Desert Storm Poker Run-2008-Rooms?
 

Hey Group,

We're trying to plan for attending the 2008 Desert Storm Poker Run April 24-26, 2008 and are looking for suggestions on where to stay. Not sure about the Nautical Inn but that is the official HQ for the poker run. Rumor has it they've jacked their prices up for the weekend event and we'd rather not deal with that. Where else to stay that is close? Anyone have a condo to rent that weekend? How about boat parking? This is something we've wanted to do for a long time and there will be 4 of us on the boat with us guys doing the hauling from Wisconsin to Arizona.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

The Nautical raised their price 100$ but it goes toward your entry fee. For us, the Nautical is the only place. All of the sponsors are there, the cove is filled with beautiful boats, the Naked Turtle is 100 hundred yards away from your room, and the best part I think is the private launch ramp.

I used to live in Shawano Wisconsin.:cool-smiley-027:

The Nautical is the prime location although most of the Havasu locals claim squatter's rights to all the beach moorings in the cove and surrounding areas at the Nautical. Their pop up tents go up several days before. Those prime spots should go to all the people staying at the Nautical and any portion of its beach area.

The Nautical still has rooms available, I added $100.00 charge per room for which is applied to your poker run entry or your extra crew members to discourage people not particiating in the run from staying there. We'll see if it works.

The only boats that can be beached at the Nautical belong to people staying there and must have a colored band obtained from the hotel. Yes, the cove spots go fast, and people do put up their canopies to mark their spot, but they get there 3 to 4 days before the run to do so. The rule is, the boat must be there before the spot can be held, no saving spots when the boat hasn't even arrived.

We have a major challenge in having enough places to park the boats in the water due to the LHC Marina actively discouraging performance boats from launching there or getting slips. We ask that no one participating in the run purchase anything thru the Marina due to their attitudes. The other challenge is the Bureau of Land Management people stopping any docks or marina's being added to the lake. We may be adding temporary docks if we can swing it, again, we'll see :) The only other hotel that has docking space is the London Bridge Resort and that sells out quickly also.

The schedule of the event has been changed this year and we'll be posting it soon. The main change is the Poker Run will be on Friday. The number of boats on the water on Saturday has massively increased over the last few years, so by moving the run to Friday and having the Shootout on Saturday, specators can still see the boats run on Saturday, but on a closed safer course.

Thrusday - Street Party and Boat show - Down Town Lake Havasu City
Friday - Poker Run
Saturday - Shootout
Possibly even more events if we get Coast Guard approval!!!!

Jim

I'm glad I made it last year as a vistor. I stayed at the Nautical Inn and got to enjoy the event without bringing a boat. It would have been tough for me to tow from NC. So I brought the family and we had a great time, I hate that you are discouraging that this year.

Just booked two of the Beach Suites last Monday. They are nice, stayed in one just about a month ago. They are re-done with plasma's, full size refrigerators, and are right there on the main beach. We didn't really care for the rooms over by the cove.

Mark, I understand and appreciate the feedback, the problem is that so many of the participants with boats wanted to stay at the Natuical and beach their boat. They couldn't due to people who stayed but didn't want to participate. I block the entire hotel for participants for this reason.

I wish we had the factilities like Lake of the Ozarks or Florida, but we got what we got :cool-smiley-011:

yeah.....but there are other close places for you and the family to stay where you don't need the beach! :) London Bridge Resort.....or the best deal......a condo for the week at QueensBay.

Wow, that blocks out a ton of OSO members. I must have met 1000 members last April. I am pretty sure most were not there with boats.

Glad I got to go when I did, even though I was on a boat.

CashBar.....if you need a $100 for the room.....ask Steve to split it with ya ! :D

Nort, it's not the money. We know that.

I just don't think traveling from S. Fla to Havasu only to be told to pay extra 'cause I didn't bring a boat is a little harsh.

I am the only member of the OSO entourage that had enough fun to come back. I like the idea of Vegas for a few, then Havasu, then back to Vegas. Long way to come to not combine trips. :ernaehrung004:

Oh, and I just tried to reserve online and had to send an email.

A little more work than a Miami or Key West reservation. :rolleyes:

Yeah....that is weird, but I've only stayed there once anyway. Most of the Nautical is a **** hole anyway.....the location is good since the poker run is held there, but other places are good locations too! Our favorite is the London Bridge Resort.....which is a timeshare place too if you have that. It is where the major club is and there it is walking distance to a few nice resturaunts too. Vegas is always good!

Hey....they just got running water out there.....what do you want? :D

How does that block out the OSO members, If you were in a boat participating and supporting the event, you paid $100.00 for you and your sig. other to join the activities. If you were there just to hang out and party, why stay at the event hotel?
I'm saying, please come and have fun, but acknowledge we who are in the run need the beach front hotel. There is only 130 rooms so we are spread around the town anyways, I'm just trying to help out the guys who are doing the run.

There are lots of hotels around the town, over 2000 rooms :)

http://www.lakeracerllc.com/images/postersm.jpg

The where to stay answer is easy...just simply buy a house in Havasu....

For details read below......

my recommendation is the queens bay condo's. We've stayed there for the past 4 years and leave the boat in the channel beached and covered and walk to the room. Never had a problem and there are many boats parked with you. You don't have the problems of traffic and getting back to your spot at the nautical and having an argument with someone in your spot.
Good luck!

A few options:
Option 1 (Ballers Option): Stay at the London Bridge Resort, Park your boat safely in a slip and enjoy room service, Martini bay, Kokamos, and a great view. After 2:00 AM bath tubs filled with ice serve as great coolers and will allow you to you cheesey lines like the ever famous "Oh... its last call already... Ive got enough drinks for all of you ladies back at my room". Usually security is bumped up for the weekends and you are safer from yourself than if we put you in a padded room with a helmet!

Option 2 (Party at all costs)
Stay at the Nauti and hope to get a spot on the water for your boat. Even if you dont get a spot in the cove, you still have your own ramp and security is the best in town. You will be crawling distance from the best bar in town and the Naked Turtle Upstairs has good food, great prices and I think they are the only place in town that tells the waitresses its not okay to treat customers like garbage. You are so close to the event that if you trip and fall you are bound to land on either Jim or Bob Teague, neither stop moving or sleep the entire weekend. The only downside is that your odds of getting in the waitress... (Stiener not included). So you will be at the best party in town and your greatest attribute will be on the trailer in the parking lot. Oh Well!
Option 3 (Got money for a reason)
Find a house to rent for the weekend. With the housing market gone cold in Lake Havasu you are bound to find a fully furnished party pad for the weekend for less than two rooms at any hotel. And I am talking about the large nice houses with pools, garages so large that you can put your boat and truck in... still hooked up. Hit the store on your way into town and save a grand on food. Every member of your party has his or her own room. Think big and spend little. Most of the houses in town are second homes and sitting vacant, call around and find one of them. Then you have some privacy for your post Naked Turtle Cheesey pickup line extravaganza!
Option 4 (I was a loan officer last year)
Show up at the run. Pay the entry fee. See that bed in the front of your boat??? Use it!

I was at the event at the behest OF OSO.

It was a great time. I may be the only S. Fla OSO rep attending. I am NOT bringing a boat(never say never). However, I would sure like to be AT the event hotel for picture and reporting reasons. I rent a car in Vegas so it is not the driving around that bothers me. Just like to be AT the event if I travel 2700 miles to be part of it.

I am pretty sure Stu wouldn't tell someone that couldn't bring a boat that the Key West hotel was an extra $100.

I will be there either way, just makinfg a point that I think is missing a target crowd.

And Nort, come out to Vegas to meet us. Before or after the event, doesn't matter.

I will also be in Vegas for NYE... :ernaehrung004::D

Cash, the reason Jim has to charge the extra 100.00 for the room is due to the fact he wants to be able to block out the whole hotel for the poker run. To do that, you have to come up with a deposit. Instead of coming out of pocket up front, it's added to the room rate and refunded in the poker run package. Before passing judgement on that remember that
a) he also has to come out of pocket for the numerous permits and deposits on dive teams, helicopters, insurance, photographers etc. etc.
b) he's not the only organizer to add a percentage to hotels if booked through the poker run. FPC does the same as well as many other PR organizers.

Plus, many people that come out to attend this event have a BLAST! I've been to poker runs coast to coast and this is truely a must do event in my opinion. The entrance fee is a fractional cost compared to most poker runs.

Many people come to town this weekend to "attend" the poker run, without entering the poker run. It had become a problem in years past of people coming to spectate the poker run but not enter it. That's all fine and dandy and to be honest I was guilty of this too but if the event didn't exist it wouldn't be the same weekend. I've pleaded over the years for people to sign up to cover the cost of putting this event on even if you just want to spectate. This insures the event continues to strive over the years.

My point being. If you want to stay at the Nautical to be in the middle of the poker run action, I don't see a huge problem with spending an extra 100.00 to give back to those that are supplying you with the event you are attending. If the 100 is a big deal then theres plenty of other options as stated above.

I'm not singling you out because the added hundred has been brought up and gawked at by others here and on other boards but I don't think people see the big picture which is: the cost of and extra 100 compared to the experience is not that big of a deal.

my .02

Tank, again. It's NOT the cash.

Stu and the FPC do charge a premium for making all the reservations for members but they never book the ENTIRE hotel and tell everyone else too bad.

I am gonna come out and enjoy, but won't be bringing a boat obviously. I don't even necessarily care they blocked it, but I like to be able to book my own itinerary and it's not possible for this event.

I guess I can just stay the London Bridge with all the Edock peeps.

I really did like my room last Spring.

I know it's not an issue of cash for a baller like you!:D

My whole point was just to explain how and why it is this way. There's only 130 rooms and there's always WEEEEEELL over 200 boats entered. Obviously theres no room for people that want to book this weekend that don't have anything to do with the poker run. Jim is just trying to secure the whole hotel for this run so theres as many rooms as possible for poker runners.

Cash, if i were you I'd stay at the Agave. It's across the channel from the London bridge resort. I stayed there alot when I was having my house built in Havasu. It's clean and in my opinion the best in town. Another plus, once your there no more crossing the bridge, Havalina Cantina, Barleys and Shagrues are right there, as well as Mikias for breakfast. There's also everthing you need except hard liquor below the Agave. Not to mention that if you can find a hot hooker in Havasu, that's the hotel she wants to go to.

Okay, I'm in. Those were definitely the hi points of the Havasu trip.......:D:ernaehrung004:

I have stayed many places trying to figure out what works best for me and my family.

The Nautical has a great ramp and is the easiest ticket in town. Parking on the beach wont be possible becuase it will be full, but pulling your boat out wont take more than 25 minutes or so total and then you can launch it again first thing in the AM.

Regarding the Nautical, most importantly get a room on the newer side. These are the rooms that are NOT in the cove. The cove rooms are junk and the rooms I am talking about are actually really nice now. I used to think they were all a dump until I was in one of the rooms 2 weeks ago. I was impressed on the remodel with 42" LCD TVs on the walls.

As bling mentioned, the Agave is nice, nicest hotel in town. London Bridge Resort is good as well if you can get a slip. They are weird about parking there though and have some weird rules.

The Queens Bay condos are a short 5 minute or less walk to the water (channel) and are a great value. They have 2 bedroom models that all go for under $200/night. Full kitchens and more in those make them a great bargin and the units are actually nice.

The Kingsview condos are another option to rent and the are in the channel on the beach. Sometimes you can leave the boat in the water without issues and other times you may get a ticket. Either way, the condos are on the water.

1 more... The Islander RV resort will rent double wide trailers when available. They are not as bad as they sound and they have their own launch ramp as well. If you are a mellow crew, this is a good option. If you are a wild crew, dont stay there, security is very, very, very strict.

Check out vacationrentals.com and look for houses for rent as well.

If you have to launch at Windsor, get there early (8 AM) becuase it will be full quick and a weekend like this.

Tentative schedule:

Thursday evening - Street Party
Friday Morning - Poker Run
Friday Evening - Card Turn-in Party
Saturday Morning - Shootout
Saturday late morning/early afternoon - POPRA Race (TBA)

Gonna be a big event!

Is the POPRA RACE here on Lake Havasu?

That's the plan, we're working approvals. Issue is Weekend day or Week Day.

Yes, Jim has been working tirelessly trying to get this thing put together to make it the best DS poker run ever! With the shoot-out, poker run and races, it's going to be a weekend not to miss!

POPRA is on board but getting the coast guard permits is proving difficult. They have issues with racing on a busy weekend. The races may end up needing to be on a weekday (like Thursday) right before the poker run. I'm sure if this is the case it wont be a problem to get spectators for a thursday race, since everyone starts getting to town Wed/Thurs anyway. Whatever happens, it's going to off the hook!!!!:ernaehrung004:

Tank
what does it cost to enter (entry level)???
I might want to PAY to PLAY this year.

I think due to the raise in costs (permits, insurance, etc) the price is going to go up to around 300/350, still cheaper than any othe poker run I've attended. I know it'll be staggared in price range. I.E. sign up before certain date is going to be cheaper than signing up after that given date, which will be cheaper than signing up at the poker run.

Is that per person of for the boat?

per boat...Then you can buy extra hands if you want or extra t-shirts etc.

Event registration is open on www.lakeracer.com

Even if you register online please download the pdf registration package for schedule and other forms such as liabilty and terms & conditions.

There are also photo from many of our previous events to check out :O)

Thanks!

Jim

It's a great event, everyone should go at least once. Here's one that won't be there next year and NO event will be the same without him.

Very true, I hope someone will be put away for it but that will never make up for our loss.

Jim

Are there any rooms left @ the nautical inn?
Dean

There was as of 2 days ago, but only the cove point rooms were available. Better hurry if you plan on going.