California - Newbie Alert! Comic Con Hotel Reservation Help for San Diego

Hello everyone! I am new and please forgive my inexperience on the site first off. My husband and I will be attending Comic Con in San Diego, CA this July 23rd & 24th checking out on the 25th. Would love some help on getting the best rate for hotels rather close to the Convention Center as my husband has multiple costume changes and 4 large totes to haul.

TIA for any and all help :)

Welcome to Flyertalk, missmichelle01
I am moving this to the FT California Forum for discussion
(Travel & Dining>United States>California)
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

ComicCon usually has negotiated convention rates, so my first recommendation would be check their website. Also, given how many people go, if you find something within your budget & the hotel is available, book it right away. Don't wait thinking it will be available later. Also, I know an FTer, sea_tigger, goes each year, so you might want to send him a Private Message or email & ask him for input. Have fun - and Welcome to FT! Cheers.

I recently stayed at the new Hilton a few paces from the Convention Center for $109/night (AAA). Spacious hotels with comfortable rooms.

Within close walking distance you also have the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, Omni, Hilton Gaslamp Quarter, and Hard Rock Hotel. I stayed at the Omni last year for $89 (purchased from priceline) and found the rooms to be small.

BTW, welcome to FT missmichelle01!

Fair warning - during ComicCon, the prices that Matthew mentions will be much higher. The convention basically takes over San Diego & when you combine that with regular summer travelers, rates are quite high. So do check the negotiated convention rates. Also, if you're savvy w/ Priceline you might want to try that. I'm not, so I'd probably end up in Tijuana ;) :D

Cheers.

Fair warning - during ComicCon, the prices that Matthew mentions will be much higher. The convention basically takes over San Diego & when you combine that with regular summer travelers, rates are quite high. So do check the negotiated convention rates. Also, if you're savvy w/ Priceline you might want to try that. I'm not, so I'd probably end up in Tijuana ;) :D

Cheers.

or National City at least! :D

You may want to add the following links to your bookmarks:

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_hotel.shtml

Although there is no data as of yet, they will no doubt be adding the "official" hotel list soon.

As an example of the high rates mentioned above, the new San Diego Hilton Bayfront (adjacent to the Convention Center) is currently quoting rates of $539 per night (the Omni is sold out).

You may want to add the following links to your bookmarks:

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_hotel.shtml

Although there is no data as of yet, they will no doubt be adding the "official" hotel list soon.

As an example of the high rates mentioned above, the new San Diego Hilton Bayfront (adjacent to the Convention Center) is currently quoting rates of $539 per night (the Omni is sold out).

Ouch. I guess the comic-con is more popular than the auto show last month (going on while I was in town). As I mentioned above, I had no trouble getting a $109 room at the Hilton Bayfront.

You may want to add the following links to your bookmarks:

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_hotel.shtmlThe 'official' ComicCon hotel page has been updated - bookings will start on March 19th (the link remains the same).

i am trying to plan too and i've already started looking and i know that the prices are going to be raised extremely but i'm curious, has anyone ever used the hotel reservation line that is offered through the convention?? i'm just wondering how much would i be saving or is it just best to book now and just risk it.

i am trying to plan too and i've already started looking and i know that the prices are going to be raised extremely but i'm curious, has anyone ever used the hotel reservation line that is offered through the convention?? i'm just wondering how much would i be saving or is it just best to book now and just risk it.

Usually convention prices through their designated agents are less than if you book through the hotel sites. Having said that, what you can do is book through a hotel site (refundable rate) & then check on the date that ComicCon housing opens up (March 13th?) to see if your hotel of choice is available at a lesser rate. If it is, then book it. Do not wait thinking you can catch it later. It will be gone. I've done too many conventions & know that waiting costs $$. But if your rate beats theirs, then stick w/ whatever you booked through the hotel site (or Expedia or PL etc).

BTW - some of the reason the negotiated rate has to be booked through the designated 800#/email is that the convention gets a cut of the booking. Some hotels if you mention the convention they'll tell you to go through the agent because that's how their contract w/ the convention goes.

Cheers.

i am trying to plan too and i've already started looking and i know that the prices are going to be raised extremely but i'm curious, has anyone ever used the hotel reservation line that is offered through the convention?? i'm just wondering how much would i be saving or is it just best to book now and just risk it.

Welcome to FT smileygirl!

I think your best bet, like Sharon said, is to put something on hold right now--just case. You can always cancel.

thanks for the tip. however, the hotels that i've looked at seemed to be all non refundable. just great! now what?? i am thinking of just waiting it out but i'm scared of finding out later the hotel will be completely booked. oh i just don't know!!

Well, I've done some of the leg work for you. I've been trying all of the hotels near the Convention Center - there's a great map and list at http://www.visitsandiego.com/attendees/hotels_downtown.cfm - and they all have a large block set aside for Comic-Con Travel and Housing and the rest of the rooms have been sold out since the fall.

If you want the discounted Comic-Con rate you must reserve through the Travel Desk on March 16th. Last year all the rooms were gone within an hour & a half, even those out in the boonies. And people rarely give up rooms at the last minute, instead they trade them off to friends who need a last-minute room.

I did find one hotel that still had rooms, the Hilton Bayside, which is right next to the Convention Center and just opened last summer. (Which might be why the Comic-Con hadn't resereved a block of rooms there yet.) But the rates were $350+ per night + $21 parking.

The Hard Rock Hotel, right across the street is adding names to a waiting list, but it's already a long list and rooms there usually start at $400.

The other option you can try, if you don't need to be close, is that the orange line Trolley stops right in front of the convention center. You can find a hotel that's outside of downtown, like in Old Town or Mission Valley, but still on the trolley route and ride in each morning. You can find Trolley info here http://www.sdcommute.com . Sorry, that doesn't help with the need for costume changes.

thanks for the tip. however, the hotels that i've looked at seemed to be all non refundable. just great! now what?? i am thinking of just waiting it out but i'm scared of finding out later the hotel will be completely booked.The challenge for you and other Comic Con attendees is that there are fewer rooms in the immediate area of the Convention Center (within easy walking distance) than there are people who want them (over 100,000 people total attend the show).

From the Comic Con Website:> NOTE: We have not been allotted enough rooms by the hotels to meet the demand. Rooms do fill up within the first few hours so you may want to book a room directly with the hotel of your choice now.

One alternative to consider is to select a hotel that is located outside of the Convention Center area but that is close to a trolley stop. One such might be a Mission Valley hotel like the Marriott Mission Valley or the Douletree Hazard Center, both of which are very close to trolley stations. The Trolley runs a special events "Red Line" during Comic Con that means you can ride direct to the Convention Center without having to transfer (twice). Of course, this only works if you are OK with not having easy access to your hotel room during the course of the day.

thanks for the tip. however, the hotels that i've looked at seemed to be all non refundable. just great! now what?? i am thinking of just waiting it out but i'm scared of finding out later the hotel will be completely booked. oh i just don't know!!

There should always be refundable rates at each of the hotels, even if they are quite a bit more expensive. I would find the (relatively) cheapest one and reserve it. Call the hotel(s) directly if you have to.

With the costume changes and 4 large totes it's going to be worth the extra money paying for a closer hotel. Your husband will be able to make his costume changes faster, be less stressed and overall it will be a much more pleasant experience.

Definitely use the comic-con rates as they will be significantly cheaper than trying to book directly with any of the local hotels. Plus, due to the of the size of comic-con, many of the local hotels won't have rooms available because they've been blocked for comic-con.

A question for anyone who has reserved a hotel off the comic con website. Do you have to pay the full price at the time of reserving(tomorrow at noon) when reserving through the comic con website? Or do you just have to put in your info and then pay in full when you get to the hotel?

Thanks to anyone who might have the answer. :)

A question for anyone who has reserved a hotel off the comic con website. Do you have to pay the full price at the time of reserving(tomorrow at noon) when reserving through the comic con website? Or do you just have to put in your info and then pay in full when you get to the hotel?

Thanks to anyone who might have the answer. :)Welcome to FlyerTalk, fofo!

This information is from the Travel Planners page (linked from the Comic Con hotel page) (emphasis mine):

These links are the only way to receive these exclusive Comic-Con 2009 benefits:

* Our low rates beat any you’ll find on the Internet or by calling the hotel directly.
* No pre-payment! You book today but don’t pay a penny until you pay the hotel directly upon your departure.
* Immediate confirmations - no waiting or wondering.
* Update or even cancel your hotel reservations with no fees or penalties.
* Descriptions, photos and maps to help you choose the perfect hotel.




http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_hotel_tp.shtml

Welcome to FlyerTalk, fofo!

This information is from the Travel Planners page (linked from the Comic Con hotel page) (emphasis mine):

These links are the only way to receive these exclusive Comic-Con 2009 benefits:

* Our low rates beat any you’ll find on the Internet or by calling the hotel directly.
* No pre-payment! You book today but don’t pay a penny until you pay the hotel directly upon your departure.
* Immediate confirmations - no waiting or wondering.
* Update or even cancel your hotel reservations with no fees or penalties.
* Descriptions, photos and maps to help you choose the perfect hotel.




http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_hotel_tp.shtml

Thanks! Very much appreciated!:)

I recommend renting a car and staying at an outlying hotel. Even with parking at the CC added to the rental it probably comes out less expensive than a room at a nearby hotel. You can get from your hotel to the CC in costume without a hassle, partake in all the events, and you will be a lot more mobile and flexible during off-hours. Although SD is very transit-friendly for SoCal, it's not Manhattan and a car will make things way easier. The Mission Valley area is only 15-20 minutes from Downtown.