So, I got tickets for San Diego Comic Con... Now, where to stay?

[LeeH]

Getting tickets to SD Comic Con is like winning the geek lottery. I really didn't expect that I'd maneuver through all of the hoops and actually be able to buy tickets. The stars aligned and I was able to successfully buy two tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My daughter was thrilled.

Now, comes the REALLY hard part - Finding a place to stay. They actually have something like a lottery that involves picking your 6 hotel choices and typing as quickly as you can to submit the form as fast as possible. I'd love to be able to stay in one of the hotels that are within walking distance to the convention center, but may break down and get one near the airport just to be sure we have a place. They have regular shuttles that circulate between the hotels and convention center.

Anyone have any experience with this? Or, better yet, does anyone own a boat that sleeps 2 in the marina next to the convention center that they're not using July 22, 23, 24th?

[Arizona_928]

presidential suite at the hilton in gas lamp.

[John Rogers]

I would get reservations now but no matter where you stay the price per night is about double the normal cost! The closer you are to the convention center, the higher the cost. I would suggest getting a map of San Diego and find the trolley lines and then look at hotels that are within walking distance as parking during that time will be a real mess. Mission Valley has a lot of hotels and the trolley runs through there with several stops. Good luck.

[Craig T]

Wherever you stay...Stay close to the convention center. Traffic in and out of San Diego during Comic Con is horrendous!

[rwest]

Also check out air bnb- might have somethings?

[Cajundaddy]

I like the boat idea a lot. Here you go...

Boat BNB - Welcome!

Plan "B" would be to get a hotel or condo along the trolly line so you don't have to drive into downtown.
http://www.sdmts.com/schedules-real-time-maps-and-routes/trolley

[scottmandue]

More importantly have you reserved your deadpool costume?

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

I like the boat idea a lot. Here you go...

Boat BNB - Welcome!

Plan "B" would be to get a hotel or condo along the trolly line so you don't have to drive into downtown.
Trolley | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

I've been digging, but can't find a similar website for the marina next to the convention center. I'd think there would be lots of people renting out their boats that weekend. Just not sure how to find them.

AirBnB shows a few properties, but nothing as close as to the convention center as I'd like to be at a price I'm willing to pay.

We've used AirBnB for travel before, but there some fishy ads up for properties in the vicinity of Comic Con. Recent sign ups and/or zero feedback scares me.

[Ferraripete]

stay at the westgate or the us grant.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Ferraripete

stay at the westgate or the us grant.

Most of the hotels in the area have large blocks of rooms set aside that all go into a lottery type sale. If you get a room, you get to pay $300/night plus taxes, fees, parking, etc. Which is fine, if I'm staying within walking distance to the convention center. Right now they're doing presales where the airport hotels can be purchased for $200/night, but will require a 30 minute shuttle ride to and from the Con. Of course they're pepaid, non-refundable and non-transferable.

[LeeH]

Well... we won the Comic Con ticket lottery, but lost the hotel lottery. After sweating how this would end for a week, I started following the trolley routes from the convention center. Found a Best Western 5 miles south that's right on the trolley line for... $400/night with taxes and fees! At this point, AND I'M THRILLED!

They only had a couple of rooms left. The good news is that I can cancel at no cost right up until the day before. I'll keep looking, but am just relieved to have a place. Theoretically I'm wait listed at six different hotels right by the convention center. Keeping my fingers crossed for that suite at the Hard Rock... which would cost about the same as my Best Western room!

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Well... we won the Comic Con ticket lottery, but lost the hotel lottery. After sweating how this would end for a week, I started following the trolley routes from the convention center. Found a Best Western 5 miles south that's right on the trolley line for... $400/night with taxes and fees! At this point, AND I'M THRILLED!

I hope you get some serious sq. footage at that price...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

I hope you get some serious sq. footage at that price...

Probably not... this is the equivalent to getting a hotel 5 miles from the stadium for the super bowl.

Lee, please post lots of Pic!