G'day.
As all (or most at the very least) of the Mittens attendees know, it was generally decided that Mittens 2012 would be held in the USA. More specifically the west coast.
I'd like to offer my services as host for the event if nobody has any issues with that. If you do just post and we can sort something out. Most likely Francisco will serve as a co-host as it may be easier dealing with American bank to bank transactions. (even though my Mastercard is accepted world wide)
There was some discussion about the slim possibility of hosting an Australian Mittens. I'd also like to get an opinion on that. Queensland has excellent beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. My suggestion would be somewhere like Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays:
If this were the case, I'd suggest late October. October enjoys temperatures of around 28-30 Celsius, ideal for you northern hemisphere people. There are obviously a few detractors from the Australian Mittens Prospect. Large houses are not as common, so we might have to get holiday apartments. Airfares are pricey and flights are long.
Otherwise, California (most likely LA or San Fran), mid-late August.
***Update***
Ok, so I figured that Australian Mittens was not going to be a viable possibility (and I don't mind that at all!)
So sticking with the original plan and from what everyone has said, Mittens 2012 will be in California.
Here are a few of the properties I'd like to put forward.
*prices may vary due to taxes and extras*
The Pickford House
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p285192 (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p285192)
23+ people (Blow up mattress up to 29), good reviews. Downside is there is no beach nearby.
Villa Bellagio
http://www.vacationpalmsprings.com/home_detail.php?home_name=la-quinta-luxury-pool-vacation-rental (http://www.vacationpalmsprings.com/home_detail.php?home_name=la-quinta-luxury-pool-vacation-rental)
9 Bedrooms & up to 32 people. This is the place to get if we get a good number of people.
The rate is $9197.63, which includes tax and cleaning costs. which is 367 for 25 people or 300 for 30. If we get the numbers, this house is incredible. Right near the Salton Sea!!
Restoration Oaks Retreat
http://www.restorationoaksretreats.com/index.html (http://www.restorationoaksretreats.com/index.html)
Lovely ranch setting that sleeps 20-25ish. Pick Blueberries! See the youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDHEo2CZOs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDHEo2CZOs)
$3990 for the Main ranch house and guest house. Close to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
Beachfront Villas, Seal Beach
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p171375 (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p171375)
3 villas in total with 9 bedrooms. Sleeps up to 24 people. Beachfront. Los Angeles location.
This is very pricy at 4000+ per villa. Probably out of the pricerange, but it's in a great location.
THE TITAN
http://www.houseboating.org/boat_info.cfm?id=453079412 (http://www.houseboating.org/boat_info.cfm?id=453079412)
The titan is a houseboat on Lake Shasta (northern California). It sleeps 22, has 3 levels, has a waterslide from the top level that spirals around and dumps you into the lake. It also costs a bunch at 13000 a week. Oh well, we can all dream of being on a boat.
So these are the current options I have found. Please take a look and let me know what you think. I'd love to get an idea of numbers as well, but it's probably too early for that.
In addition to the regular Mittens gathering, a number of us will be making a jaunt to San Francisco. This will most likely be the weekend after Mittens. I will be renting a car for the duration of Mittens plus the road trip. Not sure about having the car in San Francisco, but I'll decide that when I plan my trip as I'll be doing at least 3 weeks in America.
I would rather it be Australia (as I've always wanted to go) but if it is Australia the chances of my attending are slim!
As for a location in the Western region of the USA I'd recommend something less "touristy" than L.A. or San Francisco. I suppose it depends on what people want to do. I'd rather spend a week in some mountain chateau in the Rockies (like the chateau in France) and do some hiking and live in the country. If we went in-land a bit (like say the Denver area (Colorado) or Salt Lake City (Utah)) possible day trips could include; the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Mount Rushmore, Pike's Peak (amazing views from the top and the drive up is an experience in and of itself!) and quite a few others (Colorado Springs is an amazing town to visit as well).
This are just my thoughts (never been a fan of big cities). I really want to attend this year... I hate having missed the last two!
Also, Ryan, sorry I missed your MSN! I was sleeping after a long night of Uncharted3 :)
Australia would be fantastic, but it is a bit difficult to get to and it might reduce the number of attendees like what happened in 2005.
A couple of months ago I was looking at houses to rent on the West Coast with Layabout and there are some pretty nice and amazing ones (not to mention pretty cheap) in the California area. L.A. and San Francisco will probably be too touristy and expensive, but someplace in the countryside or something would be nice. The idea of taking trips to places like Darth mentioned is appealing. I kind of have this fantasy about renting a big red convertible and driving around like Hunter S. Thompson, but that's neither here nor there.
Anyway, I'll gladly help out as co-host if the need arises.
Well, I'm on the west coast near California (Northern Arizona specifically) so I can probably help out, depending. No idea if I could actually attend or not, money isn't great right now. All I know is it takes about 8 hours for me to get from where I am to San Diego, which was a nice place when last I was there.
West Coast USA gets my vote, somewhere like Monterey Bay (~1.5 hours south of San Francisco) would be good and still allow for excellent day trips.
Australia would be nice and I have always wanted to go, but I will be a part time resident of the UK next year and wish to time my summer stay there to end just before Mittens, so August would be great for that.
I can also help with any hosting activities whether it be booking, deposit, or renting and driving a car.
Well, I may be in Colorado by then, but I doubt I'll be settled enough to do hosting or anything. However, my wife wants to buy a huge horse ranch (we'll see...) so maybe you can camp there... :)
*bicilotti looks at the picture
You know for sure how to sell your ideas, Layabout! ;D
That looks beautiful and for sure gets my vote. The only thing that would keep me from joining you all is my cocaine addiction the amount of money required to flight there.
I have to say that Queensland and the Whitsundays are very beautiful. And I don't think the flight there will be much more expensive than to the US Westcoast. However, I've already been to Australia and if I went there again, I'd rather go to an area I haven't been before. Another thing is the long flight. It takes me 2 days there and 2 days back. When I was in Australia I've been staying there for 4 weeks, but I'm not sure if I can get that many days off from work. Actually, things are changing in my life and I'm not even sure if I will have work then. But this also applies to the US, although I'd go there for less then 4 weeks of course.
So, I can't say if I will be able to come to next Mittens at all :'(
Time for my annual show-an-interest-in-attending-Mittens-but-probably-won't-be-able-to-go post.
San Fransicso is one of the places I most want to visit so if Mittens was to be held there (or within a few hours drive) I'd be well up for going*, but as usual, I have no way of knowing what my finanical situation will be.
If all goes to plan, I should graduate in the summer and I have no idea what (if anything) I'll be doing for work after that, so I'm ages away from being able to commit to anything. Maybe I should try to find a job in whichever country/city Mittens is being held, then I could co-host... or at least show my face ;)
Quote from: Stupot+ on Tue 13/12/2011 18:08:05
Time for my annual show-an-interest-in-attending-Mittens-but-probably-won't-be-able-to-go post.
Same here. Both suggested locations sound great, but they are so far away from my regular spots than I'm unlikely to have the time to get there. But have fun, of course!
I'd rather California for Mittens really. If I was to go to Australia it'd be for a couple of weeks at least, I think.
I'd love to go to San Francisco or close by. I'd go there for a few days extra to follow the paths in Hitchcock's Vertigo and especially one of my favourite games, Manhunter: San Francisco. At this point though I fear that for the first time since the tradition of Mittens began I'd be unable to due to cash limitations.
Sounds great guys, West US would be awesome! Not a chance in hell that I'd be able to afford to go though, and I know some others won't be able to either - so I'll probably try and arrange (or push someone into arranging) a Brittens for all those who don't have much cash. But wish you the best of luck, there or Australia would be a fantastic location and it's about time those areas are covered, gives plenty of people the oppurtunity to finally attend :)
If I can't make it to Mittens, I'd be interested in attending Brittens, at least for a few days.
I'd certainly go to a West Coast Mittens. Australia would be a little over budget for me though :(
I have updated! See original post!
Places look nice. I would say the Pickford House as well as the Restoration Oaks Retreat are probably the best contenders for size, price, and location. The Villa Bellagio looks amazing, but expensive, although I notice on the website that the weekly rate is $2000 cheaper during the summer, which makes it considerable as well. It all depends on the numbers I guess.
The Titan wins, hands down!
Back in the real world, I'd agree with Grundislav. And I'd probably lean more towards Pickford. Or Bellagio, which looks porntastic!
I'd really like a place with a pool, which it seems only the Bellagio has of the ones listed. Swimming/floating around helps me unwind in a way a jacuzzi doesn't come close to, and was the main thing I missed in Ireland.
Otherwise, they all look good.
Hey gang. I've also been trying to find properties in California that are accessible and beachy, but am unlucky in finding anything that both sleeps at least 20 and is less than $10,000/week. I did find one property not seen so far that fits, but it is only available during one week in August (11-18) but is available most of September.
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p320222
I would like to put Coastal Oregon forward as a possible alternative. They tend to sleep more and be less expensive than their California counterparts, and they are all on the Pacific Ocean! I'm not sure how well this would fit in with the roadtrip people were planning, but figured I would check it out anyways. The distance from Lincoln City, OR to San Francisco is 610 miles along the US-101 Coastal Highway, and takes about 13 hours.
Rockaway Beach Villa (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p932218)
Beach house on Coastal Oregon, 1:45 from Portland, sleeps 22. Pros are great views, the Pacific is directly outside the backdoor, and it has a fire pit! This property certainly is sexy. Potential con is PDX is not as busy as LAX or SFO, but that will be true for all the properties I list in this post. It is about 75% available between June and August
$5,807.20 including tax and cleaning
Per person at maximum capacity (22): $264
The Neptune (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p311594)
Large house nearly two blocks from the beach, interesting decor, 2:20 from Portland, foosball table. I get the impression it is geared toward crafty middle-aged ladies with its scrapbooking and sewing supplies onsite, but it has three decks and a hot tub and panoramic the Ocean. Bit further away from the airport than Rockaway though. Completely available all year right now (:S) 4 reviews, all good.
$3,959.50 including tax and cleaning
Per person at maximum capacity (20): $198
Rental 158596 (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p158596)
Another rental right on the beach. This property is nice looking and has more amenities geared toward our age group and interests, including previous-gen consoles and an 81 game arcade booth that does not accept currency. It is available nearly all of June, but is booked out in July and only one week is fully available right now in August (Monday 6th to Tuesday 14th). 90 miles from Portland.
$4,485 including tax and cleaning, assuming they meant 10% tax and '1%' is a typo
Per person at maximum capacity (20): $224
Pelican Reach (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p169342)
Plenty to see here. Air hockey, ping pong, pool table, 3in1poker table, large deck with Ocean views and a hot tub. Further in from the beach but the accommodations look nice. Call for availability.
$5,581.50 including tax and cleaning
Per person at maximum capacity (24): $234
The Calypso (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p141692)
Has an outdoor shower. Nice furnishings and 80 from PDX (sorry but I am getting bored :P)
Alarmingly, it has one 1 star review and one 5 star review.
$5,494.50 including tax and cleaning
Per person at maximum capacity (22): $250
Quote from: Disco on Thu 29/12/2011 18:20:31
Hey gang. I've also been trying to find properties in California that are accessible and beachy, but am unlucky in finding anything that both sleeps at least 20 and is less than $10,000/week. I did find one property not seen so far that fits, but it is only available during one week in August (11-18) but is available most of September.
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p320222
Nice place! I was wondering why I hadnt seen it in my search, so I looked up the address and saw it was in Florida! Florida is not California silly!
That said, what are Oregon beaches like? When I think of Oregon I don't think of beaches. In fact, I really don't know anything about Oregon, except that at some point in time there was a trail.
All I know about Oregon is it's got Portland, which is full of artists and hipsters. As far as beaches, I am also clueless, but according to Disco, the average temperature in August is about 71F, so it won't be necessary to wear winter clothing in the summer as it was in Ireland.
That said, we were also discussing price vs size, and came to the conclusion that realistically, we probably won't get more than 20 or so attendees, so a house that sleeps 20+ won't really be necessary. Looking for places that sleep less and are much more within budget is a lot more feasible.
Of course, we should probably take a general poll and see who is interested in coming so we can have an idea of how many people we'll need to house.
I am interested in coming, obviously; it's just a matter of whether or not I'll actually have the wherewithal to follow through. Just a warning, though: Everything around that area is going to be hyper expensive, especially with California repeatedly defaulting on its debt and raising taxes :'( .
If I can manage it, though, I
definitely want a place near the beach since I've yet to go to one and I'm tired of looking at them on tv like they only exist on tv!
Below is an entirely optional idea since we're still talking about pre-planning. I'm not looking to step on anyones' dick here so I've left it hidden in case nobody is interested in a potentially cheaper alternative.
Spoiler
I'm NOT suggesting a venue change, but if a majority of people find the prices in the Los Angeles area too expensive, Lake Havasu City in West Arizona is a pretty popular summer spot and has a shitload of stuff to do in a reasonable area and price. I mention it only because of something Darth said, and some noteworthy locations within striking distance (and affordability, as Arizona tends to be quite cheaper to do stuff in than California for numerous reasons):
1. The Grand Canyon (231 miles or 3.3 hours from Lake Havasu City).
2. London Bridge (if you want a little historical fun).
3. Bluewater Resort and Casino (if you have an itch for gambling).
4. Lake Havasu. Basically a HUGE lake with beaches, golf courses, resorts all around.
5. Sedona (if you want to see the Painted Desert for about 1.2 hour's drive).
6. Other stuff I'm sure..I haven't been out that way in a long time so I'd really have to look into it if people were actually interested.
www. golakehavasu. com
Bear in mind that Arizona can easily reach 100-120 Fahrenheit during July and August (it will be considerably lower around the lake, probably 80-90 degrees), so you Britisher types especially would want to carry SPF-100 with you ^_^. Also, just about every place you can rent will have air conditioning so you'll only really sweat your balls off if you want to hike up a mountain or sunbathe.
Both Janet and I would like to try and make it this year, although of course it depends on when it occurs! We are going to be spending some time in the UK visiting her family, so we'll have to plan around that. But for now, count us in. Janet is using AGS to program our next project, so she is definitely an "AGSer" even though she doesn't post on the forum. :)
Janet is a total AGS nerd. I can vouch for that.
Hey, it'd be nice to have some people at Mittens who actually use AGS. Most Mitteneers have barely heard of it. :=
Before my first Mittens I made at least a MAGS game because I thought it would be embarrassing otherwise. Turns out, some people neither made nor played AGS games :P
I want to go to ProgZ lake and get sunburnt to death. (it seems a nice place, really, didn't have time to check prices though)
I'd love to attend too! I hope we can finalize the date soon, so flights are still affordable.
My votes are for the Villa Bellagio and/or the Titan boats :D
PS: Is this rule still valid "only game creators wanted"?
If so, I'll have to hurry to convince my wife to create an hour game, since I certainly can't spend this year's vacation all on my own.
PPS: yaay, mittens!
Quote from: abstauber on Mon 23/01/2012 09:49:19
PS: Is this rule still valid "only game creators wanted"?
Hope not! Lots of other things going on plus general lethargy has turned my GIP into a game-in-hiatus.
(Though I guess I could claim Swarm membership.)
BTW, since some aren't able to make it to the US, if a smaller group of people (probably up to about 8 or so) want to meet up in Europe this summer, I have access to a house in Spain which we'd be welcome to use, free of charge (except if we burn it down or something), just north of Malaga.
Quote from: abstauber on Mon 23/01/2012 09:49:19
PS: Is this rule still valid "only game creators wanted"?
Wait, when was that
ever a rule?
Quote from: abstauber on Mon 23/01/2012 09:49:19
I'd love to attend too! I hope we can finalize the date soon, so flights are still affordable.
My votes are for the Villa Bellagio and/or the Titan boats :D
PS: Is this rule still valid "only game creators wanted"?
If so, I'll have to hurry to convince my wife to create an hour game, since I certainly can't spend this year's vacation all on my own.
PPS: yaay, mittens!
Hi!
Judging from past USA Mittens headcount, I don't think there will be a problem with your wife attending. Obviously priority is given to members of the AGS community, but there is no specific ruling.
That said, a few of the UK regulars won't be attending, like Mods, Davy and Kim.
I think the Villa Bellagio is a little out of the price range for some people. I will be doing a further search sometime soon (I'm currently in the process of looking for a new place for me to live) and I'll see what we can find.
I don't see us getting more than 20 people.
I too would like to get the dates set asap so I can book my leave.
Well, I just blocked the last 4 weeks of August and simply keep my thumbs pressed that it will happen around that date. As for the location: as long as it features water in any form (like pool, beach or both) it's fine for me.
Spoiler
Mittens in the caribibbian would also be blast.
Quote
Wait, when was that ever a rule?
Last year a few people were concerned that most seats would be blocked by non-AGS crowd, because everyone wanted to bring their bf/gf/wife/husband etc. But I'm glad to hear that it's not an issue this year :)
Quote from: Snarky on Mon 23/01/2012 09:58:38
BTW, since some aren't able to make it to the US, if a smaller group of people (probably up to about 8 or so) want to meet up in Europe this summer, I have access to a house in Spain which we'd be welcome to use, free of charge (except if we burn it down or something), just north of Malaga.
Sounds like a plan. If we eurocentric peeps can't make the main bash, it'd be cool to have an alternate option.
I was just looking at places and found this one here (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p190177)
Pros:
- It's $2,800 for the week during low season (June 1-Aug 31)
- Sleeps 20
- Pool AND Jacuzzi
- Poker table
- Near the Salton Sea!
Cons:
- Kind of remote (2 1/2 hours east of L.A.)
- No beach nearby
There is also this place (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p192631)
Pros:
- Also in the $2,800 per week range
- Sleeps 22
- Pool (with diving board) and jacuzzi, dartboard, etc
- Close to civilization (45 minutes from LAX)
Cons:
- In a neighborhood
- Already booked for most of the summer.
- Additional fee of $25 per person per day for groups larger than 12
So Jen and I can only do the second two weeks of July, or any time in August, because of work commitments. So please take these dates into consideration!
Quote from: Layabout on Mon 23/01/2012 12:11:54
That said, a few of the UK regulars won't be attending, like Mods, Davy and Kim.
We're going to try to come! But it is not a certain.
Looks like I'll be indisposed until the third or fourth week of July, so any time thereafter will be good for me.
Well thanks to Bicilotti it seems I'll be attending this Mittens, and as luck would have it I'm on the same continent!
How I would love to go one of these times! Why can't it be in my backyard...
Just thought I'd pop in and say I'm definitely going to be there 'cause I ain't no square and this is the closest Mittens has ever been to me, as long as it does eventually wind up on the west coast somewhere. I can't wait to bug everybody in person again!
I am undecided yet, but a firm maybe :P
Any time would be good for me, but around August would be best.
So is there any progress on this? It's really getting to the point where we should be making a decision...
For numbers, I came up with the following:
Layabout (1)
Grundislav
Darth
Disco
Miez (5)
Snarky
Limpingfish
ProgZ
Bicilotti
AGA (10)
Jen
Dave
Janet
Abstauber
Mrs. Abstauber (15)
Pesty
CJ
Esseb
Jake
Suicidal pencil (20)
The Triumphant Return of Andail
There were others who expressed interest but seemed kinda doubtful so I left them off. We will probably add and subtract as usual, but this list seems the most likely from this thread.
Date wise, I think only Berian, Jen, and myself have expressed any preferred slot. August seems to work for everyone so far. Does anyone else have any date suggestions??
I think August is good. Seems to be good for everyone else too, since nobody has said otherwise. We should then decide on a 20 person house before everything gets booked up.
How about this one?
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p936992 (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p936992)
Wow, that place definitely has my vote for location and sexiness! Being available one of our most common Mittens weeks is a sign.
I came up with $259 / â,¬198 / £165 / 246 AUD / 1,495 NOK each based on 20. Seems to be one of the more convenient locations in regards to transportation and amenities that we have considered so far.
Count me in 8)
Yes, that looks great. With one exception...
I'd like to see more of their calculations for "sleeps 20", since their description only mentions 1 King Size bed, 3 Queen Size bed and one triple bunk bed (Twin Size), which by my count comes to 11 if we double up on the Kings and Queens. Then there are two couches and a love seat that can be slept on, and they offer 4 air mattresses with bedding. :-\
OK, so that comes to 18 (some of them not-so-comfortable-sounding). Where are the last two? Are they counting the crib?
Has a date been decided? Jan and I plan on going to Gamescom (http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/en/gamescom/home/index.php) in mid-August so as long as it doesn't conflict count us in!
This place is a bit less luxury, more functional. It claims to sleep 24 and in one of the reviews someone says they had a group of 22 with no problems. Closer to civilization http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p398232 (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p398232)
Hmm, that seems more reasonable and the luxury is comparable to what we are used to. If it fits more people comfortably and is roughly the same cost as the other house, this may be the ticket.
@Dave: Grundy and I have been searching for the last week in August. If we do it from August 24-31 that will give you five days buffer space. It would be great to see you and Janet for more than a few hours at a time for once so hope you can make it :)
Does that Friday to Friday plus the weekend sound okay for everyone? I plan on spending some time in the area before and after. We could do another weekend after Mittens in a hostel somewhere like we did in Dublin, though I'm not sure if Los Angeles is conducive to that kind of travel.
Any location near a major city works for me since there's a 95% chance I'll be taking a greyhound in and I can get to either anaheim or LA via greyhound in roughly 8 hours. The latest place Grundislav showed looks awesome because:
1. hot tub
2. pool table
3. foosball table
4. Anaheim (not far from a greyhound)
5. $2800/week for 20 people would be super cheap.
Right now I have the means and the opportunity for this location. Hopefully Disco or someone can meet me at greyhound so I'm not totally lost.
Those dates suit me
Looks good! I think we should take it.
Good find, Grundislav. That does look excellent.
As per usual, I'd like to come, but it's a very huge maybe.
It would be nice to continue the production of "100 days to Ragnarok" with Esseb, just to mention one reason :)
Yep, I like the look of the latest place a lot. And the last week of August sounds perfect. I was wary of the expense of a two-week stay, but a single week makes my attendance much more likely. :)
Just wanted to confirm that now that we have some dates and a pretty nice house (I want to make things in that kitchen!), I am a definite definite, not just a secretly tentative definite like I was before!
Nice place! Last week of august sounds good to me ... consider me there :D
Hey everyone, I have an update!
Grundy and I are co-hosting this year. He is taking care of the security deposit while I act as PR/liaison. I sent an inquirey, got a response, and had a telephone conversation with the owner yesterday. The property is available for those dates, but she wanted to speak with me first because they normally do not rent to groups of adults only. Apparently they have had issues with some wild party groups causing disturbances in the neighbourhood, but once I explained more about our group and our activities and interests she gave us the okay.
The property has an unlisted pullout couch in the game room that they did not include in the totals because the room is unheated (being in late August this should be no issue though). This makes the total for sleeping in beds 19 without using any air mattresses, but mostly doubling up except for the bunk bed.
Total based on 20 people is $4,700, so $235 each. Every additional person up to 24 adds $175 to the overall, while each person less down to 12 decreases it by the same.
Good to see a solid interest now :) I'll contact Grundy when I get home tonight to see if we can go ahead with the booking.
Janet and I are definite definites as well! We are finalizing our travel plans after gamescom, and we want to stop by the UK to visit Janet's family, so we probably won't get to LA until the 26th or 27th. Can we bagsy a bed to ourselves for the week?
-Dave
I thought we were leaning towards the place Grundislav listed that sleeps 24?
I'm fine either way, though.
Quote from: Snarky on Mon 19/03/2012 13:32:54
I thought we were leaning towards the place Grundislav listed that sleeps 24?
I was referring to the property that was most recently suggested (not the previous one that you found out only sleeps 11 in beds) that does indeed sleep up to 24. Sorry if that wasn't clear in my update.
[nevermind]
Nah, I'm really liking the Anaheim one for the pool table and foosball and yeah, so I'm definitely still for anaheim unless we find one that's near the city and superior. City = easy for me to get to and from via bus (unless I have a chauffeur?) . :=
Edit: Also, checking greyhound rates it looks like it will cost double for me to get to san luis obispo instead of anaheim X|.
They both have foosball! (So I know what I'll be doing most of the week...) And I'm sure we can work out transportation: most of us will be coming by plane (to LAX?) and get picked up by whoever rents a car.
I kind of like the Anaheim because it has a pool and not just a jacuzzi (though it looks pretty small; not like in Miami or Florence, sadly), plus travel is easier. Also, and this is pretty much the geekiest reason ever, it's close to CalState Fullerton, and I was thinking I might go have a look at the Frank Herbert special collection in their library, with the original manuscript of Dune etc. :=
On the other hand, Morro Bay looks nice enough, maybe a bit more interesting than Anaheim.
Thanks for the effort, Disco!
Yeah, sorry just got a little apprehensive. Talking to Grundy now and we are sure about the Anaheim house. I just got a little anxious about misunderstanding the bed situation. Apparently there is plenty and I just got confused by the formatting on that page :p
That house I linked just now seems alright at first, but I dug deeper and it is very suspect. The other five places I contacted were either similarly suspect or too much.
So by next Friday (26th) we will need to send them $2,650. If about 10-11 people can pay in full by then we should have no problem booking.
I can start taking payments now. Please Paypal $235 to impressiveowl@gmail.com in order to get this first payment due sorted out within a week. This is the per-person rate based on 20. Soon after I make the deposit, I will start a new thread that we can discuss official things now that we are beyond the pre-planning stages
I just sent Disco my money, AND SO SHOULD YOU!
Guess I should mark that week in my calendar and look for flights right away... Any pre- or post-Mittens things being planned? Someone mentioned Disneyland, I think... ?
All my $235 are belong to Kenneth Ricklefs. Also I claim bunkbed spot (unless I am too tall and/or fat)! :=
I have the same question as above. Is there any payoff to me staying another week (ie, will there be people around and somewhere to stay)?
Otherwise I'll just book amtrak to arrive in anaheim at around 7:00 am friday the 24th and leave the 31st at around 2 pm.. These times work pretty well unless there's cool stuff going on after.
Anaheim, eh?
approximately 4,500 kilometers from my current position...There's a >90% chance I'll show up, but it means I have to start walking sometime in June if it's in August...but it looks like I'll have to pass through Las Vegas to get there, so not it's not complete bad news for me :=
Still, no matter how I'm gonna go about getting there, this is gonna suck :(
(http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x313/suicidal_pencil/thissucks.jpg)
You all seem pretty definite already, but Jen and I can do those dates.
Hey, it's about time to renew my interest, those dates are fine with us too.
I just need to find out what else to do in the US, otherwise a transatlantic flight for one week might be a bit silly :D
I have vague plans of staying in the area for about a week afterward. Doing what exactly, I do not yet know.
High on my wish list is renting a convertible and driving around LA siteseeing, particularly the Capital Records building, Hollywood, that makeout point that is in all the movies, and cruising around Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Maybe go further up the coast into wine country?
It would be preferable to have travel mates during the post-Mittens days, so planning something together would be for the best.
Deposit Update: So far 4 people have paid, all within three hours of when I started accepting payments, but I have not recieved any more in the last two days. The initial payment is in almost 3 days. While I can make an extra payment, I can only do ONE extra one right now, so need at least 6 more people to send in theirs. If not, I will have to come up with a contingency and we risk losing the house for those dates.
Quote from: Disco on Fri 23/03/2012 19:55:01
I have vague plans of staying in the area for about a week afterward. Doing what exactly, I do not yet know.
High on my wish list is renting a convertible and driving around LA siteseeing, particularly the Capital Records building, Hollywood, that makeout point that is in all the movies, and cruising around Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Maybe go further up the coast into wine country?
It would be preferable to have travel mates during the post-Mittens days, so planning something together would be for the best.
Deposit Update: So far 4 people have paid, all within three hours of when I started accepting payments, but I have not recieved any more in the last two days. The initial payment is in almost 3 days. While I can make an extra payment, I can only do ONE extra one right now, so need at least 6 more people to send in theirs. If not, I will have to come up with a contingency and we risk losing the house fore those dates.
I will make my payment either tonight or tomorrow morning... and I'll be staying another 1 or 2 weeks, visiting a friend in Seattle.
Boing! (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=45617.new#new)