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So I'm hoping to go to GenCon Indy, but right now, I'm pessimistic. I can definitely get a flight, already have a badge ordered, but the hotels are pretty much completely booked. Right now the only ones available via the GenCon housing page are 8 miles out from the convention center on the loop or near the airport, and while they are cheaper than the hotels downtown, once you throw in the extra $40-50/day for cabfare to and from the con, they are nearly as expensive.
Any folk have any suggestions what to do?
Find some players from the place and try to get invited to stay at their place.
Or find some players getting there and try to share their hotel room.
In both cases, you can always offer a compensation with goodies, food, or better yet, running a game for them.
Anyway... Hotel ???
Do you mean you intend to SLEEP during a RPG convention ?!?!
Good luck ;)
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Anyway... Hotel ???
Do you mean you intend to SLEEP during a RPG convention ?!?!Good luck ;)
I'm old enough now and have been to enough cons that I know that sleep is a good thing, especially as I hope to judge Pathfinder Society at the con. I find that being well rested and in a good mood vastly improves ones DMing abilities :) In fact, I seldom schedule anything for morning slots to make sure that I'm well rested, have a chance to get a decent breakfast, and have time to do unscheduled activities (like hit the dealers or art rooms).
I've sent "feeler" e-mails to some of my friends who may be going to see what they are doing for rooms. I double checked with my sister to see if I had any family in Indy that I'm unaware of that I could intrude upon (I don't). The next likely step will be a general e-mail to some of the RPGA lists that I'm on to see if there is anyone willing to split a room (more than likely, but I prefer to room with folks I know than random folks I've maybe met only once or twice over a game table).
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So I'm hoping to go to GenCon Indy, but right now, I'm pessimistic. I can definitely get a flight, already have a badge ordered, but the hotels are pretty much completely booked. Right now the only ones available via the GenCon housing page are 8 miles out from the convention center on the loop or near the airport, and while they are cheaper than the hotels downtown, once you throw in the extra $40-50/day for cabfare to and from the con, they are nearly as expensive.
Any folk have any suggestions what to do?
I might have something for you. Working it...
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I might have something for you. Working it...So I'm hoping to go to GenCon Indy, but right now, I'm pessimistic. I can definitely get a flight, already have a badge ordered, but the hotels are pretty much completely booked. Right now the only ones available via the GenCon housing page are 8 miles out from the convention center on the loop or near the airport, and while they are cheaper than the hotels downtown, once you throw in the extra $40-50/day for cabfare to and from the con, they are nearly as expensive.
Any folk have any suggestions what to do?
Nope - sorry. I don't have anything for you. Thought I was going to be able to get a room right by the place, but it ended up being too expensive for me.
Here's something you may want to try. Rather than using the GenCon option for booking a room, go to a site like Orbitz and try the flight AND hotel option, see if you can get something you like. When I did it, University Place was available, and it was about a 15 minute walk from the center - kinda expensive however. I think I am going to end up out by the airport ...
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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You might want to actually price the cab fare - it may not be that high if the route uses the highways. Also, most likely there's other con attendees at whatever hotel you pick and you can split cabs. I had to do that my first year or two going to Gen Con back when it was in Milwaukee.
Also, I think I saw a post on the Gen Con forums travel board about WWE having a block of rooms that weekend for some wrestling package - so you might find something through there.
Also, most likely there's other con attendees at whatever hotel you pick and you can split cabs. I had to do that my first year or two going to Gen Con back when it was in Milwaukee.
Good point. Also there's sure to be others staying at the same place that may have transportation. Perhaps you just offer to chip in some $$ for gas and parking and you can share a ride. May take a little coordination, but could save a lot of money in the long run.
I just made reservations a few days ago.
There's rooms available close in at the Conrad at non-convention rate. It was going to be $259 a night coming to $1200 with tax for the four nights. And that was only a single King, so difficult to share equitably with anyone.
We (my family and I) ended up finding a convention block rate room at the Adam's Mark near the airport at $119 a night.
Ensure you check out the housing and travel forum over at the Gen Con site. There's a lot of discussion there and often people post for sharing rooms, rides, etc.
They also recommend calling the Indianapolis Conventions Visitors Bureau’s (ICVA) housing department at (317) 684-2573 and putting your name on the waiting list.
Ok this is freaking me out.
I have never been to the Gen Con Indy but all the rooms are booked up now!?! Is that that many of us or is there less room then there was at Milwaukee? I was at Milwaukee several times and 3 of the 4 I was right down town and walking distance to the event, sometimes a good 20 min walk but totally do able. I'm not going this year but I was thinking of next year and was wondering if the rooms get filled up this way all the time?
thanks
Try the Holiday Inn. We cancelled our reservation a couple of days ago.
Ok this is freaking me out.
I have never been to the Gen Con Indy but all the rooms are booked up now!?! Is that that many of us or is there less room then there was at Milwaukee? I was at Milwaukee several times and 3 of the 4 I was right down town and walking distance to the event, sometimes a good 20 min walk but totally do able. I'm not going this year but I was thinking of next year and was wondering if the rooms get filled up this way all the time?
thanks
Yeah, actually GenCon Indy is so big.. it's actually outgrowing the convention center. I think the attendence last year was somewhere between 30 and 40 thousand.
Who knows for this year.. I'm just glad I'm local
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Ok this is freaking me out.
I have never been to the Gen Con Indy but all the rooms are booked up now!?! Is that that many of us or is there less room then there was at Milwaukee? I was at Milwaukee several times and 3 of the 4 I was right down town and walking distance to the event, sometimes a good 20 min walk but totally do able. I'm not going this year but I was thinking of next year and was wondering if the rooms get filled up this way all the time?
thanks
Indy has more hotel rooms within walking distance to the convention center (and nicer hotels - though that does make them a bit pricier) than Milwaukee does. The problem is that pretty much all of the rooms sell out in the first day or two that they're available, which is in February. This is no different than in Milwaukee. You can still get rooms are the further hotels, but not within 10 blocks or so of the convention center.
Parking is also more in Indy than in Milwaukee - if you park downtown it's about $18-20 per day - if you can find a space, so get in early if you plan on that.
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I do not do the cabfare thing. I just rented a car last year. Stayed out by the airport and drove in. If you get there fairly early there is no problem parking behind the convention center and if you are later than park a couple of blocks down the street. Parking was not that bad. I find it my preferred method if I am not staying right downtown.