Welcome to the Comic-Con International “Staying in San Diego” Blog!

In 2007, Comic-Con International had 125,000 attendees. We realize the challenges related to an event of this size. One of the most challenging aspects of attending Comic-Con is trying to reserve a hotel room. Each year, we open hotel reservations only to have them initially sell out in a matter of hours. And while rooms almost always are added or become available due to cancellations, the simple fact of the matter is there are not enough hotel rooms in San Diego for everyone who wants to attend Comic-Con.

The purpose of this blog is to offer a forum on both the hotel reservation process and to help answer your questions. We will also offer tips on staying in San Diego, including nearby restaurants and attractions, Comic-Con’s shuttle bus schedule, the city’s mass transit, and more, as we get closer to the event.

Comic-Con hotel reservations open Wednesday, February 6, 2008,
at 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (12:00 PM EST).
Our website—www.comic-con.org—links directly to the online reservation website and also includes our travel agency, Travel Planners' phone number and when to call.

Please do NOT call or try to book online before Feb. 6 at 9:00 AM.

While we add hotel rooms to our existing blocks with each hotel every year, the hotels themselves have learned how many people come to Comic-Con and are reluctant to give us additional hotel space at a discounted rate. Once again, we expect that all the hotel rooms inside the official block will be gone within hours of the opening of housing. Because of that, for the first time this year, we are asking that you consider booking your room OUTSIDE of our hotel block, to better assist you in getting a room for Comic-Con.

Comments
We will be allowing comments here and checking them on a regular basis and trying to answer some of your questions and concerns. Even though we realize your frustration level with the system may be high, we ask that you please maintain a civil tone in your comments. We will ban anyone that abuses the comment function. Please leave an email address with your comment so we can contact you if your comment requires a direct answer.

Click here for some of our most frequently asked questions.

Comments

[Bryan Williams]

@Comic-Con

Thank you for the reassurance.

*I just realized that my previous comment is actually directed to Steve C. Oops.

[Comic-Con]

We are still working with our travel agent on the final hotel list. A list of hotels in our reservation block will appear on our website before the hotel block opens on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

[Bryan Williams]

@Delirium

You can find the Trolley schedule here
http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp

It is a shame that they aren't making the hotel info available earlier. Currently, I'm using last years prices and inflating it by a hundred bucks. You can find the last years prices in the update from last year
http://www.comic-con.org/common/assets/upd2007_1.pdf

[Blair]

There are two phone numbers on the other page. One is a toll-free number but it seems as though that is only open to Americans? I'm from Canada. Why should I have to dial long distance to a California area code?

[Ed]

I agree with the other comments. Can we get hotel rates/names I'm not the person booking my hotel so it would be nice to tell them exactly what hotel I want.

[Delirium]

I'd like to third the request for the hotel info. I don't want to try to be figuring this all out at work on the 6th.

[Steve C.]

A friend and I have booked rooms in the Hotel Circle area. According to the hotel they are within walking distance of the trolley. I believe the trolley stops near the Convention center.

Anybody know how frequently and how late these run?

[Amanda]

One of the major downsides to booking outside of the convention block of hotels is that there is no shuttle service to those hotels. While this isn't a problem for hotels within walking distance of the convention center or a shuttle stop, it is a probelm when considering hotels that are further out (and therefore more affordable). Rental cars aren't cheap, gas is outrageous, and parking gets expensive when you have to pay both downtown and at the hotel for the privilege. Public transportation is sometimes an option, but unfortunately not always.

Have you considered expanding the shuttle service to hotels outside the convention block? Something out to hotel circle perhaps?

[Sally]

I've used Expedia to book a package vacation for the last three years, the prices are great. I'd recommend this option. We stay on the beach, away from the convention a bit, but its nice to get away from the madness a little. Parking isn't that bad, and isn't that expensive either.

[Carlos Balderas]

I agree with someone asking about the hotel names and rates. Are you guys ever going to release them? It's less than a week until the CC reservations open. I don't recall waiting this long last year.

[Alfred Day]

After some frustration getting rooms at the Convention the last few years I booked a room outside of the traditional con hotels last August. It's about 3 blocks from the nearest shuttle stop (as they were laid out last year anyway).

I concur that if the shuttle map is even partially done, it might be helpful to make it public to assist folks who are booking outside of the standard convention hotels.

[Richard]

When will you post Hotel names, and possible rates or at least the Hotels that will have Bus shuttle service?????