This year HostingCon is taking place in Austin, Texas on July 19-21.

I was considering going this year, but not going to happen since my travel plans are taking me in the opposite direction during that time. Its possible next year I will go. Would be interesting to meet some of the people I chat with periodically.

Who here is going, planning to go or dreaming of going one day?

Myself and a few guys/gals from the office where planning on going this year, that said I'm hit by the same dilemma of heading to Germany/France at the same time (going to blast it around the nurburgring ring if I get half a chance ) though a few of the people in the office may be lingering around at the event

Ken may be going, but I doubt if I will now.

I hadn't planned on going - there's not much in it for me to go other than to shake hands with a few people and see the competition.

Of course, if there were people traveling from the UK, or yourself Artashes from Canada, then I might make a special trip down - but there's no plans anyway. Price is outrageous for what I'd get out of it (shake a few hands). So I'd make a trip down, hit a local bar and say hello to whoever showed up...

tend to agree and they always have when I am out of the country

Conor, price obviously depends on how much access you want. I, for one, not into seminars or speakers, so that cuts the budget by 60% right there. If I were to go, I'd pick the most basic access, lunch included, to be able to just hang out and meet some folks. To me that would be the most interesting.

I am considering going next year, would be amazing if we can just organize a party of our own, perhaps even off-site.

Actually if we go back in time, I organized the very first web hosting party (a WHT get-together) a few years back, before any of the conferences. I was impressed when roughly 20 people showed up from Canada and the United States. We had a big dinner, visited Peer1 DC and then don't really remember what happened the next day...

I was involved with a group where we had regular yearly meetups. Last time I attended was in Seattle, but it's just a group of users from a forum and we all met up for a weekend of drinks, dinner and sight seeing. 50+ people sowed from all over the world - US, Canada, UK, Thailand, Mexico - it was a blast.

Setup a golfing vacation to North Carolina (when there's no tornado or hurricane) and I'm there I wish the conferences woudl go back to Vegas as flights, hotels, food etc are a lot cheaper for everyone. While Chicago is nice, it can be limiting. At least Vegas I can make a weekend or week out of the trip.

Was in Atlanta in October I think it was - 700 people all discussing SEO, $300 for 3 days of events.

I did do hostingcon2 when it was in Vegas - but after 2 hours, I had met those I wanted to meet and wasn't interested in buying server space through other vendors

I'm all for a weekend trip - get your thinking cap on, and keep airfare prices in mind Nothing worse than spending more for the flight than you do for the rest of the time you're somewhere. $700 flight, $50/night hotel - not fun.

For those who are going, you'll love the city. I won't be going this year, but most likely the next. I had my fair share of Austin at SxSW.

Have fun for those who are going!

That's the thing, Conor, the only element of such events that is keeping me back is the airfare. While Americans can probably find a budget deal, for me that's an international flight and lack of choice to begin with. I once wanted to fly to San Fran to see a close friend of mine on a conference - the flight alone cost $2,000 - and that's for a 48 hour weekend. Don't think so.

Even the cheapest flight to Las Vegas for me costs $400 and that's if you get lucky with a deal.

I want go but too far from my place..

I'd go but unfortunately I don't got steady work to get there. Perhaps next time.