Accommodation

Accommodation can be a very tricky subject. Each customer will want something different. A well informed local person is a great help for dealling with differing requests -

• Cost - for some, cost is the most important factor and camping or a hall floor for a sleeping bag are what is needed. Others want comfort and luxury.
• Position - others want to be close to the playing area or to the tourist sights, or public transport.
• Availability - extension of period of stay before / after tournament. Additionally the requirements of shared / unshared accommodation and of security must be considered.
• Type - singles, friends together, families. Smoking / non-smoking rooms.
• Food - none, bed & breakfast, any other food included ?

A list of problems in recent years

(This is a negative approach to this topic, but it is easier to write than the positive view of what should be done.)

• A scout hut for 20 customers 30 minutes from the congress site had only one key to be kept at the tournament office
  • This obviously didn't work and in the end the key was left hidden near the scout hut.
• A customer booked a single room and was told on arrival that there weren't any.
• Cockroaches
• Live electricity wires coming out of walls - see Safety?
• Strangers sharing one apartment yet only one key between them.
  • This can still be a problem if the sharers are not strangers. What if one person enters the apartment and goes to sleep. How does the other get in?

Not so recent problems

• It was announced that there are houses for five people. We gathered a group of five. At arrival it turned out that the houses were for six persons.

Suggestions

• If Youth Hostel accommodation is offered, say if there is an age cut off and say if there isn't an age cut off.
• Ensure distance from the playing site / social area is well detailed.

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