FaithWriters 2013 Conference is planned!

[itsjoanne]

Well, it looks like I will NOT be able to make the conference this year . My brother and his family are busy that weekend and surrounding, so visiting them at the same time is not going to work. Will still make it to Portland that summer - just not the weekend of the conference.

Will miss seeing you guys!

[Ms. Barbie]

Aw Joanne! I would send you money to go if I had it! It won't be the same without you.

I don't plan on attending because of a weekend convention in Northern California around the same time and wanting to go visit my niece and family in their new home in North Carolina next fall.

[JesusPuppy]

Ok Bird.. I checked with the hotel on the MAX stop near them and the closest one in at the airport. I would be getting there sometime Thursday so I would have plenty of time to find my way.

I think.

[Christine Ramey]

Amy,

That sounds like a blast. . .I'd definitely like to go to that. Just tell me what to plan for as far as cost is concerned as much ahead of time as you can. Just so I'd enough to go. That sounds awesome. Sitting around talking would be find with me as well and anyone else that wanted to join in. LOL!

Joanne and Barbara sorry to hear you guys aren't going. I'll miss seeing the two of you.

JesusPuppy I sure hope you bring the fudge again. That was awesome.

[Sparrow]

Ok Bird.. I checked with the hotel on the MAX stop near them and the closest one in at the airport.

The airport has a free shuttle from the airport so that would be perfect. Just take the Max there and have the shuttle pick you up.

Jo, my family is planning our trip to the beach right now, so can you let me know as soon as you know what dates you'll be here so hopefully we won't be out of town at the same time? Want to see you if possible!

[teach4u70]

I would suggest the red Lion on the River, Jsntzen Beach. I have attended to conferences at this hotel and it is very convenient and economical. Free shuttle from airport, good accessibility to public transportation, and across the river from Vancouver, Wa.,

[Sparrow]

Thanks, but we've already got the Radisson booked for the conference. They have shuttle services and everything, too.

[Allison]

Amy, is the hotel shuttle from the airport free? And does it run 24 hours a day? I once stayed at a hotel and it had a free shuttle, but only until a certain time. Some of the flights I'm looking at get in or leave at unpleasant hours, like midnight (getting in) or 6 am (leaving).

[Sparrow]

Yes, it's free and I'm pretty sure it's 24 hours a day. You have to call to schedule it.

[Hoomi]

w00t! Coming in late on this discussion, but my better half and I are looking at options to make the trip.

We're thinking of flying in Wednesday night and leaving the following Tuesday morning. If we're going to make that kind of trip, we'd like to have a little extra time for some sightseeing, and we have some friends up in the Seattle area that I've wanted to visit in person for over ten years now. We haven't been to Portland since January 2nd, 1981. Yeah, I remember the exact date. I almost finished one semester at Multnomah School of the Bible, before ending up in Emanuel Hospital for six weeks.

Amy, what kind of rate are we getting for rooms from the Radisson? If I book the flight, rental car, and room at the Radisson through Expedia, I'm coming in at about $767 per person for six nights. Just booking through the Radisson webpage, we were looking at about $87 per night for the cheapest room, or about $525 for the room alone, plus tax (or about $262 per person).

You definitely piqued my interest with future venues in Orlando. Faithwriters Conference AND scuba diving! Who could ask for anything more?

Yeah, I know. We could dive the Pacific Coast off of Oregon, too, but if the water off of San Diego is still cold enough to require a 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit in July and August, it's not going to be warm enough for us off of Oregon. We got kind of spoiled to Fiji and Hawaii.

[Sparrow]

That would be great if you could come, Hoomi! The hotel and travel costs do add up, I know. Right now we have the hotel rooms at a set rate of $89, no matter how many occupants. So those who want to share rooms can split the costs. Doesn't help much for a married couple, though, I suppose....

[Hoomi]

Okay. Looks like I'll do just as well booking through Expedia, anyway. Package deals for flights, hotel, and rental car usually come out ahead. The cheapest flights I found from Tucson were about $350 RT per person, but that involved several stops and around six to seven hours of travel time. For about $366, we can fly direct from Phoenix Skyharbor to Portland. Without dive gear, we can easily travel with one suitcase each (going on dive trips, we do one carryon and one bag with dive gear and some clothing each). I might see about shipping some books ahead of me, or just see how we do on luggage, and if I can keep our luggage weight within limits with the books.

I might even be close to having the second Pod story published by then.

[Hoomi]

(But it's so sad that it looks like Joanne won't be there!)

[itsjoanne]

(But it's so sad that it looks like Joanne won't be there!)

It IS sad. You are DEFINITELY someone I really, REALLY want to meet in person some time. Maybe Florida, if I can manage that one? (or you could come to Michigan and scuba dive by some Great Lakes shipwrecks?? Maybe that's stretching, but I gotta try at least LOL) Disappointed I'm gonna miss the conference for my very first time

[RedBaron]

I signed up for a website that sends airfare alerts periodically, from the two airports I could use. It gives me an idea of what I'm looking at, once we have our tax refund

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com

So far, they've been from $245 up to $400.