Hi everyone

Long time Transfan (just old enough to remember watching G1 when I was about 3 or 4 ), and someone who's hoping to make it to this years Auto Assembly. I'm already friends with a couple of people I believe are members here on the forum, over on Deviantart (where my username is Ultralad) as well as on Facebook.

I wasn't sure whether to ask this here or on another part of the forum, so apologies in advance.

I'm pretty sure I'll be able to afford the cost of attending the convention, and travel fees shouldn't be too much of a problem, but I'm not sure if I can stretch to paying the hotel fees as well, are many of you actually staying at the same hotel where the convention is taking place, or are people staying at other hotels nearby?

Thanks, and hope to see you there

Hiya, welcome aboard and looking forward to seeing you at the convention!

Most people are trying to stay at the Hilton if they can. Obviously staying on site is a lot easier because there's less hassle dropping your stuff off in your hotel room rather than carrying loads of toys around with you all day and carrying them back and forth between whatever other hotel you stay in! The last few years some people have stayed in other cheaper hotels but have found it a struggle with bags and sadly we can't provide a bag storage area because of security / insurance issues.

We've managed to negotiate a very low rate at the Hilton of £50 a night for a single or £60 for a twin / double inclusive of breakfast so if you can find someone to room share with, that will bring your cost down to £30 a night, but if money is really tight there is a hotel about 5-10 minutes walk on the NEC site (the Etap) which is a low-budget hotel which will work out a lot cheaper but it will mean carrying everything around with you each day. I don't know what facilities the Etap offers, but from what I understand it's little more than a bed / toilet / shower in each room!

Thanks for the info, I did have a quick look at their website after posting my question, and it did say £49 per night. If I do book at the Hilton, is there a special code I need to quote or give them to get the special rate for people attending the convention?

Thanks for the alternatives, hopefully I'll be able to organise something soon.

One you've booked your tickets for the convention we'll send you a confirmation email out, and there is a link in there with details on how to get your room at the Hilton at the discount rate.

Ah, thanks for explaining

Welcome aboard!

Thanks Sprite

Hopefully when I go into work tomorrow, I'll be able to find out for definite if I can get the Saturday off for the convention. If I can, then I'll book some tickets at the end of this month (when I get paid XD)