Potential Hotel Room Disaster...

[dumbtourist]

This morning, FEMA announced it will immediately start moving people out of their trailers and back into hotel rooms...for those like me who have waited for last min. deals....may not be any. And a reminder of LA. law...a hotel cannot remove a guest (if they have not packed their bags) even if there is a reservation for an incoming guest....might want to recheck your reservations frequently....

"Paulison said he hoped to have everyone out of trailers and into hotels, motels, apartments and other temporary housing by the summer, when the heat and stuffy air could worsen the problem inside the trailers.
Louisiana has 25,162 occupied FEMA trailers and mobile homes, while Mississippi has 10,362, according to FEMA. Other states also have hundreds of trailers. At one point, FEMA had placed victims of the 2005 hurricanes in more than 144,000 trailers and mobile homes."

[NYMAMA]

OMG this could be a real problem for those without reservations.

[aardy90210]

OMG PANIC!

[papafrog]

well there will prolly be thousands of vacant trailers..
how bad could it be for a week...
i hear one key fits the lock on all of them...lol

[NeenAtlanta]

Let's just hope they don't choose the Holiday Inn on Royal - half the threadheads would be out of a room!

LOL!

[papafrog]

Let's just hope they don't choose the Holiday Inn on Royal - half the threadheads would be out of a room!

LOL!

this just INN (tonguencheek).....from HI corporate....

[jazzykeb]

well there will prolly be thousands of vacant trailers..
how bad could it be for a week...
i hear one key fits the lock on all of them...lol

Very true papafrog! A little formaldahyde won't hurt ya for a weekend!

[ohio]

There are some used car lots around here selling FEMA trailers...not kidding.

[djgriff]

There are some used car lots around here selling FEMA trailers...not kidding.

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070308/070308_fematrailer_hmed_330a.h2.jpg

Some of the approximately 20,000 mobile homes and trailers owned by FEMA await sale at the Hope Municipal Airport near Hope, Ark.

[ohio]

whew!

[dumbtourist]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070308/070308_fematrailer_hmed_330a.h2.jpg

Some of the approximately 20,000 mobile homes and trailers owned by FEMA await sale at the Hope Municipal Airport near Hope, Ark.


Our tax dollars hard at work....:mad:

[JoeDDD]

Wouldn't you imagine that FEMA would try to book hotels cheaper than the 3* & 4* that last minute Priceline or Hotwire users typically get? My thought is that this would more impact those
who fest on the cheap by staying in motels in outlying districts.
FEMA wouldn't pay even discount group rates charged by the Sheraton, would they?

Just a bit worried, though...

[dank_bass]

Wouldn't you imagine that FEMA would try to book hotels cheaper than the 3* & 4* that last minute Priceline or Hotwire users typically get? My thought is that this would more impact those
who fest on the cheap by staying in motels in outlying districts.
FEMA wouldn't pay even discount group rates charged by the Sheraton, would they?

Just a bit worried, though...

While you ask yourself that question ... also ask yourself "Would FEMA let 20,000 trailers sit vacant in a field?"

I really dont know though ... Im thinking along the lines you are

[almarco]

This just spotted on hotwire, 1/2 star accomaditions , limited breathing allowed .....19.00 a night .

[festbabe]

While you ask yourself that question ... also ask yourself "Would FEMA let 20,000 trailers sit vacant in a field?"
..

Good point.

[Orleansnj]

Okay -

don't panic ...Having lived through the wave of 'rolling policy decisions' and helping family long-distance for the past two years...including trotting down when there was another *deadline* for this, that or the other ....I have to say - don't freak out.

The trailers were supposed to be in place for 18 months. We know several people in them and they have been told they are not going anywhere fast.

Second, some of the hotels have experienced *problems* getting reimbursed by FEMA for the last go around...(so we have heard through a fairly reliable grapevine) - so if that is, indeed, the case - not very likely they are going to turn away an out of town visitor who is paying - for an empty promise from FEMA for an undetermined length of time.

There are thousands or hotel rooms in the city.......According to the latest report from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Report (January 2008) there are more than 32,000 hotel rooms available in the city.

....so - keep an eye out - but don't freak out......

[stlbarb]

"Would FEMA let 20,000 trailers sit vacant in a field?"

are you referring to all those brand new trailers we saw in a field driving home from Jazzfest 2007? we took the scenic route from slidell thru hattesburg to I-55.
i couldnt believe how many were just sitting there. i was thinking if they were just being stored for the next disaster, why were they all in one location - and in an area prone to tornado's?

[Blitzzzzz]

While you ask yourself that question ... also ask yourself "Would FEMA let 20,000 trailers sit vacant in a field?"

I really dont know though ... Im thinking along the lines you are

Dank, Make another post! Check your post number!:cool:

[almarco]

Hey now as mormon matthew woulds say , this might be a good time to remention this , I have one of the holiday inn rooms for thursday to monday both weekends , going solo , if someone wants to split costs (and dont snore too loud) e mail almarco@aol.com

[sophisticated sissy]

Hey, now, almarco ... so that's $19.99 per person per nite?
That's an Am-a-a-a-a-zing deal!

[almarco]

Well plus what ever the taxes were , it was under 450 for the whole thing for one. not a bad deal at all. I just called the hotel and asked if I could extend the extra two days inbetween and they said no...lol

[sophisticated sissy]

Well, you could just refuse to pack your suitcase when your time is up.....:p

I'm all booked, but that is a really great offer. Unless, of course, you're hatchet murderer!:D

[almarco]

Shhhh....

[sophisticated sissy]

almarco, did you see Blitzzzzzz's post in the other thread? He's looking for one night.

[almarco]

bump for my hotel offer!

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now Al. I think I might want to take you up on splitting a room for 2nd weekend.... I usually stay with my friends Dave and Maureen (I was best man at the wedding) at least 1 night- dont want to hurt thier feelings- but they live all the way out by the airport, so I always get a room for the other nights so I dont have to commute for the entire Fest. I will gladly pay for my half, even if i am only in your room for some of the time. (both Dave and Maureen work, and only attend Fest Sat/Sun) Let me know where the hotel is , so I can see about cancelling my reservations at the Crowne Plaza. (I have until april to cancel w/ no penalty, so there is plenty of time to take care of it). Let me know what you think, Matthew

[almarco]

Matthew the holiiday inn is at royal and canal in the quarter.

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now Al -- In that case, I have stayed there during Carnival once, and also once for the Superbowl.... It was OK, but the location is perfect, central to everything. The staff were pretty cool though - (my room wasnt ready upon check in, so they gave me 4 or 5 drink coupons for the hotel bar)! I dont anticipate spending much time in the room however, so I am sure this should work out for me. When is your reservation starting? How much is the room per night, and most importantly will they gaurentee 2 doubles/non smoking?

[MormonMatthew]

Al, I just read thru this thread, I didnt realise how cheap the room prices are!!! Is this something you have reserved w/ a credit card? It seems too damn good to be true!!! I dont want to cancel me room reservations if there is a chance that this wont pan out..... That being said, if yoiur room is gaurenteed, COUNT ME IN!!! My entire share of the the room for the whole weekend is less that 1 night at the Crowne Plaza (which is definately a nicer hotel, but come on- that dosent make much difference to me!) This seems like it would be perfect for my plans. Get back in touch, and have a great weekend!!! Matthew

[funkkjunkie]

Matthew, this is a deal that many THs took advantage of when it popped up on Hotwire or Priceline! There are around 30 rooms booked to THs. So it's gonna be alright!

[almarco]

Matthew I called today and confirmed the rezzy , for both weekends , e mail me and ill send you my number and we can work it out , No chance vans going to show there though......lol almarco@aol.com

[MormonMatthew]

Thanks, Funkjunkie! I must have been in the dark about the room offer when it was made. What a great deal!!! The hotel itself is so-so, but its in a perfect location, and as I dont spend any great amount of time in the room anyways, if I can save a few $$$, it just leaves more to go around elsewhere!!! Have a good weekend, Matthew

[MormonMatthew]

Al, Email on its way!!!

[swag]

Matthew, this is a deal that many THs took advantage of when it popped up on Hotwire or Priceline! There are around 30 rooms booked to THs. So it's gonna be alright!

It's way more than 30...

[steffie]

Not to put a fly in the ointment but if anyone has respiratory problems( asthma) be careful at the holiday inn on Royal. I stayed there the 1st week last year and the mold ( black ) was horrible in the airconditioner. The 3 of us in my room were sick. We cleared up as soon as we moved out to the other hotel.

[ibjamn]

Hey now as mormon matthew woulds say , this might be a good time to remention this , I have one of the holiday inn rooms for thursday to monday both weekends , going solo , if someone wants to split costs (and dont snore too loud) e mail almarco@aol.com

Hey Now! I think Sissy is onto something!!! Split it 4 ways & it's only $9.9975/night...... You prolly can afford more than Krystalburgers with that kind of scratch!

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now Steffie--- It turns out that this is a hotel I have stayed at on 2 different visits, once for Mardi Gras, once during the Superbowl. There was nothing really "wrong" with the hotel itself, it just seeemed that it had seen better days..... I guess the fact that we were paying 250+ $$$ per night (mardi gras) didnt help me think any better of it though. For the prices we are talking about now however, and the amount of time I will actually be spending in the room during Fest, it seems like an unbeatable deal. The location is also perfect, a two min. walk to Louisiana Music Factory or House of Blues, a 5 or 6 dollar cab ride to Tipitinas! It is not the Monteleone, but should do nicely for a place to crash. Matthew

[almarco]

Might just remind of a fema trailer.....

[steffie]

Oh I know it's a great price and it wasn't a bad place, just when I woke each night wheezing and doing back to back resp treatments it was a bummer
( and I don't generally have asthma problems) Just wanted folks to be aware and be prepared.