We have reserved 50 rooms at the hotel for four nights, Thursday, May 17th to Sunday, May 20th under the assumption about half of you may want to share a room to cut costs and based on attendance numbers from the past two flings. More rooms at the group rate are available depending on when they are booked prior to the fling and the hotel's overall booking percentage. The sooner we know the better chance of getting more rooms at the group rate.
We have our own booking page at The Four Points. It also has links to much more information about the hotel.
Ignore the dates on our booking page. Shoulder dates were added to our requested nights and planned touring days for those who may want to come early or stay late and still enjoy the garden bloggers group rate.
That is downtown Asheville, NC, the famous "Cesspool of Sin" right outside the lobby of the Four Points Sheraton. Pleasure awaits.
If any important questions arise about the hotel accommodations this page will be updated.
Christopher, Is Thursday night the "official" start of the Fling this year, or will it be Friday morning? Just looking at flight times, probably the best I can do for arrival is late Thursday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHelen the official start is Friday morning the 18th at 9am. I just figured most folks would get there Thursday night and wanted to do a happy hours gathering before dinner time.
ReplyDeleteChristopher - if it helps at all, there is a FREE "Mountains of Flowers" 3-day itinerary that I wrote for www.visitnc.com (official NC Tourism website). It includes restaurants and public gardens.
ReplyDeleteThere is a link on my blog.
Freda
No can find that 3-day itinerary Freda. Got a direct link? It would be interesting to compare.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.visitnc.com/itineraries/download/mountains-of-flowers
ReplyDeleteIf you copy and paste that it may automatically download the itinerary without asking.
Just a note that Cameron's nicely done suggested itinerary for VisitNC isn't the official itinerary for the Asheville Fling 2012, although we'll be going to a number of the same places.
ReplyDeleteThe final itinerary and details will be posted on the main page soon! Stay tuned...
Lisa
Right! That was just some ideas to throw out there since I had already done the research on many restaurants and gardens.
ReplyDeleteOhhh this is exciting!!! This will be my first Gardener's Fling get together and I am very much looking forward to it! Are there additional costs for all the various outings we'll be doing as a group and if so, when will those prices be announced?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
~Wendy
Hi Wendy. Yes there will be some additional cost for lunches, one dinner, entry and rental fees and transportation. Once the itinerary is set we will know what that is per person. Sponsors of the event can help in this matter by picking up the tab for a particular item. The best PR money they will ever spend.
ReplyDeleteI will do my best to keep that added cost between $100 and $150. It may be March before we can comfortably announce a figure that is not subject to change.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteHow exciting hearing about the Asheville 2012 The Fling. I'd love to help.....a happy gardener here in Asheville for three years.
New to the Garden Rant - what a hoot!
Sounds like a great adventure!
Cappy (Capella) Tosetti
"Compost Queen"
Asheville
I am interested to go but not sure how you sign up. Can you give me more information please. Valerie
ReplyDeleteHi Cappy. It is sure to be a wonderful event. Our planning committee is pretty well set. Are you a garden blogger? This is the fifth annual gathering of garden bloggers more than a open garden tour.
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie. We will have a registration form posted in a couple of weeks for the official signup. We are nailing down our final costs for lunches, venue rentals, entry fees, transportation, etc. When folks register they can mail in that cost. One fee will cover all group costs for the three days and should end up around $125.
You can book at the hotel now.
I'm looking forward to attending for the first time as a new blogger!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a nice gardener and a nice person interested in sharing a hotel room. I'm planning on coming but money is a little tight this year. I went to the Buffalo fling and am excited to being a part of Asheville's event.
ReplyDeleteHi Jill-O. You should post this on the Facebook group too. Probably better there. That link is in the right sidebar. I know Carolyn Choi was looking for a roomie yesterday.
DeleteThanks, good idea!
DeleteI am trying to add you to the facebook group, but can't find you! If you would friend me on facebook, Faire Garden, two words, maybe I can manage. Or Chrisopher can.
ReplyDeleteIf Jill-O is on FB already all she has to do is go to the Fling page and ask to be added to the group if she isn't a member there yet.
DeleteHi Christopher! I'm a garden writer (GWAA member) and The Rose Whisperer for The Christian Science Monitor. Have just fired up my new blog The Dirt Diaries. Also have recently moved to Sapphire and would like to attend the events. Are any other folks going to come in for the day, or is everyone staying at the hotel? Look forward to meeting you all. Lynn Hunt
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn, Except for folks with homes in Asheville most everyone is staying at the hotel. I live outside Clyde a ways, closer than Sapphire and I am staying at the hotel. I don't want to drive in and back every day. The bus will leave the hotel at 9am promptly every morning. Another reason to stay at the hotel.
ReplyDeleteI'm in! Arriving Thursday the 17th, will head home late Sunday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteGreat Lynn.
DeleteIs there bus shuttle service from the hotel to the airport and vice versa?
ReplyDeleteCarol I will do a little research. I don't think there is a designated regular bus service to downtown. It is more likely to be van and taxi service.
ReplyDeleteChristopher, have you had time to look into transportation to and from the airport? When looking at the hotel website, it doesn't look as though they provide shuttle service and they quote taxi prices at about $50.00 from airport to hotel - a little steep for me. If there is any cheaper public transportation,I'd like to find out about it if possible.
ReplyDeleteJill-O Here is a link to info on Airport Transportation
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