Ah, the reason I could get the reservations was because I was sneaky and also got a room for the night of Tuesday, otherwise then yes, I had no rooms available for the Wednesday through Sunday hotel reservation.

Daemar:

Ah, the reason I could get the reservations was because I was sneaky and also got a room for the night of Tuesday, otherwise then yes, I had no rooms available for the Wednesday through Sunday hotel reservation.

Well that is interesting.  I just checked it and couldn't get Tues-Sun either so I changed it to Tues-Mon and it works. 

just out of curisoity which hotel and for which nights?

 

Also how much did you get it for?  I am looking at the marriott.

I have two different reservations for the short term. They are here until I can see the Gencon rates and/or confirm if my friends are traveling with me or not again this year. Since I just like to be prepared, I have the following:
Check in Tuesday Aug 14, Check out Sunday August 19
Hilton Homewood Suites (I stayed here last year)
179.99 the first two nights
239.99 the latter three
Last year they charged me the cheaper rate for the entire stay interestingly enough as opposed to changing the rates. And of course that room is split among the six of us as it comes with cooking abilities, a free breakfast, two queen beds and a pull-out queen sleeper couch. The con is all of three or four blocks away.

Check in Tuesday Aug 14, Check out Sunday August 19
Hampton Inn Downtown
139.99 a night for all five nights. It seemed not bad for being fairly close, about as far as the other hotel, unless I am mistaken and google maps is. maybe even a block closer. Of course this is just for one or two people.

Hope this helps.

thanks for the info.  I have heard good things about the homewood suites

Daemar:

Hilton Homewood Suites (I stayed here last year)
179.99 the first two nights
239.99 the latter three
Last year they charged me the cheaper rate for the entire stay interestingly enough as opposed to changing the rates. And of course that room is split among the six of us as it comes with cooking abilities, a free breakfast, two queen beds and a pull-out queen sleeper couch. The con is all of three or four blocks away.

Check in Tuesday Aug 14, Check out Sunday August 19
Hampton Inn Downtown
139.99 a night for all five nights. It seemed not bad for being fairly close, about as far as the other hotel, unless I am mistaken and google maps is. maybe even a block closer. Of course this is just for one or two people.

Hope this helps.

 You got a parking rate on these, by chance?

For the Homewood I know that it was 20 if you valet it. However there is also a garage next to the homewood which is something like 18 a day. However, if you feel dishonest by chance and you lose your ticket you can more or less be in there for multiple days and pay the one day price.

The Hampton might be close by to the same garage but I don't know. However the parking there is 12 a day.

Any other questions on this stuff, I'd be more then happy to try and answer them, albeit my experience is only with the Homewood Suites which opened this past August.

Hampton parking is cheaper but the sooner you arrive the closer the parking is by a block or so... or if later then parking lot is six blocks away.

That's what I found out.

Last year I parked at the long-term lot at the airport.  $9 a day for six days worked out pretty well.  I had a ride there and back but even if you took a cab to the airport (or say, a hotel shuttle), it can't be beat.

All I know about reservations for next year is I am good to go. Got a corner room on one of the lower floors at the Hilton facing the art gallery above the road (Picked up the free Wi-Fi signal this year). Was practically reserved before we checked out. Not the cheapest hotel to split between two people but with one morning person and one night owl it was better then the airport.

The randomness of the GenCon block is something I would rather avoid. I like knowing where my room will be.

Congrats on the killer room.  I hope I get a good room for me and the buds!

I would suggest confirming those reservations every few months.  I made 2006 reservations before I checked out from 2005 Gen Con and when I checked on them about 10 months later, they had disappeared from the system.

Braelun:

I would suggest confirming those reservations every few months.  I made 2006 reservations before I checked out from 2005 Gen Con and when I checked on them about 10 months later, they had disappeared from the system.

I've had issues with hotels in the past. I would also strongly suggest that you request an e-mail or paper confirmation. Make sure before you travel you always have a copy of the reservation confirmation. I've had times where they just forgot to change something in the computer system which led to an issue over which days my family was staying somewhere and led to a cancelling of reservations. So just be careful and always carry proof. Humans operating computers are prone to err.