Re: [Wikimania-l] Fwd: Wikimania-l Digest, Vol 73, Issue 27

Hotel prices seem too expensive. I went back and checked the bid: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2012/Bids/Washington,_D.C. It specificaly mentioned cheaper options - and to be specific - hostels for 48$ per night. Most wikipedians can not afford much more (we are talking about 6 nights so 1t $180 we reach almost $1,000 for accomodations, without meals, and including flghts it may reach $2,500 per attendee). I do not know how it is in your country, but in my opinion, most attendees can not afford that without full scholarships. Deror rg/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l<https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/list… It does seem like we're being mute about things, and I do regret that. But as a personal rule I don't like announcing things before they're done. You have a right to complete information and that is what you will get?once it is available. Here is a sneak peak. We have the "official hotel" which will run $189/night. It is a brief walk from the venue (or you could take a $6 taxi if you insist). It gets you some of the best free hotel wireless in DC as well as continental breakfast. We will also be making a deal with a $149/night hotel that is VERY close to the venue, but you have to purchase breakfast. We also got a couple of hotels thrown in at $149/night with free breakfast and wireless, but they are farther from the venue (but we can easily arrange for group transportation). These prices are before DC's ludicrous hotel tax. I'd also like to make some beds in the hostel available for general consumption, but between all the people receiving scholarships, I am not sure that can happen. If I had my druthers, we'd have cheaper hotel rates. However, the $189/night hotel is already at a steep discount (it normally sells for $240 in the summer) and the $149 rate is the best you will get in Washington, DC during the summer. It is worth noting that as a conference we are prioritizing hotels that are close to the venue (except for the two which are farther away, but those were too good an offer to pass up?they're NICE hotels). You are all free men and women and are welcome to book somewhere cheaply if you can find somewhere cheap, since we figured that those looking to save money are going to go to Priceline no matter what. I shouldn't be saying this, but you may be able to get a good rate on hotels if you book in Arlington; specifically, near the Rosslyn, Court House, or Clarendon metro stations. Those are all on the same line as the venue (located by the Foggy Bottom?GWU station), but are urbanized enough areas that you don't need a car. Additionally, since they are outside the city and in Virginia, the hotel tax is significantly cheaper. If you're of limited means, consider booking in Arlington. If you can afford the extra cost and would like to stay close to the venue, adjacent to our special events and to great neighborhoods in general, and in close proximity to other Wikipedians, please consider the hotels we'll be promoting on our website soon. I can't wait to see you all at Wikimania! Regards, James Hare ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org<http://us.mc318.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l End of Wikimania-l Digest, Vol 73, Issue 27 ******************************************* _______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l