280 replies to this topic

[flash]

lol - i hate the smell of mothballs.  that's what you get in cheap hotels.  you also get lumpy mattresses, low thread count sheets, lousy bathrooms, and noisy rooms.  all of that makes it a lot harder to get some much needed rest.  having stayed in nicer hotels, and experienced what a good night of sleep can be like, i won't stay in cheap ones again.  it's just too painful.  that's one of the reasons i stopped doing the paso run.  at the end of the trip, i was just so beaten up that it took me 3 days to recover from it.  only the last year was it better, and that's because we stayed at a better hotel than previous years, but it was getting too pricey for the crowd.

 

a nice lobby with a place for people to sit and talk is a huge plus.  a large area to gather for breakfast, before launching the day, is as well.

 

room service is a must, and preferably 24 hr.

[lbpesq]

The Lakeside Inn and Casino, a little over the state line,  is quite nice and has reasonable rates.  I just checked and July 8-10, 2016, is around $150 a night.  And they have group rates which could bring this down.  The casino is small and intimate, for a casino.  The rooms are like wood cabins.  My wife and I have stayed there a few times, though not in the past five years.

 

Bill

[Rap]

Flash it would be hard to believe that cheaper east coast motels are that much better than west coast ones! Are you sure this just isn't an age issue? I notice a lot of things are much different for me these days!!!!
Does you always eat late at nite?

[flash]

as a reference, when we were booking for that weekend, i couldn't find any hotel anywhere on the west side for under $500.

 

yes, i generally do want to order something late at night after a long day of driving and what not.  i actually like in-room dining.  no dealing with poor serving staff, no noise, no children.  when we went to kawaii 2 years ago for an extended weekend break, we ate in the room more than 75% of the time.  in fact, we spend more than half our time in the room.  we only ventured out onto the resort a couple of hours a day.

[ds968]

Yeah, when you crave a pizza or a burger at midnight and you don't feel like driving out for a couple of miles to whatever joint may be open at that time , the convenience of ordering off the room service menu and eating it in your bed with a beer or a glass of wine is tough to beat. That's why a casino hotel may not be a bad idea, there's food everywhere ..just as long as the slot machine noises and the Bee Gees cover band playing on the main floor do not resonate through your room until 2 am..
Of course there's always the room mini-bar which allows you to open a space & time portal into the future ( for you Sci-Fi fans ) and gives you glance at what a can of Pepsi and a bag of potato chips will cost in the year 2350..

[pluckedchicken]

so I guess this is out of the question...

 

[az968]

Joe Arpaio, the trusty sherrif in Maricopa County can do a whole lot better with his tent city. He throws in pink underware.

 

Google "maricopa county tent city" for images of how it should be done.

[94SilverCab]

I just looked up hotel prices from prior East Coast events, they were in the $119-$139 per night range. We used Hilton Inn, Hilton Gardens Inn (Hershey) and a Homewood Suites. All were clean, safe and segregated parking for 968s (with a hose bib and detailing supplies). None of the hotels had a bar or room service, but we made sure there was enough wine, beer and goodies that we supplied to keep the crowd happy.

 

A drive from SLT to Seattle looks like 16 hours, so I will probably just fly, not going to have a 968 in any event.

 

JMO,

 

Jay 

[flash]

something to consider - parking is a huge thing.  being able to get an area set aside for the group is big plus.  the hose bib is a nice touch.  i was never able to pull that one off, though since my events were all driving events, and not showing events, that wasn't much of an issue.  showing events would be enhanced by having that feature.

 

as a point of view reference, i thought the hilton garden in hershey was a real disappointment.  it was clean and all that, but really had no features or amenities, was too far from any place to eat, drink, or anything like that, and the lobby was very small, which made it hard to have a gathering.  the hershey hotel would have been better, closer to the event, with all the bells and whistles.

 

just saying........

[az968]

Since we are the event, where ever we pick to stay we will be close. One feature of the 968 Park Hotel was covered separate parking for cars. But it has a small lobby and lobby bar and I don't think it has 24 hr room service. They do have a suite with a private patio, mayve someone could take that room. Go look at their Web site, posted earlier. There are some casinos that proqbly do have full services, need to see about the parking. Many of the drives will be toward the north so being at the NE part of SLT will minimize the traffic, near Stateline. But maybe I should also look at places in NLT as well. Wash area would be a bonus after drives.

Let's talk about what we do there. Should we do two days as a grouup or three or four? Coming all that way I'd want to play as much as possible, but I don't have job pressures. But need to structure it so those that can only stay a few days it is worth their effort to come. Certainly lots of nice drives, one good one per day. Certainly time for "show and tell" on each car. Group dinners. Place for "bench racing" as late as people want to go. Tech sessions? How about event shirts, I have a great artist friend that does cool car art and a local t-shirt shop? Not planning any vendor companies but maybe I can get some goodies for attendees. Thoughts?

Edited by az968, 12 October 2015 - 06:06 AM.

[Rap]

What was the hotel that Jay used in Newton? That was ok. Two day events probably are better for those that bring wives. At the last Paso we took a leisurely drive up from LA and stopped at a bunch of places like Santa Barbara and the Hearst mansion. It makes sense to keep the ladies happy and involved. 

[94SilverCab]

A couple of hints: ( I won't presume to prescribe activities for YOUR event, 968forums is not PCA )

 

Friday night, casual wine and cheese (people will arrive for the event from all over the place anywhere from early afternoon through late at night, so any organized event will likely be a nightmare)

 

Saturday - tech session, event, (wine tasting etc)...leave some free time in the afternoon so couples can enjoy the area. Saturday night banquet.

 

Sunday - fun run and lunch to be over by early afternoon so folks can drive home.

 

This is absolutely just a possible outline...I'd be happy to discuss in detail if you would like any input from me.

 

Jay

[MCL968]

Check out The landing in SLT, it's a very nice place and in a good location.

 

http://thelandingtahoe.com/

 

Also, we could do a fun run to the vineyards in Placerville if anyone was interested.

[az968]

Looks very good, location is good if we want to go north to 431/341.  Placerville would take us thru town to the south, which is always a busy traffic drive.  But we could pick a meeting place south of town to regroup.  Are there any interesting places to stop if we go north to 431/341?  Those roads look like they could be more fun and less traffic?  Room rates for July 8/9/10 are fair and we could probably get a group discount too. So Flash doesn't feel he is underpaying, he could pick up your and my rooms.

[lbpesq]

Virginia City on 342/341 is a nice one hour drive Northeast from SLT  and a fun place to visit.  Personally, I have no interest in fighting traffic to see a winery in Placerville. 

 

As for lodging,  I'd rather spend $150 and have a few hundred to play around with on the blackjack and craps tables, than blow $800 a night on a bed, TV, and a shower.   Of course we don't necessarily have to stay at the same hotel.   Those that want to spend the GNP of a small country per night can find suitable accommodations, while the sane members of our little group can find very reasonable rooms elsewhere.

[az968]

We are close on securing what appears to be a great place to stay, a site visit is being planned shortly by our local forum members.  It will be affordable and the management seems to be very accommodating to our needs. Convenient to local activities and shopping (for those that don't enjoy spirited scenic drives).  Hope to be able to announce all the details soon, incl the loose schedule of events.  Right now we are looking at July 8 (Friday) arrival, departures on Sunday afternoon July 10 or later as people wish.  Mark your calendars cause you won't want to miss this gathering!

[williamoss]

when I started this thread I should of said that it is easy to find expensive hotels but most or some of us do not have that kind of money to spend or we choice not to spend a lot of money on a hotel. If you want to go 5 star more power to you. If you like all the amenities and extras like a great dining room services valet parking etc, and are comfortable paying $500 or $1000 I say great have fun.

 

But when I was in the NNJ Porsche club that had about 200 members at that time, the group in charge found a reasonable hotel at a lower cost, so everyone was happy. And those who wanted a more expensive hotel went to a more expensive hotel, so eveone was happy. There were even some who went camping to save money.  

[az968]

I think most people will find this place quite acceptable and reasonably priced. That said, people can stay anywhere they chose, no rules against that, but I think everyone will be happy with this place, but withholding final judgement until the site visits to confirm what we have heard.  I would advise against sleeping in your car tho, don't know if there are outdoor showers available, but there will be a car wash garden hose you could rinse off with 

[MCL968]

Would now be a good time to start a list of interested persons so some numbers could be established?

[az968]

Sure, can we get a projected headcount started?  Just post back your likelihood of participating (and number in your party). I'll keep a list going. Presume hotel cost will not be an issue, either the place we pick or other properties in South Lake Tahoe will fit everyone's budget and desires.  July 8 - 10 with options for people to come earlier or stay later to enjoy the area.  Lots of fun stuff for everyone to enjoy.

Edited by az968, 14 October 2015 - 09:22 AM.