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Early 2013 Hotel Discussion

13

Posts

  • FenrisfangFenrisfang Edmonton, AB, CanadaRegistered User regular
    @Silvertwinn Last year was my first PAX...but from what I saw during the last years forum chat was that a lot of people booked for a double occupancy and then had people sleep on the floor or wherever in the room. Kind of a "what the hotel doesn't know won't cost me extra" type thing. Word of warning is that if you get caught with more people then are on the reservation you can get kicked out. All depend on if the hotel wants to be a jerk or not.

    My guess with the room would be that if you can't book a room for 5 people, then you are over the limit of the room. They may not allow a cot in a room with two beds as it is against fire regulations to have one in there. It ends up blocking the way to the door in an emergency. All in all...I guess it is up to you if you want to have that 5th person in there all sneaky like...or just book 2 rooms and play it safe. :ar!

    @sanovah I know we booked the Paramount via OnPeak as well...so there is another for your list. :^:

    PAX Tickets: check!
    Hotel Booked: check!
    Sitter for the kids: check!
    Excitement level rising: check, check and triple check!
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    @fenrisfang thanks knew I was forgetting one. Also not sure why I thought you were a Sheraton "vet"

    @silvertwinn I went to the Sheratons website and it looks like they officially cap the rooms at 4 adults. Now I may be incorrect as I traveled by myself and will again this year, but if I remember last years pre and post discussion some hotels start charging extra every night when you have X number of people or more. And like fenris said if they give you a limit and catch you over it they might throw you out.

    So with their limit probably being 4 adults and not knowing what their extra person fee may be. Your group may want to look at two rooms. Might not be that much more expensive and it'll be a lot safer.

  • ramen215ramen215 Registered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    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

    I stayed at the Hilton last year, so that's on the list too :)

    Track Record: ~Prime '12 Prime '13
  • RhileyRhiley Registered User regular
    This will be our first trip to Prime instead of East and we want to go from Wednesday through Tuesday...assuming we are quick enough on the draw to get passes that is. With the fourth day this year any guesses as to what days we will be able to book through Onpeak?

    2013 Prime Omeganaut
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    I would hope that OnPeak will have adjusted to more people leaving on Tuesday instead of Monday.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    Here are all the hotels that were available last year (I kept the list):

    Crowne Plaza
    Fairmount Olympic
    The Grand Hyatt
    Hilton Seattle
    Homewood Suites
    Hotel Max
    Hyatt Olive 8
    Mayflower
    Paramount
    Red Lion
    Renaissance
    Roosevelt Hotel
    Sheartaon Seattle
    Westin Seattle
    W Seattle Hotel

    I *think* there may have been two more added after I took a copy of the list though.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Rhiley wrote: »
    This will be our first trip to Prime instead of East and we want to go from Wednesday through Tuesday...assuming we are quick enough on the draw to get passes that is. With the fourth day this year any guesses as to what days we will be able to book through Onpeak?

    In the past you could already do Wednesday to Tuesday so if anything changes I bet it would only change to one additional day at the end.

    adias.angel on
    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • BadNews65BadNews65 Data Solutions Analyst ArkansasRegistered User regular
    If you are looking for a hotel with a complimentary refrigerator in your room and a microwave. The Renascence might be the place for you. It is a bit of a walk (around 6 mins) but it's located by some very nice places to eat. I stayed there last Prime and loved it. Although I am going for one of the big three this year. I'd like to be more in the mix of things and do some gaming, you will find little no none of that there. its not crowded or busy. I saw very few fellow PAXers in there with me.

  • SilvertwinnSilvertwinn Going on 40. "Get off my lawn!"Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    sanovah wrote: »
    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: This will actually be my third PAX Prime. My group has been staying at Best Western (and it's a killer walk). The reason I ask is because you can pay for an extra occupant at the Inn at the WAC as well as pay for a rollaway bed.

    I almost got a room at the Crowne Plaza (?) but our 4th flaked out and I missed my chance because they didn't respond in time.

    @Fenrisfang: Believe me, I am quite a stickler for legal things and the thought of hoarding illegal occupants terrifies me. That's why I'm asking if we can pay.

    @sanovah: I have seen the occupancy max at 4 people. I'm just going to call them today. :P We can't do 2 rooms. (The guys won't want to split up, and I don't want to leave my boyfriend, so we're SOL for my girl friend.) I've run every scenario through my head.

    Thanks for your help, guys! :)

    Silvertwinn on
  • CuvisTheConquerorCuvisTheConqueror They always say "yee haw" but they never ask "haw yee?" Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    sanovah wrote: »
    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.

    Last year I was going to use OnPeak, as I couldn't get my employee rate, and they didn't charge me at all. IIRC, they don't actually charge the deposit until 2 weeks before the event, and you can still get your money back if you cancel after that (as long as you cancel at least 2 days before the event).
    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.)

    The Sheraton does indeed allow for additional occupants, and doesn't even charge extra for them on standard rates (not sure about OnPeak, though). However, they do have a max of 3 in a single-bed room or 4 in a double-bed room.

    CuvisTheConqueror on
    xderwsaxganu.png
  • LindabearLindabear Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    This will be our first time at PAX, but 4 of us just booked a room at the Executive Hotel Pacific -- It's about an 8 minute walk from the WSCC and they don't charge us anything until the day we check in, and there's free cancellation!

    I think there's a deal going on too right now. I used a promo code and it gave me about $182/night. I know for a fact Best Western has a 25% off code for a manager's special right now! Hope that helps. :)

    PAX Prime 2013 [X]
    PAX Prime 2014 [X]
    PAX Prime 2015 [X]
  • vespachicavespachica SeattleRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    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

    Yes. It is on the lower (west) side of Queen Anne. I work right across the street. It's super easy to grab a bus from there that will get you near the Convention Center. You could walk if you want, but the buses there are actually not too bad.

    ufq9gj8383nh.png

  • FallenCouncilFallenCouncil Registered User new member
    Anyone know (roughly of course) how large the PAX discount is with hotels or what it has been in the past? I heard that they give more off if you check in Thursday and leave Monday can someone confirm? Also, anyone with experience on how much a hotel room for two people is that is moderately close to the convention center? Thanks!

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Anyone know (roughly of course) how large the PAX discount is with hotels or what it has been in the past? I heard that they give more off if you check in Thursday and leave Monday can someone confirm? Also, anyone with experience on how much a hotel room for two people is that is moderately close to the convention center? Thanks!

    Last year the pax rate was like 180-200 a night. Think I paid like 190 for the Westin. Not sure what it would have been normally.

    The PAX rate is the PAX rate. You won't save any more depending on when you check in or out. If anything you'll be charged more because a date you choose isn't covered by the pax rate.But until it's actually announced we won't know what dates are and aren't covered by the PAX rate.

    All of the hotels are pretty close within I want to say half a mile. As for the price it really depends on the deal OnPeak can get. Like I said last year I got the Westin for about 190 but someone I talked to after the con stayed at Homewood for like 210 a night with a big group. So it really depends on the deal and hotel, but if it's like last year 180-200 a night.

    sanovah on
  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    sanovah wrote: »
    Anyone know (roughly of course) how large the PAX discount is with hotels or what it has been in the past? I heard that they give more off if you check in Thursday and leave Monday can someone confirm? Also, anyone with experience on how much a hotel room for two people is that is moderately close to the convention center? Thanks!

    Last year the pax rate was like 180-200 a night. Think I paid like 190 for the Westin. Not sure what it would have been normally.

    Agreed. There were a few that were around the 160-170 range like the Crowne, Mayflower, Westin and Red Lion.

    And as far as discounts (if it's the same as last year), you get somewhere between a $50-80 per night savings depending on the hotel. It's pretty substantial if you are there for a few nights.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • Ben2998Ben2998 Master Montreal, QCRegistered User regular
    This will be my first PAX Prime and the first time I'm going solo. Is there anyone here who's going solo and would like to share a room with me? I don't mind sharing a condo or a room on AirBNB or a room through OnPeak but I would like to pay less than 100$ a day and at walking distance from PAX.

    Conquered PAX East 2013!
    Planning PAX East 2014 invasion:
    [ ... ] Hotel | [ ... ] Travel | ✓ Pass
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    edited April 2013
    Ben2998 wrote: »
    This will be my first PAX Prime and the first time I'm going solo. Is there anyone here who's going solo and would like to share a room with me? I don't mind sharing a condo or a room on AirBNB or a room through OnPeak but I would like to pay less than 100$ a day and at walking distance from PAX.

    Once hotels go live Zerzhul or some PA member will post a room share thread for you to look for either people or a room. Until then it's best to hold off on posts like this.

    sanovah on
  • GdexGdex Registered User regular
    Last year I stayed at the Paramount and I enjoyed it. It is a nice close walk with a starbucks on the way to the convention center, I know if I turn around I can usually see 5 at any given point in down town Seattle but it was nice just doing a straight line. The staff was nice, the rooms were comfy, the one big down side was the fact that unlike the Sheraton and other big hotels it doesn't really have much space if you want to do stuff with a group down in the lobby. The restaurant though did as of last year have half price appetizers during happy hour and after 11pm/midnight which was great for late night snacks and if you go I'd recommend the Tempura Bacon, pulled some people in for it after the hooka pre pax meet up and it was agreed across the board it was a life changer. Also a nice thing about it was that it's 2 blocks up from the end of line light rail stop, and one block up from the monorail to take you to the space needle area of Seattle which was nice for the coming in and going portion of the event.

  • ShocknaShockna Registered User regular
    Question for anyone who's ever stayed at the Sheraton; how are the rooms there? I stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year, and it was the best hotel I've ever been in (though to be fair, before Prime '12, I stayed almost always at awful hotels >_>). I'm going to try to get a room at the Sheraton this year, and want to know what to expect.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    Shockna wrote: »
    Question for anyone who's ever stayed at the Sheraton; how are the rooms there? I stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year, and it was the best hotel I've ever been in (though to be fair, before Prime '12, I stayed almost always at awful hotels >_>). I'm going to try to get a room at the Sheraton this year, and want to know what to expect.

    I hope you don't mind me asking (we are debating between these two hotels for this year). Why are you switching if you really liked it?

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • DarkAonDarkAon Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    Shockna wrote: »
    Question for anyone who's ever stayed at the Sheraton; how are the rooms there? I stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year, and it was the best hotel I've ever been in (though to be fair, before Prime '12, I stayed almost always at awful hotels >_>). I'm going to try to get a room at the Sheraton this year, and want to know what to expect.

    I can't compare it to the Grand Hyatt directly, but over the last three years my group has stayed at the Crowne Plaza, Roosevelt and Sheraton. Of those three, the Sheraton was our least favorite of the three because the room size was smaller than the other two hotels while the cost was still high. The room was better than at the Roosevelt, but the Roosevelt is a fair bit cheaper, so we liked it more for the increased cost/benefit ratio. The room at the Crowne was nicer than the Sharaton for about the same cost, but the location isn't as good and there isn't anyone really doing anything in the lobby.

    That said, the Sheraton is still a quality hotel, and the location is perfect. There are always tons of people in the lobby if you like to mingle, which is a huge reason many like it so much.

    gdGxyA3
  • elleecstaticelleecstatic Registered User regular
    Im not sure if this belongs in the hotel section or not but I wanted to know are there going to be any pre-pax gaming night in the lobbies of the hotels like PAX east this year? If so which ones? I went to my first PAX East this year (liked it so much, i figured why not goto prime?) and it was super convenient for me to just go downstairs for gaming night.

  • whypick1whypick1 PAX [E] Info Booth Manager ~2' from an LCDRegistered User regular
    Pre-PAX board gaming typically happens in the Sheraton lobby.

    Is it PAX <insert nearest future PAX here> yet?
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    whypick1 wrote: »
    Pre-PAX board gaming typically happens in the Sheraton lobby.
    For prime 2012 I believe the Sheraton also gave the group use of one of the banquet halls or conference rooms (can't remember which).

  • ShocknaShockna Registered User regular
    Shockna wrote: »
    Question for anyone who's ever stayed at the Sheraton; how are the rooms there? I stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year, and it was the best hotel I've ever been in (though to be fair, before Prime '12, I stayed almost always at awful hotels >_>). I'm going to try to get a room at the Sheraton this year, and want to know what to expect.

    I hope you don't mind me asking (we are debating between these two hotels for this year). Why are you switching if you really liked it?

    A desire to try something new, plus a bit of laziness regarding walking distance.

  • SilvertwinnSilvertwinn Going on 40. "Get off my lawn!"Registered User regular
    Shockna wrote: »
    A desire to try something new, plus a bit of laziness regarding walking distance.

    Sorry to butt in like this, but the walk from the Grand Hyatt to PAX is nothing. My group of three has booked the Best Western Loyal Inn for the last two years (first one we didn't know about the PAX deals and the second we were too slow in debating) and that is a walking distance to be lazy about. Search it on Google maps. We did that walk four times each day. I even ran the distance there and back because we needed different things to take with us into the Magic party line. It's a perfectly fine hotel and the workers there are lovely and patient and super helpful. Honestly, the distance is the only reason why I want to get us a room *anywhere* closer to PAX. I'm really hoping for the Sheraton. *crossing fingers*

    (If anyone can't get a room anywhere else, the Best Western is the first place I would go. I've never regretted going there, except for the distance.)

  • realisticradicalrealisticradical Durham, NCRegistered User regular
    I looked up all the hotels from the lists of OnPeak hotels and they all seem to be within a few city blocks. As far as I can tall all easily within walking distance.

  • ShocknaShockna Registered User regular
    Shockna wrote: »
    A desire to try something new, plus a bit of laziness regarding walking distance.

    Sorry to butt in like this, but the walk from the Grand Hyatt to PAX is nothing.

    That's exactly why I called it laziness (Hyatt is a portion of a block, IIRC Sheraton is just crossing the street). Though in this case, perhaps "supreme laziness" is a better term. >.>

  • Spud387Spud387 Man of Inaction Vancouver, BC, CanadaRegistered User regular
    In case anyone is curious, you can still view the Hotel list & their amenities from 2012 on the OnPeak website:
    OnPeak Pax Prime 2012 Hotels

    Prime 2016 Status: Skipping. 2017, The Return.

    Attended: PAX Prime 2010/'11/'12/'13/'14
  • hyrulehero96hyrulehero96 The Hero of Rhyme Registered User regular
    It doesn't really apply since its a different convention but worth noting that this year for sakura-con they didn't allow any room sharing threads because of liability reasons that the area hotels were concerned about (room stuffing ECT.) just wondering if this will have any effect on Pax since they use alot of the same hotels, probably not but still something to think about.

    Slim, Relax, Fine Wine At The Qfc, On A Snowy Saturday Night

    My Body Is always Reggie
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    @hyrulehero96 my plan is still to have a room sharing thread unless I am directed otherwise by PA/Reed. I haven't heard anything of that sort, and it's up to the hotels in question to actively police their own policies.

  • WolfmanASTNWolfmanASTN Registered User regular
    Does OnPeak book any single rooms? I'm hoping to stay with a friend but there is a chance that might not work out and I'd like to have a back-up just in case that happens. If they do are there specific hotels that they are available at? I'm not too picky, but I'd like it to be a 10 minute walk or less, besides that I don't have a preference for amenities as long as I have a bed and a place to put my stuff :)

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    I'm not sure what you mean by single rooms. They books rooms for one person that have one bed, usually king size bed rooms.

  • WolfmanASTNWolfmanASTN Registered User regular
    zerzhul wrote: »
    I'm not sure what you mean by single rooms. They books rooms for one person that have one bed, usually king size bed rooms.

    That's what I meant! :)

    Thanks!

  • PythagorisPythagoris Registered User regular
    It would appear that room blocking has already begun. More than a couple of the hotels from last years list are already showing no availability during Prime.

    Pax Prime 2013 Checklist: Time Off [X] Badge [X] Hotel [?] Flight [X]
  • RidleyDragonRidleyDragon Registered User regular
    Pythagoris wrote: »
    It would appear that room blocking has already begun. More than a couple of the hotels from last years list are already showing no availability during Prime.

    To clarify so everyone doesn't have a heart attack, that's if you try to reserve a room on the hotel's website, onpeak isn't ready yet.

    PW0oFIs.png
  • PythagorisPythagoris Registered User regular
    Pythagoris wrote: »
    It would appear that room blocking has already begun. More than a couple of the hotels from last years list are already showing no availability during Prime.

    To clarify so everyone doesn't have a heart attack, that's if you try to reserve a room on the hotel's website, onpeak isn't ready yet.

    Right, sorry. I see now the error of my ways.

    Pax Prime 2013 Checklist: Time Off [X] Badge [X] Hotel [?] Flight [X]
  • RidleyDragonRidleyDragon Registered User regular
    Pythagoris wrote: »
    Pythagoris wrote: »
    It would appear that room blocking has already begun. More than a couple of the hotels from last years list are already showing no availability during Prime.

    To clarify so everyone doesn't have a heart attack, that's if you try to reserve a room on the hotel's website, onpeak isn't ready yet.

    Right, sorry. I see now the error of my ways.

    Oh no, it was good information, my heart just lept into my throat at first glance of that post.

    PW0oFIs.png
  • JKwonJKwon Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    phew, glad to hear that really isn't the case

    PAX Prime 2010 [x]
    PAX Prime 2011 [x]
    PAX Prime 2012 [x]
    PAX Prime 2013 [x]
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  • contrefaitcontrefait Registered User regular
    Pythagoris wrote: »
    It would appear that room blocking has already begun. More than a couple of the hotels from last years list are already showing no availability during Prime.

    OnPeak/PA more than likely booked the block of rooms at each hotel months ago. This is not a recent occurrence.

    PAX East 2016 Checklist
    Passes: ▬ Hotel: ▬ Flight: [color=red]☑[/color]
This discussion has been closed.