Suggestions for an AA First-Timer

[glaug]

I haven't been to a TF event in the UK since the last Transforce, and I've never been to Auto-Assembly (since, well, last time I was paying attention it I think was being run out of Sven Harvey's car boot). I think I'm free the weekend it's on, so I'd quite like to go down, a bunch of people I know will likely be there. Anyone who's been to one of the more recent ones have any ideas on how to get the most out of it? For example, I'm torn about going more than one day, for example, since either 2 lots of train tickets or a hotel isn't cheap either way. Not so much a "sell me on it" as asking how to best go about it.

Cheers.

[primenova]

Check hotels that are within the ring road. I got Paragon hotel for 2 nights £49 - which is just 13 minute walk away. Lots of other TF's fans stayed there last year. See what advance prices are on trains or national express coach - they do keep having the £1 travel - or the big bus one. But you've got shops to look round on the friday while the event is being set up [also you can see if any sales are on so on the saturday or sunday you just nip out if a shop has something on sale cheap that no dealers have got in stock]

[Deleted]

Where is this Paragon Hotel? I'm still looking into hotel accommodation for the convention and so far all I've got is Simon's recommendation of the Ibis Hotel.

[The Doctor]

To get the most out of it, make sure you hit the bar, whether you are a drinker or not. There will be enough friendly folk milling around. And if you can afford it, do the whole weekend, even if it means less dosh for robot toys as you'll just get more out of the experience and general good atmosphere.

-Ralph

[primenova]

Paragon hotel - alcaster st

you walk along moseley st on to barford st & onto hurst st - across onto hill st where the convention is.

[Jaymz]

Mike, Alan is driving there on the Friday and back on the Sunday, but I dunno about hotel space.

[glaug]

Cheers for the advice thus far guys. I wasn't planning on doing a lot of buying anyway, since AA's only about a month before I leave the country for a year, so I'll see about doing the whole weekend.

Jaymz; do you mind PM'ing me Alan's phone # or email? I don't know if it's the same or not, but I think I lost it anyway...

[Deleted]

May 17, 2010 19:50:35 GMT primenova said:

Paragon hotel - alcaster st

you walk along moseley st on to barford st & onto hurst st - across onto hill st where the convention is.

Just had a look on the map and that hotel is quite convenient from where the bus will drop me off in Birmingham. Also, at £105 for three nights its certainly worth considering.

EDIT: I've also had a look at the Brittania Hotel which is even more convenient and that is only £106 for three nights. Does any of the Brummies on this forum know anything about this hotel because I'm only getting my info from hotel booking websites and they don't say anything about the bad points (if any) about these hotels.

[The Doctor]

If sharing a room, the con hotel is £115 for 3 nights, for information.

-Ralph

[primenova]

www.hotelclub.com/membership/timeout.asp?cp=%2Fmembership%2FMemberHome%2Easp&pt=My+Account

Go sign up here & then look for paragon again - you might get it for same price i got it for £50 for 2 nights. you just walk out the back of national express depo onto barford rd then up mosely st & you are at the hotel

[The Doctor]

Paragon hotel is about 20 mins walk away.

-Ralph

[primenova]

www.hotelclub.com/directhotel.asp?id=11378&checkin=2010-08-13&checkout=2010-08-15&hasSuburb=&hotelName=25paragon25&ncl=

only took me 13 minute last august to walk back to the hotel - you need to stick to the same route which is slightly quicker & only going along 3 road & cross a car park when you get down to an indoor car parking with signs on it saying £3 all day parking.

But they have rooms in for £72 - £90

[Deleted]

The links to the same website seem to be contradicting each other. On the first link it tells me that the Paragon Hotel is unavailable during the convention weekend while on the second link it says it is available.

[primenova]

The first one was just me postign the link to login - while the other was after i did a search - but the 2nd should be right showing up if rooms are free - also the site offers cash back - so you'll get money off your next booking or you can save it up. Sign up on the site so you get your points & you'll have your booking form confirmation emailled to you - they'll check room availabilty etc when you are making the booking. If you signed up on the site the first link should bring up the same results for the hotel that the 2nd does. the first link taking you to login screen while 2nd direct to hotel page.

[primenova]

Hotel: Paragon Hotel Birmingham
Hotel Address: 145 Alcester Street Birmingham B12 OPJ
Hotel Phone: [phone]


2. If you have any questions regarding your booking, or you require to amend/cancel the booking, you must contact HotelClub (Aust Business No: 85 092 445 442) by phone, fax or e-mail:
Phone: [phone] or [phone]
Fax: [phone] or [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

[Deleted]

Avoid the Britannia like the plague! We held Auto Assembly 2003 and 2004 there and we vowed never to go there again after the problems they caused us. It has a VERY bad reputation, not only locally but nationally as well so steer clear!

[Deleted]

Cheers for that Simon. I'm not familiar with the reputation of any of these hotels and so I have to get my info off the booking websites until I can get my info from other sources like people who have actually stayed there.

[glaug]

That sounds like some sage advice. Btw, Simon, are the rules for the kitbash contest up on the site anywhere? Or can someone else fill me in? I'm curious.

[Deleted]

May 18, 2010 22:16:46 GMT glaug said:

That sounds like some sage advice. Btw, Simon, are the rules for the kitbash contest up on the site anywhere? Or can someone else fill me in? I'm curious.

I think it's just a workshop, not a contest

[glaug]

Ahh, alright, cheers. The website seems to suggest that both exist;

Competitions

As always, we will be running our usual writing, art and kitbash competitions,

And then there's the workshop on the actual events programme.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2010 7:31:29 GMT glaug said:

Ahh, alright, cheers. The website seems to suggest that both exist;

Competitions

As always, we will be running our usual writing, art and kitbash competitions,

And then there's the workshop on the actual events programme.

could be true then, maybe I'll enter Rook

[Deleted]

We are still working on the rules / entry forms for a lot of the competitions but there will be ones for:-

• Cosplay (rules and entry for online already)
  
• Fiction / Writing (combined into a single competition)
  
• Art
  
• Kitbash
  

We'll add these as soon as we can. Right now, we're spending time on working on sponsorship and promoting the convention as much as we can to boost bookings as well as working on some convention exclusives so that's taking up more of our time right now.

Simon