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Comic-Con International => SDCC Housing, Parking, and Transportation => Topic started by: Angie on October 29, 2017, 06:59:12 PM

Title: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Angie on October 29, 2017, 06:59:12 PM
I possibly have 6 people going with me to SDCC this year. I was wondering if any of you had experience with having that many people in one room, what hotel you stayed at, and what type of room did you get? Or would you suggest getting 2 rooms instead?

It seems the Hard Rock has some suites with couches available, but I couldn't find any others that seemed promising.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: MickeyJack on October 29, 2017, 07:01:20 PM
Iā€™d think renting a house or apartment would be a better route to go.


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Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: geekyfamilyfriendly on October 30, 2017, 07:52:44 AM
Honestly, go to booking.com and look up whats avaiavle for your party. Do it now! Because they will start going fast, and thry are chepaest now, than they will be in a few months because open reg is going to happen by the end of the year.
I got a room for 4 and it should cost me about 1000, for 3 days, and it includes brekafast, granted my hotel is in hotel circle.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: draccy on November 03, 2017, 06:52:22 PM
I think Air B&B is your best bet to make sure that you get a place big enough for 6. For a regular hotel room it's too many people. And for the hotel lottery, you have 0 guarantee that you'll get a suite.

Or do what geekyfamilyfriendly said.

Or you can go in on the hotel lottery and put in for 2 rooms, if your party's ok with being split (and spending more money on housing).

One of my friends somehow got half of a suite at the Manchester Grand Hyatt for her 4some last year, but it wasn't planned and kind of just happened when she checked in. That space would've fit 6 people without it being claustrophobic. But, again... she didn't request it or know it was happening. The hotel must've had a cancellation or something and they split up the living room space and bedroom space, and she got the bigger living room space and rollaway beds. But you can't count on that happening.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: susanml10881 on November 06, 2017, 05:48:27 PM
With that many, you may want to look into a rental with kitchen as suggested via Airbnb or the like. Hotel may be too cramped unless you're planning to like camp out for Hall H or something most days. Hotels usually cap the number of guests too although at con they are lax on it.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Angie on November 06, 2017, 08:40:11 PM
I've been looking at air b n b and the prices are too insane. People are asking $1100 a night. I think we may end up either trying to get a suite at Hard Rock (not likely, I know) or splitting into 2 rooms.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: lilredrubi74 on November 07, 2017, 06:45:43 AM
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I've been looking at air b n b and the prices are too insane. People are asking $1100 a night. I think we may end up either trying to get a suite at Hard Rock (not likely, I know) or splitting into 2 rooms.
Have you looked at HomeAway? Sometimes the rates are more realistic on there.


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Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Violet on November 07, 2017, 08:54:20 AM
I'm surprised Embassy Suites hasn't been mentioned. I haven't stayed there, but you can get a room with 2 double beds that has a separate living room with a sofa bed.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Angie on November 08, 2017, 10:18:07 AM
I will definitely look into embassy suites.

Has anyone ever tried for 2 rooms in the hotel sale under one submission? And if so, how did you do?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Agoyo on November 08, 2017, 10:38:40 AM
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I'm surprised Embassy Suites hasn't been mentioned. I haven't stayed there, but you can get a room with 2 double beds that has a separate living room with a sofa bed.

Embassy is definitely the best bet for having a bed for each person. 2 persons would have to go under the radar and not receive a bracelet for the happy hour and breakfast but that might not be a deal breaker for most.

Last year during the hotel sale the Manchester Grand Hyatt had a suite for $370 a night with free breakfast and warm snack food in the evenings.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 08, 2017, 11:19:40 AM
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Has anyone ever tried for 2 rooms in the hotel sale under one submission? And if so, how did you do?

Yes, I do this every year. You just have to request 2 rooms on your lottery submission form. You will need the names of all occupants (just as you would for requesting only one room).
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Angie on November 08, 2017, 02:19:27 PM
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Yes, I do this every year. You just have to request 2 rooms on your lottery submission form. You will need the names of all occupants (just as you would for requesting only one room).

I am just worried about it hurting my chances of getting something downtown to request 2 rooms...but I guess if they go buy submission time it wouldn't matter any way.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Transmute Jun on November 08, 2017, 04:23:53 PM
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I am just worried about it hurting my chances of getting something downtown to request 2 rooms...but I guess if they go buy submission time it wouldn't matter any way.

There is a *minor* chance it could hurt you. If you are requesting 2 rooms, and the hotel you want only has 1 room left, you'll miss out. But given that the hotel will have hundreds of rooms available, that's a pretty unlikely situation.

And yes, they go by submission times, so that's by far the more important factor.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: marcia29 on November 14, 2017, 05:44:42 AM
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Embassy is definitely the best bet for having a bed for each person. 2 persons would have to go under the radar and not receive a bracelet for the happy hour and breakfast but that might not be a deal breaker for most.

[member=2705]Agoyo[/member] -They give out wrist bands for breakfast and happy hour?  This is the first time I've heard of that?  Do you get one for each day?  I have stayed at Marriott Residence Inns and they just...let you eat. lol.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: waltbionik on November 15, 2017, 07:48:18 PM
I've stayed at the Embassy Suites with my brothers and cousins. 5 grown men easily fit into the 2 double-bed suite. There's also the new Springhill Suites. I stayed in one in Columbia, SC. It was pretty spacious and that may be another option.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: waltbionik on November 15, 2017, 07:50:51 PM
[member=2705]Agoyo[/member] -They give out wrist bands for breakfast and happy hour?  This is the first time I've heard of that?  Do you get one for each day?  I have stayed at Marriott Residence Inns and they just...let you eat. lol.
[/quote]

[member=352]marcia29[/member] Yes, they give out wristbands for breakfast and happy hour. Some years it's a hard plastic band, last year it was the cloth band with the plastic ball tightener. You have to show it to the host or hostess as you walk up the stairs to the dining area. But, apparently this is only for Comic-Con. I stay there two days after the con and there's no wrist band.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: marcia29 on November 16, 2017, 03:15:19 AM
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Yes, they give out wristbands for breakfast and happy hour. Some years it's a hard plastic band, last year it was the cloth band with the plastic ball tightener. You have to show it to the host or hostess as you walk up the stairs to the dining area. But, apparently this is only for Comic-Con. I stay there two days after the con and there's no wrist band.

[member=457]waltbionik[/member] - I guess they have had some challenges with non-guests showing up.  If the band is themed that is another souvenir from SDCC..  :)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: waltbionik on November 16, 2017, 03:49:30 AM
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[member=457]waltbionik[/member] - I guess they have had some challenges with non-guests showing up.  If the band is themed that is another souvenir from SDCC..  :)

unfortunately, it's not a sdcc-themed wristband. that would've been cool.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Agoyo on December 18, 2017, 10:26:36 AM
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[member=457]waltbionik[/member] - I guess they have had some challenges with non-guests showing up.  If the band is themed that is another souvenir from SDCC..  :)

In the past they would check for the wrist band for the free breakfast. During Happy hour they only checked if you went to get alcohol. They didnt care if people ate the snacks.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: mark on December 18, 2017, 11:12:51 AM
Homewood Suites has rooms that right now average out to the $400 range for a Monday-Monday stay. It's in Little Italy but walkable to a shuttle stop and a trolley stop. Full kitchen and free breakfast too. They actually have a room type that has 2 separate bedrooms, one with a king bed and the other with 2 queens, those are sold out during SDCC right now but it may be worth checking back in case people are using it as a backup hotel. They do have a refundable AAA rate (with a deposit.)
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: comicconfamily on February 08, 2018, 10:09:23 AM
We have a blog post on hotels for larger families near the convention center (near = mostly on the shuttle route, not necessarily downtown). Our research was for hotels that could accommodate a family of 5, so some of these might work for 6 people? But maybe not. Of course, some may be booked or super pricey at this point. Our post also tells you how many beds in the biggest room, how many bathrooms (some have TWO, ahhhh...luxury), and other details like if you can have a rollaway bed or if they have free breakfast etc.

https://www.comicconfamily.com/big-family-hotels-near-san-diego-convention-center/ (https://www.comicconfamily.com/big-family-hotels-near-san-diego-convention-center/)

For downtown there is:
Ramada Gaslamp / Convention Center
Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayfront
Embassy Suites San Diego Bay ā€” Downtown
Wyndham San Diego Bayside
Springhill Suites San Diego Downtown / Bayfront
Residence Inn San Diego Downtown
Homewood Suites San Diego Downtown / Bayside

Mission Valley:
Homewood Suites San Diego Mission Valley / Zoo
Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley
Comfort Inn & Suites San Diego ā€” Zoo Seaworld Area
Springhill Suites San Diego Mission Valley
Candlewood Suites San Diego
Hotel Iris

Airport:
Homewood Suites San Diego Airport ā€” Liberty Station
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: IfIWereMagneto on February 09, 2018, 08:17:48 AM
I went for two rooms with double beds last year at the Omni because I had a party of 12. We didn't get them there (got the Westin) but lucked out in that a friend of a friend got them and offered them to us.

We requested early on that our rooms be next to each other with a connector door if possible and that's exactly what we got. It worked well!

We split 6 and 6 and a friend brought her air mattress while another brought cots.

Having worked in the hotel industry for years, I can tell you during major events that hotels really don't care about the amount of people in the room so long as you aren't destructive. If you are, THEN they tag you.

And the most I've had in a room at one time was 8 in a single room with two doubles at the Hilton Bayfront. Still worked out fine.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Violet on February 09, 2018, 09:22:37 AM
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I went for two rooms with double beds last year at the Omni because I had a party of 12. We didn't get them there (got the Westin) but lucked out in that a friend of a friend got them and offered them to us.

We requested early on that our rooms be next to each other with a connector door if possible and that's exactly what we got. It worked well!

We split 6 and 6 and a friend brought her air mattress while another brought cots.

Having worked in the hotel industry for years, I can tell you during major events that hotels really don't care about the amount of people in the room so long as you aren't destructive. If you are, THEN they tag you.

And the most I've had in a room at one time was 8 in a single room with two doubles at the Hilton Bayfront. Still worked out fine.

In 2015, we had a room at the Hilton Bayfront with 2 double beds with 5 people. The 5th person slept on an air mattress. We were pretty tidy, but they still charged us a "transient occupant fee" of about $30/night  :-[
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: IfIWereMagneto on February 09, 2018, 11:49:51 AM
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In 2015, we had a room at the Hilton Bayfront with 2 double beds with 5 people. The 5th person slept on an air mattress. We were pretty tidy, but they still charged us a "transient occupant fee" of about $30/night  :-[

Damn, did you tell them beforehand that you had a 5th occupant in the room?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Violet on February 09, 2018, 01:30:22 PM
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Damn, did you tell them beforehand that you had a 5th occupant in the room?

No, but I guess they figured it out when they saw the air mattress. Apparently we should have deflated it and put it away every morning, haha.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: IfIWereMagneto on February 09, 2018, 02:14:50 PM
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No, but I guess they figured it out when they saw the air mattress. Apparently we should have deflated it and put it away every morning, haha.

Ahhhhhh that's where we differ. We don't let housekeeping in the room until we check out.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: comicconfamily on February 10, 2018, 01:04:54 PM
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No, but I guess they figured it out when they saw the air mattress. Apparently we should have deflated it and put it away every morning, haha.

We always have an air mattress in our room while at Comic-Con (and other vacations) -- but we're still within the allowed occupancy. And I don't deflate it and we have housekeeping come every day. Our two teens don't want to share a bed, so that's why we do it. I always figure that if the hotel wants to say something, I'll deal with it, but no one has ever said anything.

That's what I would recommend to anyone who uses one...the presence of an air mattress doesn't necessarily mean you have too many people in a room. So unless their policy states you can't have them in a room, simply tell them that you have a guest who doesn't want to share a bed.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: catvonawesome on February 15, 2018, 09:35:10 AM
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I am just worried about it hurting my chances of getting something downtown to request 2 rooms...but I guess if they go buy submission time it wouldn't matter any way.

My group requests two rooms every year as well and it hasn't seemed to affect our chances. Some years we've gotten downtown, some we haven't, some we haven't gotten anything. It seems to be on par with the normal statistics of getting a room.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: madfly on February 15, 2018, 09:57:12 AM
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My group requests two rooms every year as well and it hasn't seemed to affect our chances. Some years we've gotten downtown, some we haven't, some we haven't gotten anything. It seems to be on par with the normal statistics of getting a room.

I've always wondered if requesting 2 rooms affects your chances...Has anyone else had luck when requesting 2 rooms at downtown hotels?
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: mark on February 15, 2018, 10:26:29 AM
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I've always wondered if requesting 2 rooms affects your chances...Has anyone else had luck when requesting 2 rooms at downtown hotels?

For the past couple of years the time you were granted form access has been the dominant factor, the number of rooms doesn't seem to matter much. It has to matter a little of course, like if your request happens to be processed right on the edge where a hotel just has a couple of rooms left.  It's also going to matter more if you are going for smaller hotels or a room type that isn't as common. But there doesn't seem to be any evidence that they actively prioritize requests based on things like the number of rooms or the dates requested.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Dubb on February 22, 2018, 03:30:16 PM
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I've always wondered if requesting 2 rooms affects your chances...Has anyone else had luck when requesting 2 rooms at downtown hotels?

I got 2 suites at the Hard Rock last year.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: madfly on February 22, 2018, 03:35:29 PM
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I got 2 suites at the Hard Rock last year.
Wow! You're lucky! You must have gotten access to the hotel request form right away?!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: Dubb on February 23, 2018, 06:48:01 AM
Yeah, it was instant. Didn't even see whatever was used as a waiting room.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: marcia29 on March 29, 2018, 02:32:38 PM
[member=3681]comicconfamily[/member] - Very helpful listing of larger hotels.  Thank you!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: joyful_314 on March 29, 2018, 07:25:43 PM
[member=5761]raerae6[/member] check out this thread in regards to booking two rooms at once.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: comicconfamily on March 29, 2018, 09:22:10 PM
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[member=3681]comicconfamily[/member] - Very helpful listing of larger hotels.  Thank you!

You're very welcome! Always glad when the research we've done for our big family can help out others.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: angi on April 04, 2018, 09:35:33 PM
Springhill suites bayfront will accommodate 6.  2 queens, 1 sleeper sofa. There is plenty of room, a mini fridge and microwave. Good for a budget split, but the barn door bathroom lacks privacy.
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: cciveg on April 04, 2018, 11:39:45 PM
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Springhill suites bayfront will accommodate 6.  2 queens, 1 sleeper sofa. There is plenty of room, a mini fridge and microwave. Good for a budget split, but the barn door bathroom lacks privacy.

Last year people posted pics of some of these very open bathrooms. Good to know about beforehand!
Title: Re: Suggestions for Hotels with large rooms/suites
Post by: angi on April 05, 2018, 12:19:02 PM
Yep, most people rooming are doing lines and on different schedules. Just take some of those stick on hooks and a sheet and it will make for more privacy.

It's an otherwise awesome hotel. The breakfast spread goes on for days