Hotels can be either your haven from the chaos from the crazy running back and forth from a day of "convention trecking" or possibly your biggest headache of the entire trip. For most first-time cons, it could also be the first time that they ever stayed at a hotel by them selfs or with a group of strangers. Some people might be discouraged to not go at all because it seems so intimadating. Even though Hotels can sometimes be "persnickety" about policy and price, it is sometimes nessesary to find a room to even attend. Although that should not stop you from meeting Terra Strong or showcase your art for all to see. Here are a few tips to make your stay not only easier but also enjoyable experience.
Tip #1: Plan Ahead
A very common mistake I hear about with attending Pony Conventions is that they don't book their hotel room until the very last minute. Now, it is a very common for people to check-in at hotel rooms without a reservation ,but with a big weekend long event such as Trotcon, it is almost impossible to find a room at last minute. It requires planning and commitment to stay because most of these conventions are being held at a hotel.
So the best thing to do is to check out the convention websites. For a big event, such as Trotcon, they have all the information you need to find a place to stay and much more. They also have forums on many topics about hotels and past experiences with those hotels. You can also check with the hotel website hosting the con to get more info and to book your room. Its also a good idea to check hotel reviews on Expidia, Hotwire, or any other review site to see if it is worth it to stay at the hotel where the convention is being held or if you need to go off-site.
Tip #2: Budget for your trip.
Purchasing a room to stay is not really the same as purchasing a plush. Your paying for a service to not only stay and sleep in the room; but your also encouraged to eat there bath there, use there internet, ect. If you add up all the other services that I mentioned before, your hotel Bill could be to big for your wallet to chew.
So when planning for your trip, take a look at the prices of not only the room, but also the prices for the hotel resturant, amenities and shops. Half the time, you can find cheaper and more effective hygiene products and food items outside of the hotel. You can also bring your own snacks and food from home to pack for the weekend. Just make sure you use the mini fridge to keep your perishable food items cold.
Tip #3: Sharing your room with friends or other people
It could really get super expensive staying in a single room and sometimes its not really as fun staying by yourself in a hotel room, waiting for the con doors to open. A new method I heard about, that probably has been used for centuries, was to share a room with either a dear freind or with a stranger that may or may not have a healthy obsesstion with the My Little Pony franchise. With the internet booming in the mid 2000's, it bacame more common practice for people to share rooms that they met over the internet and save some mony by sleeping on the floor.
For this situation, I would perfer to go who you know. It could be a great bonding experience with your friend, spouse, partner or signifigent other to experience something new. If you are going with people that you met over the internet, its best to meet with the person face-to-face first before agreeing to stay in the same room. They may have different needs from someone else and its best to meet with them and plan how to stay (as well as pay) through out your entire weekend.
Tip #4: Hotels don't have any rooms to book? Find an alternitive.
What happens when the hotel that the convention is hosting is completely book or if you don't have a big enough budget to stay there? In big cities like Chicago, New York or any other city, there are tons of hotels to stay at for any budget. They could be 5 star resorts or simple place to stay, that is just a few blocks away from the con. Plus, a lot of small hotels could give you a better deal because of a room that has not been taken up yet.
As many other hotels, take a look around on the internet for available hotels around the area. You can also check out some "boutique hotels" for deals and to make your stay a quite haven to recharge your battery's. They are also hostels that would be perfect for someone with a super low budget. Thay are simular to hotel's in terms of service but the are designed more like dorm rooms and doesn't really have all the amenities. You could also be Bed and Breakfastes for a more "homey" feel and better on the wallet but they can be pretty far from the convention center depending on where its located. A good rule of thumb to finding a good alternative place to stay is to look for a place that is 10-20 minutes away from the convention center by use of public transit.
Tip #5: Actually Enjoy Your Stay
Countless times, I have heard people burning out from a weekend convention because they spend 90% of the weekend at the convention itself and not resting at the room to recharge. Even though you are there for the con, it's also important to rest and recharge for the next best thing.
I understand if you want to "see everything and meet with everyone and enjoy every little thing", but sometimes you just need to rest in between. It could get tiring with a crowded room for hours at a time and you may not be able to enjoy everything if your too tired. The hotels are there because to is place to rest up and get ready for the next big thing.
What I like to do on a trip is that ,after a relaxing lunch, I go back to the hotel and take a quick nap (or in Mexico, a siesta) before going back down for more exploring. You can also just hang back and read or just watch some episode of My Little Pony: Freindship is Magic to chill for a bit.
If you think about it, sometimes its better to take good things in small and appreciative bites. Hope you enjoy your stay and I bid you a-do.
Posted with Blogsy
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