The National in Baltimore

[pgellis]

I have never been to a National show before and since this year it is in Baltimore I have been thinking about attending for the first time. I was actually about to book a hotel room for the weekend the other night, but decided to "sleep on it".
My thoughts are that I will have to spend about $1000.00 for my wife and I to attend for the weekend. We would probably drive and stay 3 nights at a nice hotel, admission, tix to an Orioles game, food, etc.
I was wondering what other's experiences at the National are with regards to sale prices.
- Do you get any "bargains" at the National?
- Can you get some nice pre-war cards at book value or below?
- Or is everything over-priced?

I know that you will see many rarities in person, but is there value at the show?

The reason I am asking is that if I have to plunk down about $1K before I buy a single card, would it be better just to spend that $1K on a nice card in one of the current or upcoming big auctions? I know that the experience at the National goes beyond just finding bargains and buying cards, but I'm just wondering what others have experienced before at the show.