Help me to chose a US "base camp"
 

Hello FTers,

I will be shortly visiting US on a biz trip. Though I have visited US many times in the past, it used to be for a very short time (3 weeks max). Now I need to stay in US for about 3-4 months. My company doesn't have a US presence yet. I need some expert help to chose a "base camp" in US.

My boss thinks a place in East coast (or where the time zone is EST) may be the best bet. There is no preference to any city yet as our customers are spread throughout US. I need to travel within US during my stay. My requirements about the base camp are this.

- It needs to be near a good metro airport
- I am a Skyteam junkie. It should be better served by ST members!
- It should have a lower cost of living with good access to public transport (very important!)
- It should have a bearable weather during winter (not freezing kind like Chicago!)

What would such plac be? Your help is highly appreciated.

Kshasty
(Same request is posted in Anet nonAv forum)

Vegas.

Skyteam, East Coast, mild weather, public transportation, and a decent cost of living??? That's a pretty tall order. The only place that I can think of would be Atlanta, which, unfortunately, is a cultural black hole and has a sky high crime rate. It basically meets all of your criteria (if you want to call the MARTA decent public transport) and has ATL to serve your Skyteam needs.

I agree. You can flights out of LAS to anywhere in the US, even (non-ST) non-stop flights to many small markets.

Vegas?? boy, I thought it must be the most expensive city to live in.

What do you guys think about Houston? I also thought about Cincinnati (seems to have lowest cost of living, but dull in all other respects).

I also observed that airfares tend to be expensive in the hub airports. For example CVG-SFO direct was expensive on DL compared to MCO-SFO with a change at ATL. Something I wouldn't understand.

Vegas is cheap.

Houston is humid, much like your native India.

What services are your company hoping to expand here, if you don't mind me asking?

I work with some Indian companies, and have some Indian friends, although I am not Indian.

I will think over Vegas. My boss may have a problem with this choice ;)

Just sent you a PM.

Pittsburgh. You can't get cheaper living than that and you still have a sort of major city around.

You could theoretically consider the New York/Newark area. As bad as ATC delays can be at EWR it is a Continental hub plus having access to JFK and LGA will give you good access to NW and DL flights as well.

ATL meets ALL your criteria.

1) EST zone.
2) Mild winters.
3) Mass transit with station in the airport.
4) Skyteam hub so nonstops to many cities.
5) Low cost of living compared to NYC.

Also direct flights to India. :)

"South Beach" in Miami Beach, Florida

--Russ ;)

Raleigh-Durham

Another vote for Atlanta here.

Absolutely ATL.

Atlanta seems to be the only city that meets ALL of your requirements.

I would suggest Washington, DC, but it's pretty expensive compared to ATL.