Accomadation issues

[panderson]

Hi gang - still mulling if can afford AA - want to go - even more so as a pick me up after change in personal situation - but the numbrs not adding up. Major chunk of change at mo looks to be place to rest my head. The 80-100 quid fees I ams seeing on line realy a pain. Know its standard, but any advice on cheaper places close by - if further awy lose out on travel costs, but if on buss route do have free bus pass. The only other thing I have found which is affordable is a back-packers place close by where you bunk in communial dorms
Any other ideas?

[blueshift]

If I wasn't moving, I could offer a sofa. Sadly that is no longer possible

[primenova]

www.hotelclub.com/

www.hotels.com/de554288/hotels-birmingham-united-kingdom/

Check out these sites - some are £30 a night [thats just going by the first page before you search for dates]

on the 2nd link the hotel i'm staying at [2 nights for £50] is 1 night for £30 [1.5 miles to centre] others are from £20 a night [4 miles] £25 [1.6 miles]

[Benn]

I stayed in a Travelodge near the city center for about £35 a night some time last year, I'll see if I can dig out a link, if you want.

[panderson]

that would be cool - have the Travelodge main website, but if one is better than another would love feedback

[Deleted]

I booked myself into the Paragon hotel recently for this years AA. The hotel was recommended to me by another Hubber here and it only cost me about £32 per night. Dorms and hostels are alright and they are very cheap but I prefer to have a bit of privacy when going to AA. I want to go to AA, buy several things from there and then go back to my room and leave them there before going back to the convention and getting several more things! It would just worry me too much if I left a load of things in a room that I had to share with a load of complete strangers.

[The Doctor]

I think that's the backpacker place a few of us were at for AA2008. It was ok.

The Paragorn is not brilliant, but as just somewhere to bunk at the end of the day it's ok, and about 15-20 mins walk away.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

For Auto Assembly 2011 there is a *chance* that we can get room rates at the Holiday Inn a LOT cheaper but it would involve us as a convention booking the entire hotel and then have everyone book their hotel rooms through us but that would also give us the advantage that there wouldn't be any non-convention attendees on site.

However, do do this I would need to ensure that we could sell out the hotel two years running AND have this year's convention be a complete sell out as well or as close to as possible so if you know anyone who hasn't booked and who is thinking about it, PLEASE spread the word.

We really will have a LOT more bargaining power with the hotel if we take out this booking option and we should have some power with food / drink prices as well but we need the bookings this year!

Simon

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2010 18:09:43 GMT @simes said:

For Auto Assembly 2011 there is a *chance* that we can get room rates at the Holiday Inn a LOT cheaper but it would involve us as a convention booking the entire hotel and then have everyone book their hotel rooms through us but that would also give us the advantage that there wouldn't be any non-convention attendees on site.

However, do do this I would need to ensure that we could sell out the hotel two years running AND have this year's convention be a complete sell out as well or as close to as possible so if you know anyone who hasn't booked and who is thinking about it, PLEASE spread the word.

We really will have a LOT more bargaining power with the hotel if we take out this booking option and we should have some power with food / drink prices as well but we need the bookings this year!

Simon

well I've booked at the holiday Inn this year (didn't last year, but that's because it was already full by then)

[Deleted]

If you keep on making the convention a spectacular event like you did last year then I'm sure that you won't have much trouble making AA a sellout.

[primenova]

The only main reason i booked paragon & not holiday inn is mainly the parking fees & the easy access. I dont really like driving on that road that you go on the one way system round near the china area. It's so easy just to get over the ring road then pull down a left & just park up.

[Deleted]

I'm staying at the holiday Inn mostly because it's pretty much right next to the train station, and I dont want to walk far with my haul on the Monday lol

[Deleted]

When it comes to destination points where our preferred method of transport drops us off in Birmingham I think I have chosen the most convenient hotel this year. This is because it isn't all that far from Digbeth coach station although getting bags full of TF goodness from the convention venue back to my hotel isn't all that convenient though!

[primenova]

It's a nice walk - just has long as it doesnt rain. but its the part i've driven along a few times but i normally to get to hagley rd go back out to ring rd 19/18 to go round to 5. ladywell walk onto hurst st. all taxis parked up there & then you have the people who then wanting to turn left onto smallbrook qway stay on right & cut across at end blocking the road. Mainly I always come in birmingham along the a45 or if i call in the fort on the a47.

[The Doctor]

Jun 8, 2010 8:48:10 GMT @zudobug said:

When it comes to destination points where our preferred method of transport drops us off in Birmingham I think I have chosen the most convenient hotel this year. This is because it isn't all that far from Digbeth coach station although getting bags full of TF goodness from the convention venue back to my hotel isn't all that convenient though!

Paragon is a short walk from Digbeth station.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

Although I've never stayed at the Paragon before I will be doing so this year and according to a map I've got of the area it seems its easily about a five or so minute walk between Digbeth coach station and the hotel.

[primenova]

You just walk out the back of the coach station & you are on Bradford st - you just go on to Barford st [you'll know this road because you'll be crossing it a few times over the weekend - you just follow it round then cross a car park & you are on a road straight up to the convention]. 2nd left & all the way up to the hotel on moseley st

[Benn]

www.travelodge.co.uk/search_and_book/index.php?action=search&check_from=&locationCode=h109&quickform=Y&location=Birmingham+Central+Travelodge&checkInDate=13%2F08%2F2010&checkOutDate=16%2F08%2F2010&no_of_rooms=1&adults_1=1&children_1=0&adults_2=1&children_2=0&adults_3=1&children_3=0&adults_4=1&children_4=0

Okay, prices seem to have gone up since I was there, but the first one is where I stayed. Good sized rooms, en suite and all that civilised nonsense!

[t4e]

I booked at travelodge for this year and paid in advance. Cost me £22 for fri night and £35 for sat night, so only £57 total. I booked it about a month ago.
On travelodge site click on the £19 rooms link then select the dates and birmingham. If you book then make sure you book each night seperate or they will charge you the higher price. Normally when you check in they will see you have booked 2 nights and just let you stay in the same room for both nights to avoid having to check out, then check back in again.

[panderson]

ohhhh sneeky - thanks

[Dezzeh]

Hopefully picking up 2 saturday tickets tomorrow if there are any left by then (damn you pay day), which means I will be needing a place to rest mine and the mrs' weary bones on the friday.
Any word on that holiday inn thing or should we just wing it?

[primenova]

I phoned up my hotel & they say they have lots of rooms free from 10:00 on 13/8/10 due to a big event happening in Birmingham on 12th - i dont know what it is but most hotel seem to be full until the day before AA.

We all shoudl make it that the big event is AA that fills the hotel up not whatever this other thing is.

[panderson]

Will keep you in loop Dezzeh but looks like may be loosing my room mate for the weekend now and can't get my booking fee back from Travellodge so could have somewhere for you to stay. Will know more at weekend. Will just need a little help on pay side or a few beers or something.
Will PM you at weekend when I know more with details

PS tried the £19 quid trick but the prices for those nights had jumped now to £74 for the two nights but still much better than anywhere else decent I could see

[Deleted]

Just to warn you about the Saturday tickets, we now only have about eight left (I have a couple to process that came in earlier so I'm not 100% how many are available) but all I can say for certain is that they will have sold out by this weekend.

[Dezzeh]

Well, heres hoping that theres at least 2 left by tomorrow morning!

[Philip Ayres]

There is a *small* possibility that I *might* make it up to Brum for AA now. Where should I be looking for hotels ? (URLs please) Where's the Scots mafia staying ?

[panderson]

Travel lodge is where I am staying - if coming for weekend, go to front of website (after googlin Travelodge) and click the £19 pounds a night offer - then buy two separate nights - it is not £19 a night but still cheaper than buying a straight 2 night stay and one of the most economic offers in area

[The Doctor]

Jul 10, 2010 10:56:14 GMT Philip Ayres said:

There is a *small* possibility that I *might* make it up to Brum for AA now. Where should I be looking for hotels ? (URLs please) Where's the Scots mafia staying ?

In the convention hotel, which would probably be easier for you too in terms of access. Cuts out excess walking.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2010 16:36:13 GMT The Doctor said:

Jul 10, 2010 10:56:14 GMT Philip Ayres said:

There is a *small* possibility that I *might* make it up to Brum for AA now. Where should I be looking for hotels ? (URLs please) Where's the Scots mafia staying ?

In the convention hotel, which would probably be easier for you too in terms of access. Cuts out excess walking.

-Ralph

I heard that it was fully booked though

[The Doctor]

Heard from where?

-Ralph