The Octocon Hotel

Last year the Octocon committee experimented with moving the convention to the city centre and this year the search continued for an even better home for Octocon. After an exhaustive hunt for the best convention space possible for Octocon this year we can say to all our members that we have found the best location possible for the convention.

The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire

The Royal Marine is no stranger to Octocon and Octocon has never been more at home then when it's in Dun Laoghaire. Because Octocon has been at the Royal Marine for so many years it has essentially evolved with the hotel and so become the convention it is today. When we went looking for new places to hold Octocon nothing could quite measure up to the original home of the con in size or price.

The hotel is only 20 minutes from Dublin city centre by Dart and our U.K. attendees will be glad to know that it's situated close to the ferry port for easy access by car.

The centre of Dun Laoghaire is literally at the back of the hotel. So you won't have to go far for amenities. Tourist points of note are that the hotel is walking distance from Joyce's Tower and the Maritime Museum.

This year the Octocon committee has arranged a special attendee room rate with the hotel for the weekend of the convention.

£130 per night for a double or twin room inclusive of full Irish breakfast, service charge & VAT. £115 per night for a single room inclusive of full Irish breakfast, service charge & VAT.

To get it you must clearly state that you are a member of Octocon when you're booking your room.

All bedrooms are equipped with remote control TV, direct dial telephone, hairdryer, radio, garment press and electronic safety locks. 24-hour room service is available for those midnight snacking sessions!

The hotel can be contacted by:

Telephone +353-1-280 1911 Fax +353-1-280 1089 email: enquiries@ryan-hotels.com www: http://www.ryan-hotels.com/htm/marine_i.htm

If you find that the hotel is booked out or just beyond your budget then there are many other hotels and B&B's in the area. Our intrepid committee member Dave McRory has checked these out based on distance from The Royal Marine Hotel, and therefore the con. They are listed in order, from the closest to the furthest. All the prices listed here are as quoted in the current "Dublin Accommodation Guide 2001", but it would be best to check before reserving anything.

Kingston Hotel, Adelaide Road, Dun Laoghaire.

This place couldn't be closer if it tried. It's about 4 minutes walk from the R.M.H., and although it's the most expensive of the ones listed here, it's about half the price of the R.M.H. and with 50 available rooms is ideal for larger groups who wish to stay together.

Rates - £42.50 to £45.00 p.p.s. & £59.00 to £64.00 single.

Telephone +353-1-280 1810 Fax +353-1-280 1237 email: reserv@kingstonhotel.ie

The Portview Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire.

The classic alternative Octocon accommodation, and it's a toss-up as to whether it or the Kingston is the closest.

Rates - (Not available at time of survey).

Telephone +353-1-280 1663 Fax +353-1-280 0447 email: portview@clubi.ie

Ariemond, 47 Mulgrave Street, Dun Laoghaire.

Next one of our selection, and like most of the rest of our selection, is a small family-run establishment. They have 5 bedrooms (3 en-suite), so space is limited, but this is probably the best value in relation to other places to stay. It's about 7-8 minutes walk from the convention.

Rates - £17.50 to £19.50 p.p.s. & £22.00 to £28.00 single.

Des & Marie Power (Nice People) Telephone +353-1-280 1664 Fax +353-1-280 1664 email: ariemond@hotmail.com

Lynden, 2 Mulgrave Terrace, Dun Laoghaire.

2 to 3 minutes up the road from the previous entry, this place is hard to miss with the huge silverbark Birch in the front garden. They have 4 rooms (2 en-suite), and in March, when this survey was done, the place was toasty warm, so all you cold-blooded bodies take note! There is parking available.

Rates - £17.00 to £21.00 p.p.s. & £29.00 to £29.00 single.

Stephen & Maria Gavin Telephone +353-1-280 6404 Fax +353-1-230 2258 email: lynden@iol.ie

Avondale House, 3 Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.

About ten minutes from the con, the next on our list is this 6-bedroom establishment, a spacious Victorian house. They (claim to) have a web-site, but it was being worked on at the time of the survey and wasn't available to cross-reference with this list.

Rates - £20.00 p.p.s. & £30.00 single

Mrs. Patricia Gorby Telephone +353-1-280 9628 Fax +353-1-280 5764 email: lynden@iol.ie

Innisfree, 31 Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.

2 to 3 minutes up the road from the previous establishment, This Victorian house offers 6 bedrooms (4 en-suite) has a spacious lounge, and is another house for the cold-blooded!

Rates - £17.50 to £19.50 p.p.s. & £22.00 to £28.00 single.

Brendan & Mary Smith Telephone +353-1-280 5598 Fax +353-1-280 3093 email: djsmyth@clubi.ie

Ophira, 10 Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.

This is the furthest out of this list, approximately 15 minutes away from the con. Another one that is easy to find due to the big palm-type tree (not big on tree recognition!) out front. They have 5 bedrooms (4 en-suite) and they also offer secure parking.

Rates - £18.00 to £35.00 p.p.s. & £18.00 to £70.00 single.

John & Cathy O'Connor Telephone +353-1-280 0997 Fax +353-1-280 0997 email: johnandcathy@ophira.ie

That is it for all the places within 15 minutes "staggering" distance from the con. There are several other establishments within 30 minutes of the con for those with a superior sense of direction while under the "affluence of incahol". One to look into is:

Glandore House, Glandore Park, Lower Mounttown Road, Dun Laoghaire.

This place looks like a backdrop to Romeo & Juliet, built in the mid-1850's but of an older style. 12 bedrooms, all en-suite, with off-street car parking.

Rates - £35.00 to £45.00 p.p.s. & £45.00 to £60.00 single.

John & Cathy O'Connor Telephone +353-1-280 3143 Fax +353-1-280 2675 email: info@glandorehouse.com