Summer 2011 FTF

Site Admin Joined: Jun 25, 2002 Posts: 104

As I promised, I'm looking in Milwaukee, but the options aren't so good.

On the weekend of July 15-17, apparently there's a lot going on, because our favorite hotel (the Courtyard downtown) has no sleeping rooms available. I only received three responses back from hotels:

Doubletree (downtown), sleeping rooms $159/night, $20-25 cab/shuttle from airport, $15/day parking. Nice downtown location, free wifi throughout, fitness center, restaurant, roof-deck pool, "Sweet Dreams" beds, chocolate chip cookies in the lobby.

Best Western (airport), sleeping rooms $99/night including breakfast buffet, free airport shuttle, free parking. Free wifi throughout, microwave/fridge in room, restaurant (limited hours), business center, dome-covered pool, other restaurants in walking distance.

Ramada Plaza Milwaukee Airport (airport), sleeping rooms $83/night including breakfast buffet, free airport shuttle, free parking. Free wifi throughout, complimentary shuttle to nearby mall, Houlihans on site, heated indoor pool, fitness center, business center.

I like the location and amenities of the Doubletree but I don't like the price. On the other hand, we're rarely in our rooms anyway, and we've seen that the pricier hotels don't always have the best meeting rooms. We could always cab downtown to go to the Safe House. What do you all think? If you don't like this, I'll talk to Minneapolis. Thoughts?

Site Admin Joined: Jun 25, 2002 Posts: 104

The best alternate cities would probably be Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, or Chicago. Chicago is generally very pricey so that's why it's so low on the list. I'm looking for someplace that has direct flights from most major locations.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:13 am

I would LOVE to see the ftf return to Minneapolis. If it did, I am about 99% sure I would be there. If not, Milwaukee is one of the few place I could probably attend. (80%?) Chicago would be a maybe (75%?), but I could be priced out of it. The other cities wouldn't happen for me.

As for which hotel, price is an issue, although I would hope to share a room to reduce costs. Other than wireless access and food of some sort being available somewhere nearby, I really don't care about other factors. I wouldn't be in the room (awake) or using the pool. That said, I would defer to those who have been to more of these things before on what amenities make for a good ftf hotel.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:20 am

Minneapolis is #1 on that list for me too. Something close or next to the Mall of America again would be great.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:41 am

Cab/car downtown to Safe House. Stay in MKE at airport. I plan to be there.

Do NOT want to see Minny again!

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:46 am

Any of the above locations would be good for me if I could go that weekend... but we'll likely have my little girl's 4th birthday party that weekend which means I'll be looking for some proxy help for this summer's face.

How can you pass up Kansas City BBQ?!!!!

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:48 am

There have to be better deals in Milwaukee.

Preferences from the remaining List:

1. Omaha
2. Kansas City
3. Minneapolis
4. Chicago
5. St. Louis
6. Indianapolis (seems borderline "Midwest")
7. Detroit (just listed it for Street Legal!)

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:48 am

List in order of preference:

Chicago
St Louis
Milwaukee

KC, Indianapolis and especially Minneapolis I have absolutely no interest in.

I'm kind of the opposite of most. Cost isn't a huge factor for me. I prefer to do places where there's more to do than just the face. Good dining, interesting history/attractions and other things to see are good. Gotta make it a vacation to justify going.

the Dark One

ArchMaster Poster Joined: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 1999

My preference would be cheap. Flight price and hotel price Wink

Advanced Master Poster Joined: Apr 15, 2003 Posts: 312

working wi-fi, bed and shower are all that's important to me for a face - thus the Best Western sounds fine

I've never thought Minneapolis was easy to get/out of personally

but my order of preference if given a choice:

St. Louis
Chicago
Indy
Milwaukee
KC
Minneapolis

Site Admin Joined: Jun 20, 2002 Posts: 1344

Managerr wrote:

There have to be better deals in Milwaukee.

Preferences from the remaining List:

1. Omaha
2. Kansas City
3. Minneapolis
4. Chicago
5. St. Louis
6. Indianapolis (seems borderline "Midwest")
7. Detroit (just listed it for Street Legal!)

I still vote for a Las Vegas or Los Angeles or San Diego face. Yes, I know that Tempe is the "west" face... but I'd still like to se one out here.

ArchMaster Poster Joined: Sep 13, 2006 Posts: 1020

I am with Dark One on the idea of it is best if interesting and money isn't a big issue. If we do Milwakee I wish to stay in the nice hotel downtown; although, I do wish to have an idea on timings (ie to and from airport).

I also think we are missing a few great cities such as Seattle, San Diego and Portand. I am aware (as a frequent f2f attender) that this keeps it on the West Coast and this has not always been desirable. My goal would be that we maximize our attendance. I understand some do not have the resources to go to these, which is a shame; however, repeating cities too soon will possibly decrease interest.

My wishes would be Seattle/Portland, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, and then Milwakee. Minni not so interested to go back, sorry Nomad and Terminator.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:13 pm

One other thing to consider is what it costs to fly into these places. I seriously doubt I'll be attending, just giving input.

A quick search (from San Jose) suggested the following flight costs (used weekend of Nov 5, really only interested in relative costs, used cheapest flight on Expedia. I suspect most people will find a similar pattern in flight costs)

1. Omaha ($293)
2. Kansas City ($283)
3. Minneapolis ($375)
4. Chicago (MDW) ($314)
5. St. Louis ($327)
6. Indianapolis (seems borderline "Midwest") ($319)
7. Detroit (just listed it for Street Legal!) ($261)

Now a Southern California / Vegas Face I might attend. Or even better Northern California (Sacramento/San Jose/Oakland/San Francisco). Denver works nicely for me, too (family)

Grandmaster Poster Joined: Mar 07, 2004 Posts: 523

1. Kansas City
2. St. Louis

or

1. St. Louis
2. Kansas City

Either way, I most likely could go. If I make it to a FTF, I'm there for the FTF, nothing else, so I don't care how boring the town is.

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:24 pm

Chief wrote:

working wi-fi, bed and shower are all that's important to me for a face - thus the Best Western sounds fine

+1
convention space is more important to me than fancy ammeneties. the orlando room was a wee bit tight. that's my only input.