Early 2013 Hotel Discussion

24

Posts

  • realisticradicalrealisticradical Durham, NCRegistered User regular
    So if you had to make a comparison between some of the hotels usually in the OnPeak system what do people like/dislike about the different ones. Who has the best proximity for example, or best service for dual occupancy or as a lot of people do quintuple occupancy?

  • ohkateyohkatey Owner of Bitch Team Alpha Austin, TXRegistered User regular
    So, I'm pretty familiar with hotels near the area (both having lived, visited many times, and gone to PAX many years) but this year I have a new dilemma. I recently found out I'm pretty severely gluten-intolerant, which means I'm going to need to eat my own food for the most part throughout PAX. There are a few places that offer menus for me (for example, the Daily Grill has a gluten-free menu, and I've eaten there before and they were very nice and accommodating) however I don't really want to spend $100+/day on food just because eating at things like Subway/Starbucks are out.

    My question is: which hotels that are reservable through the OnPeak system when it goes live have fridges and microwaves? I would be needing both, but I don't need a full kitchen or anything. I can get by making my own sandwiches and microwaving gluten-free frozen meals. I usually stay at the Sheraton and I have previously stayed at the Roosevelt but I know the Sheraton does not have these things and I'm pretty sure that Roosevelt doesn't either (correct me if I'm wrong!)

    pax primer @ <3
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    ohkatey wrote: »
    So, I'm pretty familiar with hotels near the area (both having lived, visited many times, and gone to PAX many years) but this year I have a new dilemma. I recently found out I'm pretty severely gluten-intolerant, which means I'm going to need to eat my own food for the most part throughout PAX. There are a few places that offer menus for me (for example, the Daily Grill has a gluten-free menu, and I've eaten there before and they were very nice and accommodating) however I don't really want to spend $100+/day on food just because eating at things like Subway/Starbucks are out.

    My question is: which hotels that are reservable through the OnPeak system when it goes live have fridges and microwaves? I would be needing both, but I don't need a full kitchen or anything. I can get by making my own sandwiches and microwaving gluten-free frozen meals. I usually stay at the Sheraton and I have previously stayed at the Roosevelt but I know the Sheraton does not have these things and I'm pretty sure that Roosevelt doesn't either (correct me if I'm wrong!)

    I might be wrong as I've only stayed at the westin before, but as far as I know Homewood Suites is the only con hotel that has a full on kitchen IE fridge, microwave, stove, ect. It does sell out super fast though from what I remember of last year so you'll wanna make sure you keep an eye open for the hotels announcement. Gl getting the room you need

  • ohkateyohkatey Owner of Bitch Team Alpha Austin, TXRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    I might be wrong as I've only stayed at the westin before, but as far as I know Homewood Suites is the only con hotel that has a full on kitchen IE fridge, microwave, stove, ect. It does sell out super fast though from what I remember of last year so you'll wanna make sure you keep an eye open for the hotels announcement. Gl getting the room you need

    Thanks so much! I'll keep an eye out.

    pax primer @ <3
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    ohkatey wrote: »
    sanovah wrote: »
    I might be wrong as I've only stayed at the westin before, but as far as I know Homewood Suites is the only con hotel that has a full on kitchen IE fridge, microwave, stove, ect. It does sell out super fast though from what I remember of last year so you'll wanna make sure you keep an eye open for the hotels announcement. Gl getting the room you need

    Thanks so much! I'll keep an eye out.

    If you can't get the one right by the convention center I know Homewood has another property like a mile maybe mile and a half away. Idon't think it's a con hotel, and Its kinda far but if you need a kitchen and can't get the pike street one it might be your best bet. If I remember right it's in the old queen Anne neighborhood or something like that

  • PikaPuffPikaPuff Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Homewood is about $189-229/night right now and I think PAX price is $189/night? I forget. But my group always gets homewood, and I dont' even try for pax rates as it sells out too fast and never has any good days up anyways.

    But I'll explain again how much I love homewood. It's literally an apartment complex that got turn into a hotel. Every "room" is an apartment, with a living room, a bedroom, a full bathroom, and a kitchen with a moral sized fridge. Only thing missing is the washer/dryer, which just has a giant empty square, that they put a full size mirror in lol. every morning they have an amazing free breakfast. mon-thurs night they have an amazing free dinner, which I believe includes free beer? free internet, free newspaper... the place is great.

    PikaPuff on
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  • sealegssealegs Registered User new member
    A tip for any singles, doubles or groups who don't mind sharing but are on a budget: the Green Tortoise Hostel is about a 10 minute walk from the WSCC. Their prices range from 26$-33$ per person per night, depending on your sleeping arrangement. It's pretty dirt cheap if you want a single bed in a dorm room. I haven't visited yet, but my group has booked our room (they do private rooms too, for a bit more!). The reviews online seem very positive. AND--Free breakfast daily, and free dinner a couple of times a week. How awesome would it be if it was totally filled up with Pax people?! We'll be going for 8 nights, and it's going to cost us about 240 per person, with taxes included.

  • sealegssealegs Registered User new member
    A tip for any singles, doubles or groups who don't mind sharing but are on a budget: the Green Tortoise Hostel is about a 10 minute walk from the WSCC. Their prices range from 26$-33$ per person per night, depending on your sleeping arrangement. It's pretty dirt cheap if you want a single bed in a dorm room. I haven't visited yet, but my group has booked our room (they do private rooms too, for a bit more!). The reviews online seem very positive. AND--Free breakfast daily, and free dinner a couple of times a week. How awesome would it be if it was totally filled up with Pax people?! We'll be going for 8 nights, and it's going to cost us about 240 per person, with taxes included.

  • PikaPuffPikaPuff Registered User regular
    I remember they had spaghetti night when I stayed there. It's a nice place but remember it is a hostel. rooms are bunk beds for 8 random people, and there's one mens and one women's community bathroom per floor. Again, it's a good place to stay, just be informed what a hostel is if you're considering it.

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  • CodeMonkey76CodeMonkey76 Software Developer Orem, UTRegistered User regular
    So if you had to make a comparison between some of the hotels usually in the OnPeak system what do people like/dislike about the different ones. Who has the best proximity for example, or best service for dual occupancy or as a lot of people do quintuple occupancy?
    I'd recommend looking up their locations on Google Maps to see where they're at. Keep in mind that the farther west you are from the convention center, the more you'll be walking up/down the hill. The Sheraton is nice as it's right next to the convention center, and even hosts some panel theaters. The night before PAX begins usually has a lot of people playing board games in the Sheraton lobby and group meeting rooms too. The Red Lion is where they hosted the tabletop gaming last year, so that may be a good choice if that's your focus at PAX.

    This year though, we just decided to rent a condo from someone on airbnb.com. Slightly more expensive per-night than the hotels, but we get a full kitchen to cook our own food.

  • ill_monstro_gill_monstro_g allMIA Editor New YorkRegistered User regular
    Hi! 10+ year PA fan here. I've attended 2 PAX shows - East 2011 and 2012. I had the heartbreaking missfortune to miss East this year so I am making the cross country trip for Prime!

    I've had living arrangements in Boston, so I have never had to do the hotel thing. As I understand it, one of the Hotels is physically attached to the BCEC and is obviously preferable to stay at. Is there a similar hotel at the convention center for prime?

    Before OnPeak goes live I want to have a short list of hotels I'd like to stay at. Anyone with Prime hotel experience who could give novices like myself some tips? I would love to see a breakdown of like "this one is the big party hotel" "this one is the closest to the con" "this is the one that sells out fastest because (x)"

    When I was looking at hotels for East it was super confusing because some hotels had the same name (2 Westins) and from the OnPeak site it was unclear which hotels were a legit 5 min walk away from the venue. I want to make sure I don't get stuck in a crap situation since I'm flying all the way in from New York!

    Thanks!

    allMIA - a Summoner's guide to League of Legends
  • bacon_avengerbacon_avenger Defender of Pork Products Pacific NW, USARegistered User regular
    Before OnPeak goes live I want to have a short list of hotels I'd like to stay at. Anyone with Prime hotel experience who could give novices like myself some tips? I would love to see a breakdown of like "this one is the big party hotel" "this one is the closest to the con" "this is the one that sells out fastest because (x)"
    I think the hotel discussion thread from last year might help out. Start at this post and read on from there. My comments on the Hilton are in there as well (it didn't sell out that fast).

    That being said, as I recall, the Sheraton is often one of the first to be sold out as it's basically across the street from the convention centre. Looking at google maps, the Roosevelt, Homewood and Grand Hyatt are about a block away.

    Myself, I'm aiming for the Homewood this year, mainly because of the kitchenette (I'm bringing a coffee maker this year) and free wifi. I have a friend who always stays at the Sheraton due to it's proximity.

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  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    the big 3 hotels are the Sheraton and Hyatt due to their proximity, and Homewood because their full on suites. But being honest they're the ones that sell out the fastest so getting them is going to very difficult and unlikely.

    So since they're kinda impossible to get unless you're at your computer when they go up I'd recommend either Roosevelt the Westin. Both are basic rooms away from most of the convention goings if you want to relax after a full day or need a quick nap in between stuff.

    The only hotel id say stay away from potentially is Red Lion on 5th. Curse had their party there and PA put TT in there last year so it was pretty busy all day especially during that party. But that may change this year so i can only give advice on that from what they did last year

  • ill_monstro_gill_monstro_g allMIA Editor New YorkRegistered User regular
    Thanks that is super helpful!!

    allMIA - a Summoner's guide to League of Legends
  • bacon_avengerbacon_avenger Defender of Pork Products Pacific NW, USARegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    The only hotel id say stay away from potentially is Red Lion on 5th. Curse had their party there and PA put TT in there last year so it was pretty busy all day especially during that party. But that may change this year so i can only give advice on that from what they did last year
    Sanovah brings up a good point that probably applies to the Sheraton as well.

    The Sheraton has some good sized auditoriums, and if last year is any indication, they are going to be used for more than a few Prime related things (Gearbox had their Borderlands 2 panel there, and the line was crazy long).

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  • CuvisTheConquerorCuvisTheConqueror They always say "yee haw" but they never ask "haw yee?" Registered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    The only hotel id say stay away from potentially is Red Lion on 5th. Curse had their party there and PA put TT in there last year so it was pretty busy all day especially during that party. But that may change this year so i can only give advice on that from what they did last year
    Sanovah brings up a good point that probably applies to the Sheraton as well.

    The Sheraton has some good sized auditoriums, and if last year is any indication, they are going to be used for more than a few Prime related things (Gearbox had their Borderlands 2 panel there, and the line was crazy long).

    I stayed at the Sheraton in '11, and they had some crazy-big panels there that year, too (Guild Wars 2, anyone?). Nice thing about the Sheraton, though, is that all the ballrooms are on the 2nd floor, so they're pretty easy to avoid if you're not purposefully going there. The elevators got a bit crowded sometimes, but that was it.

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  • SkeleVaderSkeleVader Your Friendly Dark Lord of Destruction Registered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    The only hotel id say stay away from potentially is Red Lion on 5th. Curse had their party there and PA put TT in there last year so it was pretty busy all day especially during that party. But that may change this year so i can only give advice on that from what they did last year
    Sanovah brings up a good point that probably applies to the Sheraton as well.

    The Sheraton has some good sized auditoriums, and if last year is any indication, they are going to be used for more than a few Prime related things (Gearbox had their Borderlands 2 panel there, and the line was crazy long).

    The Sheraton would have been used for a lot more last year I assume, but another event was already scheduled in the second floor ballrooms. Hopefully this year PAX can secure them.
    I have stayed at the Sheraton the past two years and loved it. Having the unofficial Table Top gathering downstairs is great.

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  • ohkateyohkatey Owner of Bitch Team Alpha Austin, TXRegistered User regular
    I stayed at the Sheraton last year, and I loved it. Would be going back if they at least had a fridge for me to store food that I can actually eat in it ;)

    I would highly recommend it to others, if you can book it before it sells out.

    pax primer @ <3
  • ArtereisArtereis Registered User regular
    I've stayed at the Roosevelt for the last two years now, and will likely continue to do so. It's a really good central location for what my wife and I like to do around the city, and the walls are thick. I haven't had an interconnecting door yet. I've always slept well there.

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Now I'm not staying there this year, but for anyone looking I'd recommend the Westin. I got a end of the hall room so I can't say how quiet the rest of the hotel is, but my room was realky quiet. It also came with one king bed and one pull out sofa bed.

    The only downsides I found about this hotel was the ice machine at least on my floor didn't work properly so it took forever to fill the ice chest I bought. And my floors maid didn't do anything unless you asked the front desk. Also at least my shower was really weak.

    But all in all it's a decent hotel and if I wasn't going to be there a week I'd probably be staying again.

  • CodeMonkey76CodeMonkey76 Software Developer Orem, UTRegistered User regular
    We decided to go with airbnb.com this year. Found a great condo literally right next to the convention center for about the same price as a hotel room...and it's got a full kitchen.

  • ill_monstro_gill_monstro_g allMIA Editor New YorkRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    Now I'm not staying there this year, but for anyone looking I'd recommend the Westin. I got a end of the hall room so I can't say how quiet the rest of the hotel is, but my room was realky quiet. It also came with one king bed and one pull out sofa bed.

    The only downsides I found about this hotel was the ice machine at least on my floor didn't work properly so it took forever to fill the ice chest I bought. And my floors maid didn't do anything unless you asked the front desk. Also at least my shower was really weak.

    But all in all it's a decent hotel and if I wasn't going to be there a week I'd probably be staying again.
    Artereis wrote: »
    I've stayed at the Roosevelt for the last two years now, and will likely continue to do so. It's a really good central location for what my wife and I like to do around the city, and the walls are thick. I haven't had an interconnecting door yet. I've always slept well there.

    Never having been to Seattle, how close are these to the con? 5 min walk? 20 min walk?

    allMIA - a Summoner's guide to League of Legends
  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    Now I'm not staying there this year, but for anyone looking I'd recommend the Westin. I got a end of the hall room so I can't say how quiet the rest of the hotel is, but my room was realky quiet. It also came with one king bed and one pull out sofa bed.

    The only downsides I found about this hotel was the ice machine at least on my floor didn't work properly so it took forever to fill the ice chest I bought. And my floors maid didn't do anything unless you asked the front desk. Also at least my shower was really weak.

    But all in all it's a decent hotel and if I wasn't going to be there a week I'd probably be staying again.
    Artereis wrote: »
    I've stayed at the Roosevelt for the last two years now, and will likely continue to do so. It's a really good central location for what my wife and I like to do around the city, and the walls are thick. I haven't had an interconnecting door yet. I've always slept well there.

    Never having been to Seattle, how close are these to the con? 5 min walk? 20 min walk?

    Depends on the hotel but majority are less than 10 minutes. A good chuck are like 5.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Like 5 maybe 10 or 15 if you go out of your way for brekfast and have to wait in a line

  • realisticradicalrealisticradical Durham, NCRegistered User regular
    @sanovah That sounds like a two star review. Westin: Bad housekeeping service, bad shower. Quiet.

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    The Westin isn't bad as a whole. I looked at reviews both before and after and talked to other people there. And I do think I just got a bad floor and bad person asigned to me.

    Like I said I think it was just a fluke and I'd stay there again, but I'm gonna be in Seattle for almost 2 weeks and need an actual suite

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    sanovah wrote: »
    Like 5 maybe 10 or 15 if you go out of your way for brekfast and have to wait in a line

    On a total off subject topic, down at pikes market place go to the crumpet shop for breakfast. Fast and OMG mouth watering good.

    adias.angel on
    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    The Westin isn't bad as a whole. I looked at reviews both before and after and talked to other people there. And I do think I just got a bad floor and bad person asigned to me.

    Like I said I think it was just a fluke and I'd stay there again, but I'm gonna be in Seattle for almost 2 weeks and need an actual suite

    My husband is staying there in 2 weeks for work. When he gets back I can let you know what he saw first hand.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • kemikalkemikal Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Seattle last year, and was very pleased with the service. Our room was clean and quiet, and the bathroom had plenty of counter space around the sink. There was a separate shower and tub, with the tub being big enough for two. The employees at the front desk were always friendly and gave us excellent recommendations on where we could still get a bite to eat when we arrived late Thursday night. They also replaced our key card, no questions asked, when we accidentally locked ourselves out of the room.

    If I weren't the type to like trying new things, I would definitely stay there again.

    kemikal on
    Assassin's Ball, Prime '13: @CowboyVerse
    TWDT '13: Hufflepuff OotP
  • TraitoriousTraitorious Registered User regular
    My group has been at the Sheraton and Grand Hyatt the past two Primes (only two actually) and had nothing but good times at both.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    My group has been at the Sheraton and Grand Hyatt the past two Primes (only two actually) and had nothing but good times at both.

    Those are actually the two hotels we are debating between. Did you like either of them more than the other?

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • Sleepy KittySleepy Kitty Registered User regular

    My question is: which hotels that are reservable through the OnPeak system when it goes live have fridges and microwaves? I would be needing both, but I don't need a full kitchen or anything. I can get by making my own sandwiches and microwaving gluten-free frozen meals. I usually stay at the Sheraton and I have previously stayed at the Roosevelt but I know the Sheraton does not have these things and I'm pretty sure that Roosevelt doesn't either (correct me if I'm wrong!)[/quote]

    Most hotels will offer a fridge , sometimes at a cost sometimes not , they are usually first come first serve tho ( you may be able to request one with your reservation ) I know 1 year we stayed at the Crown and were able to get a fridge brought up to the room. Not sure which hotels may have a microwave tho sorry

  • whypick1whypick1 PAX [E] Info Booth Manager ~2' from an LCDRegistered User regular
    Homewood Suites, as have been described earlier in the thread.

    Is it PAX <insert nearest future PAX here> yet?
  • FenrisfangFenrisfang Edmonton, AB, CanadaRegistered User regular
    We stayed at the Paramount last year (my first PAX) and enjoyed it very much. It's a smaller hotel compared to the rest so if you need to go big this isn't the place to be. It was just down the street from the Main Theater so we could see when the line ups started from our window. The staff there was great and if my memory isn't completely gone, we had free wifi. I think my only complaint would be that the restaurant downstairs was a bit overpriced, but that can be easily fixed by picking somewhere else to eat. The hubby and I plan on staying there again this year.

    PAX Tickets: check!
    Hotel Booked: check!
    Sitter for the kids: check!
    Excitement level rising: check, check and triple check!
  • PikaPuffPikaPuff Registered User regular
    I would like to chime is that as a chubby lazy person I did not enjoy the walk to/from the Westin at all. Also I enjoy dumping swag off at a hotel room during the day, and felt the Westin was too far to do that.

    The year I went, they had a promotion going on advertising a car, and they would give you free rides to places (within reason) so after I found that it was easy getting TO pax. But I believe they aren't doing that anymore/at the moment.

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  • TraitoriousTraitorious Registered User regular
    My group has been at the Sheraton and Grand Hyatt the past two Primes (only two actually) and had nothing but good times at both.

    Those are actually the two hotels we are debating between. Did you like either of them more than the other?
    I would probably have to lean slightly towards the Grand Hyatt if I had to pick. I think the bathrooms were a little bit better, and the rooms just a bit more swanky.

  • SilvertwinnSilvertwinn Going on 40. "Get off my lawn!"Registered User regular
    I read through the posts and I don't think I saw my question answered (sorry if it was, I'm kind of blind):

    If we secure a room through OnPeak, do we have to pay right up front as we book it? Or can we still pay when we arrive at the hotel?

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    I read through the posts and I don't think I saw my question answered (sorry if it was, I'm kind of blind):

    If we secure a room through OnPeak, do we have to pay right up front as we book it? Or can we still pay when we arrive at the hotel?

    I don't believe OnPeak does prepaid rooms, but you might have to pay a one night deposit up front. Whether you have to do that or not depends completely on your hotel through.

    So there's no saying whether you'll have to or not, but I'd make sure I have about 250 in the account you plan on using for the reservation just in case.

  • SilvertwinnSilvertwinn Going on 40. "Get off my lawn!"Registered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    I don't believe OnPeak does prepaid rooms, but you might have to pay a one night deposit up front. Whether you have to do that or not depends completely on your hotel through.

    So there's no saying whether you'll have to or not, but I'd make sure I have about 250 in the account you plan on using for the reservation just in case.

    Thanks for responding so quickly! I'll be sure to have that money aside.

    Do you happen to know if the Sheraton allows an additional occupant (even if you pay for it)?
    They have the option of paying for a rollaway bed, so I'm wondering if they allow an additional occupant, too.

    (We had 4 people, but a 5th has recently been able to go and I don't want her to pay for a hotel room by herself.)

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    sanovah wrote: »
    I don't believe OnPeak does prepaid rooms, but you might have to pay a one night deposit up front. Whether you have to do that or not depends completely on your hotel through.

    So there's no saying whether you'll have to or not, but I'd make sure I have about 250 in the account you plan on using for the reservation just in case.

    Thanks for responding so quickly! I'll be sure to have that money aside.

    Do you happen to know if the Sheraton allows an additional occupant (even if you pay for it)?
    They have the option of paying for a rollaway bed, so I'm wondering if they allow an additional occupant, too.

    (We had 4 people, but a 5th has recently been able to go and I don't want her to pay for a hotel room by herself.)

    I'm not sure as the only place I've ever stayed is the westin. @fenrisfang or @adias.angel might be able to answer that through.


    This is me assuming you're new to at least Prime, but just a word of warning since you mentioned the Sheraton. It's one of the big 3 hotels that everyone wants to get a room at. So it can be difficult to get a room there. Id therefore suggest finding a backup hotel incase it sells out before your party can get a room.

    The hotels I can remember are as being part of the OnPeak system are:
    The Sheraton
    Homewood Suites
    The Grand Hyatt
    The Roosevelt
    The Westin
    Red Lion
    The Paramount
    and i think there's still one I can't remember

    sanovah on
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