ConFuzzled Forum

Forum Archive CF2008-2011 (Read Only) => 2008 Discussion => General Discussion & Feedback => Questions and Answers => Topic started by: TheDeathBunnie on January 19, 2008, 13:19:32

Title: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 19, 2008, 13:19:32
Hai guyz.  ^_^  I'm from the US, and I'm attending uni in Sheffield.  I was really happy to find a convention in Manchester.  I've never been to one, and the only one that was within reach of me was a 9-hour drive by car, where tickets were $80 a day and it was held in a huge city where even a nasty gross hotel would run you $100 a night.

I was excited because Manchester was close enough for me to attend and still come home and not have to pay for a hotel room (poor, impoverished uni student!)...but then I noticed that the only way to attend was to stay at the hotel whether I liked it or not.

Is there another option for folks that don't want to stay at the hotel and would rather go home after the end of the day?  Or am I just kinda outta luck?  I didn't see it on the web page, and it's kinda dead at the moment so I can explore further.  x_x
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: LeighUK on January 19, 2008, 13:59:46
if I recall right, the rooms are part of the cost anyway, so you wouldnt have to pay extra
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: SerFox on January 19, 2008, 14:48:05
The con is all inclusive, you pay the price, you get the accomodation, your meals, access to all the events, and even a sheet of stickers! (Well, it says so on my letter...)
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 19, 2008, 14:58:09
Yeah...I was just hoping there was a cheaper option to just attend the con and not get the other stuff.   ;D  Poor as I am, the tickets to the con right now cost enough to pay for almost two months of groceries for me. 
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Alexfox on January 19, 2008, 16:50:03
Yeah...I was just hoping there was a cheaper option to just attend the con and not get the other stuff.   ;D  Poor as I am, the tickets to the con right now cost enough to pay for almost two months of groceries for me. 

Sadly I don't think so as there is no day attendance fee, you pay either a full sponsor or regular attendance. However you do get accommodation and three meals through into the bargain so its not too bad. However at the moment the convention is sold out, and the waiting list has been put up.

I will be fair and say that Confuzzled price is a little high considering that Eurofurence 4 years ago only cost something like £120 for a full sponsorship, and a similar deal, and the cost of the Confuzzled sponsorship is the same as a sponsorship at EF now with a hotel room all to yourself.

But that said EF now seems to have become a convention for those who seem to spend 99% of their time plugged into irc sadly.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 19, 2008, 17:35:50
Oh, no no...these fees seem super-cheap to  me, to be honest.  I mean, convention entrance, accomodation AND food in a major city?   Egads!  Like I said, the convention that was closest to me was $80 a day - that's $240 - plus two nights in a hotel (you might could swing $100 total on that, if you stayed in a real dive).  You still have to pay for food and such on top of that.  Without transportation, you'd be looking at $300 for the weekend and that's only if you lived as cheaply as you could.  I know that dollars convert differently to pounds, but they're spent in a similar way.  It's the same if I told you it would be £300.

The problem is that I'm living off student loans at the moment.  While I could swing £30 for a day ticket plus transportation, I certainly can't do £200 (especially not during exam time...I'm a graduate student!).  I was kinda hoping for a day option.  Oh well.  :(
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Alexfox on January 20, 2008, 00:20:34
Oh, no no...these fees seem super-cheap to  me, to be honest.  I mean, convention entrance, accomodation AND food in a major city?   Egads!  Like I said, the convention that was closest to me was $80 a day - that's $240 - plus two nights in a hotel (you might could swing $100 total on that, if you stayed in a real dive).  You still have to pay for food and such on top of that.  Without transportation, you'd be looking at $300 for the weekend and that's only if you lived as cheaply as you could.  I know that dollars convert differently to pounds, but they're spent in a similar way.  It's the same if I told you it would be £300.

The problem is that I'm living off student loans at the moment.  While I could swing £30 for a day ticket plus transportation, I certainly can't do £200 (especially not during exam time...I'm a graduate student!).  I was kinda hoping for a day option.  Oh well.  :(

Your not studying maths I hope? I am a tiny bit confused by those figures. $300 is roughly a snip over or about £150, which FYI isn't that bad for a weekend in any UK hotel (even for stand alone accommodation in a inner city) really good if its three or four star.

Anyway trust me it is expensive for what it is, Confuzzled is in a youth hostel, which is, to say even more basic than the smallest B&B or the worst hotel that I've ever stayed in. Think sharing a medium sized room with maybe 3 to 5 other people (who may or may not be tidy), with iffy mattress and bedding of dubious quality (mine at EF11 and 12 where slightly torn), everything from the floor to walls will be basic. Toilet and washing facility's are a real mixed bag, and as always communal, which leads to some fun when you find out that things run out (like toilet paper) or that some of your fellow furs have bad hygiene (like when I went to the toilet once at EF 12 and found some fur had left his "business" still floating in the god dammed pan). Oh and hey lets not forget the ice cold power blast showers!

Then food is, to say too will be like the accommodation, a mixed bag, The BBQ is normally good (since its run mostly by the hosts, not the hostel) but the rest of the meals are as only as good as the hostel staff can provide, EF12 and 11 had well, fairly good food, EF10 though had stuff that was really nasty (one meal could be described as 'pasta something' the other was 'It's curry... I think'). Either way it still felt like school dinners, and I still swear I got a tiny amount of gut rot from it.

All these sins where overlooked when the cost of the con came to £140 tops with everything but transport, which all said wasn't bad. Confuzzled is £210 however for a sponsorship which would get you two nights in a decent hotel, or the four days at EF. So its bloody expensive by comparison, the other UK fur con (well more very well organised event than con) RBW is cheaper at about £70*, and possibly £80* for a shared hotel room for two nights (about £150).

which leads me to my conclusion Confuzzled is really pricey for what it is (although a lot of it is beyond the staffs control, thanks UK economy), especially when lined up to the old Eurofurence events, and even for a stay in a youth hostel. Hey but at least I can get to this event, unlike EF this year.

Oh and if you can only just scrape the £170 or £210 for the event, and the little extra for transport then I would still take £150 as spending money (for dealers den, art show, bar, trips to the fish and chip shop when you get sick of the hostel food). So you might want to make the cost of confuzzled £320 or £360 minimum.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 00:43:10
No, I'm not studying math.  :|  Maybe read it a bit more carefully, especially the last part.  Dollars spend similar to pounds.  That is, in America a night at a decent hotel is around $60-$75, and in the UK a night at a decent hotel is around £60-£75.  A loaf of bread is about $1.50 in the States, and in the UK a loaf of bread is around £1.50.  A studio apartment in a mid-size town (like Sheffield) is about £400, and the same kind of apartment in a similar town in the States is about $400.  This is what I meant when I said "I know that dollars convert differently to pounds, but they're spent in a similar way.  It's the same if I told you it would be £300."

So for the nearest convention for me in the States, it would be at least $300, and that's without spending money on food, souveniers, travel and parking.  That would be like you spending £300 for a 3-day-2-night convention in the UK without spending money on food, souveniers, etc.  Make sense? :)
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Wolfie Fox on January 20, 2008, 00:45:31
Confuzzled is in a youth hostel, which is, to say even more basic than the smallest B&B or the worst hotel that I've ever stayed in.

I think you will find you got that the wrong way round. The ConFuzzled venue is most definitely NOT more basic than the smallest B&B or worst hotel.

*slaps the back of your paw*

Bad fox!  No cookies for you now! :P
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: HoneyHusky on January 20, 2008, 17:57:33
Quote
Anyway trust me it is expensive for what it is, Confuzzled is in a youth hostel, which is, to say even more basic than the smallest B&B or the worst hotel that I've ever stayed in. Think sharing a medium sized room with maybe 3 to 5 other people (who may or may not be tidy), with iffy mattress and bedding of dubious quality (mine at EF11 and 12 where slightly torn), everything from the floor to walls will be basic. Toilet and washing facility's are a real mixed bag, and as always communal, which leads to some fun when you find out that things run out (like toilet paper) or that some of your fellow furs have bad hygiene (like when I went to the toilet once at EF 12 and found some fur had left his "business" still floating in the god dammed pan). Oh and hey lets not forget the ice cold power blast showers!

Then food is, to say too will be like the accommodation, a mixed bag, The BBQ is normally good (since its run mostly by the hosts, not the hostel) but the rest of the meals are as only as good as the hostel staff can provide, EF12 and 11 had well, fairly good food, EF10 though had stuff that was really nasty (one meal could be described as 'pasta something' the other was 'It's curry... I think'). Either way it still felt like school dinners, and I still swear I got a tiny amount of gut rot from it.

All these sins where overlooked when the cost of the con came to £140 tops with everything but transport, which all said wasn't bad. Confuzzled is £210 however for a sponsorship which would get you two nights in a decent hotel, or the four days at EF. So its bloody expensive by comparison, the other UK fur con (well more very well organised event than con) RBW is cheaper at about £70*, and possibly £80* for a shared hotel room for two nights (about £150).

which leads me to my conclusion Confuzzled is really pricey for what it is (although a lot of it is beyond the staffs control, thanks UK economy), especially when lined up to the old Eurofurence events, and even for a stay in a youth hostel. Hey but at least I can get to this event, unlike EF this year.

Oh and if you can only just scrape the £170 or £210 for the event, and the little extra for transport then I would still take £150 as spending money (for dealers den, art show, bar, trips to the fish and chip shop when you get sick of the hostel food). So you might want to make the cost of confuzzled £320 or £360 minimum.

To me you make it sound like some horror convention. Confuzzled is going to be my first one and now you are scarying the shit out of me what i can expect from the hostel. Geez. I have a hard time beliving its so horrible as you say but on the other hand..
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 18:05:23
To me you make it sound like some horror convention. Confuzzled is going to be my first one and now you are scarying the shit out of me what i can expect from the hostel. Geez. I have a hard time beliving its so horrible as you say but on the other hand..

I was just thinking the same thing.  o_O
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Matt the Lion on January 20, 2008, 18:17:50
I would like to remind everyone that the Manchester youth hostel has been rated with 4 stars by the tourism board - which ranks it above most B&B's and small hotels.

I agree, some youth hostels are rubbish, but this one seemed extremely nice to me when I was there, given it was purpose built within the last decade and is currently having a massive refurbishment to improve the facilities yet further.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: CaliHusky on January 20, 2008, 18:26:04
We certainly wouldn't be hosting it there if it was horrible.

It's a very nice, new, custom built building which has won awards and is well above the standard of most youth hostels.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: LeighUK on January 20, 2008, 18:26:44
the thing Ive noticed is although its said EF is cheaper without travel, when you take into account us in England would probebly have to get a flight over, the cost does go higher than Confuzzled, at least for me, for which Confuzzleds just a trainride away

Also as a quick edit, and off topic, didnt realise it will notify of new posts while you're making yours, nice feature ^^
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 18:41:32
Well...still doesn't help me.  :(  I wish that they would release a few day tickets.  It makes sense, though I don't know the logistics of it or how difficult it would be.  But if they opened up maybe 10-15 tickets a day for people who just want to come down for the day, that would be nice.  As I said, I can't possibly afford £200+ on my college student budget...and I definitely can't afford that much time off right when my finals will be due.  Oh well.

It's like if you told me you had a brand-new Mercedes for £500.  I know it's a great deal, but if I don't have £500 it means nothing to me.  XD
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Wolfie Fox on January 20, 2008, 18:44:21
It's all comes down to insurance.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 18:46:52
Ahhh...that's right.  I forgot that things are a bit insurance-crazy over here.  x_x
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Wolfie Fox on January 20, 2008, 18:51:50
Actually it's because we didn't have to take out separate insurance because it was included by the YHA's insurance thus saving us a lot of moneys.

This is our first year remember so who knows... maybe next year we'll have day passes or just attendance tickets where you just book your own hotel. But don't quote me on that as I'm not too sure about it. I just run the art room and so things like tickets, insurance etc don't have anything to do with me.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 18:54:07
Yah....but sadly I'll probably not be here next year.  My visa expires in Jan 2009 (I'm just a student here, remember?).  I'd like to get it extended and work here, but I've heard that the UK is inundated with archaeologists already and it's too competitive for an American to even think of getting a job in the field.  So yah...i can't see me attending next year.  :(
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Wolfie Fox on January 20, 2008, 19:25:51
You could get a job on Time Team, then they will be able to have a DeathBunnie's trench on every show just like Carenza's trench hehehe :P
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 19:39:09
Oh god, Time Team.  You know, that's like a horror movie for archaeologists.  I swear to god, the first time I saw it I was alternating between laughing and screaming. "Yes, well, we're looking for a cemetary that dates to around 400 A.D....let's bring out the digger!"    D: YOU CAN'T DO THAT! D: D: D:

I am scarred to this very day.  x_x

Still, I wouldn't pass up a chance to get to work with Baldrick.  XD
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Matt the Lion on January 20, 2008, 20:39:25
We'd love to make day-only tickets available, but unfortunately that is a limitation of the fire safety license for the youth hostel - we are allowed a certain number of people in the building, which happens to be the same as the number of beds, which we have to pay for anyway.  So, if we allowed day tickets, that would mean there was a bed that the convention would be paying the YHA for, but have no revenue to cover that.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 20:47:47
Ah, yes, I can understand that too.  It makes sense.  And I know it would complicate things unnecessarily to just break up the tickets (sell some for the first night, second night, etc).  It doesn't matter, since you sold out anyway.  XD

I hope you guys have a lot of luck with this.  I obviously won't get to go this year, and I probably won't be in the country after that, so I'll likely not get to attend.  Oh well!  ^_^  There's still the mini-meets.  I'm hoping to go to the one in York next month.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Wolfie Fox on January 20, 2008, 20:56:54
You do know we have a waiting list right? There is always a chance that you will still be able to go. Someone might drop out or not be able to pay etc.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 20, 2008, 20:57:55
*poke*  Refer to my initial reason for starting this post, which was that I can't possibly afford all that.  x_x
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Alexfox on January 20, 2008, 21:00:59
Confuzzled is in a youth hostel, which is, to say even more basic than the smallest B&B or the worst hotel that I've ever stayed in.

I think you will find you got that the wrong way round. The ConFuzzled venue is most definitely NOT more basic than the smallest B&B or worst hotel.

*slaps the back of your paw*

Bad fox!  No cookies for you now! :P

It doesn't matter, its still a youth hostel, with youth hostel conditions. Even with five stars you are still having to share a room with three to five other people, you have to share a bathroom with those five others (since I have heard there is a communal bathroom for each room at this hostel). You have to make your own frigging bed (that is get the sheets, and cover the thing), and clean the room after the convention. As for food, it might not be bad but I am not expecting (although I can expect a que about a mile long, and limited portions) anything amazing after my experiences with EF two years back.

Yeah my experiences with youth hostels even the one in Nurenburg for EF11 and 12, which was also 4 or 5 star weren't that hot, and I am only expecting a bit better from the Manchester hostel seeing that a lot of stuff will be modern and up to date at the very least

The thing is the sponsor for confuzzled (which I have paid out for before anyone asks) is £210 for a sponsor. That sum of cash got me a big room to myself last year, with a top floor balcony, a TV, big double bed, bathroom to my frigging self, fridge (for all that beer!) and best of all! it was tidy... well until the last night when the place got the rockstar treatment, but hey! I didn't have to clean it up last year!*

£210 at confuzzled is getting me old treatment of the old EF's, and being fair I am paying the money so I can go to a con this year. Not that I feel like its awesome V.F.M.

Sticks his tounge out

Oh and I don't care for the cookies, I am watching my diet now, so Nar!

*Most likely so bad the room possibly needed rebuilding, and I would get lynched by the staff of the Ringburg if I ever return.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Alexfox on January 20, 2008, 23:18:39
No, I'm not studying math.  :|  Maybe read it a bit more carefully, especially the last part.  Dollars spend similar to pounds.  That is, in America a night at a decent hotel is around $60-$75, and in the UK a night at a decent hotel is around £60-£75.  A loaf of bread is about $1.50 in the States, and in the UK a loaf of bread is around £1.50.  A studio apartment in a mid-size town (like Sheffield) is about £400, and the same kind of apartment in a similar town in the States is about $400.  This is what I meant when I said "I know that dollars convert differently to pounds, but they're spent in a similar way.  It's the same if I told you it would be £300."

So for the nearest convention for me in the States, it would be at least $300, and that's without spending money on food, souveniers, travel and parking.  That would be like you spending £300 for a 3-day-2-night convention in the UK without spending money on food, souveniers, etc.  Make sense? :)

I know where your coming from, a hotel costs $300 in the US a hotel in the UK can cost £300. Ok with you there but the problem with talking like it this is that you don't take the exchange rate into account. When you say $300, it makes you look like you are saying its only about £150 or so, which is bloody cheap, by comparison.

I know prices in the US are roughly similar, or slightly cheaper, but its hard to compare like that.However it is better to say that to go to a convention in the US would cost $300 (£150), but you earn a lot less so the convention fee is a lot high with all things considered.

I always try to work in the currency I earn (in this case £ UK) and work the figures around that, to see if something is or isn't expensive (when compared to what I earn).

BTW if you can't make confuzzled, then its worth considering the convention in London later this year, it will have a day fee and if not the full price is less than £100 (although you have to take into account transport and hotel costs, but then there is a nearly a year to put away the cash).
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: TheDeathBunnie on January 21, 2008, 02:26:56
Eh?  I think it makes perfect sense for what I was saying.  I was trying to explain why I hadn't gone to a con in the US.  With the conversion it sounds great.  A hotel for $80 a night?  That's just £40!  But see, when I'm in the States I'm on the US economy, which is why I'm trying to put it to you in pounds.  ^_^  What if ConFuzzled cost £300 for entrance and a two-star hotel, and you still had to pay for travel (about 500 miles), food, and spending money?  Would you go?  ...prolly not.  :d

So it's about £200 for admission, food and lodging.  Plus travel.  Plus spending money - like you said, around £350 would be reasonable.  If you want to look at that from MY point of view with dollars, that's a week and a half of my father's paycheck. 

Sorry, I'm incoherant right now.  It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm desperately trying to get this paper finished...I'm just so tired of writing it.  Blargh!
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Exiled Wolf on January 21, 2008, 18:00:07
It doesn't matter, its still a youth hostel, with youth hostel conditions. Even with five stars you are still having to share a room with three to five other people, you have to share a bathroom with those five others (since I have heard there is a communal bathroom for each room at this hostel). You have to make your own frigging bed (that is get the sheets, and cover the thing), and clean the room after the convention. As for food, it might not be bad but I am not expecting (although I can expect a que about a mile long, and limited portions) anything amazing after my experiences with EF two years back.

Yeah my experiences with youth hostels even the one in Nurenburg for EF11 and 12, which was also 4 or 5 star weren't that hot, and I am only expecting a bit better from the Manchester hostel seeing that a lot of stuff will be modern and up to date at the very least

The thing is the sponsor for confuzzled (which I have paid out for before anyone asks) is £210 for a sponsor. That sum of cash got me a big room to myself last year, with a top floor balcony, a TV, big double bed, bathroom to my frigging self, fridge (for all that beer!) and best of all! it was tidy... well until the last night when the place got the rockstar treatment, but hey! I didn't have to clean it up last year!*

£210 at confuzzled is getting me old treatment of the old EF's, and being fair I am paying the money so I can go to a con this year. Not that I feel like its awesome V.F.M.

Right. *wades on in* I've been around the YHA Manchester, and I can say it is much better than what most people think of when they think about Youth Hostels (I've stayed in a few in my lifetime, I'll tell ya). I've stayed in hotels where the facilities weren't up to the level of this Youth Hostel, and that's before the refit that's going on. I understand your point about how £210 compares to what you got at EF, but we a) live in a more expensive country, and b) don't have the luxury of negotiating rates with an attendance of 600+ people.

A lot of people don't seem to realise the reason EF costs what it does is because they have thirteen years proof as to how much money they will bring in, and if a hotel is pretty certain that however many thousands of pounds are going to work their way into the bar, they're obviously going to be more willing to drop the prices lower than they normally would. What's a loss of £10 a night on a room when the occupants will give that back and more at the bar? ConFuzzled doesn't have those figures, so it's probably not easy for them to negotiate on price that much. Maybe next year, when they've got that kind of information, and more attendee spaces, they'll be able to get a cheaper rate.

Obviously this is all speculation on my part, because even though I'm staff, I'm not kept informed as to money in-money out stuff. My role is purely to manage the press and media, not the money  :)
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Dingotush on January 21, 2008, 19:41:28
To me you make it sound like some horror convention. Confuzzled is going to be my first one and now you are scarying the shit out of me what i can expect from the hostel. Geez. I have a hard time beliving its so horrible as you say but on the other hand..

I was just thinking the same thing.  o_O
We'd show you photos of the rooms, except they are all being refitted - so we can't.   I thought they were quite reasonable the way they were, but you'll be getting stuff that's newer.  I know I have stayed in hotels that were worse.  Each room also has a shower, sink, and toilet, so it will be no different to sharing a room in a hotel, which is par for the course at a furry con.  I can't comment on the food, as I've yet to eat there, plus the kitchen and restaurant are also part of the refit.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: Alexfox on January 22, 2008, 23:11:45
It doesn't matter, its still a youth hostel, with youth hostel conditions. Even with five stars you are still having to share a room with three to five other people, you have to share a bathroom with those five others (since I have heard there is a communal bathroom for each room at this hostel). You have to make your own frigging bed (that is get the sheets, and cover the thing), and clean the room after the convention. As for food, it might not be bad but I am not expecting (although I can expect a que about a mile long, and limited portions) anything amazing after my experiences with EF two years back.

Yeah my experiences with youth hostels even the one in Nurenburg for EF11 and 12, which was also 4 or 5 star weren't that hot, and I am only expecting a bit better from the Manchester hostel seeing that a lot of stuff will be modern and up to date at the very least

The thing is the sponsor for confuzzled (which I have paid out for before anyone asks) is £210 for a sponsor. That sum of cash got me a big room to myself last year, with a top floor balcony, a TV, big double bed, bathroom to my frigging self, fridge (for all that beer!) and best of all! it was tidy... well until the last night when the place got the rockstar treatment, but hey! I didn't have to clean it up last year!*

£210 at confuzzled is getting me old treatment of the old EF's, and being fair I am paying the money so I can go to a con this year. Not that I feel like its awesome V.F.M.

Right. *wades on in* I've been around the YHA Manchester, and I can say it is much better than what most people think of when they think about Youth Hostels (I've stayed in a few in my lifetime, I'll tell ya). I've stayed in hotels where the facilities weren't up to the level of this Youth Hostel, and that's before the refit that's going on. I understand your point about how £210 compares to what you got at EF, but we a) live in a more expensive country, and b) don't have the luxury of negotiating rates with an attendance of 600+ people.

A lot of people don't seem to realise the reason EF costs what it does is because they have thirteen years proof as to how much money they will bring in, and if a hotel is pretty certain that however many thousands of pounds are going to work their way into the bar, they're obviously going to be more willing to drop the prices lower than they normally would. What's a loss of £10 a night on a room when the occupants will give that back and more at the bar? ConFuzzled doesn't have those figures, so it's probably not easy for them to negotiate on price that much. Maybe next year, when they've got that kind of information, and more attendee spaces, they'll be able to get a cheaper rate.

Obviously this is all speculation on my part, because even though I'm staff, I'm not kept informed as to money in-money out stuff. My role is purely to manage the press and media, not the money  :)

Right well if you read up the I paid £210 (+ a bit extra for the paypal fee) for EF last year. That got me a Four night stay in a three to four star resort, with a top floor room to myself, which had as I said a big bed to myself, my own personal bathroom, a balcony with an excellent view of the Suhl area, personal TV, and it was roomy, really really roomy for that matter. Also that fee included the sponsorship, which probably netted me that room. While it was a lot of money it was beyond basic level stuff. Before anyone moans about the "Yes but you had to pay for the food!" Yes OK you did, but minimum spend it was 10 Euros (about £7), and that got you all you could eat, and drink (yes that included beer and wine, which were 2 euros a time at the bar), yes the quality was a bit up and down, but at worst it still got the kudos for the unlimited booze.

In addition to that the hotel boasted a games room, bar, gym, swimming pool, camp fire, excellent parking (if you took a car), bar meals and two restaurants.

Now for confuzzled, its £210 (the same amount as I paid for EF last year), that gets me three nights in a 4 or 5 star youth hostel, with a shared room (which will be basically but well furnished), it will be an OK sized, I might get lucky and we might have a shared TV, I might get lucky and I might get a good window with a view of the canal, I might have a very clean bathroom that will just be between myself and the three or 5 other roomies (god know it may have showers that stay on, and not those push button efforts that you find at swimming pools). Now your also saying "hey! At least the foods free!" well OK its a free, but if Eurofurence was anything to go by it will anything from terrible to good, but there will be no alcohol.

The hostel offers a when finished a bar(lets hope that it will be selling alcohol for the con!), some limited parking, and a games room.

Now to put it more bluntly a stay at EF14 (as a sponsor with a single room), with one main meal a day costs £238, making it £59.50p a night (based as a four night stay) for a 4 star resort. Where as Confuzzled (as a sponsor), costs £210 with food worked into the price is £70 per night, for a 5 star youth hostel.

And you have to face it guys its very expensive for what it is which is a youth hostel con, with youth hostel conditions. Even with the refit the place is offering basic clean cheap bunkhouse style accommodation, you can't expect any more or any less.

Now this is the point, two years back EF when it was still in a youth hostel only £140 for a sponsor, and yes being in a youth hostel sucks. However all the problems could be overlooked as it was at the time dirt cheap, and the best thing was that the EF crew put on a AAA show, which in fact made up for everything.

With me?

Confuzzled is expensive for what it is at the moment, and I can put up with the crappyness of YHA accommodation, even very overpriced YHA accommodation at its worst, if the convention its self is very good. Now one thing I have noticed is that a lot of the staff have been saying that the YHA in Manchester is better than the worst hotel or B&B.

1. I've been to some terrible hotel/guest/house's before too, and I mean terrible (think shoebox sized room, lime green walls, hard bed, dicky TV, no en-suite save for a sink, and wonky furniture, hell even the Gideon's bible looked really manky it was that bad). But at the very least for £28, I had a quiet place to crash pleasant sleep, and somewhere to shake off the hangover from Satan's arsecrack. The cooked breakfast was good, or it would of been had I the stomach to face it that morning. Trying to shake one off in a room full of five people (who don't feel the same way, and are making busy on the days con events) isn't easy, its near dammed impossible.

2. While there's all the con staff trying to talk up the con site, could I have some arguments about how good the convention will be. So much that even if the convention site is some kind of big joke rip off then the experience will make up for it. Frankly all the youth hostels EF used were a bit shit (so much so that, some of bad parts became running gags, see EF9), and at least it becomes a bit of a laugh after a while, or at least if the cons good. So where is all the talk about how the cons going to be so awesome that I won't care about the accommodation, who knows it might even be worth £210.

3. There could always be a big old bottle of Jim Beam black label in the care basket, Then the cons worth every penny :P

 
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: CaliHusky on January 23, 2008, 00:51:59
Fair points there everyone, and as this is the 'questions and answers' forum and it's been answered, I'm now locking this topic.
Title: Re: Options to Attend
Post by: LevLion on January 23, 2008, 12:27:55
As Cali has locked this topic I shouldnt abuse my admin and reply but Im going to, just to stop the CF bashing from certain people.

Theres too many misconceptions about CF when compaired to other cons. You can't go compairing us to EF.

1. Theres only a few quid difference between general attendance for CF and EF except you get all your food with CF
2. Youth hostels in Europe are all 1970's or older buildings in general (ours is new ish) so you cant compair EF9 (which was a POW camp anyway) to a flagship UK hostel
3. Europes just generally cheaper than the UK anyway (look at any hotel prices)
4. EF are a massive organisation who can gaurantee income and so can get better deals in hotels then we can
5. Im probabbly the longest attending UK fur at EF (8 years and counting) and I can tell you the price hasnt changed that much, EF6 was still in Deutch marks and was still about £140 as i recall.
6. We are a new con so you can go bashing us for maybe not having super events or being perfect, we are learning (EF has had 14 years to practise)

At the end of the day the person doing the most talking down of the con here is someone who is attending and chose to pay sponsor. I dont get it?

I think people would like to make their own minds up when the attend, as Cali said we wouldnt hold it there if it wasnt clean and nice!

Thats it end of the line, no more, go home
Thats all Folks!