Boston 2026 World Expo

Decided NOT to go .
Looking at travel cost and getting around Boston . Then looked at hotels in city and the outer ring for staying four days ,all where expensive . Put all the cost together and made a final decision .

I will save the money for new purchases . Did feel there was not much to interest a worldwide collector . Displays are very specialized . Dealers also will be handling items that can be justify to their high set-up cost

Also felt there wasn't going to be many people that I knew or could interact with . My connections were all people over 70 years old

Boston is and always has been a very expensive place to live and visit.

Per NBC Channel 10, Boston ranked fifth most expensive place to live in the World, behind Geneva Switzerland, Zurich Switzerland, New York City and San Francisco.

Hotel/short-term rental taxes typically include a 5.7% state tax, a 6.5% local Boston tax, a 2.75% convention center fee, and potentially a 1.5% Tourism Destination Marketing District (TDMD) assessment for larger hotels. Many hotels charge additional "Urban fees" ($35+ per night), which are subject to taxes.

Massachusetts has the 3rd highest electric rate in the U.S., double the National average.

When looking at rent, Boston ranks the second most expensive in the world for a one bedroom with an average around $3,115 near the city center.

A reasonable decision, well stated and explained. I too skipped NYC and Wash DC for the same reasons as will do with Boston. That said, I did an extended week visit to Chicago and daily to San Francisco.

Speaking of San Francisco, I expect my home show, WESTPEX, next month to be more fulfilling than Boston.

If I lived in the Boston area, I would go.

We decided not to go too. We only go to shows to buy stuff and we'd spend far more just getting there than we'd ever spend on stamps. Shows are generally getting less and less worthwhile as time goes on.

I live in Western MA and won't be going. Too much hassle and money. I won't drive because I am not going to stress over finding suitable parking plus you have to deal with horrible traffic and then plan on dropping $60. Public transport is out because there are no good options for Western MA to Boston. There is no rail option. Obviously not flying. The bus takes FOREVER and you still need to abide by the bus schedule and drive to and park in Springfield. They would have been better off having the event in Worcester but that would not have had as sexy a show title.

I ultimately decided not to go due to cost since I can buy a lot of stamps and supplies for the cost of lodging, food, and transportation. There has not been any mention of virtual activities. I realize that is a two edge sword.

I am sure the show will be a great success for dealers and those attending but definitely do not seeing the show enlarging tent.

APS is soliciting comments on a 5 year International-class program.

This comment underscores the real unasked question. Why is there a show in the first place? If it is to showcase the best in philately every ten years it matters not where it should be held as location does not change the philatelic content. Select a reasonable cost location for both travel to and in sitsu expenses.

However, if the goal is a travel and visit experience for activities beyond philately then that is really not a philatelic show, it is a travel excuse for wealthy people --modest philatelist be darned.

What seems forgotten is that the price of a stamp purchase is a combination of time, travel expenses, sales taxes, shipping fees and of course the base price of the item. For me it makes no sense to spend $1000.00 on a hotel in hopes of getting a $500 item I want when with the same money, $1500 total, can get three $500 items I want.

Now to be clear, I am not picking on the Boston show. The same concerns and calculations apply to any philatelic show. GASS is a rather laid back annual show with noses no where near as pointed toward the ceiling as an international. I wonder why, could it be related to personal wealth or sense of entitlement by some groups of attendees?

Edit: "Now" corrected to "no."

It was picked because it's the 250th anniversary of 1776. History is why Boston was chosen.

Sad that you won't be there. It'll be s great show that I'm attending from out of town for every day. Sharing a bunk room with 3 other collectors at the Youth Hostel. All 9 nights cost be about 600. This whole deal is so much cheaper than NYC in 2016 - hotel, restaurants and travel.

I understand your statement but must ask, "How does that make a (this) philatelic exhibition better?"

That's impossible to answer at the moment. Personally, I think 5 days would have been better, but there is nothing to compare it to except for hotel price. I just spent 3 days at the St. Louis show and never left the hotel and had a great time. But I suspect that people will probably want to see some of Boston while there. Holding it somewhere with few attractions doesn't seem logical.

It was picked because it's the 250th anniversary of 1776. History is why Boston was chosen.

I'd say somebody drew a 30 miles diameter circle and counted the number of possible show attendees within that circle. Sure a show in Buttf*ck, Arizona would be much cheaper, but with 17 possible attendees?
That basically leaves the show organizers with east coast or west coast cities or Chicago-area options. Add a local revolutionary hero to the equation if needed.

APS had shows in Birmingham and Biloxi and doubt they will return. As someone with southern roots, stamp collecting was never popular. If the shows had knives and guns, that would be a different story,

Just a side note to this discussion ---- I received my copy of the KELLEHER'S STAMP QUARTELY magazine today . There are 3 pages about all the tourism destination around Boston and the history of the area . There is no information about the stamp show in this stamp magazine ---THERE IS NO TALK ABOUT THE SHOW ---- so who ever said it was about tourism above is correct .

Curious, because Boston doesn't need any help attracting tourists but stamp collecting could use new blood.

Boston also is closer by air to Europe than many other US cities and the convenience of wealthy international exhibitors also had to be considered in the choice.

The decision to attend for some also isn't exclusively driven by cost. Societies have meetings, dinners occur, and competitive exhibitors rub shoulders. The social aspect of these shows is very important to some attendees.