We were just checking this out and yeah, they are all full up already, geez people! Let some of us catch up on our finances! I guess only people with big wallets will make it to 2009 huh? Unbelievable!

They are not full - registration for either badges or hotels (which you need a badge to book in our block) have not gone live and won't for months yet.

If you're getting a report that "hotels are full," it must be in reference to there not being any rooms left outside the Gen Con room block. Wait for registration to go live early next year and you'll be able to grab a room then. It'll be a bit of a rush, yes, but as far as I know everyone ends up getting a room somewhere.

I just found dates available for the 12th through the 16th just a few minutes ago at Westin, Hampton, and Homewood... decided to go ahead and book a double at Homewood to be safe since their prices are very close to the gencon rates. 

Um, you can still book a hotel room without being involved in that at all. You can do it early too. We just got a report back on it all being a quote "all booked", but I am glad to see that report in error. Feh, sorry folks.

Derek Guder:

They are not full - registration for either badges or hotels (which you need a badge to book in our block) have not gone live and won't for months yet.

If you're getting a report that "hotels are full," it must be in reference to there not being any rooms left outside the Gen Con room block. Wait for registration to go live early next year and you'll be able to grab a room then. It'll be a bit of a rush, yes, but as far as I know everyone ends up getting a room somewhere.

Sherilyn:

I just found dates available for the 12th through the 16th just a few minutes ago at Westin, Hampton, and Homewood... decided to go ahead and book a double at Homewood to be safe since their prices are very close to the gencon rates. 

According to the people in reservations at the Crowne Plaza, all four downtown ichotels (Candlewood, Staybridge, Crowne and Holiday Inn) are completely blocked out from Aug. 13 thru Aug 16 of 2009 due to a scheduled swimming championship and "that Gencon Star Trek convention" 

The woman I talked to couldn't tell me when they would open them back up or how many they would open because it depends on the number of rooms requested for the blocks necessary for the two events. They did hold out a handful of rooms at the Crowne asking about twice what they were this year and those were all gone within 72 hours of when reservations opened up (50 weeks prior).   I got lucky and snagged my dates the very second they came available but I didn't get what I wanted so I may throw them back after and if the better rooms open up again.

The closest one of the IHG brand (Holiday Inn Line) which shows availability is 5 miles away. This branch ranges from $99 to $189, with some others of the family being a bit lower (even less than a mile further out.) I'll have to check back later on to see if there is any availability at the close one since I might have enough points built up by next year to have the week free. I guess it's the one bonus to traveling so much lately.

Jstrthejuglr:

Yeah I was going to book the Homewood too but they raise their prices for the weekend. Hope you caught that.

Yes, I saw that.  I chose to go with the reservations I can cancel though.  I might reconsider going the pre-pay route closer to my next triple pay week... but for now I have a reasonable price (just under $1,000 after tax and it sleeps 6).  I have 5 people expected already for next year so it will work out well.

Actually I wouldn't mind paying a year in advance simply because it means I don't have to worry about saving up for that cost and will end up with more free money at the time of the con with no worries about how much I have left to spend after I pay my bill. 

Since homewood offers a full kitchen (4 place settings, oven, microwave, dishwasher and fridge) I think I might actually keep the reservation and do the prepay deal in a few months.  Being able to keep food on hand there is healthier, more convenient and would negate the extra cost of the room. 

How far away is Homewood from the convention centre?

It is just on the other side of the mall. Just south of Maryland. 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103605738831644927456.00000112c3ba83101c33f&z=15

Stormy1:

due to a scheduled swimming championship and "that Gencon Star Trek convention" 

Ahhhh, there's that fabulous GenCon PR department at work again...just like our local news on the Wednesday coverage described it as "an electronic and video game convention."  /sign

Didn't know about the '09 swimming championship, though.  Thanks for the update!

 I was just doing some checking and you can book thourgh the Westin website for $269 a night. About $120 more then the Gen Con rate was for this year.

Stormy1:

According to the people in reservations at the Crowne Plaza, all four downtown ichotels (Candlewood, Staybridge, Crowne and Holiday Inn) are completely blocked out from Aug. 13 thru Aug 16 of 2009 due to a scheduled swimming championship and "that Gencon Star Trek convention" 

The woman I talked to couldn't tell me when they would open them back up or how many they would open because it depends on the number of rooms requested for the blocks necessary for the two events. They did hold out a handful of rooms at the Crowne asking about twice what they were this year and those were all gone within 72 hours of when reservations opened up (50 weeks prior).   I got lucky and snagged my dates the very second they came available but I didn't get what I wanted so I may throw them back after and if the better rooms open up again.

That is interesting ...I had called at about 3am on a Monday and had gotten reservations at Holiday Inn. Granted I had to call like 3 different times since they kept on messing up the room type I wanted...but regardless.

Maybe this would be a good year for me to take off from attending GenCon.

 A note about the Homewood Suites. I was also very interested in them, since it seems like a great deal for the money. So, when a friend had a suite there this year, I went with him to check it out. The rooms and hotel is nice, but the area had me feeling a tad less safe than I feel around the Westin/Hyatt/Embassy Suites area, as far as being alone and female in the night.

I have stayed in the Hampton Inn and never had a problem.  I never felt unsafe in that area as a single female.  I'm not sure what made you feel uneasy.  Walking to the Embassy to me a few years ago seemed about the same experience was walking to the Hampton. 

 I'd just like to ask everyone to please, please not book 3 or 4 roomsfor yourself "just in case". It really makes it tough for everyone to get a room! :( Even if you're going to cancel them later, please try and keep the room reservations down (unless of course you have a ton of people who need that many rooms).

:(