You know, I really love hosting FT Doos. They're such a great opportunity to see a bunch of people you love in one place, at one time. Not to mention making new friends each event. At the same time, though, I end up frustrated because I'm surrounded by people I want to hang out with, catch up with, etc., but don't have time. These events are just too short, and it seems like there's more time spent getting in and out of hotels, finding seats, etc., than actual sharing-of-the-love.
So, I've decided to do something a little bit different this year. Same weekend, same (general) part of the world, but going a bit more diverse on the activity front, and adding an extra day to make sure everyone (including me) gets the quality time Boo Doos have become famous for. I want this to be more than just another "stare across a long table and drink" event, and based on the feedback from my SVQ focus group, lots of people agree.
So, I've been working with the endlessly enthusiastic Dragonfirebcn to come up with a plan and agenda, and we're convinced it's going to be the party of the century. This is going to be one for the history books!
BOO DOO SIX: PARTY OUT OF BOUNDS
OCT 30 - NOV 2, 2009
ANDORRA LA VELLA, PRINCIPALITY OF ANDORRA
For the last five years, we've gathered on Halloween weekend to eat, drink, share, eat, drink, and eat some more. This year we're kicking it up a notch and adding some new activities, an extra day, and an exotic location that most people have never visited!
AGENDA:
Friday, 30 October 10PM
We'll meet and greet and eat and drink and drink at
La Fada Ignorant, a festive, comfortable and unpretentious pub in the city center where we have a private party until midnight and can stay until 6AM. Menu and price TBD, but rest assured this Boo Doo will offer gastronomy on par with all the others!
Saturday, 31 October 12 Noon
Your choice of fun activities: downhill mountain biking (they use the ski lifts to bring you and the bike back to the top!), an easy 90-minute hike, or horseback riding are all available. We'll announce pricing soon. More sedentary FlyerTalkers can take advantage of the beautiful garden bar outside the hotel and ease into the day.
Saturday, 31 October afternoon
After enjoying a lunch at your leisure, get ready for shopping. Yes, shopping. Did I mention the entire country is duty free? And that fashion, electronics and gadgets, perfume, and cheese are both cheap and plentiful? You'll find some bargains, because we'll be there right in the middle of
rebaixes, the biggest markdowns of the year.
Saturday, 31 October 10PM
Dinner and drinks kick off at 10 at
Buda Espai Andorra, aka Buddha Bar. We'll be treated to a gourmet dinner in an informal setting that lets us to keep socializing while we enjoy the food. After dinner, we'll move upstairs to the VIP Terrace, with a panoramic view over the mountains, some of Europe's best chillout DJs, and happy hour pricing until 8AM. Full menu and pricing details coming soon!
Sunday, 1 November 12 Noon (this is a holiday in Europe)
Yeah, baby, it's SPA DAY! We'll have private access for two hours to Caldea Club, the exclusive upstairs level at
Caldea, one of the best thermal/mineral spas in Europe. You can indulge in treatments like "Chocotherapy" or "Vinotherapy", massages, and more. Or just hang out at the bar in the pool, the numerous hot tubs, saunas, hammams, or pools. Those who choose not to come into the spa are in luck, because there is a fantastic bar in the same complex with views over the spa! We're allowed up to five hours in the spa (including the two hours in Caldea Club). This is the same water Americans are paying two bucks a bottle for. And you're swimming in it.
Sunday, 1 November 8PM
A light dinner of traditional Catalan cuisine. Location and details TBD.
Monday, 2 November 9AM
Each year in the past, a group has set out on a side-trip, an adventure, a chance to see a little bit more. This year I decided to make it an official part of the program. So Monday we'll have a guided tour of La Ruta Románica, an authentic slice of medieval life. We'll visit three mountain villages nearby, each with its own 9th-to-11th-century Roman church. This really is like stepping back in time and a great chance to see the architecture, culture, and art of society 1000 years ago.
HOTEL:
We've negotiated a very special rate at the
ZOMG 5-star Andorra Park Hotel. It has a perfect location, huge gorgeous rooms, and an elevator that whisks you down the mountainside and plops you right smack in the middle of the action. Note that there are plenty of other hotels nearby (including a HICP for those who want to do the points thing). This is an amazing hotel, especially for Europe.
We have a block of
Junior Suites (either 2 double or king) with terrace and mountain view, plasma TV, and in-room Jacuzzi. A great buffet breakfast is included each day.
Rates are 99€ single or 129€ double, which is a smoking good deal.
The rate is valid for reservations made up to Sept 1., and payment must be made in full by that date. After Sept. 1, you'll have to book at the standard rate direct with the hotel.
We'll be launching a BOO DOO SIX web site in the next few weeks where you'll be able to manage your hotel, dinner, and activity reservations and make a single payment for everything you want to attend. Stand by!
ABOUT THE LOCATION:
This is a new, unique,
breathtakingly beautiful place that's a good value, tons of fun, and packed with interesting things to see and do. Andorra is a tiny country nestled high in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France. Because of its location and historic isolation from the rest of Europe, it maintains a unique, old-world feel that mixes with the new and high-tech society brought about by Andorra's emergence as a tax-free banking haven and world-class ski destination. And did I mention the entire country is duty free? Andorra la Vella is the capital city, and accessible from a variety of ports in France and Spain.
GETTING THERE: (this info complete with links is
here)
If your plan is to go straight from the airport to Andorra La Vella, there are shuttle busses from BCN and TLS. You can also fly to GRO and rent a car and drive all the way up to the mountain. Alternate airports in France are PGF (shuttle bus service from the airport, but I can't get the schedules. I promise to post them as soon as I get them) and CCF (and then connecting by train or bus with TLS). In general, there's no need for advanced booking of bus tickets, but if you feel like doing so, you can book online. Please notice that this is the website of one bus company. There are other companies providing shuttle bus services but they don't have online booking service (in which case you just have to go to the bus station outside the airport and pay directly to the driver for your ticket).
If you feel like spending a few days in Barcelona before or after the Andorra experience, there's plenty of busses everyday between both cities. No availability problems so it's just a get-to-the-station-and-jump-into-the-next-bus thing. There's also a couple of daily busses to/from Tolouse, in case you prefer staying in the French side of the border.
Arriving by train is not practical from Spain. On the French side there's a train station called ANDORRA L'HOSPITALET, reachable from Paris and Toulouse (6 trains a day). There are regular busses from this train station to Andorra la Vella, and also taxis are available (aprox. 20 km). For booking train tickets you should try the SNCF website.
And if your thing is arriving in style, no matter what, you can have your own personal helicopter that will bring you from BCN to the heliport near our fantastic hotel. Cost is 500€ per person for transfer from BCN to ALV (a few blocks from the hotel)..Journey takes approximately 50 minutes. Min 4, max 5 persons.
I know we're a bit light on details. I wanted to get this posted ASAP to give people lots of time to book flights and schedule time off. OK, who's up for the party? You'll notice we've focused on social events that are good for spending time together this year. Lots of opportunities to share the love! And the location is, well, freakin' awesome. Patxi and I spent Christmas there with Alfredo this year, and absolutely fell in love with the place. Now you can, too.
SIGNUP BEGINS NOW:
(Note that there is no "interested" list. Much the same way you can't be "maybe" pregnant, you also can't "maybe" be at BOO DOO SIX. You know what that means...get reserving!
Alan & Patxi
GK & SPB
Dragonfirebcn
SeeYa
vysean
studio76 & Traveloguy
graraps
tmartazu (yay!)
tazi
itsaboutthejourney
missydarlin (double yay!)
lalala
aviationkiwi
BondAir007
robb
sy7
bk3day
fireworksboy
Monitor & Franny
lili
shell nyc +1
asya999 +1
hauteboy +1
KLC +1
wendyhamburger
What's next?
