I've attended GENCON every year since Milwaukee except for one. Missed it two years ago because of an operation. Now, at 72 with a disability, I find that I can't get anything close enough to make attendance feasible. I haven't heard of any busing or other means of getting downtown from the outlying hotels. There wasn't any from my place last year. I'll try to deal with it this year because I'm still devoted to gaming, but it looks like GENCON has moved on from people like me. Good luck GENCON. I still want you to succeed.
There hasn't been a shuttle service from outlying hotels during Gen Con for a number of years though Lyft had a special rate for Gen Con attendees during the Con. I am not sure about Uber, but I know they are running during Gen Con as well.
I’d suggest not giving up all hope just yet - there is a good bit of time between now and then and rooms do appear back in the pool...
what saddened me was the huge rate hike on the airport hotels. every year at has been a conversation with me and my group as the airport hotels were around 160 a night with a four night stay coming in right around 700. This year the rate is 215 and the price was near 1000. that is basically the same price as the downtown hotels. And if history has taught me anything I would assume if the airport hotels are that close in price to the downtown hotels you can expect the Downtown prices to increase as they know their added value.
Hope gencon understands just how much less money this means people can spend on games and other Gen con things because the housing budget is getting higher and higher.
yeah uber...or lyft....or drive and get a gate 10 pass which includes a shuttle from their lots
last year we stayed like 15 minutes away to the East instead of by the airport and it was like $70 a night
ive often seen outlying hotels available me for cheaper and with better cancellation terms than through the housing block.
I have really bad back issues and can't stand or walk for more than about 10-20 minutes without sitting for a few minutes, so I understand accessibility issues. I can't make it across the ICC without sitting for a minute or two.
Even with that said, airport hotels are just as good if not better for me as I can take an Uber/Lyft in and have them drop me at the closest entrance to where I need to start my day. Tell them you'll tip them well to navigate around the ICC traffic (and then do it). The Uber/Lyft cost is easily covered by the hotel savings (assuming there are savings - there seems to be some doubt). Another option is an AirBnB. I did that last year and was about a 15 minute ride away.
The only downside is if you need easy access to your hotel during the day. That can be mitigated in other ways like not buying stuff on the floor but ordering it later or having it shipped to you.
Even with accessibility issues and an unconnected hotel, Gencon can still work for you.
I'm shaking my head hoping I've misread this forum but apparently I haven't. Does anyone shop for hotel rooms or just grab the nearest and dearest they can find? If you're not next to the convention center and you have to pay for parking then any hotel within 5 - 20 miles is something to look at. After taxes, I'm paying $338.28 for four nights at a hotel five miles south of Indy.
If you are worried about transportation, and you have a vehicle there with you, you should consider Gate 10 Parking. They have parking within blocks of the ICC and they have shuttles running to and from the ICC all the time. And if they are not on a regular schedule, they give you the number to call to have the shuttle pick you up. I have used them the last two years for parking with no issues. And it has been $80 for 5 days this year and last year. So it is a lot less expensive than most of what you get at the hotels and parking garages. Best of luck. May the dice be ever in your favor!
Years ago, I never grabbed the nearest - I looked for the cheapest options because I was either on a much tighter budget or traveling with companions who were. Now, my wife and I grab the nearest we can - we plan throughout the year and our income is better able to support it.
Regardless, while there are some advantages to the downtown experience (mostly that my wife and I can leave the con area at different times without inconveniencing the other) - we’ve never not had a good Gen Con regardless of where we’ve stayed.
GenCon is a totally different experience when you're in a downtown connected hotel.