Now you are just selling yourself!RangerWickett said:
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Question Re: Gencon
- Thread starter Andrew D. Gable
- Start date
Queen_Dopplepopolis
First Post
You're starting far enough in advance that you sould be able to save enough money to have a really great time-- and not worry too much about too much penny pinching... that's what the husband (The_Universe) and I did... I've no doubt that GenCon is fun no matter how much money you have... but, I really enjoyed going with enough cash set aside to really splurge...
Oh, I want to go back. I want to go back NOW! Why can't GenCon be EVERYDAY?!
Oh, I want to go back. I want to go back NOW! Why can't GenCon be EVERYDAY?!
Last edited:
der_kluge
Adventurer
Queen_Dopplepopolis said:Oh, I want to go back. I want to go back NOW! Why can't GenCon be EVERYDAY?!
The same reason Christmas can't be everyday. Haven't you seen that cartoon? Sheesh!
I don't think RW's account of GenCon is far off from a lot of people. I see people sleeping in the halls in the convention center. So, I suspect there are at least a hundred or more people that probably hitchhike their way to GenCon, eat out of garbage cans, and sleep on the floors.
If that's how you want to do it, fine by me, I suppose. Just don't be too surprised if no one wants to hang around you by the 3rd day...
Teflon Billy
Explorer
RangerWickett said:
to quote the late Jackie Mason, "I kid because because I love!"
AelyaShade
First Post
With a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids), we spent a total of $600, not including badges, which were pre-paid.
We stayed at a Holiday Inn which was about a 10 minute drive from the convention center. For 5 days, it cost us $325. (Got there on Wednesday and didn't leave till Sunday.) We drove there on one tank of gas.
Near the hotel, there was a Target superstore, so we stocked up on fruit, sodas, juice boxes, and sandwich fixings for 4 main days of gaming, costing a total of $85. The hotel room fridge was very efficient at nearly freezing the soda cans and juice boxes just shy of the exploding stage, so when packed, they kept our sandwiches nice and cold for lunches. Breakfast consisted of the daily complimentary hot breakfast. With the exception of the D&D party (dinner courtesy of the Ram), dinner was fast food from the nearby joints.
The rest of the unaccounted for cashola was spent on parking, event tickets, the obligatory dragon picture, and product.
The only thing I'm changing for next year's GenCon is to actually stay at one of the hotels connected to the convention center. It's hard work dragging a bunch of swag and product around to and from the car.
Some odds and ends tips:
-Don't buy the convention food. GenCon has no control of their prices. Instead, walk about a block from the convention center to the center circle mall and grab some grubbage from the food court there. Or, like we did, stock pile food from a grocery store and store them in your hotel room/hotel fridge. Also, try to find a hotel that offers a complimentary hot breakfast. Cheap eats.
-Unless you find a great deal, you are better off getting a dealer's business card and ordering online of after the con, especially if it's a bulky item.
-The anime rooms are a great place to grab a seat and take a break between gaming sessions, not to mention spacious and less hectic than the rest of the con areas.
-GenCon this past year was very very good about having water stations scattered about. Take advantage of this great perk, courtesy of the GenCon staff. No reason to be dehydrated.
-Before taking a picture of someone in costume, please please please ask. Almost everyone in costume will say yes and even pose for you. Nothing worse than turning around and getting blinded by a flash in the face. (Yes, happens a lot and this is based off experience.)
We stayed at a Holiday Inn which was about a 10 minute drive from the convention center. For 5 days, it cost us $325. (Got there on Wednesday and didn't leave till Sunday.) We drove there on one tank of gas.
Near the hotel, there was a Target superstore, so we stocked up on fruit, sodas, juice boxes, and sandwich fixings for 4 main days of gaming, costing a total of $85. The hotel room fridge was very efficient at nearly freezing the soda cans and juice boxes just shy of the exploding stage, so when packed, they kept our sandwiches nice and cold for lunches. Breakfast consisted of the daily complimentary hot breakfast. With the exception of the D&D party (dinner courtesy of the Ram), dinner was fast food from the nearby joints.
The rest of the unaccounted for cashola was spent on parking, event tickets, the obligatory dragon picture, and product.
The only thing I'm changing for next year's GenCon is to actually stay at one of the hotels connected to the convention center. It's hard work dragging a bunch of swag and product around to and from the car.
Some odds and ends tips:
-Don't buy the convention food. GenCon has no control of their prices. Instead, walk about a block from the convention center to the center circle mall and grab some grubbage from the food court there. Or, like we did, stock pile food from a grocery store and store them in your hotel room/hotel fridge. Also, try to find a hotel that offers a complimentary hot breakfast. Cheap eats.
-Unless you find a great deal, you are better off getting a dealer's business card and ordering online of after the con, especially if it's a bulky item.
-The anime rooms are a great place to grab a seat and take a break between gaming sessions, not to mention spacious and less hectic than the rest of the con areas.
-GenCon this past year was very very good about having water stations scattered about. Take advantage of this great perk, courtesy of the GenCon staff. No reason to be dehydrated.
-Before taking a picture of someone in costume, please please please ask. Almost everyone in costume will say yes and even pose for you. Nothing worse than turning around and getting blinded by a flash in the face. (Yes, happens a lot and this is based off experience.)
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Keeper of Secrets
First Post
Without factoring in travel expenses, my friends spent a total of between 400 and 600, depending on how much you spend in the Dealer's Room. To keep costs down, do everything you can to share expenses of the hotel with someone. Get some friends to go with you, try and look for an ENWorld 'room share' post or something, but the room costs are the most expensive (unless you are flying from Japan or something).
RangerWickett
Legend
You know what's fun? Asking Russ how much his GenCon trip cost in 2003. I mean, Yikes.
Well, to tell the truth I sold my first born to go to my second GENCON, a kidney for my fifth, soul went on number 16 or was that 17, get confused there.
qstor
Adventurer
If your a DM for the RPGA and judge most of the convention you get a free hotel too. Thats one option to save money. I suggest car pooling and going in on a hotel with a group of people. The hotels farther away from the con are probably cheaper like the ones near the interstate. You can take the bus to the con site from the hotel probably. And pack food, that's what I did. I made like 6 salami sandwiches and brought granola bars and apples.
I spent about $130 total for 5 days.
Mike
I spent about $130 total for 5 days.
Mike
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