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Getting to the convention site costs $9 per person for an hourly shuttle; the shuttle runs a circular route, so it takes 15 minutes to get to the Westin Hotel from the airport, but it takes 45 minutes to get from the Westin Hotel to the airport. Allow for this when planning your departure. It costs about $20 for a cab.
Southwest Airlines is the Official
Airline of the 25th World Fantasy Convention. We've picked Southwest
Airlines because, unlike most of the major carriers, they have substantial
service into Providence, instead of serving Providence occasionally as an
adjunct to Boston service. (Attendees flying from within the U.S. and Canada
are likely to find it easier to make an air connection to Providence,
instead of flying to Boston and going on to Providence via ground
transportation.) Southwest has informed us that they are willing to co-book
with other airlines to provide service from cities that they don't currently
serve themselves; we don't know how much the other airlines will cooperate
with this.
"Southwest Airlines is offering a 10% discount on most of its already low fares, for travel to and from the 25th World Fantasy Convention. Call (or have your professional travel agent call) the Southwest Airlines Group and Meeting Desk at 1-800-433-5368, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm and Saturday, 9:30am-3:30pm and refer to I.D. Code T8039. Call by no later than five days prior to first date of travel to take advantage of this offer. Call right away, as fares are subject to terms and availability.
"(Because advance bookings are accepted by Southwest only through dates for which schedules have been opened, reservations may not yet be available for confirmation.)
"Travel in or out of Dallas Love Field is subject to the requirements of the Wright Amendment."
The off-hours telephone tape message says that Southwest's groupline hours are 7am-8pm weekdays and 8:30am-5:30pm weekends, Central time.
Southwest books flights approximately six months in advance, so you may not be able to reserve before May. Our discount is available until five days before the start of your travel; if you have to change a flight after that time, you'll be charged the regular fares. Flights may be booked directly with their Group and Meeting Desk or through your travel agent; the discount is not available for "Ticketless Travel".
For our international visitors: The Providence airport is not a port of entry into the United States. Canadian members may be able to clear customs in Canada, flying to Providence on a U.S. or Canadian airline. Members flying across the Pacific can book from their port of entry, much like members from the U.S. Members flying across the Atlantic have two primary choices:
We estimate that the time between clearing customs and arriving at the convention will be about the same for either of these methods.
The Amtrak Providence station is a long
walk (about ½ mile) or a short taxi ride from the RICC and the hotels.
Train information is available at 800-USA-RAIL (872-7245).
Greyhound bus runs frequent trips to and from New York at about half the Amtrak fare. Their terminal is about 3 blocks from the hotels. For fare and schedule information, phone 1-800-231-2222.
From Points South (New York City, Southern Connecticut, South County, and the airport), take I-95 North to Exit 16 to Route 10 North. Continue North to the Dean Street exit. Once on the exit, stay to the left, and at the light cross over Dean Street. Then take your first right onto West Exchange Street to the RI Convention Center Garage.
From Points North (Eastern Massachusetts including Boston & Vicinity), take I-95 South to the Civic Center Interchange, Exit 22, Downtown Providence. Stay to the left on the ramp, at the end go right. At the light go right to the RI Convention Center Garage.
Alternate Southbound Exit: I-95 South to Exit 21, Atwells Avenue. At the top of the ramp take a right, then take your second right onto Bradford Street. Follow Bradford to the end and take a right onto West Exchange Street. Straight ahead is the entrance to the RI Convention Center Garage.
From Points Northwest (Worcester and Northern RI), take 146 South to I-95 South. Take I-95 South to the Civic Center Interchange, Exit 22, Downtown Providence. Stay to the left on the ramp, at the end go right. At the first light go right to the RI Convention Center Garage. (For an Alternate Exit follow the southbound directions above for Exit 21.)
Alternate Exit: Take 146 South to I-95 South to Exit 21, Atwells Avenue. At the top of the ramp take a right, then take your second right onto Bradford Street. Follow Bradford to the end and take a right onto West Exchange Street. Straight ahead will be the entrance to the RI Convention Center Garage.
From Points East (Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod), take I-195 West to I-95 North. Take Exit 22, "Downtown Providence" (second exit), and stay to the Right to Downtown Providence. At the light, go right. At the first light go right to the RI Convention Center Garage.
From Points West (Hartford and Eastern Connecticut), follow Route 6 East to the "To Route 6 East and I-295 South" sign on ramp. Take a right and stay to the right following the signs to Providence and Route 6 East (you will use part of the I-295 on-ramp to get onto Route 6 East). Stay on Route 6 East to the end (sign will then read "6 East to 10 North") and stay to the left, continue to the Dean Street Exit. Once on the exit, stay to the left, and at the light, cross over Dean Street. Then take your first right onto West Exchange Street to the RI Convention Center Garage.
Parking: as of 15 August 1999, the rate at the RI Convention Center Garage (a private concession) is $8 for a 24-hour day; $10 for a 24-hour day with in-out privileges. These rates are for Westin Hotel guests. Usual rates are up to a maximum of $12 per day. All rates are subject to change without notice. Park in the North Garage (on the right as you go under the Convention Center); getting to the facilities from there is easier.
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