It is better to Light a Candle
than to curse the Darkness.

-Chinese Proverb                                      

Athens Conference

To go to the Yahoo Discussion E-Group Click Here

To see the announcement about the World Congress Click Here!



From North America, there are
16 months and 11 days left until the conference
as of 04/20/08
 

 From Flight   Flight &
Hotel
Estimated
Registration 
 Incidental
 Money
 Total

Need to Save
Total Divided
by 19 Month 

 NYC $1020   $1687  @$400  $500  $2587  $136 /per mo    
ORL $1196 $1835 @$400 $500 $2735 $144 /per mo     
DEN $1248 $1768 @$400 $500 $2668 $140 /per mo  
SAT $1101 $1894 @$400 $500 $2794 $147 /per mo  
LAX $1208 $1782 @$400 $500 $2682 $141 /per mo 
SYD $1848 $2828 @$400 $500 $3728 $196 /per mo 
TYO $1986 $2697 @$400 $500 $3597  $189 /per mo
CPT $1510 $1590 @$400 $500 $2490  $131 /per mo
BUE $1386 $1904 @$400 $500 $2804  $148 /per mo 
SCL $1482 $2096 @$400 $500 $2936 $157/per mo 
MEX $1174 $1904 @$400 $500 $2804 $148 /per mo
HKG $1024 $1671 @$400 $500 $2571 $135 /per mo  
TPE    $1620 $2132 @$400 $500 $3032 $160 /per mo  
Based on leaving August 31, 2009 and returning on September 10, 2009
Based on prices as of 01/17/08
These are only estimates
NYC-New York City, ORL- Orlando, FL, DEN - Denver City, SAT- San Antonio, TX, LAX- Los Angeles, CA., SYD- Sydney, AUS, TYO-Tokyo, Japan, CPT-Capetown, South Africa, BUE- Buenos Aires, Argentina, SCL-Santiago, Chile, MEX- Mexico City, Mexico, HKG-Hong Kong, TPE-Taipei, Taiwan

I have tried to capture what it would cost if the conference was held in Sept of this year. Air fights only book 12 months out, so the earliest you could book a flights would be 09/08. All these prices can change. The registration for the conference has not been posted but this is roughly what I have paid in the past. Also, in the USA there are usually a few scholarships. If you can show them that you are invested in going and can pay for part of your trip, your chances of getting a scholarship greatly increase.

The fight only is based on the lowest fare found at www.Kayak.com . The room and flight is based on www.expedia.com . I did not search widely and you maybe able to find cheaper flights, rooms, etc. on your own. These are only for the purpose of having a goal in mind as to what you might need to be able to go. The room that I choose on Expedia was the Apollo Hotel. This was searching by price but it was not the cheapest. I choose this one as it was only 50 meters (.031 miles) from the Metro and 1 Kilometer (.62 miles) from the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill. The price also included a breakfast buffet. Another thing I liked about the hotel it had a 3 bedroom Condo that you could get with others and share, bringing your cost down. All prices are based on USD.

If you say you cannot afford this much a month, start with whatever you can afford. Set up a savings account and put what you can in it. When your birthday or another special occasion comes along, ask for your gift to be an investment in going to Athens. Put it in the savings account so that you don't spend it. I think that these prices are going to be way over what you would need, but it gives you a jumping off point. By sharing rooms, buying a loaf of bread and peanut butter, you can bring these rates down. We will know more once the conference location and registration prices are posted.

The one thing that needs to happen now if you are planning on going, is obtaining your passport, especially in the United States as the Passport office is very backlogged.

Join the  e-group where we can get to know each other, post ideas on raising money and a various other topics of interest.  See you in Athens!