 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-12 04:40
Questions on these for those who may know the answers . . .
1) Do the room rates tend to be higher than normal since there's a major festival and the owners are hoping to rake in a little extra cash? (My guess is they would be, but I just want to verify it)
2) Would it be worth reserving a room now or should I wait a while? Meaning I'm wondering if they are going to offer specials like I've seen were offerred last year (something like 5% off if you mentioned you were going to clarinetfest, or ICA working a deal through certain hotels, etc.)
3) Is there usually a problem finding rooms during this fest? So would I be better off making reservations than showing up and shopping around for the best deal when I get there?
Thanks all. Just wondering when I should make reservations. I know the dates due to the website and definitely will be there.
Alexi
PS - In case it makes any difference it'll be double occupancy.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-01-12 11:47
Whereas I cannot speak specifically for this particualr fest, it is normal for colleges to host conferences during the summer. That is how extra income is generated. Typically, you are just staying in a dorm if you stay on campus. The room rates tend to be MUCH lower than going out and staying in an actual hotel. Another perk is that you are on campus. Since this fest is at UMCP, I am sure that you will be able to stay in a dorm. It may be kind of spartan, but to me the lower price is certainly worth it. I worked conferences when I was a resident assistant in college. Many different groups will come through a dorm each summer.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-01-12 18:17
I've been to a few ClarinetFest, and in my experience:
1) The dorm rooms vary. I've been in really nice ones and one real dump. The price is good, though.
2) ClarinetFest is in the off season for most places, so hotel room rates tend to be relatively low
3) Sometimes the ClarinetFest coordinators get a real deal on the hotel rooms - sometimes you can do better yourself.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-12 18:23
the middle of summer is your "off season" in the US? it's high season everywhere else.
otherwise, i second all the above.
donald
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-01-12 20:04
donald wrote:
> the middle of summer is your "off season" in the US? it's high
> season everywhere else.
It's "off-season" because:
Near/in a university: Few students, hotels are empty.
New Orleans: mid-summer = hot, humid, not party time - hotels not in demand
(Wash. DC coming up): about the same as New Orleans.
These conventions aren't held in places that you'd probably want to visit as a tourist during the the July timeframe.
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Author: lyn
Date: 2004-01-15 17:33
Yah, the UMD area is not the highest-class area in Maryland.....The University has a lot of things going on in the summer, they also have a lot of summer classes. And they always host *something* - DCIs were there a couple of years ago, for example. NOTE: Don't stay in the Days Inn....it's gross, they have not cleaned the carpets in YEARS.......
However, if I were going to DC, I would not stay near UMD as a first choice!!! So I don't think off-season applies there. DC itself is usually very crowded in the summer, the crowds of families outside the museums....and you can't find parking.........BTW DH & I know DC fairly well, so if you have questions about a given hotel or something just ask.
~L
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Author: Lisa
Date: 2004-01-16 23:46
Since I'm a College Park resident, I'll chime in here. First off, PG county does have a bad reputation, as there are less than desirable parts of it. The immediate College Park area is FINE.
I don't recommend staying in the dorms only because the heat does tend to be sweltering in the summer, nighttime temps are frequently at least in the high 70s, usually higher in July. Heat rises in the dorms, too!
I recommend (if I may) the Hampton Inn on Baltimore Avenue, which is US Route 1. It's just inside the Capitol Beltway, and is a maybe 3 mile drive to campus. It's pretty new, and serves complimentary breakfast. IHOP is right next door, too.
The Holiday Inn at 10000 Baltimore Blvd (which is Rte. 1 north of the beltway) is nice, too. The parking lot is tricky to see since you turn into the IKEA parking lot, too. The Holiday Inn has a nice restaurant/steakhouse.
There are plenty of other motels in the area which are also probably ok. I tend to prefer the area north of campus versus south of it.
Hope this helps!
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-01-17 04:48
NO NO NO!!! CP is NOT a high class area at all!!
I really don't even think they will allow housing in the dorms for fest ppl. They'd rather put football camp ppl there... The dorms do not have AC and they have the aura of prison cells. I have lived in 2 seperate dormatories on campus, and both were not very nice. Only one highrise had AC and it still wasn't very good. Even the suites are pretty crappy.
College Park is not high class, it is ghetto as ghetto is. PG county is not a good place anyway. It's not a complete dump, but near to it. It's not the place you want to go walking around late. And the area you will be in, I suggest not walking around by yourself in the parking lot (or anywhere else for that matter) after 10pm. I can't count the police report emails I get of ppl getting beaten, robbed at gun point, or other such criminal acts.
There are enough hotels to house everyone here. I have a feeling most of CP will not even care for such a "minor" thing as a clarinet conference. Football is when we get people to come, but I do not think there will be a problems with hotels. Hotels in CP and surrounding areas are tyipcal hotels, they aren't bad. DC might be a more "fun" place to get a hotel. You'll be nearer to more interesting sights and more interesting land marks.
CP does have a good amount of food places, too. As for traffic here, it is HORRID! People drive very badly, inconsiderately, and they don't care if they cut you off.
I have been coming to this area since I was born, cuz my grandparents live here and I am originally from a Waldorf (45 minutes South of CP). The area has gotten worse around DC, and the traffic has too.
I'm glad I get to rant about CP. The school is good, the area is bad. And I don't much like the fact that I live in this city... *sigh* UMD does have a nice campus, on the more scenic side of campus.
I can definately give you all the info you need on this place. I've lived here for 4 years, and hope to graduate next year. lol
--contragirl
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-01-17 04:50
> the middle of summer is your "off season" in the US? it's high
> season everywhere else.
Not off season at the beach, obviously.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-01-17 05:01
contragirl wrote:
> I really don't even think they will allow housing in the dorms
> for fest ppl.
You don't know what you're talking about when it comes to housing. The air-conditioned residence halls will be available to ClarinetFest attendees, as will discounted rooms at the Marriot Inn and Conference Center.
This is outlined in the lastest issue of The Clarinet.
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-01-17 05:04
Contragirl, whereas Clarinetfest might be smaller than some conferences, I would be willing to bet that housing will be provided on campus. Colleges look for ways to make money and summer conference housing is a big money maker. You would be surprised the amount of money that can be made off of summer conference housing. The rooms may be like crap, but for less than 20 bucks I would gladly stay close to the campus. Thats just me. Maybe thats just my level of toleration level with three years of college in a non-air conditioned dorm!
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Author: Lisa
Date: 2004-01-17 05:30
Holy Moley, contragirl! Take a chill at Bentley's, and have one for me while you're at it!
I've lived here in Seven Springs on Cherry Hill Road for like eight years now, and have been in PG county for another 5 on top of that. I've taught at Bladensburgh and Glenridge ES's, and the student population is pretty much near the poverty level THERE. But this is HERE.
The Marriott is either in Calverton or Greenbelt, not CP. I'm sure it would be a great place to stay for whoever would want to!
As far as crime, what I've heard mostly is campus stuff and in areas around the campus. The area of CP that *I* chose to live in is just fine. I live in a high-rise with an entreguard and a night gate, and feel very safe where I am. Come on, friends, this is the metropolitan Washington area. Of course we're going to have overflow of urban problems here, if you look for them hard enough. On the plus side, one of the tiny ethnic restaurants here was written up in the Washington Post as being highly recommended. This came out around six months ago, and sorry, I can't come up with the place, but it put CP on the list in the paper!
As far as good places to eat, we've already discussed that in another thread. Someone on here (forget who?) suggested going out for a crabfeast in Laurel near to where he lives.
Post Edited (2004-01-17 05:31)
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-01-17 16:46
I live in Seven Springs as well, but it is the only place around CP to live in that's safe. Better than Knox Blox. lol! But then again, this place is uber expensive, but very safe. I live in a garden style. I'm moving today to another garden style in Seven Springs! hehehe
When it comes to housing, though, I said "I really don't think," I didn't say I knew. Just cuz UM puts more stock in football and basketball than it does anything else. Dorms aren't too bad with some christmas lights and posters. The public bathroom sharing with 30+ ppl as an everyday life style was not for me, though. Make sure if you stay in the dorms, to bring your shower shoes!
Eh, I've lived in Southern MD all my life and things were not always this way (They've gotten worse). Waldorf has turned into Malldorf, and Greenbelt has always been Ghettobelt.
I guess for a visit of a week, it wouldn't be so bad to visitors. I just admit to being embarassed by the way some things are around here.
--Contragirl
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2004-01-17 17:40
I'm glad that I live in Philo, no crime, but no fest either. win some lose some.
bring your camper and we can have a fest on my ranch.
Mark can teach all of the master classes.
There is a guy in the valley that will play solo on a saw. How that for a draw.?
See you in DC.T
bob gardner}ÜJ
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