Commenting on your comments

Thank you all for your comments. We particularly appreciate those of you who have left comments that relate your own experiences and provide additional helpful information. That's the intent of this resource blog. Rather than leaving comments to your comments, we'll try and answer some of the specific questions that you left in this post, so everyone can see the responses more easily.

Many of you wrote in asking for a hotel list to be posted. The list is available now. Click on the link in the sidebar to the right to see it.

Now, onto some of your individual comments...

Melody left a comment, asking:
Have you considered expanding the shuttle service to hotels outside the convention block? Something out to hotel circle perhaps?

We are looking into possibly expanding the shuttle beyond downtown. If that happens, we'll post info here and on our website at www.comic-con.org.

Steve wrote:
The idea of encouraging people to get a hotel room early due to room limitations seems a natural, given that (relatively) few rooms will be available on the 6th. That said, it appears that the majority of these listed hotels are not making their rooms publicly available AT ALL during the con dates. I have a backup hotel set, out in Mission Valley, but it looks like the only choice for a "Con Hotel" at ANY rate is Wednesday morning. And, yes, I've been keeping my eye on them for months. This should probably be made more clear to people. They can't expect to get a Con Hotel at a non-discounted rate. There's just no rooms open.

Some hotels have rooms available and some do not. The rates at any hotel with available rooms will be significantly higher than the special Comic-Con rate. There are other hotels in the downtown area of San Diego that were not interested in participating in our hotel block that may also have rooms available, but again at a much higher rate. Rooms are available in other areas of San Diego. If you have a car, search for Sports Arena, Old Town, Coronado, Point Loma, Mission Valley, Shelter Island, and Harbor Island. If you want to stay near the beach and drive in, search for Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay or La Jolla. We will post a parking map with tips on parking, or combined parking and trolley use soon.

The best thing we can recommend is to book a "back-up hotel," one that MAY NOT BE your ideal choice, but something you can live with, so you know you have a room, then see what is available when we open Comic-Con hotel reservations on Wednesday. If you like the hotel you get there, you can cancel your other reservation before you get charged.

Check back online often and see what is available starting in May or June. Keep checking each week, as hotel rooms do open up as we get closer to the event. Also watch this blog for announcements of additional rooms. If a hotel has rooms that become available, we are first in line to try to get those rooms. In the past, we have been able to add rooms to the block throughout the months leading up to Comic-Con, and we hope to do that this year as well.

This is not the situation we want for our attendees, but as hotels are built, we will add them and things should get a bit better. We are adding 500 additional rooms in 2009, and are exploring shuttles to hotels in other areas of San Diego

Brian wrote in and asked:
I've been able to get standard hotel rooms without too much frustration the past couple years, but does anyone know how to reserve a suite? There will be a few extra folks coming along this year and it seemed like a good option. Are these usually reserved for higher-ups and such?

Most hotels have limited suite space, which are restricted and require our approval. If you're interested in a suite,  you should mention it when you call to make a reservation. There are a few hotels on our list that are all-suite hotels, such as Embassy Suites and Sheraton Suites. Those hotels might be your best bet, if you're looking for a larger room to house the family and friends.

Blair wrote in and asked:
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?

Along the same lines, Thomas asked:
Is it faster, when booking, to do it online or call? I imagine if everyone's trying to call and book a room it'd be easier online?

The toll-free number is for U. S. only. The other number is the number for our travel agent, Travel Planners, in New York City. If you're concerned about paying long distance fees, please reserve your room online. Our travel agent has increased their online capacity this year to help ensure a better registration experience.

 Steve C. writes:
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?

As mentioned by Bryan Williams in his comment (thanks, Bryan!), the San Diego Trolley has a great website with schedule and fare info. Click here for more details. Trolley schedule and fare info is subject to change.

Comments

[Patricia]

The fact that I couldn't get a hotel room at ANY close hotel (Hyatt, Marriott, Embassy Suites, for example) due to the fact they were booked solid on Friday and Saturday is LUDICROUS. Crazy.

I intend on being there from 7/23 to 7/28, but at the first time I get online to the reservation page and hit "BOOK IT" for the Marriott when I see that it's one of the hotels with rooms available. But nope. It gets to the next page and there's a frickin' red question mark since Friday is entirely booked.

WTH?! I'm a Pro for christ sake and have been coming to CCI since 1997. And I stay for the entirety for networking purposes - in other words: WORK. And I can't get a room due to one or two nights are fully booked in literally ever frickin' hotel available?

Am I angry? You bet. After last year's treatment by the "Red Shirts (security), and now this, see ya, CCI. It's been a swell 10-11 years but it's obvious now that you don't care about the folks who are the ones who got you where you're at now. There are other cons and new (like a Illustrator workshop/con) ones available now that would provide us Pros with a venue we can work AND play at.

CCI: you folks have some serious issues to work through. Serious.

[Horace]

I've stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt (2 blocks from the convention center) the past 3 years for Comic-Con. This past December, I tried to make reservations for 7/23/08 to 7/27/08 at the Manchester. Only 7/23 - Preview Night - was open. Knowing how tough things would get in February, I made the reservation and had no qualms paying market rate. So with 7/23 taken care of, I still had to find a room for 7/24, 7/25 and 7/26.

I got on the Travel Planners' website this morning at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Everything was going smoothly. I got to the very last page to confirm my reservation for 7/24, 7/25 and 7/26 for the Manchester after providing my personal and credit card information. After I clicked the button to confirm, the page timed out. My reservation was lost. By the time I started over again, my hotels of choice were sold out.

I then directly called the Manchester Grand Hyatt. I was able to reserve a room for 7/26 (Saturday night) at market rate. But, they still had no rooms for 7/24 and 7/25. So I was set at the Manchester for Wednesday night and Saturday night. But, what to do about Thursday and Friday nights?

Shortly after, through Hotels.com, I was able to reserve a room at market rate for 7/24 and 7/25 at the Westin Hotel which is 9 blocks from the convention center.

In the meantime, I put myself on the waiting list for 7/24 and 7/25 at the Manchester in case a room opens up, so I can stay at the same place.

If nothing opens up, I'll have to switch hotels twice during the convention. I don't mind paying market rate, because I value being walking distance to the convention center. Being close makes logistics so much easier.

It seems the hotel situation gets tougher every year. I don't know what the best way is. You have to be persitent and willing to pay if you want to be reasonably close to the convention center.