Check your AP reservations

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Hmm.. I missed the whole event, Im usually out of Defcon before 4pm on Sunday. I heard plenty about it though. So far Ive only had 1 run-in with Alexis Park staff and that was at a party 4 years ago, they came in, gave a lecture, counted heads, set a occupancy limit to the room, and then proceeded to card people who were drinking, and then tell the party hosts to verify age before giving away drinks. Since then I havent really seen much interaction between the staff and antendees. Maybe Im not partying hard enough.

Vegas has become the mecca for electronics related conventions. Plus people use the conventions as a business expense, I do.. Its a great excuse to go to Vegas.. I stay extra days because I can.

Im sure all the FEDS would be dissapointed. Whats better than Uncle Sam paying for a trip to Vegas..

[TheCotMan]

Why must it be in Las Vegas? Why don't we go somewhere that is actually big enough for us, doesn't gouge and treat us poorly, and doesn't have 120 degree weather?

Las Vegas is where it started, and that is one reason for it as a location.

As a side note, if the choice in name was partly because of the movie WarGames, then consider this:
When Mathew Broderick's character and his prospect were considering targets to "nuke" first, their first two choices were Las Vegas and Seattle. Rather amusing, eh?

Las Vegas is in NV, and NV tends to have laws that make things like the DC shoot legal, rental of automatic weapons possible, gambling, strippers, and the capacity to host a convention where the number of people visiting (but not residence) can exceed 1 million. (In this case, I am pulling numbers out of my butt. I have no source to cite, except quotes on people going to COMDEX during its height in the 90's.) Las Vegas also has tons of shows for significant others of con attendees to go see while their mate "geeks out" with peers. [Also, no matter how much alcohol DefCon people consume, we have NEVER run Las Vegas dry.]

I am not for or against keeping it in Las Vegas, but I will play Devil's advocate to offer reasons for keeping it in LV,NV.

what if all the paying guests just spontaneously decided to resist and peacefully sit there? does a hotel have the right to arrest you for sitting in a public area like that? can you be charged with "tresspassing" if you're paying to stay there? yes, technically you're tresspassing if you are asked to leave and don't comply... but then that could possibly bring the legal question "why was this guest asked to leave? were they causing a disturbance?" what rights do hotel guests have when it comes to being denied a room?

Noid answered some of these. If you get kicked out, you should be able to get a refund. Maybe even for the day you were sent back to your room. Why? They advertised a resort with the implication of swimming, and their service does not meet their advertising-- false advertising.

I don't know LV,NV law, but you may have recourse.

As for "what if everyone rebelled?"
That is the very issue within the phrase "Thin blue line" WRT law enforcement. At any point in time, there are not enough of them to stop the public at large if they all suddenly decided to rebel.

[astcell]

After I had reserved the room, Defcon was scheduled a few months later. The AP actually called me to offer to move me to another hotel because of a "convention" that would be in town, and a businessman like myself would not want to be around the attendees. I replied that the AP was a must and gave a good enough reason to keep it. :>

[ndex]

I would be embarassed if I was you

Sure they will do you the 130$ Rate anytime, actually if your with defcon they JACK your price instead... So there is no sutch thing as a GROUP deal for defcon... It's a GROUP rape

Do you really think this hotel could charge that many money for they room that are falling apart?

Here are the going rate for day before defcon:
Monarch Suite
26 Jul $79.00
27 Jul $79.00
28 Jul $109.00
31 Jul $89.00
01 Aug $69.00
02 Aug $69.00

F the AP/V
I cancelled my reservation earlier this week. I wouldn't pay to stay there and I wouldn't recommend it, even to someone I didn't like. The staff was rude, they rip us off and they don't appreciate their customers. Anyone who thinks that the AP is a good/nice hotel needs to travel more and stay in better hotels.

[Siviak]

I give my word on two things..

First; I am too drunk to reply to this thread (though I have MUCH to offer)

and Second; I WILL reply to this thread tomorrow afternoon... sometime after the hangover wears off. (and you can take that to the bank!)

[Ne0nRa1n]

Another plus that the AP has that is often forgotten about is that there is no gambling machines in the hotel. The reason this is very important is it allows people who are under the age of 18 who to go to Defcon access to all areas of the hotel. (Except the bar of course.)

Coming up with another hotel in Vegas that doesn't have gambling machines is not an easy task indeed.

There are some plusses that we have at the AP:
* They allow DC people to take over their CCTV system and broadcast events on hotel channels
* They have an open space outside fo chilling (the whole "resort" is a chill-out area.

I've attended DC at other hotels prior to the AP, and I like the "feeling" of the ouside space of the AP in comparison.

I think when this came up before, the counter statement was, "Why don't you suggest a place in Las Vegas?"

It is a tough problem to resolve. Suggestions for new locations that give us more than what we have (or at least the same) and better service?

[TheCotMan]

Another plus that the AP has that is often forgotten about is that there is no gambling machines in the hotel. The reason this is very important is it allows people who are under the age of 18 who to go to Defcon access to all areas of the hotel. (Except the bar of course.)

Coming up with another hotel in Vegas that doesn't have gambling machines is not an easy task indeed.

This may have changed. There was discussion on the forums a few months back about how the "resort" was being upgraded to have tables and gambling. Someone mentioned something about needing to be 21 to get a room at the AP/AV now, but I do not know if that was a "I think you must be 21" or "you must be 21" or "I'm going to pull people's legs."

So... I just called. I asked about the gambling and the woman said they do not have it yet and it probably won't be ready for a few years.
She also said that you must be 21 to check into a room. She does not know when it changed.

Good Luck to everyone! Try out your SE skills. :-)

[hackajar]

This may have changed. There was discussion on the forums a few months back about how the "resort" was being upgraded to have tables and gambling. Someone mentioned something about needing to be 21 to get a room at the AP/AV now, but I do not know if that was a "I think you must be 21" or "you must be 21" or "I'm going to pull people's legs."

So... I just called. I asked about the gambling and the woman said they do not have it yet and it probably won't be ready for a few years.
She also said that you must be 21 to check into a room. She does not know when it changed.

hehe, my bad as far as starting some of the leg pulling (Can't a man pull people's legs on April 1st? ). I'm doing recon this afternoon with my handy DV/Still Cam. I'll have some video and stills up tonight (well if all goes well maybe tomorrow afternoon ) This should answer some of the questions that people can't get straigt answers from AP/V on.

[Kai]

...So... I just called. I asked about the gambling and the woman said they do not have it yet and it probably won't be ready for a few years...

Good. Put me in the camp that likes the AP. Yes, we do get a "group rape" on pricing, but with the amount of damage that tends to occur, I'm surprised it's not more. As others have said, the atmosphere is pretty good. Add in the fact that I really don't want to be drunk and stunbling around a part of Vegas new to me. Guess I'm just a creature of habit.

[Voltage Spike]

She also said that you must be 21 to check into a room.

There is policy, and there is money. In my experience, money wins out.

Yes, we do get a "group rape" on pricing, but with the amount of damage that tends to occur, I'm surprised it's not more.

I thought that was the reason for jacking up the in-room damage rates (to cover outside damage). Does DT pay the Alexis Park to host the convention there? And higher room fees?

Somehow, I don't think we damage that much stuff (excepting the pathway lights and the courtesy phone, of course).

[TheCotMan]

hehe, my bad as far as starting some of the leg pulling (Can't a man pull people's legs on April 1st? ).

Heh-heh. Leg pulling is fine. I provided my own bit of April Fool's humor here too.

My statement was not criticism, it was demonstrating lack of memory and being too lazy to search for the post.

Not pulling anyone's leg here: she did say, "21 or older to check into a room."

Here is a post from HighWizard reguarding the age 21 issue from February when he took the time to find this information for people.

There is policy, and there is money. In my experience, money wins out.

You have been quite successful with your attempts at the AP, but you do come across as being mature in person. I doubt a person who was under aged, walked in baked, smelling and looking like they have not showered in a week, and acting like a tard would find an easy time getting a room if they were underage.

[Kai]

There is policy, and there is money. In my experience, money wins out.



I thought that was the reason for jacking up the in-room damage rates (to cover outside damage). Does DT pay the Alexis Park to host the convention there? And higher room fees?

Somehow, I don't think we damage that much stuff (excepting the pathway lights and the courtesy phone, of course).

Well, I have seen some rooms totally thrashed, and yes, the path lighting usually gets it, or the fountains. But yeah, even after repairing all the damage, I'm sure they make a killing with extra cash. The ones that really piss me off though are the neighboring hotels that jack up their rates. They see pretty much zero damage and are just cashing in on those who didn't get their reservations in early enough.

Unfortunately this is pretty much a standard for conventions and Las Vegas.

[hackajar]

I'm sure they make a killing with extra cash.

Acually no. The event organizer has a deal with AP/V (in past) that DC gets setup at AP/V and they will throw other conventions their way. They make money on fact that they will "Deal" with DC to get other Con's from organizer!

/me waits for yellow star to fly across screen

[TheCotMan]

Unfortunately this is pretty much a standard for conventions and Las Vegas.

Potential for vertical monopoly (or at least multi-market monopoly) abuse as people are encouraged to sleep there, buy food there, and booze there. (Three basic needs? Oh wait, I forgot clothing-- or did I? heh)

Some might suggest price fixing, but competing hotels raise prices partly as a result of notification... blocks of rooms at other hotels are held by DefCon organizers for DefCon, thus giving them notice of the convention as well.

As for prices, July and August are two HUGE months (historically) for tourism as people arrange for their summer vacations. This is also a contribubting factor. Price increases were also common during COMDEX at its height-- when finding a free room in Las Vegas was generally difficult and expensive.

[Kai]

Acually no. The event organizer has a deal with AP/V (in past) that DC gets setup at AP/V and they will throw other conventions their way. They make money on fact that they will "Deal" with DC to get other Con's from organizer!

/me waits for yellow star to fly across screen

So out of curiosity, what other cons are held at the AP? BH & DC are the only times I go to Vegas anymore, so I don't really know about any of the other cons out there now adays (all though one of these days I'm going to have to make it to one of those adult cons).