Pre-PAX anxiety

jhammer705

Hi guys,
It's my first time posting but I have been lurking for a little while. I would like some insight because I'm currently freaking out about some things that I'll have to endure. I have a hotel for Friday (4pm check in -_-) until Sunday (12pm check out) which of course makes my getting to pax situation a little stressful. I am driving up to Boston (from about an hour away) early Friday morning, but since I can't go to my hotel I have to park in a garage. After Friday at pax I will have to go to the garage, drive a few miles to the hotel that way I can check in and sleep. I'll HAVE to take my car so I can get my luggage out and such. On Sunday before I go to pax I'm going to have to have all of my stuff packed and in my car and I'll have to take my car to a garage AGAIN since I won't be leaving pax to check out of my hotel. I found a place called pilgrim parking garage that's near the convention center but I was curious on if anyone has had experience with it and how it was? Also does anyone think there is an easier solution to all this, I'm stressing out about having to be all over the place in addition to the being all over the place at pax. This is my first pax and I'll be alone which continues to add more anxiety. Sorry for the noob post, I'm sure this has been answered a million times but I just Need reassurance.

Tl;dr best places to park and ease of parking near convention center?

zerzhul

It is my understanding that most hotels will let you park before check-in if you are checking in that day and don't kick you out of the garage right at checkout. You should call your hotel and find out their policies on this before causing yourself un-due parking issues.

DanQ

I've always used this one lot across i-90 which has always worked out fine for me. I have never had a problem finding parking at all (arriving about 10am), I just get off the turnpike exit and there are lots right there. About $13-15 for the day. There is the official convention parking too. That's nothing to worry about. The overnight parking is what will cost you. To avoid the double charges, you might want to consider parking in one place and using the subway to get around. Also, you might want to go check in during the day. Some hotels will only hold a reservation up until a certain time at night, or if it's one that's generally popular for the con, I've heard people run into situations where reserved rooms aren't available, or 2 bed rooms turn into 1 bed rooms. Use the trip out of the con as a dinner break.If you are going to do a midnight check in, I would call the day of and let them know you will be checking in late.

ishtra

we've driven up and done the friday-sunday. we parked in the hotel lot, hung around until we checked in (so parking fees now transfer to your hotel listing if you parked in your hotel's lot). then sunday we woke up before PAX, packed everything and checked out before hitting the con. We've never had a problem leaving the car in the lot for the day on Sunday even after check out.

punzie

If you only need your car to store your stuff before checking in/after checking, consider leaving it at the hotel desk instead. A couple dollars to tip the person stashing your stuff is much cheaper than the cost of parking.

GenEd

Hi there! Your story is quite like mine the first time around. The first time around my bf and I received tickets last min and went to pax without a clue as to where we would stay our nights. Our drive up took four hours, and we arrived at the convention center mid-day where we found parking in a lot down the street (maybe this is the one your asking about?). The lot itself was pretty packed but the walk was all of 5 mins? If you are going early I would suggest doing the same- All of our stuff was in the car, nothing was bothered. From here 1) you can enjoy the convention and 2) leave to your hotel when you want.

AlThor880

As a Boston resident, I am lucky enough not to have to deal with hotels for PAX East. But I do have some recommendations for alternative ways you can accomplish what you need to from previous travel experience.

First important question, is your hotel accessible via Boston's subway system? If so you may consider the following:

1. Drive to your hotel early Friday morning, and ask to leave your luggage at the front desk. I've never been at a hotel where I couldn't do this early on the day of my check-in, even if I can't check in until later that day.
2. Most hotels have pretty expensive parking. If you don't need your car over the weekend, you may want to look into parking at one of the MBTA parking lots next to the main T stations. I'm not sure what direction you're coming from, but I know stations like Alewife (Red Line), or Oak Grove (Orange Line) have easily accessible lots from the main highways. So my recommendation is after leaving your luggage, drive to one of these parking lots and leave your car there, taking the T back in towards PAX.
a. If the price of parking isn't all that much of a concern to you, most hotels will also allow you to park in their lot if you have an upcoming reservation that same day. Saves you some of the hassle of driving to/from that morning.
3. Attend PAX and enjoy!
4. A lot of hotels have shuttles going to/from the convention center. Even if your hotel doesn't a nearby one might, so check that information out. That takes care of getting to/from PAX the rest of your stay.
5. On Sunday morning check out of your hotel first thing. Again, most hotels (all I've ever been to) are happy to store your luggage for the day.
6. Depending on the route you took for step 2, at the end of PAX [:(] either head back to the hotel and grab your car & luggage, or take the T to your car and then drive back to the hotel for your luggage.

The above, while involving more driving around (assuming you don't want to pay the higher parking rates by the hotel), seems a bit less stressful to me. Another alternative is to pack light and go directly to a T parking lot, and just drag your bags to the hotel first instead of driving them there.

jhammer705

I won't be packing too crazy but I will have some stuff since I'll be bringing food and stuff to eat so I don't have to spend too much on food. But the ideas are greatly appreciated, I will call my hotel this week to find out but I want to say it's the Boston Marriott hotel? It's a mile or a couple miles away I think . . I want to say my wife said I could catch the t to get more towards the convention center. I was planning on taking a cab back every night since I don't feel comfortable walking late at night a couple miles to a hotel with a bunch of swag. Parking at the t station might not be bad either, I don't mind paying for parking but I won't be doing much driving since I hate driving Im boston.

cabsy

jhammer705 wrote: »

I won't be packing too crazy but I will have some stuff since I'll be bringing food and stuff to eat so I don't have to spend too much on food. But the ideas are greatly appreciated, I will call my hotel this week to find out but I want to say it's the Boston Marriott hotel? It's a mile or a couple miles away I think . . I want to say my wife said I could catch the t to get more towards the convention center. I was planning on taking a cab back every night since I don't feel comfortable walking late at night a couple miles to a hotel with a bunch of swag. Parking at the t station might not be bad either, I don't mind paying for parking but I won't be doing much driving since I hate driving Im boston.

We brought in a huge full size suitcase and a medium size cooler on the T last year, parked at the end of the red line. I wouldn't do that during rush hour or anything but we came in at 10pm and left around 2 in the afternoon and didn't have any issue at all. I think it cost us $8 a day including the overnight, for 5 days, so in total it was less than a single day of parking at the westin. Even if you add in two week-long charlie passes it comes in at under 2 days worth of parking at the hotel.

Seriously seriously seriously if you are coming in for pax buy a charlie pass, it's MUCH cheaper than a cab and the transit system is really quite easy to figure out.

jhammer705

My biggest thing on why I prefer a cab is privacy, I have to admit I'm a bit paranoid, esp because I'll be alone. The subway, I know, isn't the safest esp really late at night. But if I muster up a little more confidence I will Def use the T. My other worry is snow, if for some uncanny reason these storms keep up, the T could shut down again which would leave me in a pickle lol. Luckily I have another couple weeks to figure this all out but you guys have given me great options, I appreciate the warm welcome on my first, and very lengthy thread.

cabsy

Huh I have never felt unsafe on the T, even really late at night and even by myself. And hopefully you'll meet some cool people in your hotel so you won't be traveling about alone good luck!

punzie

There are some strange folks on the t sometimes, but I take it home from work around midnight by myself almost every night and haven't had any safety issues worse than "step away from the drunk person."

MaggieTheCat

zerzhul wrote: »

It is my understanding that most hotels will let you park before check-in if you are checking in that day and don't kick you out of the garage right at checkout. You should call your hotel and find out their policies on this before causing yourself un-due parking issues.

I have never been to PAX East but this was going to be my suggestion as well, especially since you are not staying at the hosting hotel. My husband and I do the same thing you are doing for a number of other conventions (granted, not on the east coast, we live in Texas) -- drive in Friday morning, have reservations at the hotel Friday/Saturday, check out Sunday morning, leave Sunday afternoon/evening -- and we've never had a problem leaving our car in our hotel's parking lot the entire time we're there, even if we can't check in as soon as we arrive on Friday or after we've checked out on Sunday. You may even be able to check in early on Friday depending on what time you get there.

jhammer705

Ok awesome, will be making the hotel phone call probably this week, just got back from skiing and now having home troubles due to the cold. Like I said before, I'm mostly just paranoid, I know there may not be danger but I always plan for the worst and hope for t