AFF Gathers: In Melbourne!! [1-3 August 2008]

[anat0l]

Thanks for the thought Lindsay! As for the rest of you I will resist the temptation to comment further :shock:

Jeff

Look on the bright side! (No pun intended there!)

At least we didn't start any sheep-related jokes......

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the thought Lindsay! As for the rest of you I will resist the temptation to comment further :shock:

Jeff

Unusual to have a 'speechless' K1W1 :!:

 

[Bundy Bear]

Unusual to have a 'speechless' K1W1 :!:

He is saving it for the weekend, you all better watch out.

 

[straitman]

He is saving it for the weekend, you all better watch out.

Oops, ... I'm almost old enough to need his aged care doctoring skills so I best be quiet.

 

[Mal]

Holiday Inn on Flinders is now $285 "Best Flexible Rate" - with the extremely borked suggestion that:

"Canceling your reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on Wednesday, 2 July, 2008 will result in no charge. Canceling your reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on 2 July, 2008, or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit."

No idea what the 'deposit' is, but presume it is the full amount of the stay.

Advance Purchase rate is currently $257 / night, with no refund rights. Entertainment Card is a bit cheaper, with the same cancellation condition as above.

Rydges is a touch cheaper than before (average of $193.50 per night on the PriorityGuest rate), but have introduced a 1.5% Visa/MC surcharge and 3.5% Amex/Diners/JCB surcharge.

Hilton on the Park $280/night Fully Flex, or $244 pre-paid (Less of course any other discounts you have). Crowne Plaza is still over $300 / night.

 

[JohnK]

Rydges is a touch cheaper than before (average of $193.50 per night on the PriorityGuest rate), but have introduced a 1.5% Visa/MC surcharge and 3.5% Amex/Diners/JCB surcharge.

Serious? Well they have lost any business they were ever likely to get from me.

Hilton on the Park $280/night Fully Flex, or $244 pre-paid (Less of course any other discounts you have).

With 20% off for Hilton Premium Club this reduces to ~$195 which may well be the best option. Need to work out how to take advantage of possible lounge access for the Saturday evening before scheduled dinner.

 

[serfty]

... With 20% off for Hilton Premium Club this reduces to ~$195 which may well be the best option. Need to work out how to take advantage of possible lounge access for the Saturday evening before scheduled dinner.

When this was first mooted I made a flexible booking for the Sat evening at the HOP for $230 less 20%. Expensive then at $184 and getting worse,.

'Tis footy season - A few AFL games plus the Storm are playing at Home that weekend, possibly Saturday evening (Olympic park is an easy walk past the MCG).

 

[QF WP]

Hilton now may very well be my preferred option for this trip, after looking at the rates and availability - plus the benefit that HHonors finally agreed to re-instate me to Gold until July 2009 (after the Hilton Racing stay 4 in 90 dayg get Gold promotion that I completed didn't post).

 

[Keith009]

Aug 2 Sat night dinner has been booked as thus:

Venue: Vialetto Restaurant
Address: 75 Hardware Lane
Start time: 7.30pm

We'll have a private function room to ourselves, and it's $40 per head for a 3 course set meal, menu of which can be viewed here:
Function Booking Venue, Fine Dining, Melbourne Restaurant

Drinks are extra and there are no additional costs.

At the mo I have told them that there'd be 25 guests, however these folks are pretty flexible and I can simply increase or decrease the numbers as appropriate. No pre-payment is required - simply rock up with $40 each on the night itself.

****************************************************************************************

In lieu of any decisive call for choice of AFL match, I've listed down the Sunday arvo game for now.

Draft schedule updated (go to the "Groups" link in my signature).

Will finalise other details shortly when all the uni-ing has died down.

 

[oz_mark]

Holiday Inn on Flinders is now $285 "Best Flexible Rate" - with the extremely borked suggestion that:

Interesting that if booking Friday only it is $250, Saturday night is $285 and if you do both it is $285 both nights. Normally the IHG engine is smarter than that!

 

[JohnK]

Interesting that if booking Friday only it is $250, Saturday night is $285 and if you do both it is $285 both nights. Normally the IHG engine is smarter than that!

Yes normally this is the case with IHG hotels but I had similar issues when trying to book recently. As it does not take much effort I still check each night separately in case I get a better deal on any given night.

 

[Flashback]

I now have a confirmed booking @ HOP checking in August 1, and checking out August 3. Now to work out the best way to / from the airport...

I'm meeting up with a colleague to do some work on the Friday, so Skybus looks good, and then Skybus could even get me back there, given that we may be @ Telstra Dome for the footy on Sunday arvo, and the stop is right next door ?

 

[munitalP]

Due to lack of interest in a box at the TD for the footy, I have decided not to follow up on it. Thanks to the 3 people who emailed me and said they were interested however, 3 ain't enough and it makes it just far too expensive per head. I can purchase Medallion Club seats through TD for anyone who wants to still come - again, PVT MSG me and I will sort it out - there's still a couple of us going so lets try and get a few more!!!

Go Saints

Mr!

 

[kpc]

Scratching, unfortunately I have been rostered to work that W/E!:evil:
Have fun:mrgreen:

 

[Keith009]

Scratching, unfortunately I have been rostered to work that W/E!:evil:
Have fun:mrgreen:

Sorry to hear.
Next time.

 

[serfty]

I can access Level 1 reserved seats for the Sunday Saints Game against Port Power for $10 to $20ph, depending on how many seats are required.

Reserved seating goes on sale very soon. Any who commit by this weekend I can purchase a ticket for.

 

[Flashback]

Count me in, as an avid Eagles supporter I'm not really too fussed over who wins!

The 1 query I have.. is what should I do with my suitcase

I'll probably be leaving at 3 QTR Time in order to make my flight to PER.

And is it likely to be shielded from the weather? If not, then I may need to leave earlier to schedule in a shower in the QP...

 

[JohnK]

I can access Level 1 reserved seats for the Sunday Saints Game against Port Power for $10 to $20ph, depending on how many seats are required.

Reserved seating goes on sale very soon. Any who commit by this weekend I will purchase a ticket for.

Ross please purchase a ticket for me. I would just love to see the Saints lose live. Beats watching them lose on television.

Can I give you the money while you are in transit in SIN on June 29?

 

[anat0l]

I'm not sure I have enough red blood to sit in a set of footy stands and yell at the top of my voice. Unless we're in a box (and that's not happening).

And for the <insert blasphemy here>, I do not want to be one of those front row seats that wave the banners, wear those wierd scarves and cuss the opposition when they score a goal. (!!!) :shock::!:

But I would like to move my status from Interested to Confirmed. Can't wait for the events listing. I've been to MEL a couple of times, but I've done only the city very quickly and solo. (I wasn't at the OzFest that was held at MEL.)

Flights and accommodation are yet to be determined. I hear Hilton MEL Airport has a 2 x points deal (not bad for making the earliest flight on the Monday morning back to BNE, followed by a smooth train/bus ride to work ). Funds are a premium at the moment still planning my mini-MR/bed-run in NZ....

 

[serfty]

... And is it likely to be shielded from the weather? If not, then I may need to leave earlier to schedule in a shower in the QP...

As far as weather goes, TD(/docklands) has a roof!

It's about 300 metres from the Skybus Depot/SC station, although there's no roof along the overpass where you'd walk.