Hotel costs for meets
My two cents. I agree that national and regional meets should be held where more people can afford to stay, but I have never seen a Motel 6, Super 8, Red Roof Inn or other budget motel that has had the facilities to be able to provide the necessary show car parking, flea market space, trailer parking area, motor home parking, banquet room, memorabilia room and other facilities that are necessary to provide a quality meet. The expense for the above has to come from somewhere, and that is the increased room rental fee. The chapters agreeing to host meets try to do the best for all concerned. Those who want to attend meet, but can not afford host rates can usually find accommodating facilities nearby.
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Comments
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I am a bit financally challenged having been moved into retirement a bit early so this is quite an intresting subject. I do not have a very good answer or an answer that will work for everyone; but, for me, what it comes down to is budgeting my cash flow to meet my plans. With two years to do this I know that I am selling some stuff off, reevaluating my investments and adjusting my cash flow. Should all things come together by the French Lick meet, we will be there... if not, perhaps Colorado? I do have money set aside for California next year it is simply a question of new hubcaps or a few days at the beach....0
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Rosemount Motel Bedford - Rates around $50 a night, 34 miles from French Lick:
Days Inn Jasper - Rates $74 to $93, 25 miles from French Lick;
Super 8 Bedford - Rates $99 to $135, 34 miles from French Lick;
Those are just 3 that I looked up - there are others near and far that I'll look up later when I have a little more time. Seems like that's the "Golden Area" of Indiana.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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Alex-
From what my brother has told me, you are not far from the mark. The town exists because of the huge resort that is there, which back in the 30's was a huge (and expensive) SPA for the well-to-do. It remains a large resort (golf course, hotel, etc.) with the small town around it that mostly supports the resort. I think "Golden Area" is pretty close . . .
I'll wait and hold judgement, but it seems like Auburn or Indy would be more logical choices. Just my opinion.0 -
I allways enjoyed meets at Auburn , its a "Car Town" with the old Auburn factory and the ACD museum . As well as the car and truck museum next door.
And it has a cluster of motels so lots of rooms (and competiton for bussiness) . And lots of eating and shopping places nearby. And its right on the interstate (did you drive hwy #30?) WoW ! !
Just My Opinion
Roger0 -
Towns 20 miles away from Gettysburg, rates are half what they were at Gettysburg. There are large hotels too, and the drive to the sights is not too far. But that is moot. I do not mind paying the price so much, but the Hotels chosen sell out in less than a month, and many members are stuck without rooms. Maybe we need more avalible rooms.0
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I gather from reading this that the room rate at the French Lick hotel is steep.
As I said earlier I went there in '60 for a jazz festival & recall seeing nothing but the big hotel, closed & shuttered at that time.
French Lick has a pop. of 1900 & the next biggest town is Bedford, a small city of nearly 20,000 BUT it's almost 30 miles away.
I don't get it, why was French Lick chosen as the site of the National Meet in the 1st place????0 -
I went searching this morning and found the following:
Comfort Suites - French Lick, $105 (advance rate from $89);
Days Inn - Jasper, $75 - 25 mi;
Sleep Inn - Jasper, $80 - 25 mi;
Salem Motel - Salem, $55-$65 - 32 mi;
Quality Inn - Huntingburg, $75 - 32 mi
Comfort Inn - Bedford, $90 - 34 mi;
Sleep Inn - Bedford, $99 - 34 mi.
Comfort Inn - Ferdinand, $85 - 37 mi;
I still have a request for info from the American Road Group so we shall see what that brings.
It appears that the Comfort Suites in French Lick wouldn't be a bad choice - everything else means a drive every day and that's not the greatest idea in the world.
In her talk about the French Lick Springs resort Sue Kennedy kept stressing that this was a "destination" - Mars is a destination, but I'm not likely to go there anytime soon.
I also wonder - what was wrong with Auburn that the planning committee had to choose such a high priced area.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
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We have to remember that the HET Board of Directors reviewed and approved the choice of French Lick. It would be helpful to hear from some Board members on why they thought this was a good choice. IMHO, Auburn was great, but that doesn't mean we should go there any time the National is to be in the Central Region. One of the enjoyable aspects of our system is that we get to see new places, such as Spokane. The Central Region area includes a lot of nice locations, such as Lexington, KY or places further south. But a prospective host chapter or chapters have to feel they can pull off a good National Meet there. Maybe the Board could be more proactive, with more communication with the region Directors early in the process.0
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Just looked up air transport into the area - this will give you an idea of what we are getting into:
The French Lick Airport provides air service to private, corporate, charter, and small commercial flights. Our municipal airport in Southern Indiana is growing, with plans for expansion currently underway.
So I guess I'll just hop in Dad's private jet and................
Rick - at the 2001 national in Seattle the hotel charged extra for Brand-X parking but it was around $10 as I recall.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
I spent a long weekend in San Francisco last year for a friends wedding. It was pricey, but an incredible place to visit. Like Rick said, everything was an extra fee. I will say the trolleys are awesome ($2 per day) and the cable cars are disappointing... All that said, I am really looking forward to taking my wife there next year and spending a few days touring the area and checking out Hudsons
I don't know about the cost of French Lick, but it is in driving range for me. I can't drag my family into a hotel 6 or red roof type hotel, I spoiled them early maybe. It looks like the Hampton in Jasper is $119 and 20 minutes away. They always have decent rooms, continental breakfast, free Wifi. Sounds like a winner.
Thanks to all the folks who work hard to put these events together.
Matt0 -
San Mateo in the midst of a major urban hub area, inc. being close to the Silicon Valley & SF airport, so LOTS of alternative places to stay but Calif. just generally "pricey" and in the summer time a major "destination" for Californians, Americans, + foreigners.
A word of advice: I wouldn't plan on driving your Hudson into "Frisco" as parking not only hard to find & expensive but "the City" has VERY steep hills, and at least for me, dangerous to park on as have to cut wheel into curb + pray your emergency brake will hold! Would suggest if you want to see it take a tour (also GOBS of homeless & panhandlers which can be scary if that concerns you).
Before or after Meet if want to go for a beautiful drive go north into the redwood forests or south to Carmel & Monterrey (great seascapes). If you've got the time take Rte. 1 south into the Big Sur areas, on down to Hearst's Castle - world famous drive.0 -
To the best of my knowledge we have not really had any National's where the host hotel did not sell out all available rooms. That being the track record, barring that we need certain amenities for a meet.... I would think we could drive a harder bargain with the hotel. Other than that the meet's we have had in the past have all been pretty good locations.0
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Aaron - your "good locations" brings up another point, accessibility via either interstates nearby, esp. good or handy for those trailering in their Hudson (sure a GOB of trailered cars at Gettysburg), or airports for those of us who live long distances from meet & need to fly in then rent a car.
If one consults an Indiana road map the nearest interstate to French Lick probably 50 miles away & as Alex so succintly remarked, no commercial airport nearby either.0 -
I've always stayed at the host hotel/motel for one reason (that's especially relevant as I grow into my mid-70's - if I get tired or hot or just bummed out I can retire to my room for an hour or so and recharge the batteries. Sort of short circuits that if I had to drive 5, 10 or more miles to get back to my motel. Still, $139 a night is still $139 a night.
If I do go to French Lick most likely I will be checking in on Wed and leaving on Sat after the business meet.
Hudsonly.
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
This may have already been stated but if we all opt for a cheaper motel, like the ones listed here, there won't be any international meets. The host chapter has to commit to a certain number of room nights. So if we stay in the less expensive ones, we better enjoy sitting outside looking at each other because there won't be anything else to do.
Mike C.0 -
I don't want to sound like a broken record here, but -- at least for thrifty "singles" attending Nationals -- the affordable route is through room sharing. With three to a room, the $139 drops to less than $50 per night.0
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I was told that the price for Banquet will be $50 a plate at the host hotel - hope there's a McDonalds in French Lick or surrounding burg 'cause doubt many HETers gonna cough up that kinda bucks! Tell me if I'm wrong.0
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RE oldhudsons: My experience over the years is the fancier a hotel dining room is, and the more menu items I can't pronounce all to often the food is blah. Not feeling up to scouting up a restaurant in Gettysburg when I arrived I had a simple cheeseburger; for $15 I'd expect more - but in fact I felt like asking the waitress to ask the chef to come out so I could check the soles of his shoes to see if one was missing. And don't even ask about the cheeze slice that was half melted and hard as a brick.
On the other hand - over at the other hotel - Coutyard Marriott (??) - they had a buffet breakfast for $11 that easily matched the Gettysburg Family Restaurant in both price and quality.
I agree with oldhudsons - if I go I will certainly be looking for somewhere else to eat.
And for Jon B - room-share works great for "singles" but lets look at the average Joe. He's got to pay for the trip there with probably at least one night if not more at motels along the road, if he and wife - and kids - fly in that's going to add to the bill and etc. It could end up costing at least, at the least, $500 a day which adds up to $2500 for a 5 day adventure.
Bottom line it's expensive enough without having to shell out $139 a night at the host motel. Somebody should quietly take the Southern Indiana planning committee aside and explain that this is NOT the Packard club, or the Cadillac club or some other high buck car club.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Amen Alex!
On another note; A lot of us like to drink beer in the parking lot and do tire kicking. If we stay at another hotel, we run the risk of getting a DUI!0 -
Be cool to make a deal with the guys who run those food trucks that have great food for great price have them park for the week and cater to the people who do not want to pay an arm an a leg for a cooked old boot. Take her back a notch to smaller style meets. Yeah I know I'm a dreamer....0
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The hotel will just have the cops run them off .. ... ...0
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51 - food trucks, in an Ind. farm town of 1800 souls? ya gotta be kiddin'!
You ever see the movie "Hoosiers"? The real name of the town is Milan, approx. straight east of French Lick & maybe a little smaller.
I grew up in a small town in no. Ind., a little smaller than Fr. Lick. It had, and still has, one stoplight, 2-3 cafes, 2 groc. stores, 1 hardware store, a coupla gas stations; we had 1 pool hall & 1 bar (13 churches). Unless they've changed the law you cannot ENTER a place that serves liquor unless 21, not even if accompanied by your parents. Unless they've changed the law ALL liquor sales end promptly at midnight Sat. & do not open until midnight Sun. so BYOB!
In the '70s my wife & I went into a restaurant in Indianapolis. As all the tables were taken, noon lunch, we sat at the bar. The bar tender said my wife couldn't sit there & I told him she was a LOT older than 21. He said that made no difference as she was sitting whereas she could see the liquor bottles!!!!!!! We were able to switch seats where she sat behind a pillar & couldn't see those disgusting satanic sin-laden bottles & then we were given a menu (yes, we both had a beer). Believe me, Indiana AIN'T Vegas, LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Google French Lick, Indiana - take a look (you might find the statistics on family income & % of those living below the poverty line enlightening - no. Ind. prosperous, not so. Ind.)0 -
Tallent - as to cops, my town had/has ONE, part time, only at night unless they've gone "hog wild" & come up with the $$$ to pay one to work full time!0
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really, I'm not knocking these small towns, they were/are a great place for a young person to grow up! We didn't need a full time cop, there was no crime! No one locked doors, considered unneighborly. In the years I lived there never heard of anyone getting a divorce. When I was a kid our tele. # was 54 & all of the family living on farms had party lines. I just want people to realize what they will, and won't, find in a small town like French Lick.0
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Last time I was in Paris a French lick was only 100 Euros, but I wasn't tempted...0
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Checked with the Northern California Chapter about this extra "fee" talk on the hotel for the 2013 National , and their quote was " "That's a bunch of baloney". end quote.0
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Try a hotel at a larger city in Western Europe ... prices are typically more like 200 Euros for a decent place.0
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You think its bad now wait till after they re-elect Obummer in november0
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I will be going to San Francisco in Oct. (flying from Canada) and wanted to stay down town.
The price of the hotel was a shocker ,but the kicker was ,they want $55 per day to park
my car and the is not a 5star hotel.0 -
Right about that Ken. The Hotels and other businesses are basically saying, "We're not making as much money as we'd like to or as much as we used to so the answer is to raise prices to make up for it." WRONG CONCLUSION. The right conclusion is, "Hmm people are on hard times with less discretionary income. Let's LOWER our prices to entice them to spend it here." Everything is backwards.
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