Oh / _that_ Hampton Inn... / journal / hicksdesign

26/02/05

Oh, _that_ Hampton Inn...

So, 2 weeks to go before I get to SXSW its suddenly dawns on me that I may have booked the wrong hotel. You see, being ‘a hicks from the sticks’ it didn’t occur to me that Austin, Texas may have more than one ‘Hampton Inn’. In fact I’ve found three. So instead of being 5 blocks away in Hampton Inn Downtown, I’m 5 miles away at Hampton Inn ‘North’. Doh. Arse.

Mind you that’s the least of my worries. I’m appearing on a panel with Doug, Dave, John and Eris. Talk about sharing a stage with people that can only be described as ‘your guru’s’. The pressure is well and truly on. There’s a Gary Larson cartoon where a large cockroach is lying in an alleyway with a tramp. He’s explaining to him what a successful business he once had, until “one day in a board meeting, someone stands up and says “Hey! That guys just a big cockroach!!””. Thats how it feels sometimes…

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Turnip said 1291 days ago:

You wouldn’t be on the panel if you weren’t up to the job.

There’s a lotta people that would give almost anything for the success you’ve seen, and I think most of them would decribe you as a “guru” too. I reckon you should look at what you’ve got and be happy :).

Andrew Hume said 1290 days ago:

You’ll always the be the No. 1 guru to us Brits John. :)

Andrew Hume said 1290 days ago:

Damn… it’s Jon. Sorry.

It’s you and Oxton getting me confused!

Scott said 1290 days ago:

Ahh, the joys of American hotels. :) I’m American and I still haven’t figured it out. Oh well. That’s better than when we found a great deal on a hotel in Knoxville, that turned out to be 50 minutes from the campus.
Best of luck on the panel.

Andrew Dupont said 1290 days ago:

Yes; sadly, the Hampton Inn is a national chain. Fortunately, from one at which you’re booked, downtown is a straight-shot via highway. (Though I assume transportation will be a problem.)

jeremy said 1290 days ago:

Hey Jon, as you know I am no longer in Austin but if you need help with transportation or the like I am happy to set it up for you! Have a great time and I regret I won’t be there. Damn. – cheers

Josh Bryant said 1290 days ago:

Jon,

You are going to be awesome on the panel. I would go there to see you without the other guys. Sad to say, my company even offered to pay for me to go this year, but getting married and the works, its just not going to fit in the schedule. Would have loved to meet you though.

Have fun and enjoy Tex’

John Oxton said 1290 days ago:

bq. “Hey! That guys just a big cockroach!!””. Thats how it feels sometimes…

Heh! I know how you feel but I am sure you are going to be great, as said already I’d turn up just to hear you talk, I really wish I could make it!

Tom said 1290 days ago:

When I went to florida we were booked into the quality inn, so we pulled up to this huge hotel, it was really nice inside even had a cop standing outside.

“Oh your at the other one down the road”

About 1/5 of the size not as nice and no cop.

I wish you luck, SXSW is something I would really like to go to.

#10

Indranil said 1290 days ago:

You’re a cockroach

Best of luck. You’re gonna have helluva lotta fun.

#11

kharris said 1290 days ago:

Hi,

The Hampton Inn on I-35 north

where you’ll stay is not very far at all from Highland Mall (see map above) – a major bus stop. Here’s a link to our bus service.

If you’ve got a rental or rides to/from the Convention Center, disregard the above information.

If you’ve got other questions, email me. I live in Austin.

kevin

#12

Hunter said 1290 days ago:

Haha, that’s rough about the Hampton Inn. It will be fine, though. Best of luck speaking!

#13

Hunter Chorey said 1290 days ago:

Well, I messed up that comment. :P

#14

Mike Rundle said 1290 days ago:

Hey Jon – if you find yourself stuck at the conference without transportation or whatever, you can feel free to chill for awhile (or shower, or whatever) at our hotel room just a few floors above the conference. The Business Logs team and I (Scrivs, Matthew Oliphant) have a room in the same hotel, so if there’s anyway we can help feel free to email me.

#15

Derek A Rosenstrauch said 1290 days ago:

hey jon,
i live in austin and i can pretty much assure you that every hotel and motel in town will be filled up with people going to SXSW so you’ll probably find people going exactly where you’re going. but if worse comes to worse i live pretty close to the hampton inn and i work downtown right on the other side of I-35 from the convention center. i could probably spot you a ride if you need.
~~derek (long time listener~~-first time caller)

#16

Andy Budd said 1288 days ago:

Does the “proper” Hampton have any rooms left? If they do you can probably cancel the old hotel free of charge.

#17

Josh Williams said 1288 days ago:

When I read the post title, I was simply worried that Jon here checked himself into the Hampton Inn because it sounded like a nice, proper, formal English resort or the like… complete with high tea. At least it’s just a location issue.

Boy are stereotypes bad. Sorry man.

Andy’s right though, if the downtown Hampton has rooms, you should be able to switch your reservation. Unless you’ve paid upfront, you shouldn’t be charged for the bad reservation.

Just a note as well… I drive trough Austin quite a bit. If at all possible, you want to stay downtown, not 5 miles away. 5 miles isn’t far, but on I-35 through Austin, that can take 30-45 minutes to drive depending on what truck has flipped over that day.