A Wallet-Friendly Guide to DrupalCon
DrupalCon Europe is one of the biggest and most important Drupal events that happens in the world every year. Since we, the local community, assume that you are already convinced to come to Barcelona in September, we would like to provide some tips to help you make your stay wallet-friendly. You can cherry pick any of these tips and use the ones that apply to your ideal DrupalCon experience.
Tip #1: Submit your sessions
The call for papers is closing soon! You can now submit your session proposals but the deadline is 8 June!
Presenting at DrupalCon grants you a free ticket to the event. Bear in mind that if you are co-presenting you will only get a single free ticket per session, so it is up to you to figure out how to split that among the presenters.
Another great way to contribute to the community is to become a sprint mentor. Help people making their first contributions to Drupal gives you the opportunity to get one of a few free tickets.
Tip #2: Find your lodging in advance
We have already announced the list of official hotels for this DrupalCon. All of them are really close to the convention center where the Drupal gathering will take place and just a ten minute walk away from getting your feet buried in warm sand.
These hotels are spectacular, but they might not be the most affordable accommodations you can find in Barcelona; one of the most touristy cities in the world. There are plenty of alternatives; you can join other drupalistas and share accommodation with them to reduce costs.
Tip #3: Talk to your employer in advance
Going to DrupalCons is a great learning experience, a good place to make new contacts and the right spot to find new talent. Your company can probably benefit from sending you to the event. Find the reasons why sending you is beneficial for your business and negotiate a budget with them.
All this means that when you finish reading these tips you probably want to write an email to your manager - keep your eyes peeled for our Convince Your Boss packet coming out soon.
Tip #4: Avoid the tourist traps
During DrupalCon Barcelona, "la Mercè", the biggest local holiday, will take place. There will be a lot of activities happening during that time, so plan in advance which ones that you are interested in. Mind the tourist traps; try to avoid the crowded and expensive places in the Center and instead try to find the places where the locals gather for late Spanish dinner. Food and drinks are not only delicious here, but also inexpensive.
Have a list of restaurants that you want to visit, improvisation is often more expensive. The local community is preparing a map with suggestions, so make sure to take a look at it when it is online.
Tip #5: Stay tuned to the DrupalCon announcements
DrupalCon tries to keep the required budget to attend to a minimum. Even with all these efforts there will be people that will need an extra help to attend. That is why there are grants and scholarships (hurry- the deadline is 8 June) and early bird tickets once regisration opens shortly!
The local community is also organizing discounts to help you get there (think planes, trains and public transport.) So stay tuned to make the most out of this DrupalCon and take advantage of these opportunities
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Local Communtiy Volunteer
DrupalCon Barcelona