I drove to the Book Expo for one specific reason. I weighed the costs. I could haul more value in books home, after paying gas, food and motel for the extra days in travel than the cost of a plane ticket and shipment for books.

The one drawback was that I had to carry (heave?) those bags and bags of books out, and to the car.

The convention centers that are big enough to hold events with thousands of booths are huge. Walking from the front door to the booths is a long distance for people with back, feet or leg problems. Carrying the books on top of that is a horrid task, imo. You can take a rolling suitcase, but you have to check it in, leave it, and carry books to it--which can still be a distance to go.

Healthy, fit people don't have to worry about the hiking, I guess, but I'm getting old and appreciate shorter distances to parking areas, and curb service. A cab, or driver who can bring the car to the door is a Godsend, if you can afford that, or have someone who loves you enough to do that, or help with the hauling of your booty (free books)--I totally recommend that.

There are plenty of free book bags to haul stuff away in at the BEA, so that isn't a problem. It's not like you have to carry in a ton of those.

However, the more you haul out, the pickier you get about what you're willing to carry. Three days of that, and your arms, legs and back become decidedly stoped out if you aren't careful. Be sure and wear comfortable, well fitting shoes. I can't stress that enough. And take lots of cash. The drinks ($2 and up?) and foods there are not cheap.

As a writer, the one reason I felt it important to take books was because I wanted to know what a specific publisher liked, so I could get a feel for the flavors they published. If you consider that, you might advance your writing. I think about that every time I read a book. I learn, also, from the turns of phraseology in description and action that other writers use.