Hotel reservations follow-up...

It goes without saying that trying to book a hotel room for Comic-Con this year was frustrating for many who tried calling or going online for a room.

Comic-Con has been in close contact with Travel Planners, and they wanted us to relay to you the following:

Wednesday, we watched our servers go nuts when the Comic-Con hotel program opened. Many of you suffered the effects, and we apologize for the inconvenience and frustration. We are sorry that our efforts to prepare over the past year fell short.  We are taking into account all of your comments and suggestions that have been posted to the blog. We are conferring with Comic-Con and will make every effort to ensure that this will not happen in the future.

We should point out that Travel Planners made significant upgrades and improvements to their system after 2007, both online and in their phone system. Comic-Con thought that the upgrade would be sufficient. Clearly, this was not the case.

Travel Planners told us that in the first five seconds of the site going live on Wednesday, they experienced three times the number of people requesting rooms as they had last year.

Also in the first five seconds, the site had the same number of people requesting a room as there were rooms available. So, while we were prepared for more people, we were not prepared for three times as many people and were certainly not prepared for as many people to call/log on as there were rooms available.

We are working with Travel Planners and their vendors to change the way we handle housing because, as we can all see, it is not working in its current form.

There are only 9,800 rooms within a 1.5 mile radius of the San Diego Convention Center and Comic-Con is only allocated 6,100 rooms in our block, mainly in this radius. We have a few rooms in hotels in Coronado and Mission Valley and those locations still have availability.

We will continue to add rooms throughout the year as they become available. Many people cancel rooms they booked on Wednesday and those rooms will go into inventory, so please continue to check back.

We thank you for all your comments on this blog. One of the purposes of it was to allow us the opportunity to hear your own experiences directly, so we can better ascertain what the problems are in the hotel reservations process. We particularly appreciate those of you who wrote in and offered your own advice and experiences. We take all of your comments seriously.

Comments

[Karla]

Is anyone staying at the Bahia that would like to split a cab to the convention center?

[Tamara]

I finally got a hotel, but not through Travel Planners. I lucked out when someone transferred a room to me. Of course, it was so expensive I had to take on a third roommate, but at least I have a place to rest my head.

[Alfred Day]

Looks like some hotels in Mission Bay and on Coronado Island have opened up via the Travel Planners website. Which is funny, because I've been on a waiting list since day one and haven't heard a thing from them!

I already got something closer on my own, but this kind of thing really ticks me off!

[Sonia]

Finally was able to get a room in the comic con shuttle list. So happy staying at the Holiday Inn on the Bay 23-27! Hope everyone is as lucky!!

[Joe]

**For anyone who's still looking for a hotel room**
I just cancelled a room (couple of friends bailed at the last minute) at La Quinta Inn Mission Valley, which is about 6.0 miles from the convention center with no shuttle service.

However I originally booked it for the whole length of the convention (checking in 23rd and checking out the 27th), if anyone is having trouble finding a hotel that has all the dates they need. Hope it helps someone out there that's still looking!

[Ava's mommy]

Where exactly is the Wyndham Vacation Resort located? Wonder if I can get the same deal. ;)

[Charlie E]

Just a couple of notes from my experience last year...

First, we booked out in Hotel Circle. As this was our first year at CCI, we were a little worried, but it was great! We had a nice room, quiet, comfortable and convenient. For travel into the con, we used the trolley.

Now, if you look at the standard schedules for the trolley from the mall, it looks like you will need to change trolleys along the way. But, for ComicCon, they have special trains scheduled that go non-stop from out the Orange line way. It would cost you more for parking to park near the convention center... if you can FIND parking!

This year, we have reservations in the Comfort Inn in Old Town. There is a Wyndham Vacation Resort in San Diego, and we signed up for one of their deals for TH,F,S nights for only $149! We have to go through the sales pitch sometime during the week, but for the price, it was a great deal! And, we were able to book in October... ;-)

[SHL]

***ATTENTION ANYONE WHO IS *STILL* LOOKING FOR A HOTEL ROOM***

Don't know if this will help but the Hampton Inn website shows the following rooms are available for the downtown 1531 Pacific Highway property:

1 King Study w/Sofabed (nonsmoking)-$239/nt
1 King, 1 Bedroom Suite (nonsmoking)-$239/nt

2 Queens (smoking)-$259/nt

THE CATCH - no checkout from 7/23-7/27, so if you're okay with staying through 7/28 and paying $50/nt more than the Comicon rate for this Comicon shuttle hotel, head on over to hamptoninn.com and make your reservation through 7/28... there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on when you have to check-in...

BTW, for all I know, this may be a computer glitch on the Hampton Inn website but it may be worth a shot for those of you who still need a room...

[Ray F]

There's a really easy way to help prevent room hoarding and I think it's inevitable. Rather than have the cancellation be in June have it at the point of purchase like the standard Travel/Airline sights.
I'm not saying you have to charge the full amount up front but at least one night non-refundable deposit.
Virtually every major travel site charges the full amount up front and has cancellation fees, so one night non-refundable (or partially non-refundable)shouldn't overly burden anyone especially if the Con announces it in advance.

[Alfred Day]

They must've gone fast because they're not there now. Another question is are they releasing them to everyone already. If so, what happened to the waitlist. I never even got word that I was on it or not.

More reason to book my hotel for next year at this years convention if the bed and breakfast I'm at seems sufficient.

[sdcc vet]

Looks like the hotel cancellation exodus has begun - there are now rooms available at the San Diego Sheraton resort and marina, AND at the W. Grab em up while they last!This is a good time to start checking availability a few times a day. People who planned to go and can't will now be releasing their rooms, as well as people who booked multiple rooms for friends and now have to drop some.

[Madre]

Excellent comments about staying in Chula Vista! And to the poster who said "CV was okay but kinda ghetto" dude, WHATEVER!

Excellent comments Suzanne13!!! Granted the CV part off the trolley ain't Times Square but it's safe, clean and there are a TON of excellent taco shops within walking distance.

Also, we are locals but now live in East County which is East on I-8 about 30 minutes by car. If you rent a car you will find hundreds of motel/small hotel rooms in El Cajon and if you don't rent a car, you can take the Orange line Trolley and it will only take you about 45 minutes.

You can rest, look over your goodies on the way home or just veg on your way there in the morning and laugh at all the fools who are killing themselves trying to stay close by.

Yeah, admittedly it would be great to stay across the street from the Con BUT if you prefer to save your money for collectibles, food (outside of the convention center or course) etc...then go east people, go east.

Right around the trolley station (Main Street station) it is pretty shabby but safe and you can always grab a taxi to take to your motel/hotel. Hardworking people take the trolley all day and all night and there is always lots of security during big events.

There is also a "panic" button on every trolley car and if you are even a bit worried, hang out in the front car by the conductor if you feel the need. I have met some of THE most interesting people in my life on that damn trolley!

I have lived in San Diego by entire life..there are very few really bad places and there are many more cool, laid back, helpful people than not.

[lucky as heck]

We used vrbo.com for our 6 day rental, but i also looked at vacationhomerentals.com vacationrentals.com and cyberrentals.com

FYI, its the owners who set the minimum stays not the sites.Also just because the listing says weekly or monthly rentals only, email them anyway and inquire.Many owners will rent for less days during comicon.

[Alfred Day]

Does anyone know a good service for condo rentals? Most of the websites I'm looking at are for a minimum week to a month stay, and I'm only going for the 5 days of the show.

[starwarsagent]

seriously, you guys have to get another booker. travel planners has failed. they did not accomodate everyone as promised. it was a waste of resources. you guys have to do better next year! So far, I have no room, no chance of getting a room therefore i'm stuck in the mud by depending on a company that's not even based in San Diego. They are in New York. what do they know about San Diego? Nothing! The comic con is growing by the numbers, maybe due to the popularity of comic con films. I have been going to the comic con for 15 years or so and have never encountered a problem. shame on travel planners!

[starwarsagent]

seriously, you guys have to get another booker. travel planners has failed. they did not accomodate everyone as promised. it was a waste of resources. you guys have to do better next year! So far, I have no room, no chance of getting a room therefore i'm stuck in the mud by depending on a company that's not even based in San Diego. They are in New York. what do they know about San Diego? Nothing! The comic con is growing by the numbers, maybe due to the popularity of comic con films. I have been going to the comic con for 15 years or so and have never encountered a problem. shame on travel planners!

[Jimbo]

Has anyone ever stayed at the Best Western Hacienda Old Town Hotel? Is it close to the Trolley station?

[luis]

oh one more thing, hotels in chula vista are cheap cause its kinda ghetto over there. If you arent picky about where you sleep then go for it, the trolley ride to the con is painless.

[luis]

Umm i dont recommend people stay at the Ivy... it turns into a club on weekends and its a huge chore just to get through the bouncers. They have one at the door and another at the elevator... and are rude.

If you are unlucky enough to have a room on the lower floors expect thumping techno music all night.

I stayed there last year and never againnnn

[mj]

I got the same mail! it weirded me out and now I'm worried

[Alfred]

I got the same cryptic email from Travel Planners this morning. I'm so glad I booked my backup Bed and Breakfast last August. I'd still like to be closer, but at least I know I'm going.

I also want to say that I appreciate the poster that mentioned the Chula Vista option. It's actually that sort of thing that I was hoping we'd get more of. It's enough information to explore some other options of staying in SD near a trolley line at an affordable rate. It may not work for everybody but for those that it does work for it gives another option, and if enough people are staying in the area from the convention, increases the likelihood of splitting cab fares or having a group of people around when you're walking pack to your hotel in the evening.

[Freaking Out]

Do I have a room or not???

I just got an email this morning from travel planners with the following message:

Thank you for submitting your request!

Comic Con Housing Team
Travel Planners

That's it, nothing else in the email. Did anyone else get this message???
I booked a room on that fateful day and this is the first I've heard from them and now they only send me this cryptic message.

I'm panicking just a bit.

[lucky as heck]

Its one of the con hotels - and its completely booked.Thanks tho/

[Tod Lewis]

They just opened a new Hard Rock Hotel across from the convention center.

www.hardrockhotelsd.com

[lucky as heck]

Quoted: "About panels: If my friend gets to Comic Con at 6am, and waits for her panel for 4 hours, then she SHOULD be able to camp out if she wants to. You know the lines, people, get up earlier! (I chose to sleep late, and I missed several of my deeply wanted panels...but that's MY fault!)"
If everyone followed this bit of self serving advice then the same group of 100 or so people would attend EVERY single panel and no one would get in. It needs to be fair to everyone, not just those that have nothing better to do all day than sit around.What if you have panels with times that don't allow you to sit in the same room for hours on end?
Secondly as to the trolley and buying passes, etc. Frankly for what it costs me to even go to SDCC, pile room rates on top of that (even if you are staying in a no tell motel) i feel mildly offended that the band aid solution is "well , just spend MORE money and buy a pass for public transportation"
Your situation works for you, and thats great, but not everyone else fits that model.Some of us are there for work reasons, some of us do need to be close to the con for safety reasons. Last year i went to the con with 5 women.I don't want to be trying to navigate the San Diego public transport system and wandering around town at 1 AM. It's not safe. I want to walk from the con to my hotel, or from the con to the shuttle stand, right there. Safe, easy, and oh yeah, FREE.