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

[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.