Rio all booked??

[Sarge]

I am really looking forward to my first Fan Faire! But, it seems like the hotel is already booked on that Wednesday night (1st). SO I have a couple questions: 1) It says Fan Faire starts the 2nd on Thursday.... does it start thursday morning or is it Thursday night? 2) If the hotel is indeed booked already, does anyone have any recommendations on where to stay that is close and cheap? 3) Is anyone looking for a hotel roomate for the 1st/2nd - 5th/6th? Thanks for your help! SWG - Clober - Bloodfin VG - Thore - Hilsbury Retired Mxo and EQ2

[Ashlanne]

<p>Things generally start Thursday, however it's usually only registration in the afternoon.</p><p>I believe there is a hotel across the way called the Gold Coast</p>

[Sarge]

Thanks Ash!

[Saroc_Luclin]

Man, looks like the Gold Coast and the Rio are both booked solid now. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Palms appears to have room, and seems to be close, but I'm not sure HOW close. Any other hotels/motels in the area that might be decent ? (not necessarily the resort-tels either)?

[Zegron]

According to Google Maps the Palms is across the street from the Gold Coast, to get to the Rio walk across the street and turn the corner and its there.

[Ashlanne]

According to the Rio's web site there are still rooms available did they tell you that on the phone?

[Saroc_Luclin]

I was going by the link on the Fan Faire website, which only checks rooms at the SOE Fan Faire Group Rate. All those rooms are gone apparently now. If you go for 'normal' reservations, there are 2 types of rooms available, and for the period of Aug 1st to Aug 4th, it's running about 1200$USD Tax and Fees included. I'm thinking I'll be better off looking for a HoJo's or Economy Inn or something like that. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Zegron]

Check out the Gold Coast or Palms. The Gold Coast still had rooms available as of yesterday morning, a guildie got a room then. If they are full then the palms is right next door and its rates are comparable to the SOE room rate at the Rio.

[Zegron]

I don't have enough posts under my belt to back and edit my previous post so I'll just reply here. I looked at the Rio's site and put in the 1st-5th on the SOE reservation page and sure enough there were no rooms available. I then changed the date to the 2nd-5th and there are rooms available. Well nothing is happening on the 1st, and not even on the 2nd except for early registration and the early welcome party at 7pm. I don't see why you can't reserve a room for the 2nd-5th. I'd call them to double check before purchasing tickets online, but its something at least.

[Saroc_Luclin]

Thanks for the tip. I do want to arrive a day early anyways, if not 2 days early. I'll probably have to call up and see what can be arranged. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> *edit* In checking the availability, it looks like Aug 1st is completely sold out and that's what's causing the hiccups with the reservations. Ash, you may want to check with the Rio about updating those default dates. Their website makes it look sold out which could be discouraging for potential attendees, mainly because it is trying to book Aug 1st.

[Zegron]

Np, most of my guild won't be arriving tillt he 2nd. I booked for the 1st wanting to get a room before they poofed. So I've got to figure out what to do all day as my flight arrives at 9am.... Maybe I'll poke over to the Rio and see if I can sneak in early by being useful and carrying stuff for people. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Ashlanne]

<cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Thanks for the tip. I do want to arrive a day early anyways, if not 2 days early. I'll probably have to call up and see what can be arranged. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> *edit* In checking the availability, it looks like Aug 1st is completely sold out and that's what's causing the hiccups with the reservations. Ash, you may want to check with the Rio about updating those default dates. Their website makes it look sold out which could be discouraging for potential attendees, mainly because it is trying to book Aug 1st. </blockquote> That would be why I didn't notice because I put in August 2nd.  I will drop an email to the Fan Faire organizers.

[Rawlden]

<p>Have you tried contacting them directly on the phone instead of via the website? I find it hard to believe that a LV hotel the size of the Rio would be completely booked on a Wednesday in August but still have rooms available for the weekend.</p><p>I always do my bookings by phone. This has often gotten me a room when the website said there was no vacancy. My guess is they only put a certain percentage of rooms up on the website for booking and reserve a few "off the books" rooms for phone and walk-ins.</p>

[Saroc_Luclin]

It looks like it was probably a hiccup on their booking system or something (maybe something beginning of the month related or something; only they know. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) In any case, I checked this morning and I was able to book rooms any time between July 31 and Aug 5th with lots available it seems. I'm waiting on my flight date confirmations then I'll probably fully reserve my rooms. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Ashlanne]

<cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>It looks like it was probably a hiccup on their booking system or something (maybe something beginning of the month related or something; only they know. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) In any case, I checked this morning and I was able to book rooms any time between July 31 and Aug 5th with lots available it seems. I'm waiting on my flight date confirmations then I'll probably fully reserve my rooms. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote><p>Lauren contacted them unfortunately when I got that info I was having trouble accessing the web site.  Everything should be in order now. </p>

[Agedi]

<p>I tried to register at the Rio via they're own website and through AAA to see if any were cheaper than the FF special pricing, but it kept showing the dates as all booked for that time.  The only way I was able to register there for the dates of the FF were via the FF special rate link on the FF page.</p><p>Oh and in case any were wondering, the FF special rates were cheaper than anything else I could find listed - even if I couldn't book them through the other means.</p>

[Zegron]

Did you call them to try reserve a room instead of online?

[Perzephone]

<cite>Agedi wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I tried to register at the Rio via they're own website and through AAA to see if any were cheaper than the FF special pricing, but it kept showing the dates as all booked for that time.  The only way I was able to register there for the dates of the FF were via the FF special rate link on the FF page.</p><p>Oh and in case any were wondering, the FF special rates were cheaper than anything else I could find listed - even if I couldn't book them through the other means.</p></blockquote><p> How much Cheaper? I wanted to find out myself but it requiers a CC and I don't want to use it yet till I know how much for sure?  and what is the full price for the FF dates? and also what is it a night with the FF rate? </p>

[Starrla]

I was quoted 139.00 for thursday night and 149.00 for friday and saturday night...and they still had rooms as of today at the Rio.

[Brasse]

Oi booked me room via tha online linky (us Dwarves HATE phones), an' nad no trubble atall. Course, they jus' din't want tha spectre o' me settin' up me camp outside tha front door among tha shrubberies, so figgered Oi'd best be given a room. Oi bet Oi am in tha 3rd sub-basement, jes past tha boiler room. Mebbe Oi kin git in som minin' while doon thar! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /># Brasse

[Tharkis]

<p>I just noticed that Brasse's board title is currently "the quiet type"  These boards certianly dont know our Brasse !</p><p>*brings the dorf a stein of ale, with a keg to wash it down with*</p>

[Perzephone]

<cite>Tharkis wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I just noticed that Brasse's board title is currently "the quiet type"  These boards certianly dont know our Brasse !</p><p>*brings the dorf a stein of ale, with a keg to wash it down with*</p></blockquote> its a diversion!

[Gungo]

<p>Is there any plans to increase the rooms under the current contract at the Rio, becuase they are currently booked and $420 for thurs night is a bit overdoing it.</p>

[Sandain666]

<p>Gungo </p><p>Ash says they are working on it. Hopefully they will be able to work something out and we hear something soon.  I agree with you about the $420.  I am really hoping to stay at the same hotel as the FF for once.</p><p>http://forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500004714</p>

[Rawlden]

Must be something special going on in the Rio that Thursday besides just us if they're asking $420 for that night alone. That's almost 3 times the normal rate.

[Gungo]

<cite>Rawlden wrote:</cite><blockquote>Must be something special going on in the Rio that Thursday besides just us if they're asking $420 for that night alone. That's almost 3 times the normal rate.</blockquote><p> Somethign is up becuase the entire week we got 149 for sat/sun 139 mon/tues/wens 420 for thurs and 200 for sat/sun</p><p>I have no qualms abotu 200 especiualyl sat sun but seriosuly 420 for a normal room. I better have a jacuzzi and a bed that accepts quarters. </p>

[Zegron]

yea 420 for Thursday night seems awful high... doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[Mik]

Definitely CALL the Rio and after giving the Sony group code, tell the operator to check with their conference registration people about the $420 rate.  When I pointed the $420 out to the operator, she agreed that it looked very odd (not a normal price for the Rio at all).  After she checked with the conference groups person (I was on hold for about 5 minutes), she came back and quoted me a rate of $139 for Thursday (instead of the $420), and $149 for Friday and Saturday nights (instead of the $200 on the web site). So, as of yesterday, rooms ARE still available at the Rio, and you should definitely NOT pay the $420 price for Thursday.  I hope more people read this and call...I'm worried that a lot of people will see the $420 and just not bother to come.

[Sandain666]

Thanks for the info MikeP .Just got off the phone with the Rio. The person on the phone told me that 420 is the price of the room on Thurday. I asked to speak to someone in the conference groups and got nothing but voicemail. This 420 for one night is really insane. Going to wait a few hours and try my luck again later maybe I will get the same person you spoke to.  I am thinking of booking now just to hold the room but I certainly dont want to pay that much for one night.