Eastercon

[jack]

I couldn't decide whether to try to go to eastercon (http://www.orbital2008.org/) this year. I went to Worldcon in Glasgow, but never actually to an eastercon. It'd be nice, but I wasn't sure if it'd be free, so I decided I would if I could easily, otherwise not bother. But I'm not doing anything else, and today is the last official day of bookings, so I still could. Go impulsiveness indecision :)

The booking is well-practised but a little complicated as it's handled by the con or by the hotel. An eastercon regular will now explain any of the details relevant to this. I would book, except joint hotel bookings are handled by the con only for the main hotel. The overflow overflow has its lobby under construction, but (afaict from going partly through the booking process) has nice rooms for 75GBP single-occupancy or 85GBP twin-occupancy.

That's c. 180GBP con membership + hotel for three nights over Easter weekend. So -- no-one else who hadn't decided, or was already looking, would like to share a twin (or double) room, would they?

ETA: Getting a nearby travellodge was also suggested, which some people were doing, but I'd rather go next time instead when I can be central.

Comments

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

My room at Eastercon is already full, but you should come, really, you should, it'll be great!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I hope so, we'll see if it can be arranged.

[angoel.livejournal.com]

I'm going and have booked a room ticking the option that I'd be happy to share if the con could find a likewisely minded person. I'd be happy to switch to sharing with you. (My understanding is that switching's not that difficult, but I've never been to an Eastercon before either, so this may be incorrect).

Let me know if you want me to investigate switching viability.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

That would be ideal, but I don't know how the situation will be with booking -- if you'd have to cancel that booking and book a room with me in the overflow, or if, if you've already booked half a twin room in the Raddisson, you can convert that to a twin.

(The organisers do a wonderful job, but I wish they collect *together* the advice on which hotel is full, so you could tell what is current and what is superseded. AFAICT there are twin rooms remaining for booking at the Raddison, but probably reserved for con workers/dealers, and if we were able to get a room at the raddison, I should book today for that hotel and list you as sharing, and you change your booking to list me, which is trivial.

If I was certain I wanted to go, I could book on that basis, and then get a room at the other hotel when necessary. But I don't really want to go unless accommodation works out, the worst case would be they take a day to get back, by which time the overflow hotel is full or there's no-one to share with.)

If you could ask, that would be wonderful -- thank you. I think the address is membership@orbital2008.org.

[angoel.livejournal.com]

I've sent an email to membership copying in your cantab account - we'll see what they say and can take it from there.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's perfect.

[angoel.livejournal.com]

The response seems to have been positive; just follow the instructions.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously I think it will be super and everyone should go, but I do think it's going to be a good one.

The con is handling all bookings for the main hotel, rather than having you book direct, but you book overflow rooms yourself. TBH both the overflows are so close I don't think you'll lose out much. The Travelodges are incredibly cheap, and I'm staying in one of them for a night either side, but they are a couple of miles away and not so convenient.

Next year is in a hotel with fewer rooms, so if you do decide you'd rather go next time you should decide sooner rather than later :) And of course the membership price will rise.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously I think it will be super and everyone should go, but I do think it's going to be a good one.

ROFL. Point.

TBH both the overflows are so close I don't think you'll lose out much.

That's what I thought, I was happy with it. Just that if it is with Sebby I don't know how that works, him having booked a "share with someone" room.

The Travelodges are incredibly cheap, and I'm staying in one of them for a night either side

Does that make sense? How cheap/where?

Next year is in a hotel with fewer rooms, so if you do decide you'd rather go next time you should decide sooner rather than later :)

Good point. I might book immediately, or else not bother at all, I don't know, it depends how I feel. I probably won't go to all eastercons.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the room-sharing with someone not on your booking gets a bit complicated, but you could fill in the name of your sharer later so you didn't have to book at the same time. Once the hotel was full they started emailing people to find sharers and try and fill up the gaps, which then freed up a few rooms, and it all gets a bit complicated.

I see that it's a moot point, but the nearest Travelodge is about 2.5 miles away, and £19/night for a room which can sleep up to 3. So pretty damn cheap even if you get a taxi there and back.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I'm sorted with Sebby, thank you! I knew the theory, but wasn't sure how the gory details would actually turn out; if adding new people to share with specific people would be more or less convenient...

Do you happen to have a link? It might yet be relevant for an adjacent night, depending.

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

Easiest to just search on www.travelodge.com - I think I'm in the Heathrow West one, which is a bit closer to the hotel than the Heathrow East.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

That's what I did, but it was much more than that; I wasn't sure if the rates had gone up or if I'd got the chain wrong, but me being me I bet the latter ;) Thanks.

[pizza.maircrosoft.com (from livejournal.com)]

my dad said something about travelodges having so many cheap rooms, and when they're used up, onto more expensive ones ... a bit like trains and planes and things I suppose.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that makes sense. I assumed it was like planes, and the price just depends on when you book, but different rooms would have the same effect but also look more consistent.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I checked, and it looks like whenever you book it gives you a family room with a double bed, a sofa[1] and a cot; which if you were happy to put three people in for £20, would be nearly free each, but if it was just you a few weeks in advance, would be £60 per person.

[1] You pay for a sofa?

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

The sofa is basically a big mattress with some pillows on to make it sofa-like and bedding is supplied. It's fairly comfy for a night or two - I stayed in one with my parents a few years ago.

[ceb.livejournal.com]

Do come to this one if you can! The people running it do especially fantastic cons.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I am coming, barring misunderstandings! I'm all booked and sharing with angoel in the Raddison. I wouldn't have minded not, but it does look good.

Who are they, particularly? I heard other positive comments, but didn't know any of the people (I'm not really in the con scene, although like many others, I might be considered a prospective dabbler :)).

[despotliz.livejournal.com]

The con committee are mostly the people who run Redemption, a biannual media sf con but with more of the sensibility of an Eastercon than a big actor-guest-oriented media con.

[ceb.livejournal.com]

What she said. Redemptions are always fantastic fun and have a wonderfully full and interesting programme.

[ravingglory.livejournal.com]

Darn it, I want to go to a con. I've never been together (and well off) enough to get one. However Robert will be visiting me at that time, so not a good idea.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

In England it's fairly easy, as there's not that much room :) I can't decide if you'd be a conny sort of person or not -- it's not a complete overlap with scifi, and lots of geeks don't. But I think you'd enjoy it. There's a different crowd of sci-fi people than I see most often, but mostly very nice (if sometimes insane :)).

Today is the last official day of advance booking, so if you want, you'd best go quickly. (But the adjacent overflow hotel will go on taking bookings, and con membership will probably be available for a little while, and on the door.) A sensible strategy might be to book if you can do so with little hassle, and wait for another occasion otherwise. This was my idea.

Otherwise, plan next year if you're here, or wait for one near California, there must be local cons to there.

However Robert will be visiting me at that time, so not a good idea.

Probably not. Although, you know, I had an idea how you could have both :)

[ravingglory.livejournal.com]

En, I really think I should pay attention to Robert while he is here, not get distracted by cons. But let me know if there is another one while I'm likely to be here.

There are CA cons the ones my friends go to seem to be Anime oriented though, or just don't find out until too late to plan to go.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

That's probably wisest. (Although you could mention it: it might be as fun to do together as anything else.)

I don't really know what cons are coming up: some SGO friends are planning one, but I think that's for 2009 now. Eastercon will happen again next year ("lx2009") -- you can sign up now if you want. (What year are you in now, how long are you at cam for?)