UK Congress April 2008

[Sabor]

Anyone considering/planning to go? .. besides Pacion that is? lol

i am.. :)

[Lucretia]

Whats the adress or the web? Wanna know more!

/luc

[Lucretia]

I found it http://www.mambocity.co.uk/congress/index.htm
Is it the crowded type of congress? How are the floors? The hotel?
/Luc

[nowhiteshoes]

I found it http://www.mambocity.co.uk/congress/index.htm
Is it the crowded type of congress? How are the floors? The hotel?
/Luc

from people ive spoken to in london this congress i considered better than the uk congress as atleast the accomodation is in the same place as the dancing (dont shoot the messenger). its quite expensive though, im thinking about going to prague as flights, cheap hotel and congress will be about the same as the one in heathrow.

[Pacion]

from people ive spoken to in london this congress i considered better than the uk congress as atleast the accomodation is in the same place as the dancing (dont shoot the messenger). its quite expensive though, im thinking about going to prague as flights, cheap hotel and congress will be about the same as the one in heathrow.

Having been in the past, there are a few other reasons other than the accomodation being in the same place as the dancing, which makes this a very nice congress to attend.

Re cost... yes, it may be 'quite expensive' than other events but not that much more. On top of that, when you consider the quality of the accommodation, (comfortable WARM beds, WARM rooms, you do not have to bring your own towels or bedlinen), that breakfast is edible (!!!), the hotel has a sauna/gym from recollection, the ambience, fellow residents are not louts, personal safety, then it is not that much more and in some cases, worth it.

Eastern Europe may seem cheaper by comparison/comparable due to the exchange rate. Also, if you have never been to Prague, I would say - go to Prague instead of the MamboCity Congress, if you want to experience a new city. If you have airmiles/airline frequent flyer points, then Prague will be cheaper still.

At the end of the day with a lot of these things, it comes down to personal preferences, budget and the teachers who are going to be there.

[Pacion]

Is it the crowded type of congress? How are the floors? The hotel?

I went a couple of years ago and I think (but do not quote me please!) that the hotel may have undergone some refurbishment since?

From recollection (MacMoto may be able to help out here :lol:) it is not one of the 'crowded' types of congresses. That said, due to the cancellation of another congress which should have taken place in February, who knows what the numbers may be like for the April event.

The floors are pretty good - very fast! The organisers have hired in proper dancing flooring as opposed to flooring supplied by the hotel. This of course does not stop dancers dancing on the carpets! One of the rooms that has been used in the past is a mixture of marble and wood. For myself, it can be a bit tiring on the legs BUT it is the closest I will get to feeling like I am dancing with Valentino, when I dance on that floor, at the moment. :banana:

The hotel is very nice, comfortable, WARM and as mentioned above, the breakfasts are edible. The only downside I can think of immediately is the location of the hotel in that if you did not want to eat in the hotel, the only other option was a MacDonald's or other hotels in the vicinity. Not sure where the nearest supermarket is, in relation to the hotel, if you wanted to bring in some supplies - water, fruit etc.

The organisers are very friendly (husband and wife team) and they put on nice events. The people who attend, are generally friendly also. Again, because of the cancellation of the other event, there is no guarantee what the attendees will be like. From what I have seen based on previous years, people hang around and chat even after the dancing has stopped.

The organisers have used this particular hotel a number of times now. I think this is the fourth year of the congress, but they have put on additional weekends there (New Year's/Christmas). Therefore, the hotel staff will be well trained now... oops, I meant to say 'clued up' now. ;) That said, in one of MacMoto's posts over on Salsa Forums, she does mention that the catering is a bit chaotic. But, when you have a few hundred people suddenly descend for breakfast, half an hour before class is due to start, it would test any organisations catering skills!

[Pacion]

Anyone considering/planning to go? .. besides Pacion that is? lol

Yeah. I will be the one dressed as a dancing banana, selling tickets to dance with Sabor! :banana:

[MacMoto]

I went a couple of years ago and I think (but do not quote me please!) that the hotel may have undergone some refurbishment since?

From recollection (MacMoto may be able to help out here :lol:) it is not one of the 'crowded' types of congresses. That said, due to the cancellation of another congress which should have taken place in February, who knows what the numbers may be like for the April event.

I went to this event last year, and it was very good. I don't remember the place being particularly crowded - it is a smaller event than the UK congress after all, and having two rooms helps. The only crowding problem was at the after party, which was held in a tiny room. Having said that, I actually liked it - nice and intimate, with some comfy seating.

My hotel room last year was fine. I think it had been refurbished - definitely better than I remember from my first time a few years ago.

It's one of my favourite congresses, with a nice venue, friendly organisers, quality instructor/performer lineup and good standard of dancing. Thoroughly recommended. I wish I could go... :(

[Brendan]

I missed it last year but have been to all the others and really enjoy it. They are one of the few congresses that seems to get the balance of styles right and have in the past managed to attract a good number of both cuban and NY/LA/... style dancers. There also wasn't the same sort of attitude as I found at the main UK congress and the evenings were a lot more friendly and laid back. I found it to be a really nice mix of the level of dancing and teaching as the Bognor/Bournemouth congress with more of the feel of the Pontins weekends.

The only downside I can think of immediately is the location of the hotel in that if you did not want to eat in the hotel, the only other option was a MacDonald's or other hotels in the vicinity. Not sure where the nearest supermarket is, in relation to the hotel, if you wanted to bring in some supplies - water, fruit etc.


There are a couple of pubs that do food within 5-10 minutes walk and there's also a little row of shops just down near the juntion with the A4. In there is an Italian Restaurant and a supermarket which also has a very good curry buffet thing (the hotel is very close to Southall) and off license.

Personally I'd recommend the congress to anyone. The breakfast is sometimes a bit disorganised but if you get down there early was fine. I'd like to go along but it's a bit more of a trek from here.

Brendan

[Lucretia]

I'm counting my money....and since I guess I will not have a steady work at late april its pretty hard. My cost for travel, hotel + three nights is 705 pounds for two persons (meals and drinks not included).

One thing I remember since another stay at a hotel at Heathrow was the sound. The sound of the planes all 24 hours .....landing and taking off every second minute. I have to calculate the cost of "lack of sleep" into the "hard numbers".

What is/are the noice like?

/Luc

[Pacion]

One thing I remember since another stay at a hotel at Heathrow was the sound. The sound of the planes all 24 hours .....landing and taking off every second minute. I have to calculate the cost of "lack of sleep" into the "hard numbers".

What is/are the noice like?

/Luc

I have stayed in the hotel and you don't hear a thing, not even a bird! That is, when the salsa party nights have finished and the music has stopped. From recollection, the walls between the hotel rooms were pretty good, so you did not hear any 'goings ons' either, music or otherwise ;)