Otakon Vets. I need some info

chuckg31 · Post by **chuckg31** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:22 pm

This year will be my first year at Otakon, and in the city of Baltimore. I am planning the trip, and I have a few questions for the Otakon Veterans. My small group and I were first planning on taking a bus and staying at one of Otakon’s recommended official hotels, however we have now decided to drive and want to find a cheaper hotel farther away. Can anyone who has done this before recommend a place?

I was also concerned about the issue of parking. According to the map on the Otakon web page, there are parking complexes near the con, but are they normally full? If there are usually spots available, does anyone know how much they cost?

If anyone reads this that has driven to Otakon and stayed at a non-Otakon hotel, could you please elaborate on your experience?

As, always…I appreciate anyone that replies to this post!

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:42 pm

chuckg31 wrote:This year will be my first year at Otakon, and in the city of Baltimore. I am planning the trip, and I have a few questions for the Otakon Veterans. My small group and I were first planning on taking a bus and staying at one of Otakon’s recommended official hotels, however we have now decided to drive and want to find a cheaper hotel farther away. Can anyone who has done this before recommend a place?

I was also concerned about the issue of parking. According to the map on the Otakon web page, there are parking complexes near the con, but are they normally full? If there are usually spots available, does anyone know how much they cost?

If anyone reads this that has driven to Otakon and stayed at a non-Otakon hotel, could you please elaborate on your experience?

As, always…I appreciate anyone that replies to this post!

I can only comment on the parking since I didn't stay at an "official" Otakon hotel.

The parking is pretty bad and you're gonna be paying a good $10+ per day. In fact, if you see something for around that, just take it. That's actually on the cheaper end and most are full.

Be prepared to walk a lot

.

MistyCaldwell · Post by **MistyCaldwell** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:58 pm

Here is the place I stayed at last year:

Rodeway Inn Baltimore
5501 ODonnell Street
Baltimore, MD US 21224

It was cheap at about $40 a night for a room. It was a Travel Plaza, not a hotel like the ones in downtown. It had a store and gameroom in the lobby area but the rooms were comfortable and in hotel style corridors, versus doors that open from outside. All in all, I was pleased with the hotel even though it would have been nice to simply stagger to a downtown hotel after a full con going day. But the savings is substantial if you are going the whole weekend. Especially for a moderately sized group.

Don't count on taxis if you are going to stay several miles from the convention center @_@ Matt Pyson and I exchanged our horror stories at last years con...taxis can ruin your day (never came to pick us up!) and they are no bargain.. I arrived late for the amv contest! So drive and use a parking garage. Chaos Angel was smarter than me and found a cheap garage. If you go in a car as a group, parking fees (split up) are pretty cheap. I think he found one for 8 bucks?

There are plenty of garages. You shouldn't have a problem finding a garage spot. Just go early enough to make time for finding a spot, walking to the convention center, and the reg line and you'll be fine.

Have fun ^_^ Otakon is the best!

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:09 pm

MistyCaldwell wrote: Rodeway Inn Baltimore
5501 ODonnell Street
Baltimore, MD US 21224

It was cheap at about $40 a night for a room. It was a Travel Plaza, not a hotel like the ones in downtown. It had a store and gameroom in the lobby area but the rooms were comfortable and in hotel style corridors, versus doors that open from outside.

Dude! The truck stop? My family (plus Cyanna) stayed there last year too...

MistyCaldwell · Post by **MistyCaldwell** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:19 pm

That's where I'll probably be again this year. It was cheap and convenient. I am planning on being there for all 3 days for once.

Another great thing about that hotel is you don't need a credit card to reserve a room. Another good point, since I don't have one and I don't like to give out my debit number.

SarahtheBoring · Post by **SarahtheBoring** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:51 pm

Scintilla wrote:
MistyCaldwell wrote: Rodeway Inn Baltimore
5501 ODonnell Street
Baltimore, MD US 21224

It was cheap at about $40 a night for a room. It was a Travel Plaza, not a hotel like the ones in downtown. It had a store and gameroom in the lobby area but the rooms were comfortable and in hotel style corridors, versus doors that open from outside.
Dude! The truck stop? My family (plus Cyanna) stayed there last year too...

*whimpers* Scary trucker place! Scary trucker place!

We were there too. The *up* of there being a convenience store in the lobby was countered by the *down* of it being about as close to the convention center as NEPTUNE.

But, then, it was reasonably priced, and not full when my lazy arse got around to reserving a room. So.

(y'know what's funny, like everybody I know on the org apparently stayed at that hotel, and I don't think I saw any of them there.)

chuckg31 · Post by **chuckg31** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 11:16 pm

Thanks everyone! You are all great! Maybe I will end up running into some of you. Chances are though, no one will recognize anyone else unless they have met before.

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Otakon Vets. I need some info

Otakon Vets. I need some info

Re: Otakon Vets. I need some info