Yo,
Wanted some honest reports from gamers on what a trip to GenCon costs for you. Every time I try to budget the trip, I get wildly different numbers. Assume I will need
Hotel room: too old and fragile for the boat people approach but I do love to walk. Literally, a good 2 mile walk is heaven for me.
Badge and entry fees: like everyone else
Food: I wouldn't want to eat out too much but if there was a costco or trader joe's nearby...
What does a beer go for?: I owe like 20 to people who will be there.
Getting some bad ideas,
BlueMax
/there is nothing as beautiful as a bad idea made to work well
Full Version: GenCon
The biggest variable is the hotel room -- how many folks would you be sharing it with, etc?
And, to be blunt, have you already got one? If not, your odds of finding one this year are pretty slim (unless you know folks from forums or something that will let you hop on board). I know in past years Indy's pretty much just plain sold out of hotel tickets, for the duration, and has done so months and months in advance.
And, to be blunt, have you already got one? If not, your odds of finding one this year are pretty slim (unless you know folks from forums or something that will let you hop on board). I know in past years Indy's pretty much just plain sold out of hotel tickets, for the duration, and has done so months and months in advance.
QUOTE (Critias @ Jul 7 2010, 08:36 AM) 
The biggest variable is the hotel room -- how many folks would you be sharing it with, etc?
And, to be blunt, have you already got one? If not, your odds of finding one this year are pretty slim (unless you know folks from forums or something that will let you hop on board). I know in past years Indy's pretty much just plain sold out of hotel tickets, for the duration, and has done so months and months in advance.
And, to be blunt, have you already got one? If not, your odds of finding one this year are pretty slim (unless you know folks from forums or something that will let you hop on board). I know in past years Indy's pretty much just plain sold out of hotel tickets, for the duration, and has done so months and months in advance.
Being on a tight budget and missing this year, I am trying to plan for the next year. Yes, our family really has to plan that far in advance for any cost over a few hundred.
BlueMax
/who misses the dot com boom
// also didn't have mouths to feed then
/// or educate
Good, just double checking. 
But yeah, that's the biggest variable AND the biggest expense, traditionally (the several years that I've got, and even counting similar experiences at Dragon*Con, etc). Find lodging, find it early, and find a few close friends to share it with.
Now, coming from California you're going to have some travel expenses, too...but to me, at least, the biggest hurdle has always been the hotel room.
But yeah, that's the biggest variable AND the biggest expense, traditionally (the several years that I've got, and even counting similar experiences at Dragon*Con, etc). Find lodging, find it early, and find a few close friends to share it with.
Now, coming from California you're going to have some travel expenses, too...but to me, at least, the biggest hurdle has always been the hotel room.
I've gone to Gencon twice before, and haven't pre-registered or pre-booked either time. A few things:
1) Gencon is the single largest gaming convention in the world, there are tens of thousands of people coming from all across the globe. At this point, anything that could be described as "convenient", "nice", or even "nearby" is long, long gone.
2) Assume all hotels in downtown Indianapolis are sold out. Assume that they sold out in March. Assume all interesting events in "Prime Time" slots are sold out, and have been for months.
Do not let these facts deter you. Adjust your expectations and plan accordingly with that in mind, and you will have loads of fun, especially if it's your first time.
What I've done both times I've gone is drive in the night before until I'm 15-20 minutes from downtown Indy, then get a hotel. Get up at 6 am (which is when I normally get up for work, admittedly), leave hotel by 7, be parked in a parking garage connected to the convention center by 7:30.
Get breakfast at whatever is open (which actually works out to "finish the bagel I got at the hotel and buy some crackers and soda from a vending machine") . Spend over an hour in the "buy badge on-site" line that will already be outside, even at 8 am. Have badge at some point between 9:30 and 10. After that, it's kill two hours until the opening ceremony. A friend from high-school got a job writing cards for the Naruto card game, so I usually hang out with him for a while (outside the Exhibit Hall - neither of us want him to get in trouble).
I do not know of any other easy way to get registered before the Exhibit Hall opens the first day. If you sleep in, you will hit rush hour traffic AND (presumably) the badge line will be larger.
It's entirely possible to spend 10-12 hours just in the Exhibit Hall (meaning at least two days), and once it's open the first day, the badge line is much shorter, so there is an alternative: You can plan on leaving the hotel at 10 or 11, find a parking spot, get in, get badge in 15-20 minutes, and enjoy. Only catch is parking is probably 1-2 miles from the convention center at this point, which will make transporting goods back to your car painful. But if you have significant difficulty getting things done in the mornings, this might be a better plan.
EDIT: heh, the point of the post is to provide Price Points, which I failed to do.
I usually stay at "decent" hotels, meaning: 1) a clean room (no funky smells or stains) 2) in a good building (well-appointed lobby and rooms connected by a proper hallway instead of opening to the outside) 3) with basic amenities (meaning continental breakfast and wireless). I know from extensive experience traveling for my work that a room like this is typically in the 90-110 dollar range (for outside the city, mind), though for business the rate is usually 80-85; unfortunately, getting that rate requires a large corporation nearby to provide significant volume, and you would need to know the name to get the rate.
You can go cheaper on the hotel, but the quality drops off very quickly. Lowering the price by 20 bucks a night results in dirty rooms, beds with odd stains on them, AC/heat that doesn't work properly, bad wireless, and a "less inviting" location (meaning a place that you are not entirely comfortable leaving a decent car overnight). You can still do it, if you take all of your stuff into the room at night and with you in the car when you go to the Con, but it's not nearly as much fun.
Apparently, you are coming from California?
If that's the case, air-fare is going to be your biggest expense - BUY YOUR TICKET RIGHT NOW before he rate goes higher. Bring a second suitcase, and pack a duffel bag in case you need even more room - put your clothing in the duffel bag if you end up needing said space, and put the books/minis/etc in the suitcases.
Assuming you are going to be in Indy for at least 3 days (counting arriving late at night as a day), you are going to be better off renting a car and driving out of town for 10-15 minutes to find a good-but-not-overpriced hotel. This will be several times cheaper than renting a cab to and from the airport and paying 50% more for a room that is both downtown and available at the last minute - hotels charge more for both of those because they can.
The car rental runs 65-ish dollars, plus 20 dollars a day and millage. A twenty minute cab ride (from the airport to a hotel downtown) will cost 50 dollars. The downtown hotel rooms will cost more for the same level of comfort, and there's a limit to how low you can drop the price point - the really cheap and dingy hotels simply don't exist near any proper downtown tourist destination these days.
In either event, food pricing is pretty standard - for a convention hall or other tourist attraction. If you are unsure what that means, think "State Fair" or "Oktoberfest" or "Cart Vendors during 4th of July" prices, though the food will be better quality (but still fast food). Or hit a Grocery store and pack food in - make sure this is allowed by the rules (the convention center should be fine, but you might get blocked at the exhibit hall entrance, not sure)
1) Gencon is the single largest gaming convention in the world, there are tens of thousands of people coming from all across the globe. At this point, anything that could be described as "convenient", "nice", or even "nearby" is long, long gone.
2) Assume all hotels in downtown Indianapolis are sold out. Assume that they sold out in March. Assume all interesting events in "Prime Time" slots are sold out, and have been for months.
Do not let these facts deter you. Adjust your expectations and plan accordingly with that in mind, and you will have loads of fun, especially if it's your first time.
What I've done both times I've gone is drive in the night before until I'm 15-20 minutes from downtown Indy, then get a hotel. Get up at 6 am (which is when I normally get up for work, admittedly), leave hotel by 7, be parked in a parking garage connected to the convention center by 7:30.
Get breakfast at whatever is open (which actually works out to "finish the bagel I got at the hotel and buy some crackers and soda from a vending machine") . Spend over an hour in the "buy badge on-site" line that will already be outside, even at 8 am. Have badge at some point between 9:30 and 10. After that, it's kill two hours until the opening ceremony. A friend from high-school got a job writing cards for the Naruto card game, so I usually hang out with him for a while (outside the Exhibit Hall - neither of us want him to get in trouble).
I do not know of any other easy way to get registered before the Exhibit Hall opens the first day. If you sleep in, you will hit rush hour traffic AND (presumably) the badge line will be larger.
It's entirely possible to spend 10-12 hours just in the Exhibit Hall (meaning at least two days), and once it's open the first day, the badge line is much shorter, so there is an alternative: You can plan on leaving the hotel at 10 or 11, find a parking spot, get in, get badge in 15-20 minutes, and enjoy. Only catch is parking is probably 1-2 miles from the convention center at this point, which will make transporting goods back to your car painful. But if you have significant difficulty getting things done in the mornings, this might be a better plan.
EDIT: heh, the point of the post is to provide Price Points, which I failed to do.
I usually stay at "decent" hotels, meaning: 1) a clean room (no funky smells or stains) 2) in a good building (well-appointed lobby and rooms connected by a proper hallway instead of opening to the outside) 3) with basic amenities (meaning continental breakfast and wireless). I know from extensive experience traveling for my work that a room like this is typically in the 90-110 dollar range (for outside the city, mind), though for business the rate is usually 80-85; unfortunately, getting that rate requires a large corporation nearby to provide significant volume, and you would need to know the name to get the rate.
You can go cheaper on the hotel, but the quality drops off very quickly. Lowering the price by 20 bucks a night results in dirty rooms, beds with odd stains on them, AC/heat that doesn't work properly, bad wireless, and a "less inviting" location (meaning a place that you are not entirely comfortable leaving a decent car overnight). You can still do it, if you take all of your stuff into the room at night and with you in the car when you go to the Con, but it's not nearly as much fun.
Apparently, you are coming from California?
If that's the case, air-fare is going to be your biggest expense - BUY YOUR TICKET RIGHT NOW before he rate goes higher. Bring a second suitcase, and pack a duffel bag in case you need even more room - put your clothing in the duffel bag if you end up needing said space, and put the books/minis/etc in the suitcases.
Assuming you are going to be in Indy for at least 3 days (counting arriving late at night as a day), you are going to be better off renting a car and driving out of town for 10-15 minutes to find a good-but-not-overpriced hotel. This will be several times cheaper than renting a cab to and from the airport and paying 50% more for a room that is both downtown and available at the last minute - hotels charge more for both of those because they can.
The car rental runs 65-ish dollars, plus 20 dollars a day and millage. A twenty minute cab ride (from the airport to a hotel downtown) will cost 50 dollars. The downtown hotel rooms will cost more for the same level of comfort, and there's a limit to how low you can drop the price point - the really cheap and dingy hotels simply don't exist near any proper downtown tourist destination these days.
In either event, food pricing is pretty standard - for a convention hall or other tourist attraction. If you are unsure what that means, think "State Fair" or "Oktoberfest" or "Cart Vendors during 4th of July" prices, though the food will be better quality (but still fast food). Or hit a Grocery store and pack food in - make sure this is allowed by the rules (the convention center should be fine, but you might get blocked at the exhibit hall entrance, not sure)
Usually it runs about $1500 for myself and my wife as we are anti-social and don't want to share a room.
We usually get an attached hotel Wed - Sun for about $150 a night, including $20 per night for parking and local extortion, graft and hotel tax it's about $800 for the hotel.
Badges are ~ $140.
Events and generic tickets run ~ $80.
Figure on 1/2/4 if you want to run hard (shower/meals/hours of sleep), so if you eat a hearty cold breakfast in your hotel and eat cheaply from the food court at the attached mall you can squeak by on about ~$50 worth of food. We usually spend about ~$100 because we try to eat three meals and I drink a ton of soda at cons.
Random crap in the exhibit hall runs us another ~ $200.
The rest of the $1500 is random bloat.
The best place to save money is hotel expenses, get a hotel for $50 a night 8 miles away and pay ~$15 to park downtown. That will save you a bundle right there at the cost of some travel time. Look at it this way, you're already stuck paying $20 a night to park at the hotel.
We usually get an attached hotel Wed - Sun for about $150 a night, including $20 per night for parking and local extortion, graft and hotel tax it's about $800 for the hotel.
Badges are ~ $140.
Events and generic tickets run ~ $80.
Figure on 1/2/4 if you want to run hard (shower/meals/hours of sleep), so if you eat a hearty cold breakfast in your hotel and eat cheaply from the food court at the attached mall you can squeak by on about ~$50 worth of food. We usually spend about ~$100 because we try to eat three meals and I drink a ton of soda at cons.
Random crap in the exhibit hall runs us another ~ $200.
The rest of the $1500 is random bloat.
The best place to save money is hotel expenses, get a hotel for $50 a night 8 miles away and pay ~$15 to park downtown. That will save you a bundle right there at the cost of some travel time. Look at it this way, you're already stuck paying $20 a night to park at the hotel.
Thank you knightofargh.
It looks like if I plan hard and start skimming cash ... err "Allocating funds" I may be able to go next year.
Some of my game group expressed an interest and I would be willing to share a room with 2-3 of them. Perhaps that will help.
BlueMax
It looks like if I plan hard and start skimming cash ... err "Allocating funds" I may be able to go next year.
Some of my game group expressed an interest and I would be willing to share a room with 2-3 of them. Perhaps that will help.
BlueMax
ugh. I do not understand how people can stay in $50 a night hotels - the rooms are filthy and the squarish bed-shaped lump probably has blood or feces from 3-4 people on it somewhere. I've stayed in a few.
Do. Not. Want.
70 or 80 will buy a room that is poorly maintained in a facility that doesn't work super-great, but is at least semi-decent (or a good room in a place that is out of the way - ten minutes driving the right direction can reduce prices by 10 bucks a night for the same thing). I can understand giving up interior corridors, working AC, and working wireless, but basic comfort and safety? not so much.
Do. Not. Want.
70 or 80 will buy a room that is poorly maintained in a facility that doesn't work super-great, but is at least semi-decent (or a good room in a place that is out of the way - ten minutes driving the right direction can reduce prices by 10 bucks a night for the same thing). I can understand giving up interior corridors, working AC, and working wireless, but basic comfort and safety? not so much.
QUOTE (BobChuck @ Jul 8 2010, 04:26 PM)
ugh. I do not understand how people can stay in $50 a night hotels - the rooms are filthy and the squarish bed-shaped lump probably has blood or feces from 3-4 people on it somewhere. I've stayed in a few.
Do. Not. Want.
70 or 80 will buy a room that is poorly maintained in a facility that doesn't work super-great, but is at least semi-decent (or a good room in a place that is out of the way - ten minutes driving the right direction can reduce prices by 10 bucks a night for the same thing). I can understand giving up interior corridors, working AC, and working wireless, but basic comfort and safety? not so much.
Do. Not. Want.
70 or 80 will buy a room that is poorly maintained in a facility that doesn't work super-great, but is at least semi-decent (or a good room in a place that is out of the way - ten minutes driving the right direction can reduce prices by 10 bucks a night for the same thing). I can understand giving up interior corridors, working AC, and working wireless, but basic comfort and safety? not so much.
Or you find a friend who lives locally with a nice backyard you can set a tent up in...
Lets see if I can assist. Gencon is an expensive trip there's really no denying that. The onsite hotels are generalyl about 40-60$ more expensive then equivalent rooms at Origins. THis year for staying "On-site" by the loosest definition of the word I'm paying 170%+tax a night for rooms at the Crown Plaza Union Station. THis was great back when SR was in the union station but kind of stinks now that their at the Hyatt (if memory serves).
Now one little gem that I used my first trip out was staying at the Marriot Courtyard which is on the other side of the capital building from the convention center. As of 4 years ago (when I last stayed there) they were not part of the gencon block and had competitive rates late in season. It is a bit of a walk to the convention center proper but the rooms have a fridge and other amenities for storing sandwhich fixings.
Personally one of my biggest annoyances with Gencon is the food situation. The closest "reasonably priced" solution is the food court in circle center and the subway and the noodle company that are Caddy Corner to opposite ends of the convention center. If you want to eat on the cheap your going to need to bring your own stuff. I remember theres a CVS not too far from the site if you want to buy soda and other basic supplies. Especially the all important hygene stuff, dammit people take a shower and wear deodorant, please! (Note, this is not directed at Bluemax just random people who think gamer funk is a badge of honor.
On to badges, a four day badge is going to run your about 70 bucks a person. How much events is going to run you depends on what you do. Your shadowrun events are going to run you 6 bucks (they cost 4 at Origins for comparison) the Missions Scramble will cost you 12 and on the opposite end of the spectrum a True Dungeon event (the most expensive thing I've played at) will run you 40.
My advice, room up with 2-4 people you know/trust cutting the hotel costs to something that is not bank breaking. If you must have your own room and are not willing to fork out close to a grand for that luxury you will need to stay well off site and drive in, which actually works pretty well as it drops the price of rooms by almost a hundred bucks a night. On the other hand it requires messing with parking and more time before morning events and while I'm normally very thrifty I consider an extra hour or so of sleep at a con very precious indeed.
Now one little gem that I used my first trip out was staying at the Marriot Courtyard which is on the other side of the capital building from the convention center. As of 4 years ago (when I last stayed there) they were not part of the gencon block and had competitive rates late in season. It is a bit of a walk to the convention center proper but the rooms have a fridge and other amenities for storing sandwhich fixings.
Personally one of my biggest annoyances with Gencon is the food situation. The closest "reasonably priced" solution is the food court in circle center and the subway and the noodle company that are Caddy Corner to opposite ends of the convention center. If you want to eat on the cheap your going to need to bring your own stuff. I remember theres a CVS not too far from the site if you want to buy soda and other basic supplies. Especially the all important hygene stuff, dammit people take a shower and wear deodorant, please! (Note, this is not directed at Bluemax just random people who think gamer funk is a badge of honor.
On to badges, a four day badge is going to run your about 70 bucks a person. How much events is going to run you depends on what you do. Your shadowrun events are going to run you 6 bucks (they cost 4 at Origins for comparison) the Missions Scramble will cost you 12 and on the opposite end of the spectrum a True Dungeon event (the most expensive thing I've played at) will run you 40.
My advice, room up with 2-4 people you know/trust cutting the hotel costs to something that is not bank breaking. If you must have your own room and are not willing to fork out close to a grand for that luxury you will need to stay well off site and drive in, which actually works pretty well as it drops the price of rooms by almost a hundred bucks a night. On the other hand it requires messing with parking and more time before morning events and while I'm normally very thrifty I consider an extra hour or so of sleep at a con very precious indeed.
It is worth arriving Wednesday and staying Wednesday night even with the extra costs.
Airport area hotels and driving in and parking does work out cheaper, and you lose relatively little except the convenience of dropping of those bags of dice, or offspring, in your rooms when you don't need them.
If all else fails I have relatives who live in Indy who love to host me. So the biggest cost cutter is having loving relatives who will move to Indy for you.
Airport area hotels and driving in and parking does work out cheaper, and you lose relatively little except the convenience of dropping of those bags of dice, or offspring, in your rooms when you don't need them.
If all else fails I have relatives who live in Indy who love to host me. So the biggest cost cutter is having loving relatives who will move to Indy for you.
That could be an investment, that works out well, if you visit often enough. 
Bye
Thanee
Bye
Thanee
QUOTE (BlueMax @ Jul 8 2010, 12:23 PM)
Thank you knightofargh.
It looks like if I plan hard and start skimming cash ... err "Allocating funds" I may be able to go next year.
Some of my game group expressed an interest and I would be willing to share a room with 2-3 of them. Perhaps that will help.
BlueMax
It looks like if I plan hard and start skimming cash ... err "Allocating funds" I may be able to go next year.
Some of my game group expressed an interest and I would be willing to share a room with 2-3 of them. Perhaps that will help.
BlueMax
You're welcome.
One of the best kept secrets IMHO if you are willing to split the room costs is the Canterbury. It's a bit pricey, but it's an awesome Art Deco European style hotel attached to the mall and convention center. You can probably get one of the penthouse suites (sleeps 6 to
for about 400 a night. Those are awesome rooms. My wife and I got upgraded to the penthouse one year. Nothing like a $400 to $1500 dollar room for $120 a night.In general it's affordable but not as cheap as we like to think. Registering early (January for badges, April for Events) can help spread the costs out.
QUOTE (LurkerOutThere @ Jul 8 2010, 12:57 PM)
The closest "reasonably priced" solution is the food court in circle center and the subway and the noodle company that are Caddy Corner to opposite ends of the convention center. If you want to eat on the cheap your going to need to bring your own stuff.
I don't love the state of restaurants in Indy, but I think you're operating on a "cheap" definition of "reasonably priced" -- there are plenty of places nearby that you can eat for 10-20 bucks a person.
QUOTE (Adam @ Jul 8 2010, 02:06 PM)
I don't love the state of restaurants in Indy, but I think you're operating on a "cheap" definition of "reasonably priced" -- there are plenty of places nearby that you can eat for 10-20 bucks a person.
This range would be fine for one meal a day. The rest of the time, I would just live out of my bag.
And compared to where I live, it sounds cheap...
BlueMax
Me and some friends of mine have been to GenCon every year for the last 5 or 6 years. The biggest expense for us is without question the hotel room. However, for expensive as it is, we like staying downtown in the middle of all the action. Extremely frustrating to drive in and out all the time. Although driving in and out you might be able to save a few on parking, but in the end you are going to get raped in parking fees. Gotta love the big city right?
Dunno where you are coming from, but we are fortunate enough to live within 250 miles of the Con, so we just pile into a car and drive down. Talk about cheap travel expenses. Just keep the driver stocked with pop and snacks, and you get their safe everytime...
I try to save on money by bringing my own food. We usually have 2 coolers, and a mini-fridge in the room and since we are staying downtown running back and forth to restock the grub isn't all that bad. We usually eat at a restaurant maybe once every day and a half (if that makes any sense) and that runs me between 15-20 bucks w/ tip. There is a grocery store near the Con, and we'll make some last minute purchases there. Usually we hit up Sam's Club the morning we drive in, and stock up.
Last year i went on a budget of 500 bucks and had a great time (split the room with 2 other people). Was never hungry, and had so many events lined up there wasn't a point during the weekend where i had to look for something to do. Year before i went on 400, but that's only because i brewed my own beer and brought it with us. MAN you save a lot of money when you bring your own booze...
Hope to see you at the Con.
Dunno where you are coming from, but we are fortunate enough to live within 250 miles of the Con, so we just pile into a car and drive down. Talk about cheap travel expenses. Just keep the driver stocked with pop and snacks, and you get their safe everytime...
I try to save on money by bringing my own food. We usually have 2 coolers, and a mini-fridge in the room and since we are staying downtown running back and forth to restock the grub isn't all that bad. We usually eat at a restaurant maybe once every day and a half (if that makes any sense) and that runs me between 15-20 bucks w/ tip. There is a grocery store near the Con, and we'll make some last minute purchases there. Usually we hit up Sam's Club the morning we drive in, and stock up.
Last year i went on a budget of 500 bucks and had a great time (split the room with 2 other people). Was never hungry, and had so many events lined up there wasn't a point during the weekend where i had to look for something to do. Year before i went on 400, but that's only because i brewed my own beer and brought it with us. MAN you save a lot of money when you bring your own booze...
Hope to see you at the Con.
QUOTE (Adam @ Jul 8 2010, 05:06 PM)
I don't love the state of restaurants in Indy, but I think you're operating on a "cheap" definition of "reasonably priced" -- there are plenty of places nearby that you can eat for 10-20 bucks a person.
Yes i am cheap but then again it's con food.
On the other hand I've always felt that the resturaunts right around the con, the brewery's and stuff are basically selling overpriced crap. I don't mind spending 10-20 a person for good food, not for what's available around the con center in Indy. If anyone has any recommendations I'd take them but until then at least at a fast food chain like Subway or Noodle Company my expectations are set about right walking in the door.
It can really cut down on costs if you bring your own food. My buddies and I usually pack a lunch and a small cooler full of snacks to get us through the day and it's much, much cheaper than eating out all the time. Does it take some prep work, absolutely. And there is always Subway at the mall food court, which is in easy walking distance. Left overs go into the cooler for later.
Traditionally, I've brought peanut butter, jelly, white bread, and MRE's. I toss an MRE in my backpack (since I'm already carrying one full of gaming nonsense) for lunch, eat a PB&J and/or a continental breakfast at my hotel...and only buy one meal a day, dinner.
Also, a case of bottled water can go a long way towards helping stave off con sore throats, headaches, etc.
Also, a case of bottled water can go a long way towards helping stave off con sore throats, headaches, etc.
Or, you could just bring a water bottle and re-fill it when needed. Water is free.
Also, if you want to save money, never, every buy food or drink at the convention center. The prices are exorbitant, and whatever it is you could possibly want can be found for half to a third of the price in a block or two.
If you need to get to a costco or a grocery store, there aren't any that I frequent in downtown proper. But, the burbclaves are flush with them within a fifteen minute drive. And, if anyone here does costuming or any kind of craft, the fabric and crafting stores are in the same area. I'm going to assume that everyone here can use Google to find them.
Also, if you want to save money, never, every buy food or drink at the convention center. The prices are exorbitant, and whatever it is you could possibly want can be found for half to a third of the price in a block or two.
If you need to get to a costco or a grocery store, there aren't any that I frequent in downtown proper. But, the burbclaves are flush with them within a fifteen minute drive. And, if anyone here does costuming or any kind of craft, the fabric and crafting stores are in the same area. I'm going to assume that everyone here can use Google to find them.
At Dragoncon, The wife and I saved a lot on food by backing a lot of Ready to eat stuff, Rice dishes, packets of tuna and chicken, instant oatmeal, ect. Also, we would make sure to get up early enough to raid the the continental breakfast. A couple of boiled eggs, toast PB and J, and a carton of milk makes a quick lunch while runinng around. We carried water bottles and filled them up at the water stations. We spent a whole week in Atlanta,including the Con and spent a little over 500 bucks + travel and lodging. aprox 1500 for the whole trip wasn't real bad. I would have liked a little more to spend in the vendor rooms but we had a blast.
Hotel room is indeed the biggest expanse. It's about 200$-250$ per night for a downtown hotel, so about 1000$ with taxes.
I like to arrive early to GenCon (Wednesday). It allows me to get my badge at will call quickly and without hassle.
I like to arrive early to GenCon (Wednesday). It allows me to get my badge at will call quickly and without hassle.
QUOTE (AStarshipforAnts @ Jul 10 2010, 05:34 PM)
If you need to get to a costco or a grocery store, there aren't any that I frequent in downtown proper. But, the burbclaves are flush with them within a fifteen minute drive. And, if anyone here does costuming or any kind of craft, the fabric and crafting stores are in the same area. I'm going to assume that everyone here can use Google to find them.
Everything is within walking distance in downtown Indianapolis. There is a City Market next to the City-County Building on Delaware Street four blocks east from the Convention Center. Reasonably priced and fresh food.
Massachusetts Ave. also has great bars. I recommend McNiven's, the Chatterbox, and the Rathskellar. If you have transport and like to hang with the teeny-bopper college kids truck up to the Broad Ripple Village for clubbing and drunk sorority girls.
My wife and I typically stay at a Bed and Breakfast, there's several within a mile or two of downtown. This is the one that we are staying at this year, and it's $92 a night. And they still have a room available for the four days of the Con. The neighbor hood isn't the best, but it's not too bad.
I've always heard getting a hotel room late in the game was hard, and perhaps that's true if you're looking at the Gen Con sponsored rooms but a friend of mine and I snagged a room for 50 bucks a night, and it's 4 miles I think from the center. I never saw the point in dropping big bucks on a room just to be right at the center. Parking might be a bitch, but I'm willing to chance it.
We snagged our room just a week ago now. Used Price Line.
We snagged our room just a week ago now. Used Price Line.
Paul: For me it's the convenience factor, especially since I'm A) usually running things, B) Wanting t hang with friends, and C) a gimp who needs to go back and unwind at least once partway through the day (and usually shower a second time).
Being able to dash back up to your room for books or dice or whatever, or dropping your stuff off before going out to dinner is wonderful. Havinga central, close place to go back to in the evening to just hang out, also wonderful. A shower after I've been walking and demoing and sweating for 10 hours? Wonderful for everyone around me
I've stayed offsite once or twice, back in the Milwaukee days. Never again.
Bull
Being able to dash back up to your room for books or dice or whatever, or dropping your stuff off before going out to dinner is wonderful. Havinga central, close place to go back to in the evening to just hang out, also wonderful. A shower after I've been walking and demoing and sweating for 10 hours? Wonderful for everyone around me
I've stayed offsite once or twice, back in the Milwaukee days. Never again.
Bull
Yeah I get it if you're running a game or even if you plan on staying the whole time-it's certainly convenient.
QUOTE (Paul @ Jul 20 2010, 10:14 PM)
Parking might be a bitch, but I'm willing to chance it.
It's easy. Either use one of the Circle Center underground shopping mall lots during the weekdays as they're cheap and just park near the State Capitol building on the weekend when parking is free.
Well I guess karma is on my side. Maybe this will make up for a week of people trying to kill me and each other. Time off from work will be good.
QUOTE (Wesley Street @ Jul 22 2010, 10:45 AM)
It's easy. Either use one of the Circle Center underground shopping mall lots during the weekdays as they're cheap and just park near the State Capitol building on the weekend when parking is free.
You bastard! I try to keep that underground parking garage a secret so that it will remain a good place to park.
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