So - I was one of the lucky ones to get a ticket to Worlds in November. I've never been to Minnesota (much less the FFG Centre) before and am wondering if anyone who has been to Worlds before would have any hints or tips for someone coming over from the UK?

• Best way to get over to Roseville from the airport? Assuming Taxi's are easiest but most expensive, are hotel shuttles available?
• Aside from a stupid amount of X-Wing (I'm planning on at least one hangar bay event) what else is there to do in the area?
• Any other thoughts for a first timer?

Cheers

Mall of America is worth a visit if you get time.

I used shared airport transport, the price was very reasonable, and because of the time of year, even though it was "shared" on the trip I had back to the airport ended up being just me anyway.

The Radisson has a shuttle, but it does not go to the airport -- the airport is on the opposite side of Minneapolis/Saint Paul as the hotel.

A taxi will run you $50-60, but there are companies like SuperShuttle that cost $20 or less. It's just not a direct run.

There is a Light Rail train that will take you to downtown Minneapolis and Uber/Lyft/taxi from there, or you can take it to the 46th Street Station, then transfer to the A-Line Bus Rapid Transit that will take you to Rosedale (the big mall a half mile from the hotel). From there, you can walk, or take a #32 bus to the corner of County B2 and Cleveland Ave, then walk a block north.

The Metro Transit website is very helpful: http://www.metrotransit.org/default.aspx

• Best way to get over to Roseville from the airport? Assuming Taxi's are easiest but most expensive, are hotel shuttles available?
• Aside from a stupid amount of X-Wing (I'm planning on at least one hangar bay event) what else is there to do in the area?
• Any other thoughts for a first timer?

1. Uber taxi isn't too bad, really. Public transport around the area isn't that good - so you're best booking something like an airport shuttle or private taxi. I used Uber so much while out there; it's very difficult to get around without a car.

Edit: Between the hotel and Minneapolis, or between Minneapolis and St. Paul, etc. Not between the hotels and the venue (which is a 5-min walk).

2. Mall of America was interesting, but it's just the same shops you get everywhere else. You also get multiples of the same shop inside because the distances between them are so vast. Don't put aside more than a day for this, if you go. Other than that - there was some nice parks in/around Roseville. Downtown Minneapolis (and down by the river) was nice to look around; some nice bars and restaurants there.

3. Like you are thinking, I tried to "make a week of it" with my girlfriend who came out with me. We were surprised to find that there isn't actually that much tourist-type stuff to do in the area. We spent a whole day out in St. Paul, which is a beautiful city, but completely devoid of anything else to do. If you're staying in Roseville, be aware that you'll need to get a car pretty much everywhere; it's not a particularly pedestrian-friendly suburb and the public transportation system is a little rubbish (when compared to European ones).

Some general tips:

• Go to Walmart (15min walk from FFG's venue) and stock up on food, drinks, snacks, etc for the week to stash in your hotel room. There aren't really any corner shops or supermarkets near the venue.
• If you're wanting to do some excursions; research and plan in advance, including how to get there. Just "wandering about" looking at things wasn't a terribly productive use of time.
• Check the weather before you go. We'd been warned about the cold and snow, but Minnesota was in the middle of a heatwave when we arrived.
• FFG's gaming centre is actually quite a nice place to hang out; there's a huge selection of (free) board games to pick up and play, and the food they serve is genuinely decent. Be aware that the tables fill up really quickly though; so get there in good time if you're planning on spending a few hours there.

If you're looking for non-X-Wing stuff I would recommend Minneapolis/St.Paul's dining and drinking scene. We've got a lot of excellent restaurants and some of the best tap rooms in the country. That said, none of the good options are anywhere near walking-distance. Roseville is a first ring suburb so you'll need to travel to anything worth visiting so a rental car might be worth it if you want to explore.

The walking and biking around Minneapolis' lakes are fantastic and just a short drive will take you to Lake Superior or the headwaters of the Mississippi (both will take you a day - so really only for the week-stay option).

Last year I researched Uber and Taxi from the airport and found prices in the $60-70 range (before tip). Instead, I took the light rail into downtown (I think I got off at Government Station) and then took Uber from there. Total with tip was under $20. Takes a little longer but saving $40-50 each way seemed legit

If you are on foot, there is a shopping mall and a Wal-Mart within very reasonable walking distance. Dress warmly, there is a chance there will be snow by that time in the year. Lots of restaurants, bars, etc. within walking distance as well, and if you're a football enthusiast there are plenty of good places to watch the games on Sunday after your FFG gaming is over.

As mentioned above, go to Wal-Mart and get a case of bottled water for $5. Hydration is key.

There's a pretty good breakfast place nearby called "the Original Pancake House". You can go there and regale friends back home with stories of massive American portions.

I used lyft from the airport all the way to the center and it was only like $25 dollars. Maybe $30

Uber was in the $50 range quoted so lyft was way cheaper.

I did all of my travelling on foot, except I took the light rail out from the airport & a bus to the "nearby" mall. I wouldn't recommend trying to do all of your travelling by public transit, because the routes between the "nearby" mall and FFG HQ only run during rush hours. I had to walk from the local mall to the FFG HQ (about a mile) at about 10 or 11 at night when I got there. If I actually knew where I was going, it wouldn't have been so bad, but I had no clue, and no smartphone, so no Uber/Lyft. If my wife comes this year, I might get a rental car, but otherwise, I might just walk again from public transit (it took a little over an hour to go from the airport to the local mall, but it only cost me $4).

Thanks for the input folks - I suspect I'll be spending the vast majority of my time

a) recovering from jet lag

b) playing X-wing

But the tip about walmart is perfect - regarding the various shuttlebus', do you have to prebook, or can you just book one at the airport?

cheers!