19th Annual National Sweepstakes Convention

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They are a high-rise hotel but they do have elevators, totally disabled friendly and you can request a room on a lower floor. I do not care as all I have to do is close the drapes or inch to the window.
 
So all in all this trip will be kind of expensive right? I mean how much does the whole thing run. Including ticket to convention and hotel and gas and food. What's you guys best estimate? Just curious :)
 
It depends on many factors. Some people want the best and stay at the convention hotel while others will stay at motel 6. Some will come to party and stay a whole week and other arrive late on Thursday and leave on Sunday morning or afternoon. Some are locals. Others will drive, take busses and anything cheap. Some plan and others spur of the moment.

Convention $160 and additional $20 after a certain date.

Room: IF you book early and IF the convention planners chose a nonholiday then you can get rooms for around $29 to $59 a night for up to 4 people. This is one of the most expensive rooms and is $125 for 2 and up to $200 for 4. Concierge and suites are more.

Transportation: Busses and planned plane fare can be as low as $200 or very expensive on the last minute.

Ground Transportation: $12 to $25 each way so that can add up to $100. Very few sweepers will rent private cars or limo.

Food: there is a banquet and one lunch and maybe a fake breakfast like rolls and juice or appetizers like chips and dip and ice cream and cake. IF you have a special diet it can be expensive. Figure two to 3 meals aday. Moline had a mini mart next door. San Diego was on the other side of the freeway and out in the boondocks but rooms were cheap and carpooling solved the food problems. This time it is a major toursist trap that closed down for the winter,

Entertainment: Optional and includes gambling trips, local museums, parks, zoos, and once a riverboat cruise.

Raffles can cost up to $100 and are optional.

IF I had to do this the cheap way and was rich I would probably get the room for a week for $350 to $400, rental car for about $200, amusement parks and other stuff about $100 to $200. Event aprking about $125. Food about $300. Easily do a week in San Antonio for about $900. Moline and San Diego were far cheaper.
 
mechurchlady said:
It depends on many factors. Some people want the best and stay at the convention hotel while others will stay at motel 6. Some will come to party and stay a whole week and other arrive late on Thursday and leave on Sunday morning or afternoon. Some are locals. Others will drive, take busses and anything cheap. Some plan and others spur of the moment.

Convention $160 and additional $20 after a certain date.

Room: IF you book early and IF the convention planners chose a nonholiday then you can get rooms for around $29 to $59 a night for up to 4 people. This is one of the most expensive rooms and is $125 for 2 and up to $200 for 4. Concierge and suites are more.

Transportation: Busses and planned plane fare can be as low as $200 or very expensive on the last minute.

Ground Transportation: $12 to $25 each way so that can add up to $100. Very few sweepers will rent private cars or limo.

Food: there is a banquet and one lunch and maybe a fake breakfast like rolls and juice or appetizers like chips and dip and ice cream and cake. IF you have a special diet it can be expensive. Figure two to 3 meals aday. Moline had a mini mart next door. San Diego was on the other side of the freeway and out in the boondocks but rooms were cheap and carpooling solved the food problems. This time it is a major toursist trap that closed down for the winter,

Entertainment: Optional and includes gambling trips, local museums, parks, zoos, and once a riverboat cruise.

Raffles can cost up to $100 and are optional.

IF I had to do this the cheap way and was rich I would probably get the room for a week for $350 to $400, rental car for about $200, amusement parks and other stuff about $100 to $200. Event aprking about $125. Food about $300. Easily do a week in San Antonio for about $900. Moline and San Diego were far cheaper.
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Thanks churchy :love: That's a very detailed answer. I can see where it could get very expensive and even at the minimum it's at least $500.
 
For San Diego I stayed at cheap motels, drove, and went online to find discount restaurants in the area. For Moline I had free air from a contest, free dinner prize in chicago so ate there and had a snack of late like breakfast. I had other prizes I used like money such as taco bell.

IF you want you can make it really cheap. Sharing is caring
 
cin said:
So all in all this trip will be kind of expensive right? I mean how much does the whole thing run. Including ticket to convention and hotel and gas and food. What's you guys best estimate? Just curious :)
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Hi Cinnnn :wave: .... Ok, here's the breakdown for us 3 girls who are in my group:

$332 round trip flights per person
$165 entry into the convention per person
$200 for the raffles entry per person (these are only for the ones we will be entering, there are other raffles(envelope decorating, stamps, etc.)
$600 we are bringing per person for eating, shopping, cabs, etc.
$125 per person for the hotel room

So yes, I guess you're right, it can get expensive. We are hoping big time that we all 3 win and win big....... Wish us luck
 
champagne said:
cin said:
So all in all this trip will be kind of expensive right? I mean how much does the whole thing run. Including ticket to convention and hotel and gas and food. What's you guys best estimate? Just curious :)
Click to expand...

Hi Cinnnn :wave: .... Ok, here's the breakdown for us 3 girls who are in my group:

$332 round trip flights per person
$165 entry into the convention per person
$200 for the raffles entry per person (these are only for the ones we will be entering, there are other raffles(envelope decorating, stamps, etc.)
$600 we are bringing per person for eating, shopping, cabs, etc.
$125 per person for the hotel room

So yes, I guess you're right, it can get expensive. We are hoping big time that we all 3 win and win big....... Wish us luck
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I sure hope you guys win big champ. And anyone else going from SA. I know you have been planing this trip for a long time so it wasn't too bad for you :) Well you guys can tell peeps that cin dovely crackerjack says hello :laughing: Just kiding.
 
cin,

It is expensive, but it is the first, and probably last, sweepstakes convention I am going to go to - I live in Austin, Texas, so San Antonio is "just down the road a piece," as they say in Texas. The conventions in the future are too far away for me to drive or fly, especially with the gas and jet fuel prices now.

And, as an "adopted" Texan, I take exception to the phrase "tourist trap" for San Antonio. Yes, it can be a tourist trap if you want it to be, but the history of San Antonio goes back a long, long, long time, to 1691. San Antonio does not "close down for the winter," either :nono:. It is second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh largest city in the United States.

But, it is HOT, HOT, HOT!! :sunny: It was 102 degrees in Austin yesterday, and San Antonio is 70 miles to the SOUTH. And I don't think it will get any cooler is August :crazytongue: The weather doesn't really change much until the end of September :cry: Thank heaven for air conditioning :laughing:

Kate
 
ktshome said:
cin,

It is expensive, but it is the first, and probably last, sweepstakes convention I am going to go to - I live in Austin, Texas, so San Antonio is "just down the road a piece," as they say in Texas. The conventions in the future are too far away for me to drive or fly, especially with the gas and jet fuel prices now.

And, as an "adopted" Texan, I take exception to the phrase "tourist trap" for San Antonio. Yes, it can be a tourist trap if you want it to be, but the history of San Antonio goes back a long, long, long time, to 1691. San Antonio does not "close down for the winter," either :nono:. It is second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh largest city in the United States.

But, it is HOT, HOT, HOT!! :sunny: It was 102 degrees in Austin yesterday, and San Antonio is 70 miles to the SOUTH. And I don't think it will get any cooler is August :crazytongue: The weather doesn't really change much until the end of September :cry: Thank heaven for air conditioning :laughing:

Kate
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Kate I live in Houston so I am close also but my hubby is not interested in sweeps and I don't drive. Also there are some things going on with his job right now that I just can't take the risk of spending that kind of money. Yep I live in the 4th largest city in the US :laughing:

I have a daughter who lives in Austin Cedar Park area. Hot is the word these days that's for sure. You know if I had someone going from Houston I might have been able to go but no luck on that one. I hope you guys have fun :)
 
She forgot that on hotel rooms there are taxes, lol.
OOH she has $600, just what I need.

There are some nice wins and last convention I sold off a basket of goodies. If you win $1000 in stamps then sell it for $700, lol. I kept the goodies but sold stationary that I won.
 
ktshome said:
But, it is HOT, HOT, HOT!! :sunny: It was 102 degrees in Austin yesterday, and San Antonio is 70 miles to the SOUTH.
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This sounds horrid, and I wouldn't want to go for free. I would suffer miserably, so no thanks. I don't understand their logic of choosing a place like Texas to have a convention in the summer.
 
This is one of the later conventions and San Diego was in May if I remember right. I would suggest looking at the New Hampshire site on how a convention page should be made. Click on travel and it lists many choices that pop up into a new tab or window. They have links travel bureaus for NH and other states, busses, planes, airport and so much more.

They are having fireworks, pancake breakfast, barbecue, socials and the convention does not end at 5 pm like San Antonio. They have no side trips to the zoo or race track, NOTHING

I plan to stay in the hotel the whole time, lol or in Riverwalk and the mall.
 
I finally just went and reserved a room on I-10 for about $190 and a car for about $120. I will have the freedom to drive up to the bakery and it will cost me $310. I so wanted that luxury room but all I need is a shower or bath and my fancy spa stuff. Ok I did concede to some luxury, giggles. I got a discount on the sebring so I am getting it for about $15 total more a 4 door car with room for luggage and the wheelchair.

I now will have to figure out if I am taking the chair would be needed. I would save on a cab to the bakery and from the airport. It would be $50 for Wednesday and Thursday for parking which would be offset by the airport to hotel costs. The other days will be after my check comes in.I finally just went and reserved a room on I-10 for about $190 and a car for about $120. I will have the freedom to drive up to the bakery and it will cost me $310. I so wanted that luxury room but all I need is a shower or bath and my fancy spa stuff. Ok I did concede to some luxury, giggles. I got a discount on the sebring so I am getting for about $15 total more a 4 door car with room for luggage and the wheelchair.

I now will have to figure out if taking the chair would be needed. I would save on a cab to the bakery and from the airport. It would be $50 for Wednesday and Thursday for parking which would be offset by the airport to hotel costs. The other days will be after my check comes in.
 
mechurchlady said:
Mom is in the hospital, her leg was draining water like stuff. Trip on hold.
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That is called sera (or serum), its the clear part of blood and it comes leaking out of injured tissues. Sorry, I have this compulsion about footnoting medical stuff. Hope your Mom feels better soon and you get some rest while she is in the hospital.
 
So, the sweeps convention paperwork says that you have to participate on stage in order to win prizes if your name is called..... Is anyone else feeling like "they really don't want to have to do that"? I'm not really into getting up infront of crowds of people... I turn all red n stuff... :o(
 
champagne said:
So, the sweeps convention paperwork says that you have to participate on stage in order to win prizes if your name is called..... Is anyone else feeling like "they really don't want to have to do that"? I'm not really into getting up in front of crowds of people... I turn all red n stuff... :o(
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At Moline they had runners who would take the prize and run or waddle to the winner as this saved time. You are their guest so if you win a really great prize the you should be prepared to wear lots of makeup, gloves a cat suit under your pants suit, and socks and shoes. What would you do to get a prize?

Mom is home. IRS is send each of us $300.

Plan A is to stay only at the Marriot and no rental car.
Plan B is to only stay at the Motel 6 and rent a car and go to the wild animal drive thru park
Plan C is to stay one night at Marriot, late night RiverWalk maybe then Motel 6, rent car and go to wild animal park.

still going to SA.
 
I will have to pay Calvin and Tracey about $100 to $200 for babysitting mom.
Marriott stay is one day and rest at motel 6 and car rental.
Found places to eat and go. Not sure about the first two days.
Not transportations set up to and from LAX.
Funds are low.
IRS promised us $300 each by the 15th of this month.

I give up on hope.
 
champagne said:
So, the sweeps convention paperwork says that you have to participate on stage in order to win prizes if your name is called..... Is anyone else feeling like "they really don't want to have to do that"? I'm not really into getting up infront of crowds of people... I turn all red n stuff... :o(
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You! Embarrassed to be in front of people? Yea right. I bet if you win, you will be so excited, jumping up and down. I know I would.
 
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