Purely from a value standpoint, know that airport/Tempe/Mesa area hotels can be had for as little as $27+ for a 2.5* Courtyard by Marriott via Priceline; 3* Hilton and Radissons appear to be available for $39+, also via Priceline.

Incidentially, this is probably what I'd be doing if I make it to this DO. ;)

Papago park may be more centrally located, although its not quite in the best area of Phoenix.

Lost Dutchman is nice, but you may as well drive to Canyon Lake if you are going that far. LD Park is maybe 40 minutes from the airport in good traffic.

I've floated a tentative weekend schedule by Mileage Addict (since he started the thread) so never fear, plans are in the works!!

I'll be in town on the 13th only. Count me in for any festivities on that night.

Put me down for the definite maybe column :)

I'm thinking of staying at the Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and the Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort for 1 night each. Are these good hotels? I am looking for the best value for my money. At both of these resorts I can get a suite with a $50 dining credit for $200 per night. Can I do better?

If the next MR seminar is here and covers OneWorld, I'd def. be interested (not meaning to go OT, since there is a seminar thread).

Dinner Location Decided!
 

Please refer to the original post for details. I need to advise the restaurant of a fairly close head count by the end of September. So... now is the time to decide if you can make it or not. If you doubt you'll make it, please let me know.

There is a party pooper in every group as the ditty goes and I guess that would be me this time. I am headed to ATL on the afternoon of Oct 14, so I can't make a dinner on that date.

Is anybody going to be around on Oct 13th for a get together, formal or otherwise?

I can't confirm 100%, but if I do go to Phoenix I will be arriving Friday morning and can do something.

Are there any other things that people are thinking about doing for the weekend? In the OP, dinner, drinks afterward, and clubbing(?) are suggested, and there have been other suggestions in the thread as well, such as visiting parks and potentially a MR seminar sometime? I'm just trying to think out my schedule. I should definitely be able to make anything going on Saturday evening, probably things going on during the day on Sat., and potentially something Friday evening. I'll be flying non-revenue, so I'm trying to be a little cautious since I don't know exactly when I would arrive.

I'll even bring a simple door prize to be awarded to the person who flew the most total miles to come to the event. ;)

Are we talking "straight line" miles from our Orgin to Phoenix, or are we including connection miles?? :D

I edited it to say "the most total miles". I am the final arbiter of the rule for this door prize, although the rule should be pretty clear now. ;)

Bad part of town?
 

I'm sorry, I just had to respond on seeing this quote. Bad part of town? It's a beautiful extremely safe park barely 3-5 minutes from Downtown Tempe.
Truly, it's as safe as anywhere( which of course doesn't mean 100%, but good enough for govt. work). Also in re-reading past notes, I have to second the burger at Chuck Box( although I haven't been in a while). However, if you want the real AZ/Tempe food experience go a block over to Restaurant Mexico and have the cheese enchiladas with green sauce and a taco suave.

One mile by helicopter, fiveish miles by car.

And don't mind the ladies milling around on Van Buren, they're friendly. :D

MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm. Bar-B-Que.