[lostcolony]

If it's once a quarter, the cost of a flight + hotel is minimal. An extra $1k a trip (and that's cross country in the US + expensive hotel), for four trips a year, is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of a developer (especially if they're living in a cheaper area). Driving distance shouldn't be a factor if it's that infrequent; I'd happily pay $4k if I could save even more on salary costs, or if it meant the difference between hiring someone who nails the interview and looks like a great addition, and waiting another month as we keep interviewing.