Eurofurence Information > Feedback
Honest Opinion of EF 16
gaz_a:
--- Quote from: ysegrim on 09.09.2010, 08:34:48 ---
--- Quote from: Jet_der_hund on 09.09.2010, 02:57:15 ---Being charged for tap water was mind blowing to me. I have stayed in more then a few 4 star hotels and even 5 star hotels in the US and never once been charged for tap water.
--- End quote ---
Well, to me, as a German, it is mind blowing that people think they could go to a restaurant and expect to get a drink for free.
It is absolutely unusual to order tap water in a German restaurant except for taking medicines, or for your dog (and fursuits don't count :) ) and even in these cases, I see no reason for a restaurant not to charge you for service, the ice, cleaning, and basically for the time you are blocking their seats for paying customers. I am actually surprised that some people
managed to persuade some patrons ... Personally, I consider this to be begging. I agree, though, that 3.50 is way too much (and that I generally expect a glass of water to be included in certain items, like espresso.)
--- End quote ---
In most countries a restaurant will provide free water as a service to customers who do not want to drink alcohol. In the US you get a glass of water as soon as you sit down, and it's refilled regularly. In the UK in March of this year it became law that any licensed premises must provide free tap water on request.
In reality, very few people are going to walk in and demand just free water, drink it and then leave. It is designed to ensure that people don't drink alcohol because it is cheaper than the alternatives, and so that people dilute their alcohol intake and don't get ill.
Drift:
--- Quote ---In most countries a restaurant will provide free water as a service to customers who do not want to drink alcohol. In the US you get a glass of water as soon as you sit down, and it's refilled regularly.
--- End quote ---
Unfortunately not in Germany. The glas of free tap water is something I really miss when coming back from Italy, or the jug of water/caraffe d'eau in Irleand/France.
--- Quote ---In the UK in March of this year it became law that any licensed premises must provide free tap water on request.
--- End quote ---
As the matter of fact, in Germany bars/restaurants are obliged to sell at least one alcohol free drink that is cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic beverage.
(with ajusted amounts of course).
Kimu:
I'll just be quick about it ;)
Pros:
- very nice rooms
- large fursuit lounge
- parking with decent prices not far away
- shopping mall and restourants nearby
- keycards
Cons:
- too little space to sit/hang out in the main hall (get additional sofas or something temporary)
- extremly expensive drinks! I mena rly rly expensive, didn't bought anything from hotel! Also no free tap water?? For example they can charge everyone 5€ more and provide free water
- lack of washing machines for normal prices - after 5 days of intensive suiting the fursuit just looks (and smells) awfull. And 50 euros for washing at the hotel, c'mon...
- a bit too short (make it a week?)
- there was a slight lack of hanging racks with fans so it wasn't always possible to dry stuff (repair the broken fan or get 1 extra)
- fursuit games were not that good and performing on stage, why?, and the preliminary contest sucked. Why couldnt everyone join in the large hall and have fun together?
Ideas:
- organize more fursuiting in the streets like at the parade
- MORE music and dancing, doesn't have to be anything special, just more music
- free wifi untill the end of the con
Vector:
--- Quote from: Kimu on 10.09.2010, 21:55:10 ---- lack of washing machines for normal prices - after 5 days of intensive suiting the fursuit just looks (and smells) awfull. And 50 euros for washing at the hotel, c'mon...
- a bit too short (make it a week?)
--- End quote ---
If you're coming to a furry con as a fursuiter, you should always bring with you a fan to dry your fursuit & lycras everytime you use them. Small fans that fit in a suitcase exist. ;)
And never ever forget a sanitizer like Febreze (the antibacterial one). Just spray your fursuit and put it in front of your fan. I never had a smell issue even after 2 weeks of convention & vacations with intensive fursuiting.
I think EF is long enough for attendees, fursuiters & con staff ! Everyone is exhausted at the end of the convention and not sure that the attendees could afford a whole week con.
Colifox/Rizzorat:
Some general feedback points from myself based on what I have read and own observations:
1. Prices
I am not going to grumble about prices - the reason being is I acknowledge the fact that I was in a 4* city centre hotel, and the drinks/meals were priced accordingly. Also, following a conversation with several of the EF staff members, I was made aware that some of the prices had indeed already been lowered to accommodate the convention and comparatively to other hotels I have stayed in, or bars of the same calibre (posh upper class cocktail), they were priced reasonably.
As the Venue Liaison for ConFuzzled, I know of the headaches that come from trying to negotiate on lower prices and whilst it is obviously always our main aim to offer the cheapest prices as possible to our attendees, you have to acknowledge that the hotel is a business, and they are looking to make money and a turnover on their sales. I cannot personally comment for Eurofurence, but I do know how XX amount of thousands of pounds the CF hotel have offered us in the way of a discount - and these costs need to be covered in wet/dry sales. Perhaps it’s not unreasonable to ask people to consider that logic when complaining about costs.
In addition, there were dozens upon dozens of places to eat and drink out of the hotel. I think people have lost touch with the fact that the convention hotel is just a hub. You do not have to, nor would I encourage you, to stay there the entire time. How many of you were visiting Germany for the first time? You should have gone out into the town, enjoyed the culture, and taken in the architecture. This is personal preference of course, but the main point is, there were PLENTY of options, and if you had groups of friends to socialise with, this should have in no way compromised your enjoyment or overall con experience by NOT being in the venue 24/7
2. Key cards/rooms/Housekeeping
Absolutely 100% perfect for me. Again my own personal experience. I can only assume people that ended up being locked out of their rooms because roommates had to have their cards re-swiped, in effect rendering any other magnetic cards for that room obsolete. This again was something we suffered a lot of at ConFuzzled.
The rooms were spacious, everything was clean, everything worked, and I could not fault it on single bit. So much so infact, I left a thank you note on my pillow the day I left, because I was simply that impressed.
I wasn’t personally disturbed by housekeeping once. I put my 'Do not disturb' banner out on a nightly basis and was never bothered. My roommate used the phone facility to call up more towels one afternoon, we had them within 2 minutes. When we did leave the room, every day we came back to made beds, and folded sheets. Perfect service!
3. Elevators
I am beginning to think I am the only person that feels the lifts at this hotel were infinitely easier to use, and more reliable, than those of the Ringburg. I never queued more than about a minute anytime I tried to use one. It amused me greatly how many people did congregate around the glass elevators and neglected the enclosed ones at the rear of the hotel. My only annoyance was, and to echo Kage on this, people getting in the elevator for the sake of 1 floor - especially from ground to conference level. There were stairs available. If I can traverse them in fursuit, I am sure all others can also manage them, even if to simply speed up your own waiting time.
4. Hotel Staff
I heard rumours of rude staff, but didn’t once encounter it. Infact, there was one girl in particular behind the bar whom I felt I had been rude to, apologised to her and she promptly laughed it off (assuming I was a drunk Brit no doubt) and was incredibly friendly. I also noticed she was there EVERYDAY from 2pm till we were kicked out of the bar. I was there every night at closing, sometimes it was as late as 6am. Spare a thought for her, and the other bar staff, who worked those incredibly long hours to ensure we were served.
5. 'That Kid'
I will no doubt be biased here as I am incredibly close to and good friends with her parents, but can for that very reason assure everyone that she was not once left un-attended, and was always watched, if even sometimes from afar so as to allow her her own space and enjoyment of the convention. In addition to this, as a social group of friends, there are several of us that are very close and almost if you will like an uncle to her. I assure you again she was always under responsible and watchful eyes.
I do think some of the comments towards this situation have been of an attacking nature, and really should stop. I can fully appreciate the comment stating that it seems to be flaunting the rules for this one individual however, I think given the sheer amount of hard work, time, money and effort Fairlight puts into the convention now, and over the years, this is a privilege he can be bestowed.
6. Fursuit lounge
OMG - Awesome. Enough said.
7. Only negative comment
The only one piece of negative feedback I have is regarding one individual member of Eurofurence staff on the security team. This person was very forceful in pushing me in a direction towards the hotel right at the end of the fursuit parade when I was both tired, dehydrated, and extremely hot and sweaty. I did mention this to two members of staff, and they did indeed correctly point out who I should raise the complaint too. However, I decided not to carry this forward because I think all it came down to was inexperience on this individual’s part in knowing how to handle tired and thirsty fursuiters. Also, I imagine he was actually trying to be helpful in steering me in the correct direction for my own safety, but did so in a less than pleasant way.
My feedback would be therefore, that anyone chaperoning the fursuit walk or acting as a guide needs better education how to act as a handler so as to avoid any discomfort on the fursuiters part. He really was very pushy and hands on.
That’s it really. There are lots more pros and cons I am sure I could go into, but all so trivial, they wouldn’t be worth mentioning. I would however extend my gratitude towards ALL the con staff for making this a particularly enjoyable experience, and certainly the best one I have had since EF12, which was my first ever convention. Thank you all! (sorry this was so long!)
Colifox/Rizzorat
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