This year’s San Diego Comic Con will begin with it’s preview night on Wednesday July 18th and at T-181 days for the convention some of us still need to plan for hotel, flights, and line buddies.  Yes, don’t forget your line buddies, they are what one the best parts of the convention and a priority if you plan to make it into Hall H at some point. Fortunately, I have a ticket, yay! I was one of the lucky ones who was able to get a “Golden ticket” during the Open Sale this year. Thanks to a friend, I have my yearly trip to the SDCC secured and now the agony of late planning starts. Normally by now I have my hotel reservation and flights reservation but this year I am running late and hotels are almost all booked. The ones that still have rooms available will probably be part of the SDCC Hotel sale which happens sometime in the next few months. These are not available through the different websites. But lets face it, to get a room at one of those hotels is nearly impossible. I have been trying that sale for the last 3 years and have never been able to get a hotel through it. Everything fills out very quickly and the prices for hotels in the Gaslamp District during that time of the year gets really high if you don’t buy through the SDCC sale.  I have been looking at $1000 a night for hotels close by the convention during that week. Luckily for us, there are other options. Many other hotels are located in the vicinity of the convention center since this San Diego area is a popular tourist destination throughout the year. And since we have Uber these days, I guess worrying about parking is not a concern anymore. (I once spent $40 on a parking space). Also, I will be trying my luck again when the SDCC Hotel Sale opens but will make sure to have a plan B.

If you are on the same boat as me, my advice is, make sure to look for hotels near the area and get a refundable reservation. That way you can still try your luck during the SDCC Hotel Sale and if you get a hotel room you can still cancel your current reservation. Check out the San Diego Comic Con website for more information on when will this occur. Also, if you are planning to travel with kids, remember to check out the SDCC Child Care section a couple of months before the convention. Kiddie Corp. offers care  every year during the entire convention, including the Preview Night, inside the convention center. So if you want to attend some of the panels or would want a place to leave your kid to have fun while you walk around the Exhibit Hall, Kiddie Corp. offers a safe and fun alternative for your kids. My son has been there for the last 3 years and have enjoyed being able to take a break from all the walking that the convention entails.

Good luck fellow nerds. Happy hotel hunting! See you all in 181 days.