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Tam 8

HawaiiBigSis said:
Since I had really hoped to be at this one, and the plans didn't work, I'm REALLY hoping to go to TAM 8. I marked my calendar as it was being announced!
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Yippee!! Should fall within the uni holidays too! See you all next year!!
 
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BrianEngler said:
Phil announced today that TAM 8 will again be at South Point Casino, next summer over the weekend after July 4th--so we can mark our calendars. :D
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Have just checked the Uni calendar for next year, and it looks like the holidays are from June 18 until July 12. TAM 8 is smack bang in the middle, so plenty of time either side to do some travelling and see the sights. Have started saving already. There's $102 AU in my piggy bank...which is about $7.50 US. Should be enough for a coffee at the airport! :)
 
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Someone who's done a TAM give us a rough estimate of how much it costs, from first to last. That way those of us financially challenged can try to budget ahead.

I wanna gooooooo sooooooo bad... if college scheduling will let me.

(I intend to do summer semester every year to stay ahead of the curve...)
 
Z said:
Someone who's done a TAM give us a rough estimate of how much it costs, from first to last. That way those of us financially challenged can try to budget ahead.

I wanna gooooooo sooooooo bad... if college scheduling will let me.

(I intend to do summer semester every year to stay ahead of the curve...)
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Hi Z, here are some of my numbers:
* Thursday night @ South Point was 65
* Friday and Saturday night @ South Point was 80 (each night)
* Each night had a 12% Las Vegas room tax on it
* Internet in the room was 12.99
* In general drinks were very cheap compared to the main Vegas strip (about 4-5 dollars per drink as opposed to 10 on the strip, we tend toward medium to high end mixed drinks personally).
* Cab rides are about 30 dollars most places
* It's a cab ride to and from the main Vegas Strip
* There was some carpooling that happened over to Penn & Teller, but we left before the meetup. If there is a TAM organizer reading this we should arrange for carpools to meetup on 15-minute or 30-minute intervals rather that a single meetup next year.

Of course flights are going to vary wildy depending on where you are coming from.

Cheers,
 
gorlak said:
Hi Z, here are some of my numbers:
* Thursday night @ South Point was 65
* Friday and Saturday night @ South Point was 80 (each night)
* Each night had a 12% Las Vegas room tax on it
* Internet in the room was 12.99
* In general drinks were very cheap compared to the main Vegas strip (about 4-5 dollars per drink as opposed to 10 on the strip, we tend toward medium to high end mixed drinks personally).
* Cab rides are about 30 dollars most places
* It's a cab ride to and from the main Vegas Strip
* There was some carpooling that happened over to Penn & Teller, but we left before the meetup. If there is a TAM organizer reading this we should arrange for carpools to meetup on 15-minute or 30-minute intervals rather that a single meetup next year.

Of course flights are going to vary wildy depending on where you are coming from.

Cheers,
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Welcome to the forum, gorlak, and thanks for the numbers. The rooms aren't as expensive as I would have thought. Sounds vaguely feasible.

Once things are over, I'd love to hear what different people spent on their TAM experience.

But not you NWO shills. We know you get room, board, and time on the Whip-O-Tron for free. And that Shemp gets 10% off on goats.
 
phyz said:
I will go to future TAMs if--and only if--
1. I am alive, and
2. they are being held.

Otherwise, I'm out!
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Second that for me. Even if I can't afford to eat the month before.
 
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I got a decent car rental for $25 plus taxes and fees. This is highly recommended if you want to spend any time seeing the rest of Vegas. At that rate it's only the cost of one cab ride to the strip (one way). Sure, the buses are cheaper, but they take about an hour to get to the strip, including waiting up to half an hour in a poorly sheltered bus stop in 105 degree heat.

The good news is that you don't have to leave the Far Point, there's plenty of restaurants, and other things to do there. For that matter, you don't even need to leave the Del Mar Lounge.
 
Well, South Point is locked in for TAM 8. I was going to suggest the hotel I stayed in at the beginning of last week, the Aliante Station. It's way north of the town, but it looked to be the right size to be completely taken over by the JREF goings-on. Downside, it didn't have a spa or an equestrian center (unless we can count the track betting room), but the rooms were really nice, the pool was great, the jacuzzi was open 24/7, the restaurants were phat, plus an movie theater including an IMAX screen! It seemed to be out in the sticks but five minutes driving has all the other amenities you might require, including a great little all-you-can-eat-and-drink sushi place.

But go ahead, do South Point again if you want. It sounds like a blast and I hope to be mixing it up with you guys this time around.
 
Unfortunately that conflicts with a solar eclipse. I'll try to move the sun but if I'm not successful I may have to miss TAM 8. I have so far made all of the Las Vegas TAMs. We'll see.
 
Gorlak's list of expenses is pretty good, but it could be done even cheaper. I booked on the 50% off deal (which they seem to have pretty often). $35 for Weds and Thursday, and $60 for the weekend for rooms. If you gamble, even penny slots, you get free drinks, and these include lower level single malts and all sorts of fancy vodkas etc., so you can have "high end" cocktails for free. You get a $25 non-cashable casino credit on check in. My GF and I translated this via penny slots into several hours of free drinking and $20 in cash (you can withdraw your winnings, just not your original credits). There is also a VERY cheap liquor store in the hotel, and you can drink those drinks all over the hotel (didn't try this in the bar area, but wouldn't be surprised if they said nothing so long as you weren't brutally obvious). Good microbrew beer can be had (chilled!) for $1 a bottle and decent blended scotch or gin (my two drinks) for <$10 a bottle. There is also a coupon for a free bottle of wine with the dinner buffet. The free airport shuttle also saves you about $50.

Anyway, as a grad student I make <$1,000 bucks a month, and I had no problem making the most out of the South Point (my second TAM). Your dollar certainly goes further than at a strip joint. (I guess both ways of reading that last sentence are true!)
 
Z said:
Someone who's done a TAM give us a rough estimate of how much it costs, from first to last. That way those of us financially challenged can try to budget ahead.

I wanna gooooooo sooooooo bad... if college scheduling will let me.

(I intend to do summer semester every year to stay ahead of the curve...)
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I was in my room from Wednesday nigth through Sunday night, 5 nights, and my bill , which included paying for internet access 4 days, was $313.

The registration is $350-$400 or so, depending on if you are a member, or you have a student discount. Breakfast and lunch - light but available) are provided several days.

The hotel gave coupon books with a buy one- get one at the buffet restaurant, and discounts for the other restaurants.
 
:D

I'm liking what I'm reading. I'm in a little tighter situation than jloxton, but I think I could probably swing it next year - though I'd probably just drive. Then again, if gas passes $4 by then... eeek.

I'm a light drinker these days, but if I can knock back a tequila sunrise and a long island iced tea, I think I'll be fine. And microbrews are so interesting! Gambling - well, in order to get free drinks, I suppose I could waste a few coins in the slots. The last time I tried blackjack, IIRC, I got confused somehow and stood under 15 once, and hit on a 19 once... Grandmother would have been very upset. She dealt Blackjack in Reno ages ago.

Anyway, I hope to see some of you folks next year!
 
TAM7 was F-ing amazing, excuse my use of harsh letters... However, moving out of the comfort of my mothers' money is going to present a problem for TAM8...
Anyone in SF bay area want to think about renting a car and driving next year?

I shall go without food for weeks at a time, but I will be there. Somehow.
 
PaulK said:
Unfortunately that conflicts with a solar eclipse. I'll try to move the sun but if I'm not successful I may have to miss TAM 8. I have so far made all of the Las Vegas TAMs. We'll see.
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I wonder if they could push TAM a week. I'd imagine Phil Plait would want to be on Easter Island too.
 
I've already begun a draft budget for TAM8. It's hard to believe TAM7 ended after my weeks of planning.
 
I am very surprised over the numbers I have seen so far. Sure the cost for the event itself and for staying at the hotel are a necessary evil but you are not forced to drink so that is a way to save money and buy books instead.
I have missed the two last TAMs but before that I never left a TAM without a considerable amount of books in my suitcase.
I suggest that anyone making a budget for TAM remember to set off a lot of money for books.
 
So are these just rumours or is it already confirmed that TAM 8 will be held once again at the South Point Casino from July 8 to July 11, 2010?

I have heard these facts from several sources, non of which from the JREF...
 
YES! Over my birthday AGAIN!
19 next year, still going to the skepchick party :D
 
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