I would like to strongly suggest to communicate this to all people that registered. If 150 USD is going to be the cheapest you can provide (and for most people it is just way out of their range) it is only fair to tell them that now - because every day they will wait for you to come up with those great cheap hotel rates that were promised (but as we understand now, that is only for DC standards) the cheaper hotels get more expensive. There's probably not much more you can do at this point on cheap hotels, but letting them know well in time is only fair. Not everyone is on this mailing list (by far).

Lodewijk

El 22 de abril de 2012 16:39, James Hare <messedrocker@gmail.com> escribió:

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.