2) Don’t trust U-Haul to have the size truck you reserved.
In my case, they gave away the last 14-footer before I got there. The manager was “nice” enough to offer me the only other truck available — a 26-footer!
Rand,
I’m here and will be driving to the Ranch Museum at about 7:15. I’ll be in the lobby at about that time if you want a ride.
Chris