Austin does Las Vegas/ January C.E.S. (1 Viewer)

[Raelene]

Yes, Nils you did miss the fun last week. I thought the two of them were going to start swinging at their computers. I didn't want to see a monitor lose it's life over a woman so I decided I had better leave it be. Thank goodness they realized that women aren't worth fighting over. No, seriously, they were good sports about the whole thing. It's nice to know that Jonathan's friends have a sense of humor and can take a joke. I hope you can handle it when I pick on you, YOUR DAY WILL COME!!! LOL

RAELENE

P.S. I have always had a thing for older men, Hank! :b

 

[Jonathan DA]

Nils,

Be afraid, be very afraid.

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

Yes, women are not worth fighting over, but an occasional sparring is entertaining.
"P.S. I have always had a thing for older men, Hank!"
Obviously a woman of insight, taste and discernment
I rest my case.
Back to the Vegas invasion: Does everyone plan to stay for the whole show?

 

[David Tolsky]

I think it's time we had an HTF function in Vegas during CES. I've been to CES the last 5 or 6 years and have been meeting up with friends at the "other website" dinner which is fun. We should attempt to start a thread and get something organized.

 

[Jonathan DA]

I'm looking at Southwest's vacation packages and trying to figure out where to stay. Last time I stayed at Harrah's and was satisfied but not overly impressed. I'd like to stay at the Luxor, but it's a little pricey. In the spirit of being cheap, these seem to be my options:

Westward Ho Casino Rear
Imperial Palace
Westward Ho Casino Front
Circus Circus Hotel/Casino (Tower)
Stardust Resort & Casino
Sahara Hotel & Casino
Riviera Hotel & Casino

What would you guys recommend?

David,
An official HTF Vegas meet sounds great, count me in, I'll bring toys.

 

[Gregg Loewen]

David, sounds good! You driving with John? Im thinking of flying from LA, not sure though.
Im for staying at the CHEAPEST place possible. In August I stayed at the Sahara, it cost me a whopping $29 a nite.
FWIW,
Gregg

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

It's time to book. Prices are heading up. I stayed at Harrah's for INFOCOMM - sure was nice to be within walking distance of the Sands convention center. CES is at the Las Vegas convention center. Go here, then click on the Hilton hotel and on that page there's a map showing hotels close to the convention center: http://www.lasvegastourism.com/express1.htm
I'm checking Soutwest Airline packages (RT air and 2 nights hotel) for these hotels...okay, here we go:
Riveria and Sahara are closest and are both $294 for the package. Whoa! I just priced it live and the Riveria package is now $386 (incl $17 tax). Sahara is now $379.
I'm booking it.
The deed is done. Booked and paid for. Departing Austin Jan 9 at 7:10 a.m. Departing Las Vegas Jan 11 at 8:15 a.m. Two nights at the Sahara. Vegas, baby!

 

[Danny Richie]

You guys should also realize that the WCES does provide a free bussing service from all the major hotels to and from all the exhibit locations.
Transportation is only a consideration if you want to get to T.H.E. Show over at the San Remo: http://www.the-expo.net/
It is separate from the WCES and the shuttle service does not go there, but this is where a lot of the high end audio will be.
If four people pile into a cab there and split up the bill it is not too bad I guess. Cab fare there is an arm, a leg, and one nad.
Look to book deals as a group or in pairs it gets even cheaper. Cheaper still if you leave out of DFW. Two of us went last year and stayed four nights at the Excalibur and it was only $450. for both of us including air fare.
Danny Richie

 

[Gregg Loewen]

HI guys

I just booked at the Sarhara. 39 for the 8th then 79 a night for the 9-11th. Total $300. I used Expedia.

See you guys in a few months!!

Gregg

 

[Jonathan DA]

Vegas here we come! Just booked a deluxe suite at the Luxor for 4 nights. Raelene and I will see you all there. You'll see me around, I'll be the one being escorted by the hot blonde in the Mirus Audio shirt

 

[David Tolsky]

More than likely I'll be staying at the Tropicana as a local HTF friend of mine gets a great rate on a big room there. But I have also stayed at the Motel 6 right next door for $50 a night for any night and you can book it all the way up to convention time. Not bad if you want to stay cheap I'm going to be making a decision on this trip so I am really looking forward to this one!

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

"Just booked a deluxe suite at the Luxor for 4 nights."

Wow, those high-end speaker manufacturers are rolling in the dough! I have a vision of a suite like the one in Rain Man.
Well, I'm taking a budget vacation to the Caribbean, a little village called Akumal, south of Cancun. October 25th I'm outta here. No suite involved:frowning:

 

[Mike Ford]

These days Comdex is about the only thing to even remotely fill LV up, so should be plenty of rooms. So far my best deal was couple years ago, $26 total for 2 nights at Palace Station. Its not close to convention center, but I drive out and its easy to park at.
The essential thing to get into WCES or any other trade show is to do it in ADVANCE. I have been either a consultant or "electronics advisor" since I was 13, which really got to one outfit that called me and my mom said I was doing my homework. This link should be fine http://www.cesweb.org/registration/ be honest, but creative.
Second item is a business card, which this place does for free (s&h is about $5) in a couple weeks, http://www.vistaprint.com/ very nice really, and yes any bozo knows when you print out even REAL pretty business cards on your PC, so these are real handy.
CES is anything BUT all at the convention center, and seems to change more often than every year. Deal is LVCC is $$$ to exhibit at, so many things are off in hotel rooms, but I have no idea just yet how many or which for this year.
I spend about half my time whereever the high end audio will be, but I am game to try just about any sort of get together.

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

Mike, thanks for the Vistaprint tip. I'm only there for two days and figure one or 1 1/2 days at the high end hotel will be my plan. Maybe we'll all meet somewhere/sometime. Hmmm...if we only knew a high-end speaker manufacturer who has a hotel suite...

 

[Jean Weitzmann]

More than likely I'll be staying at the Tropicana as a local HTF friend of mine gets a great rate on a big room there.

Last year, I did stay at the Tropicana for $19 or $29 a night.
David, this year, they've realized that it is CES time and they have bumped up their rates:
$55 on the 8th/9th,
$85 on the 10th/11th
$35 on the 12th
(on the 13th, it is back to $15!!!)

Jean W

 

[Mike Ford]

Is the Clements speaker still being done in Texas?

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

Mike, here's a link that indicates they're in Chandler, Arizona, but that may be out of date:
http://www.clements-prc.com/

 

[Greg Risley]

Hey guys
I might be attending the CES, my father has said he would like to go again if he has time. The benefit of dad going is we get to take his airplane, also meaning there is possibilty of a few empty seats for fellow Austin attendees.
Guys this is the only way to go to Vegas. We leave out of San Marcos airport where we park our cars in the hanger that the airplane was in, and when we land in Vegas we park over at the fixed base operation on the other side of the airport where when you open the door of the plane they roll out a nice red carpet and load you and your bags onto a golf cart and take you to the office and you just step out the other side to a waiting taxi. I will let you know as soon as he firms up on a date for sure.



Greg

 

[Anthony_Gomez]

Hey Hank and Danny,

I'll be at in Vegas for CES on friday-sunday and will be staying at the San Remo (where THE Show is going to be held). I'll be meeting up with Kyle while I am up there. Care to join?



And There is a Shuttle between THE Show and Alexis Park.

 

[Nils Luehrmann]

Greg wrote:

The benefit of dad going is we get to take his airplane, also meaning there is possibilty of a few empty seats for fellow Austin attendees.

WOW! Now I wish I was still planning on attending CES this year. What kind of plane does your father fly? I assume its larger and faster than a 182 or else it would have to be one long trip?