Hi I am first timer. I had registered for hotels in lottery and did not get picked. After that I just dropped the ball and now do not have any hotel bookings. I just checked the onpeak site and only one hotel is available but that’s just too expensive. Do I have any other option? Can I book something outside of official site? Any help would be great, thank you!
This is what I do every year. Stay in Carlsbad, then trolley over.
Also since the blue line goes through UTC, you can also look there as well. Most hotels around the mall are walking distance to the trolley.
Carlsbad is like 5 cities away from San Diego 😞
I believe UC San Diego is offering up dorm rooms.
If you can, try and find a hotel along the coaster line and that can be helpful. We are fairly local so we take the coaster from Oceanside and it drops you in downtown San Diego and I just walk to the convention center from there - it's not far
I’m in LA and take the same train to SD. It’s nice not worrying about parking for 4 days. :)
I don't know what days you need, but if you are vigilant (like very vigilant) in checking the hotel website, more hotels pop up frequently. They just get grabbed quickly. You can follow sdcchoteltrackr on twitter for updates, but you have to be fast. sometimes only some dates are available and not an entire week, but again, i dont knwo what your needs are
Like someone else said, you can get a hotel further out and trolley in. Or rent a car and stay further out and drive in (you would need to buy parking, though)
Only thing I would avoid is Airbnb. Way to many horror stories from people saying owners canceled or tried to charge double or triple once they found out it was comic con week
Keep searching onpeak twice a day. Hotels have been showing up up until yesterday.
There is a hostel downtown. At least I think it's still there. Not exactly ideal but, when in a pinch...
Agree with this! Hostels were still open last I looked
Thanks everyone, got some very helpful pointers
Check out the hostels in the Gaslamp! Gaslamp Hostel is on 5th Avenue in a historic building. It's a great place to stay during Comic Con. As long as you don't mind sharing a room, it's a great place to meet others and save money! And unlike sharing a hotel room with strangers, you can lock your stuff up in a locker and the beds have privacy panels so it feels a little more private. It's right on 5th Avenue at G Street, so the location is great. Each year during Comic Con they give out gift bags with snacks and stuff to everyone staying too.
This!! I enjoyed my time there a couple years ago.
Check kona kai and on costco travel.
Can you share hotel room? If you can.
Check out the pinned posts on the comiccon sub.
What days do you need? I have a room available Friday and Saturday night. Westin bay view. I paid 640 and just looking to get my money back.
I might have someone who is looking for giving their hotel room away. Lmk if you are interested
I have a reservation at The Sofia that I won’t be able to use at $250 per night. Let me know if you are. Interested and we can coordinate to transfer it to you. DM if you want more details.
The money you save in hotel will be used on transportation from outside the area. Better to splurge a bit on hotel when possible.
Yes because $20 for the week long SDCC pass for the trolley is too expensive, best pay $1,000 more to stay downtown 😆
I rented my place to a couple I found on here… wouldn’t be surprised if more locals are willing to rent there place out to a well vetted person since the cap on AirBnb in downtown is ridiculous and extremely controlled.
I stayed in National City and took the trolley in and it was super easy.
Did Airbnb one year when we could not get a hotel
OP be weary of Airbnb as the host can cancel on you last minute with no reason. Could be OK, but know it's a gamble and not a guarantee
There’s a few campground within a 20 min drive of the convention KOA or Sweet waters camp ground
One year we stayed at the Chula Vista KOA campground and took the trolley. It was fine but the trolly stops running before some of the later events/parties go.
I usually book an airbnb about 5 to 10 miles away and take an Uber to the convention center every day.
my aunt & I booked an airbnb maybe 20 minutes away when we went last year, so I'd look into that
There are motels with no website that allow same day check in. San Ysidro (one exit before TJ) usually has those motels if you're willing to drive, uber or trolley to the convention
I believe UCSD might be renting out some of their dorms which you can rent out
If you're on Facebook look up SDCC room shares and hotel swap groups. A lot of people book rooms and can't make it, they'll start looking to transfer the room to someone and try to get their deposit back, so it's the same price it would be during the lotto.
Thanks everyone! The suggestion to keep checking onpeak worked. A bunch hotels opened up just now and I got rooms in downtown, thanks a lot!! 😀
You can stay in Tijuana and trolly in
Airbnb might be a little cheaper. But you're probably going to have to look outside of San Diego proper and take the sprinter (train/rail) down to SD and take the trolley (red car) to the convention center. Otherwise, you'll have to pay those ridiculous prices for hotels
I would Steer clear of airbnb - only because the fish of airbnbs last minute canceling on you horror stories I've heard
avoid Air Bnb for con. If you find a great rate, the owner might not realize its con and cancel your reservation at the last minute leaving you without a place to stay.
You could stay further away and take the trolley in?