StrangerCon 2007: Sand, Sea, and Strange-ness

[Penny Century]

We started talking about a possible StrangerCon in the Dragon*Con thread, and it's probably past time to take that discussion offline, or, uh, online, but somewhere different. So here's the latest on one of the possibilities we tossed around, re: a gathering for Mardi Gras 2007 on Galveston Island, Texas:

The downer is that the Commodore is no longer renting out cottages (their rates were pretty darn cheap). The upper is that Sand and Sea at Pirates Beach has some truly awesome rentals that are not terribly much more. With eight people sharing a beach house, we still could come in at $300 or less each for up to a week, including food -- and that's during peak season.

SnS has a slightly different way of parsing rates than a hotel; you either rent in two-night increments, or by the week or month. In most cases, it's as cheap to rent for an entire week at it is to do so for four days. So if we could get a group to commit to a certain dollar amount each for a minimum of four days, then people could come early and leave late if they wished.

Another thing going for us is that there are several rental properties of varying sizes in this area, some of them next door to each other, so if we really have a lot of interest, we could book more than one.

So how many people think they could drop in sometime around February 15-21, which is the last weekend of Galveston Mardi Gras with an Ash Wednesday checkout?

Or would people rather go at some other time? Closer to summer?

Or would people rather go someplace altogether different?

Please discuss!

[Morrigan]

You can count me in, don't know if I could do a whole week but I'm very interested in going to TX. February sounds good as long as it's warm enough to lay out, go to a pool etc.

[Penny Century]

Originally Posted by Morrigan

February sounds good as long as it's warm enough to lay out, go to a pool etc.

On the Gulf, it frequently is, but it could be too cold for some.

Although "cold" to someone coming in from New Jersey is gonna be quite different from "cold" to someone who lives in Texas year-round.

[Emmangel]

Originally Posted by Penny Century

So how many people think they could drop in sometime around February 15-21, which is the last weekend of Galveston Mardi Gras with an Ash Wednesday checkout?

That sounds good to me, and I'm happy to go along with everyone else in terms of how long to book. Though the week option might be better for me, given that I'll probably have to arrive earlier and leave later than most, but either way I can do it, I'll just have to be careful with my flights.

Costs are fine for me too, given the exchange rate.

Originally Posted by Penny Century

On the Gulf, it frequently is, but it could be too cold for some.

Not for me, given how cold it is here most of the time (though not at the moment sadly) I'll be fine with it.

I must say, after all the talk last year it'll be nice to finally have a StrangerCon. It'll be nice to see those faces who don't attend D*C anymore again.

[Penny Century]

Originally Posted by Emmangel

That sounds good to me, and I'm happy to go along with everyone else in terms of how long to book. Though the week option might be better for me, given that I'll probably have to arrive earlier and leave later than most, but either way I can do it, I'll just have to be careful with my flights.

The good thing about the week option is that it costs essentially the same as four nights. Which is doubly good as SnS only rents by the week during peak season, and it may be the only option available. (I'm awaiting a call from an agent regarding whether peak-season or other special rates and rules apply during Mardi Gras. I'm assuming they're at least as much as July 4th rates, which are the highest listed.)

With enough planning ahead, I can arrange to take that week as vacation, as long as we get a place with wifi so I can meet a couple of standing deadlines. So I can get there early and stay late to stock up on TP and drop off keys and make runs out to the airports and whatnot.

And speaking of airports, it probably would pay to mention that there are two in Houston. (The island itself has Scholes, but I think it's mostly charter flights in and out of there. Which, you know, might work out if you have a really nice friend who'll let you hitch a ride on their Gulfstream.) Anyone who's checking airfares would do well to check both Hobby and Bush Intercontinental. Southwest has a hub at Hobby, and Continental has one at IAH, so make sure you look at their prices, too.

[Angela]

While I love love LOVE the idea of a Texas meet, that's a hard time for me because of our standardized testing schedule. (Darned writing test.) Would this event include an entire weekend, or is it weekdays only?

[Penny Century]

Originally Posted by Angela

While I love love LOVE the idea of a Texas meet, that's a hard time for me because of our standardized testing schedule. (Darned writing test.) Would this event include an entire weekend, or is it weekdays only?

The proposed dates would include the second weekend of Mardi Gras (February 17-18).

[Angela]

Very very tempting...

[savvy sinatra]

This might be a stupid question, especially as I've been a member of this forum for a few years, but...
What exactly is StrangerCon? Like, what do we do, what do we bring, etc.

[Emmangel]

Originally Posted by Penny Century

.) Anyone who's checking airfares would do well to check both Hobby and Bush Intercontinental. Southwest has a hub at Hobby, and Continental has one at IAH, so make sure you look at their prices, too.

The good thing about this for me is that I'm finally able to use my staff consessions so I should be able to fly out there really, really cheaply. I hate my job, but for times like that it's like, the best EVAH. LOL

[MissWera]

This is a great idea But I can't come....I live in Finland.....

[Morrigan]

Originally Posted by Penny Century

On the Gulf, it frequently is, but it could be too cold for some.

Although "cold" to someone coming in from New Jersey is gonna be quite different from "cold" to someone who lives in Texas year-round.

Well, NJ in Feb is typically 20 degrees and snowy so, anything 70 or above is beautiful weather to me

[FlameFlirt]

Savvysinatra has a good question - what would we do besides lay around and soak up the sun? Since this site is very fanfic-centric, would a writing workshop be a good idea? (Am I wrong in thinking this would be the first StrangerCon? )

I'm very interested, but I'll need to see what happens with this job I'm up for in a week or so. For now, count me as a probable attendee. How late will we need to make the arrangements, and how exactly would we do so? Would one person make the reservation and everyone pay at the time of (like a hotel) or do we need to make our own arrangements?

[psychofilly]

Galveston itself has a lot of fun things to do, so there would be a lot more than just sitting around if you want to do things. Plus Mardi-Gras=big ass party.

I definitely would attend but not for a week. I would probably take a day or two off and maybe stay for a night or two with or without teh hubby. I don't know how interested he'll be.

[Morrigan]

Originally Posted by FlameFlirt

Savvysinatra has a good question - what would we do besides lay around and soak up the sun? Since this site is very fanfic-centric, would a writing workshop be a good idea? (Am I wrong in thinking this would be the first StrangerCon? )

I'm sure they'll be the watching of some DVDs, latest anime . However, I think it was always intended to be a group get together, not a workshop or fandom get together.

Like Filly said, there's apparently tons of stuff to do in the area, plus it's Mardi Gras.