For me, and only for me, having the F2F in a city such as Minneapolis or Kansas City, gives me an opportunity to go to city I probably wouldn't have much reason to go to otherwise. NOLA, I'll go to on my own. KS or Minn, maybe not. Not to say we wouldn't go to NOLA if that's where the vote put the F2F, but i personally I like the appeal of seeing somewhere I might not get to PLUS IMPROVED with Buffistas.

A tourist trap just isn't going to be as inexpensive as a non.

I keep saying Kansas City, because I know a bit about it, but there are other smaller cities that will have similar deals. Take a look at this:

[link]

look particularly at this:

[link]

the second link talks about $64 for a TWO NIGHT STAY. That specific promotion isn't up for 2005 yet, but I spoke to them and there will be the same or something similar. And it will be in a city with food, music, walkability, and cheap, short, direct, flights.

We will not get that in New Orleans (or LA, DC or Chicago fwiw). We may get it in Minneapolis or St. Louis or Cleveland or some other smaller cities that a) have some very nice things to do b) will bend over backwards to get our money.

A tourist trap just isn't going to be as inexpensive as a non.

Depends on how savvy you are. Isn't that the advantage of having knowledgeable people planning?

Let the bids decide what's more expensive -- people got rooms in LA cheaper than Evanston. Stuff happens.

Depends on how savvy you are. Isn't that the advantage of having knowledgeable people planning

And if the savvy sic their powers on the midwest? Deep discounts.

Deep discounts.

Only time will tell. You and I can prognosticate it all we want. Won't change a thing.

The proof of the pudding¹ is in the eating.

¹: Bread pudding, with bourbon sauce, natch

NOLA besides atmosphere;

Lots of music clubs, swamp tours, gorgeous architecture, lots o' history, amazing food (can't be said enough), no open container law (at least in the quarter), corsets and wool cloaks to drool over, great cheap shopping at the French market, walking tours out the yingyang, trolley fun, etc.

Personally, I think I'm done advocating for one city over another (the above was just in response to what's in NOLA besides 'atmosphere').

Everyone raises valid points. IMHO, whatever city we pick will probably have more than enough fun to keep anyone, even a Buffista, amused for the time we will be there. It would be nice to keep costs down, however that is possible.

My opinion; whether it's worth .02 is your opinion.

I'm sure you don't mean to say that NO won't take good care of its visitors, but that's what it's sounding like.

NO does have some very good deals- I've seen deals now that are for as little as $89 a night for a 4 star hotel- I didn't feel it was fair to include those since they are promotions going on now and I can't promise those rates.

I feel like you've already decided it's too expensive and in my experience that's just not the case.

And if the savvy sic their powers on the midwest? Deep discounts.

I'd rather not be stating things like "X is less than Y" before we have actual numbers for what X and Y are. There are possible discounts everywhere.

I'm sure you don't mean to say that NO won't take good care of its visitors, but that's what it's sounding like.

How is saying we can have as much fun for much less money saying that?

I'm not saying it's TOO expensive, I'm saying we can do better financially.

Personally, I think I'm done advocating for one city over another (the above was just in response to what's in NOLA besides 'atmosphere').

That was me, I think, but I meant it as a good thing -- NOLA is full of activities, but there's no checklist of Things I Must See Whilst In This City. (Unlike DC, with all the museums and monuments.) Architecture, history, food and shopping all fall under "atmosphere" to me.