OK kids, update e-mail from BrickFest:
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We finally got a hotel block secured for PBF this year. Unfortunately we were not able to get the Hilton Garden Inn across the parking lot like we had in April and September of 2014, and that is why this took so long. Instead, we will be staying at the Homewood Suites by Hilton which is only a 10 minute drive from the venue.
681 Shannondell Blvd.
Audubon, Pennsylvania 19403
You can feel free to book your rooms using this link:
http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/groups/personalized/P/PHLHWHW-BFL-20150420/index.jhtml
The rates are $109/night or $119/night depending on the room type.
Thank you for your patience and we will see you in April.
This email has been sent to all currently registered attendees. A reminder with the same information will be sent out closer to the event for more recently registered attendees.
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As of today, while they may not have gotten a block of rooms, I’m seeing availability at both the Hilton Garden and Hampton Inns right by the convention center:
HG $116/night (AAA rate)
Hampton $122/night (AAA)
(Based on 3 nights – Thurs 4/23 thru Sat 4/26)
I’d totally pay an extra few bucks to be close, unless we think it’s worth it to get the 1 bedroom suites (like we had last year) instead of studio suites (single room; possibly no foldout couch bed). Doesn’t seem like the HG or Hampton have those available at this time, so the Homewood Suites may be the best option if we want to go that route.
Last year, at the Hampton near the convention center, we had two of those suites with a kitchenette, couch, and TV in the entry room, and a second room w/ king bed and TV and a bathroom off that room. We fit 4 people in one room and 3 in the other, and it worked pretty well – yeah, @JoshHall and I had to share a bed, but we’re close friends, so it was no biggie. 😉
If people want to weigh in on this, please do. We may want to move quickly if we want the closer hotels – they seem to be fairly full already.
Based solely on confirmations / interest expressed in this thread, here’s the current attendee list:
IN:
1) Ben (Wiz)
2) Dan (Texas Ranger)
3) Paula
4) Paula +1
5) Matt, The Ambassador
6) Tim
MAYBE:
1) Micah
2) Rick
Obviously, anyone who wants a private room can make that call and pay for it, but if people want to bunk up, we could probably handle a crowd of 6-8 in 2 rooms, maybe 3 if they’re smaller rooms / people just want more space. Keep in mind, (ballpark) $100/night rooms work out to $25/person if we go 4 to a room, but get more expensive quickly if we only go 3 ($34/person) or 2 ($50/person) to a room – and for those staying all 4 days, we’ll need to multiply those per person totals by 3 (unless you want to drive out Wednesday to be ready to roll first thing Thursday, or stay Sunday night and come home Monday… in which case it could be 4 or 5 nights.)
I’m guessing more people may decide to attend who have yet to speak up – we’ll have to deal with additional rooms for additional people as they commit.
For now, do any of you want to commit to a room at one of the closest hotels and book it? I’d probably rather book now, cancel/modify later than wait until the close hotels are full and have to drive from a further hotel. I’m willing to make a reservation (for either one room or two) if yinz want me to do so.
