Permaculture Voices Housing

I'm afraid I'm not quite manly or thrifty enough to share a bed but I'd be happy to crash in the bunkhouse as long as I'm not on the floor! Too many years of construction for my bones to rest easy on the hard floor.

OK, so I've talked with Tom, the owner of the $3 million house on the hill less than 15 minutes from Pechanga Casino. The house has lots of different places to sleep, which I think can be really helpful. At the moment, we're talking check-in after noon on Tuesday the 11th of March and check-out before noon on Tuesday the 18th of March. I have asked about what it would cost to run that from the 10th to the 19th with a smaller number of people, and he's pondering that. (His first offer was $420/night, and that's not going to work unless a whole lot of people can make this a 9 day trip.) I don't know what we'll end up with in terms of 9 days versus 7 days. Paul, you might have to spring for some other place for a couple of nights if you want a longer trip.

Going over the sleeping arrangements in this house, there is one bedroom on the main floor, near the kitchen. This is the one Tom stays in when he is in the house--it has a full complement of walls and doors. This is in contrast to the two bedrooms that are up above the kitchen. They are "loft" rooms, meaning that they don't have solid walls because that would block one's enjoyment of the amazing views. One is bigger than the others and is what I'd call the master bedroom, with a super fancy and large bathroom and a big private balcony. The other has it's own private balcony and it's own bathroom. If you're up here you can walk up to a half wall and look down on the great room. Of course, what this means is that if you're trying to sleep while 10 people laugh and joke or argue in the great room, you'd better be a good sleeper (or have some comfy earplugs)--there's no acoustic barrier between these two rooms and the main living area.

Up on the "loft" level but over the garage is the bunk room. He said again that this room is 1000 square feet, so there's lots of room here for lower cost lodging. The room has a king bed, a queen bed and I'm not sure what else. It must have at least 3 beds beyond that because the theoretical max of the house is 20 and that implies at least 10 beds total and he didn't mention pullout couches in the other rooms. Diego, it would be really helpful if you or someone nearby could take a look at this property, but I think we can make it work without that.

Down below the main level (but it's not a basement because the house is on a hill) there are two more private bedrooms and another kitchen. The second kitchen is not to be used--the main kitchen is quite huge. The decks outside are quite huge--I think he said 2500 sq ft. There is a jacuzzi and after I asked about it he said he would make sure it was up and running for our stay. There are two gas barbecue units outside.

So, I need to feel confident that I have (enough) people who really are going to show up and pay for most of these rooms before I will send him some of my money. I'm not entirely sure how to attain this feeling. Any ideas? The costs are going to vary according to where you sleep and if you share a bed. I feel like I'm going to charge by the bed, since I'm highly unlikely (see previous post) to get strangers to share beds, and if you can get a stranger to share a bed with you--you deserve the discount! I think beds in the bunk room will cost much less than beds in the private rooms. I can't decide if the acoustic issues outweigh the fabulous views/balconies/fancy bathrooms or vice versa. I don't think anyone is going to be uncomfortable and I think we will all save money over staying at the casino and maybe even over staying at the Ramada Inn.

I'd love to hear from various people what they think they can spend for lodging--not per night, but total.

Hey Julia

I want to reserve a spot in the bunk room,
From the 12th to the 16th.

Any idea at this point what that would cost me?

I'm budgeting at around $200 for lodging.

I would like to spend $500 for a nice room. Would be willing to spend a little more for a very nice room. Is that reasonable given total cost after tax, cleaning fee and insurance?

Maybe we could send you a small non-refundable deposit to show level of interest.

I could do at least $150 for the 5 nights there. More, depending on which bed/room, etc. I could send you that $150 as soon as you give the say so. I'd rather have things locked in, for you and for me.

Julia,

Did you inquire to the owner having more than 20 people there? Is he okay with 4-10 more people bringing their own air mattresses?
Because one can buy twin air mattresses for $40-$50, plus another $50 for a place in the house to set it up!? !? ?

$200 for a spot in the bunkhouse works for me too. What do you say? Ready with deposit too.

Ok here's something I have to emphasize: I will be collecting a flat fee for the week, you can't save money by staying 4 or 5 nights versus the 7 that the house will be rented for. It's going to be like $3500 for the house for a week.

Of course, that's just the rent. Food is another thing. I think we can do this, but I need to hear from some more people with $400-$500 private room budgets.

I'm not sure how he would feel about adding people beyond 20. I can say that looking at the pictures I don't see any place to pitch a tent! It looks like he bought a rocky hill and built a giant house on the tippy top. There's no swimming pool because there's no place to put one. The jacuzzi sits on one of the decks--you can see it in one of the pictures.

It becomes a question of bathrooms, really. The whole house has five, but 2 to 4 of them can only be accessed via a private bedroom. If we put too many people in the bunk room, showers could become an issue.

I will write to Tom and ask about the distribution and access to bathrooms. He wouldn't answer any questions before, but now that we've talked maybe he will. He probably just has a phone with him right now.

Tom was in the hospital when we talked Wednesday evening. I didn't want to alarm him with talk of over stuffing his house, but he does seem really nice and accommodating. He knows his business is review driven.

Ce, the air mattress idea would work best if it helped two friends not manly or thrifty enough to share a bed, share a bedroom! (hint, hint). If I had 10 bedrooms, $350 per bedroom would work (that's the $200 Kevin mentioned plus the $150 you mentioned) but I've got 5 one bed rooms and one 5 bed room. If there could be 3 people in a bedroom, one in the proper bed and two on air mattresses, it starts to really sound like it's going to work.

OK, my math is too harsh, because I think (!!) I've got $1000 from Diego for Paul's housing. Thus, I need to come up with $2500 more. Does this make sense?

As for which room jocelyn and I will take, I will leave that up to jocelyn. So Jocelyn and I are definitely in.

Let's drop trying to get the extra days at the beginning and/or the end. Once we have sealed the deal for the week, then we might re-open the idea of extra days.

For a rental car, I am now thinking of renting one of those vans that holds 15 people.

Long Time Viewer, First Time Poster...

I've been looking at this thread for a while and would like to offer another house share, I had a place reserved before this thread went up, look at it here:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/209871?checkin=03%2F12%2F2014&checkout=03%2F17%2F2014&s=588c

I have it reserved from 3/12 - 3/17 as I'll be headed to San Marcos for the PDC following the Conference.
I'm just one person so I'd be happy to share. Of course I'd have to let Antonio the owner know, it shows he'll allow up to 4 people. 1 king and 1 queen room. I'd have to double check w/him when it comes to floor space, as there appears to be plenty. I saw some folks had family situations, looks to be a nice quite space, I'll take the queen if you want the King. It looks to be about a mile or so from the resort, while the P/P may be a little high ($50 p/night @ 2-4ppl) Anthony has great reviews as a host, its close, has plenty of room, a deck, BBQ, Views, it's still cheaper than the hotels and a hot tub taboot!
Think about it and let me know if anyone's interested. Thanks!

Hi Doug! So you're the one that reserved that nice place! (I found it on my initial search of AirBnB, but it was already reserved for the weekend of the conference: by you, apparently.) The advantage you have is the shorter reservation time, so you don't have to explain to folks how they seem to be paying for days they're not using. (The disadvantage is that Paul is staying with us! Neener, neener, nee-ner. ) The place I'm considering has a price drop at the weekly rate and he's good with a Tuesday to Tuesday week.

Please feel free to post how much you need to get per room--here's hoping there's plenty of people for both of us.

I'm hoping that the casino isn't expecting a certain number of room sales in order to let us use the auditorium(s)/conference rooms for the Permaculture Voices conference. That is how some of these things operate, and I don't want Diego to get into trouble because relatively few of us are buying rooms there. I'm hoping that since it's a casino, they don't have a problem filling rooms and they haven't tied the two things. . .

1Main - 1 bed
2Loft - 2 beds
Bunk Room - 3 beds
2LL - 2 beds

I've got 8 beds from your description sounds like there may be a couple more here and there. Sound about right?

How many bathrooms? Shared/private? Is there a pool house/outdoor shower?


I'm interested in a bed/room and sharing in the other expenses (vehicles, food, etc.).
I'm open to $400-500 for a room, but I would take lower cost bunk if it's available and financial needs are met with the rooms.

-Ryan

The Beauty of the Air B&B is that you are not charged until you stay, so I can add more folks to the reservation if need be. His rates are 50/pp/p-night at 2-4 ppl. It's reserved on my card so folks can just pay their share to me to cover it when we meet. He has assured me that March is a long way off. LOL! If I get more inquiries than space I'll breach the floor space question with him.

Hi Ryan, yes, there are 5 bedrooms with one bed each, and then the maybe 30 x 35 "bunk room" that is over the garage, on the same level as the loft rooms. This room has 1 king, 1 queen (could be a futon), 4 twin beds, also an air mattress. I think. That would add up to 10 and that's what Tom says the room will sleep. This bunk room has a big television, I think it has some sort of video game thing or even a pinball machine--I can't recall, it didn't make it into my notes. Anyway, it's a big room, but I don't know about access to bathrooms. I still need to write and ask about this.

If I have Paul and Jocelyn at $500 each, plus Tomas at $500, me at $500, plus Cameron, Kevin and Ce (sorry dude, I'm just running numbers here) at $200 we've gotten to, um, $2600 with 7 people. We would need 5 more people at $200 to get to $3600, and that gives us $200 towards food. (We will need more than $200 to feed a big group "better than organic" meat heavy food, but anyway, let's keep figuring. . . )

If Kevin and Ce share a room (one on the floor), then that's 4 of 5 private rooms accounted for, so we'd need another two people at $200 each who could share a room, plus 3 more people in the bunk house (again, couples would be helpful here or else we're talking camping mattresses on the floor). Now, if we can get our numbers up, then it makes sense that people who are on the floor pay less than people in beds, so there will be options for people who have a budget of $150. Well, except for the whole food thing. This really is a numbers game. If you know someone who is going to this conference, please refer them here. Diego, don't do this unless you are sure the casino doesn't care--I don't want to cause trouble.

I know there are people coming to this conference who would love to have meals and extra jawboning time with the Duke of Permaculture, we just need to find a few more of those people. I am not interested in 30 people paying $100 each, as I see myself doing some cooking and I'm not a professional cook.

Julia, I'll offer $300 for the bed in one of the bedrooms if Ce is OK with paying $150 for floor space for his air mattress. That's get you $450 for one of the single bedrooms.

Kevin, you are a gentleman and a scholar and I will stop impugning your manliness now.

That wasn't so tough.
Like herding cats isn't it?

If the guy with the house has a 10 day rate, I would like to hear it.

I know that me, jocelyn and bart will be staying in the area for one more day than the 7 days you have scheduled (but we could move to something smaller and cheaper). And I know that I would like two more days before what you have scheduled - if the price is good.

If the 10 day rate is good, then I would like to nail it down.

As is: Julia, I think it would be great if you grab the house. And if you have spots available, let me know and I will tell the 14,400 people on the daily-ish email. And if we have the full 10 days, I could see if there are people that want to make a little micro vacation out of it (which is sorta what i am trying to do).

Both my friend Lise and I are interested in staying at the house, we are friends and could share a room, what is the bed sizes in the available room? we could pay 200 each or would it be more?

I tried calling the owner tonight but had to leave a voice mail. I'm trying to find out more about the bathrooms, specifically, how many bathrooms have "public access," meaning, you don't have to walk through someone's sleeping space to get to them.

You can see multiple pictures of this house here: http://www.vrbo.com/418080

I've had a PM from another speaker who can take one of the private rooms, so it's looking like this will be a go. I'm sure we'll end up with many people who want in and won't fit! I need to hear from Tom again, but the next time we speak I will start the process of nailing down this reservation. I'm going to need deposits from people in order to reserve them a space in the house. I think $50 will work, maybe more for the private rooms. I will share more as I learn it. I did ask about a 10 day price, explaining that $421 a day wasn't going to work because it was likely to be a small number of people. Tom did mention that he is a member of a country club with very nice guest rooms, and he can get somebody in to one of those rooms for $80-$90/night, so that might be an option if you wanted to stay in the area.

Ok thanks for this. If there is room in the bunkhouse area we will consider that, are any of those spaces still available?

Hello all,

I was really hoping for something like this, nice work!

I would very much like to join in the venture if there is a space. I'm a chef and urban permaculture geek living in Berkeley. I will be single at the voices conference and was hating the idea of a hotel. I am willing to take a bunk bed, a spot on the floor or pitch a tent outside.

As a professional cook, I am more than happy to help with food and kitchen duties, as well as whatever else is needed.

I would also need to coordinate transportation and would be willing to go in on a rental, etc.

So I am not sure who or how to ask, but has a house been rented? is there still a space left?

Let me know,
Seth Peterson

P.S. Also, if anyone is driving down through or flying into the Bay Area and needs a place to crash for a night on the way to voices, I've got an extra bed at my house

Julia Winter wrote: I'm going to need deposits from people in order to reserve them a space in the house.

Sounds great! Let me know where to send the dough.
I'm in at whatever level. I'm willing to buck up if necessary, but I really just need a place to sleep

Julia Winter wrote:I did ask about a 10 day price, explaining that $421 a day wasn't going to work because it was likely to be a small number of people.

So does this mean you'll be booking it for the 7 days only Tue-Tue 3/11-3/18 (last night 3/17, check out 3/18 )?

I support deposits!

I know this would come with logistical challenges, but would you offer camping on the lawn? I ask because people have asked me.

I think Julia commented earlier in the thread that the house is a view home on a rocky hillside - no camping space.

Yes, from the pictures it seems like there is no level ground anywhere. The truly adventurous who have a hammock tent could camp under the deck, maybe, but I have not asked about people over 20. I just got a response from the owner to my questions about bedrooms, beds and bathrooms:

There is an open bath and shower for the bunk room - upper floor
There is an open bathroom with tub and shower near the great room
The other three bathrooms you must walk through sleeping areas
Bunk room has king,queen futon, queen air,two twins,two twin air
One of the bedroom has a queen and a twin bed

What he means by "open" is that it has public access. What I'm not clear on now is if the two downstairs bedrooms have a jack and jill arrangement, where the bathroom is in between the two bedrooms with two doors. Questions, questions--so many possibilities.

My next question for Tom will include what it takes to nail down the reservation. I am now thinking this place is going to fill up fast.

I also support deposits!

Ce and I are in for $50 each to secure our piece of real estate. Just say how.

I too am ready to make a deposit

I'd like to be considered in, possibly with David Eggleton. We're co-presenting. I am checking with him now, but want to register my interest - sounds super fun and I'd love to mingle with such committed permies!

I'd love to join the permie house crowd, and I am happy to pay right up front when it's time to do that. My favorite would be a bedroom with a queen, but I would be willing to bunk or camp too. Thank you Julia for working it out! Please let us know what we can do to make your life easier?

Laurie

My friend Lise and I are still interested in securing space in the rented house, if theres room We are also able to make deposits or pay upfront as needed

Hoo boy, I leave this forum alone for a few hours and look what happens! You all are doing the right thing--get your name in, because this house is going to fill up. Getting your name in is step one, a deposit is step two. I think I will use paypal, but I'm not ready to pull the trigger on that yet. I am waiting on a 10-day price from Tom, and when I get that I will try to quickly decide if I can sign up for 7 night (this is pretty much for sure, now) or 10 nights.

So, people--many have said they can't stay 10 days--is there anybody other than Paul and Jocelyn that can??

Julia Winter wrote:
So, people--many have said they can't stay 10 days--is there anybody other than Paul and Jocelyn that can??

I can't stay more than the 5 days, and so..

My thought is, if you get the 10 days, Tues to Friday, then between now and March there shouldn't be too much trouble here on Permies filling the vacated rooms.

What I mean is, all us early bird who booked our flights right away have flown home. Then on Monday afternoon about 8-14 other conference attendees who've had accommodation elsewhere move in for a three day romp.

Julie, You would determine their rates based on what you get charged for the 10 day rate.

My two cents

OK, it is happening. The house will be available for permies from Sunday the 9th of March through Wednesday the 19th of March. Lodging fees are based on Saturday night occupancy. Money for food will be figured by the day, I think, and will run $20-$30 a day per person. (OK, that number is not firm--I could use help with menu planning and food procurement.)

And now for some rules and restrictions--read carefully before you decide to join us! Occupancy will be limited to 20 people at any given time: this is an issue of the septic system, also limited hot water. Camping is not happening, I'm afraid. Cars at the house are limited to 6. I believe we could leave extra cars at the casino, or Tom said there is a park-n-ride lot about a mile away that could also be used for extra cars. Paul had already mentioned renting a 15 passenger van, and we're all going to the same place, pretty much, so we should be able to deal with this via carpooling. There will not be any pets/companion animals allowed. No smoking. No freaking out the neighbors, whom we'll just assume are old and conservative. Quiet in the great room/kitchen between 9pm and 6am (there's 2000 square feet of deck for late night conversations outside). Everyone will be expected to help with food prep, food presentation and/or clean up.

I think I've finally got a handle on the distribution of beds and bathrooms. The house has three levels, and there is one "master" bedroom on each level. There is also a "public" or shared bathroom on the upper two levels, for a total of 5. All the bathrooms have tubs or showers. The main floor has one master bedroom and thus two bathrooms, one of which is permies. The downstairs is like a whole apartment, with another kitchen (he only wants us to use the fridge), another living room and dining table (which might also work for late night conversation), a master bedroom and another bedroom without an adjacent bathroom (either you get friendly with the folks in the lower level master bedroom, or you go upstairs to the public bathroom there). The upstairs has the Duke Suite, a master bedroom with an over-the-top private bathroom, another bedroom which has a queen bed and a twin bed and the bunk room, which has multiple beds, listed above. There is a public bathroom on the loft level, shared by whomever is in the bunk room and whomever is in the other single bedroom. Of course, all of these people can also go downstairs to use the bathroom on the main level. He is OK with us moving beds around as long as we put it all back before we leave, so Ce, you won't have to buy an air mattress, you can take one from the bunk room (for example).

Ok sounds good
I would like a air mattress in the bunk room please.
Just give me a number and I'll make a deposit.

Thanks

Sounds great!
One suggestion, if you use Paypal to take the deposits,
For people to send the $50-$100 deposits as Personal and GIFT.

That way money is not lost in fees. The gift option is fee free.

Or, let the deposits be sent with or without fees, then request the payment in full by check/money order, and once that payment has cleared the bank, do a Paypal refund. If it is done as an actual Refund then any fees assessed will be refunded as well.

Hope that helps.