Board Game Arena

Anybody do weekend or week-long board gaming getaways with your gaming friends / family? Have you not ever done one, but would you like to? Do you plan the games to play? If so, do you ever choose games around a central theme (or multiple themes)? How big is your gaming getaway group? Does someone from the group host? Or do you go in together on a vacation rental? If you've done vacation rentals, how do you choose / what are looking for in a vacation rental for your getaway? How far is/has your group been willing to travel?