Discounted hotel rooms are available for $139/night at the conference location:
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel *
500 Canal Street. New Orleans, LA 70130
To reserve online, go to www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/CFSC; the discount will be applied to your reservation. To reserve by phone, call (800) 325-3535 or (504) 525-2500 and tell them you will be there for the Community Food Security Coalition conference.
* The Sheraton is almost full as of 9/4/10; we are working on additional lodging options and will post them here soon.
Alternative Lodging Options
The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel is in the Central Business District, very close to the French Quarter; both neighborhoods have numerous hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and other types of lodging.
Couchsurfing.org is an online network that connects travelers with locals across the globe. Travelers can search the online database of locals who have volunteered to offer a couch or some sort of lodging. Travelers and local hosts can create profiles and rate their experiences to facilitate this traveler-host matchmaking process.
If you would like to try to find a local host on couchsurfing.org, the first thing to do is to join the site and create a profile if you do not already have one. This profile, as well referrals from other Couchsurfing.org members (Couchsurfers), can help potential hosts understand who you are, what you would be like as a guest, and whether you are trustworthy. Provide as much detail as possible on your profile. Ask your friends if they are on Couchsurfing.org, and if so, ask them to write a referral for you. If you know other conference-goers who are just joining Couchsurfing.org, you can write referrals for each other. (Try using the Bulletin Board to find other conference-goers using Couchsurfing.org.) You can also participate in activities with local Couchsurfers to build your references. Couchsurfing.org will also give you the option to verify your profile for $25 by entering a code you receive on a postcard. It can help others to know that you are trustworthy, but it is not required to use Couchsurfing.org.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the city to find a host location that is convenient. Ask your prospective host as much information as possible about what it will be like to get from their place to the conference: how close they are to downtown, how close they are to a major bus route, and how safe it is to walk in their neighborhood. (See conference transportation information.)
Finally, you will have better luck finding a host if you submit your request with as much advance notice as possible. Some hosts can accommodate guests at the last minute, but many will have already made other plans.
Lodging
Discounted hotel rooms are available for $139/night at the conference location:
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel *
500 Canal Street. New Orleans, LA 70130
To reserve online, go to www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/CFSC; the discount will be applied to your reservation. To reserve by phone, call (800) 325-3535 or (504) 525-2500 and tell them you will be there for the Community Food Security Coalition conference.
* The Sheraton is almost full as of 9/4/10; we are working on additional lodging options and will post them here soon.
Alternative Lodging Options
The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel is in the Central Business District, very close to the French Quarter; both neighborhoods have numerous hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and other types of lodging.
You can also use the Bulletin Board to find a roommate and share costs, or try Couchsurfing.org to stay with a local. See Couchsurfing tips (below) for more information.
Couchsurfing Tips
Couchsurfing.org is an online network that connects travelers with locals across the globe. Travelers can search the online database of locals who have volunteered to offer a couch or some sort of lodging. Travelers and local hosts can create profiles and rate their experiences to facilitate this traveler-host matchmaking process.
If you would like to try to find a local host on couchsurfing.org, the first thing to do is to join the site and create a profile if you do not already have one. This profile, as well referrals from other Couchsurfing.org members (Couchsurfers), can help potential hosts understand who you are, what you would be like as a guest, and whether you are trustworthy. Provide as much detail as possible on your profile. Ask your friends if they are on Couchsurfing.org, and if so, ask them to write a referral for you. If you know other conference-goers who are just joining Couchsurfing.org, you can write referrals for each other. (Try using the Bulletin Board to find other conference-goers using Couchsurfing.org.) You can also participate in activities with local Couchsurfers to build your references. Couchsurfing.org will also give you the option to verify your profile for $25 by entering a code you receive on a postcard. It can help others to know that you are trustworthy, but it is not required to use Couchsurfing.org.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the city to find a host location that is convenient. Ask your prospective host as much information as possible about what it will be like to get from their place to the conference: how close they are to downtown, how close they are to a major bus route, and how safe it is to walk in their neighborhood. (See conference transportation information.)
Finally, you will have better luck finding a host if you submit your request with as much advance notice as possible. Some hosts can accommodate guests at the last minute, but many will have already made other plans.
Happy surfing!