Commuting to D*C

[wtfrak.livejournal.com]

This will be my first attendance to any convention. I know commuting to D*C each day is not recommended, however I have no choice as I've waited too late to book a nearby hotel. I'm probably going to be about 10-12 miles out. Anyone have advice good hotels, what time I should leave each morning, parking, etc.? I don't want to spend most of my day driving, walking, and trying to find a parking spot. Also, do you think I'll miss out on a lot if I leave Sunday?

Comments

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

Let's see, 10 miles east of Atlanta is Decatur, and that's my hood! So if you're out that way, my suggestion is find your nearest MARTA station, get to know it, and take your train to Peachtree Center. Parking will be a bitch downtown and cost a ton of money, plus traffic won't be good. You'll end up spending time trying to find a spot when you can be at panels and stuff.

As for leaving Sunday night--probably not. On Monday everyone packs up and leaves, really. Most of the guests probably will, too.

[eidolon-bird.livejournal.com]

My advice would be to join dragonconrooms to ask for a reservation transfer or watch for some of the deals that get posted, or wait until July or August and then call the Hyatt.  A lot of people start canceling reservation around that time, and the Hyatt is usually fairly good about releasing canceled reservations at con-rate.

As for leaving early, it depends on what time you plan on leaving Sunday, what they schedule on Monday and whether or not you like partying.  Sunday is still a big day for panels and guests, there are still tons of amazing costumes (costume contest is usually Sunday night, I think), and lots of parties to go to.  Monday also has some good panels from time to time, depending on what your interests are (for example, there was a Blade Runner panel with James Hong and Edward James Olmos that ended up being one of my favorite things about last year).  I prefer to stay until Tuesday, will reluctantly make plans to leave Monday afternoon if I HAVE to, and cannot imagine having to check out on Sunday.  On the upside, leaving Sunday means you miss the mass chaos of Monday-morning check-outs (though this really won't be much problem if you end up 10 miles away).

[veracity]

To add to your comment, I'd also make a reservation at another hotel just in case you don't get a room transfer. Better safe than sorry. I've used the comm in the past and it's very helpful for receiving and giving reservations away. Until I got a host hotel, I had a backup just in case at an overflow. And yep, around July the Hyatt usually has con-rate rooms available. Sometimes in a tower or a double room. I got one last year that way.

[cor256.livejournal.com]

call the hyatt every day, maybe twice a day if you are bored and want to. The hotel industry, well travel in general, is funny that way. People WILL cancel. But there is no schedule for that so might as well try calling. It doesnt hurt anything. The other suggestions are great too. Join the community and get on that list too.

Good luck

[wildflowerz.livejournal.com]

We've commuted every year except one for the past 10 years. Yes, staying there is teh awesome and much preferred, but it's not THAT bad driving. We usually come in off the Williams street exit and park at one of those cheap-o parking lots right there and have never had a problem or seen anyone else have problems there. Maybe we're the exception. /shrug

Good luck!

[arasirsul.livejournal.com]

Taking MARTA to the Con works pretty well with one exception: MARTA shuts down long before the con does. If you're interested in panels and such, you're fine, but if you're interested in parties, late-night concerts, or even just watching the costumes wander by in the lobby, well, you're ducking out at midnight or just a skosh before to ensure you catch the last train.

Even that's not too horrendous-- think of the luxury of being one of the few con-goers who got a few hours sleep and a shower each night...

[ladytalker13.livejournal.com]

We've done the commute by MARTA thing several years in a row... not too bad... they shut down between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. but if you're an all night party person like some of our friends were, they just planned on staying all night and came back to the hotel in the morning early to sleep.

[petrona.livejournal.com]

Last year, my hotel was near the airport and I took the Marta in. Didn't bother me in the least bit, unless you need costume changes and such, in which case, find a friend in the host hotels to accomodate you. And yes, you will miss much leaving on Sunday. Sunday was just as busy as the preceding days and the night is filled with parties and socializing.

[starlady42.livejournal.com]

If you leave Sunday, you'll miss the Masquerade!

[borgcricket.livejournal.com]

don't miss the Masquerade! it's awsome.. not to mention "Duck Dodgers in the 24th and 1/2 century!" i think the pirate party is sunday night along with many other parties.

[hellodali.livejournal.com]

There is a MARTA station right next door to the Hyatt, if you can't stay at one of the hotels, taking the train is the best bet. Besides there are plenty of stations with free parking.

[msmorgie.livejournal.com]

We live in Roswell,Ga and we have done by the staying and commuting. It really isn't that bad at all. We leave in the morning around 8ish and then just come home when we are tired. There is a big parking deck....right down from the Hyatt...it is a tad expensive BUT they always have parking...it is well lit...has cameras.....the levels have flower names (so you remember where to park). What we do is go up about 4 levels and when you start coming down I always find a parking spot. We have been using the same lot for about 5 yrs.

[kitt79.livejournal.com]

My suggestions;

Find a room/space in a room. I've roomed with "strangers" before; don't worry, we're all friends at DragonCon.

Failing that, take MARTA if you aren't interested in staying past 12:30 am or so.

Failing that, get there early and play parking roulette. I don't like parking downtown and I live here. I get a hotel room if there's any way at all to do it, and I live by the airport!

[alexdelarge78.livejournal.com]

Not that I wish to contradict you and sometimes necessity might take presidence over the luxury of choice. . Buuut:
I would be very wary of rooming with a complete or complete strangers. I can and will get along with almost anyone and moreso after my tongue had been loosened by alcohol, but sleeping next to or near a stranger with my 'stuff' vunerable is not an appetizing concept. It is of course each to their own.

[kitt79.livejournal.com]

I didn't have a problem with it, but I wasn't alone -- my husband was with me. If I were single, I surely would have thought twice.

[lavender-gurl.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall that MARTA trains ran until 2 AM during the Con as a special because of the multiple events happening downtown at the time. (I did this two years ago) Finding a hotel on the North-South line (no transfer concerns) that's in close proximity to the station would be recommended.

Course, there's talk about limiting MARTA service due to budget shortfalls. On a regular Saturday, the last train north from Peachtree Center leaves at approx 1:17 AM. There are also plenty of lots around and more police will be out because it's a major event.

[kittenbiscuits.livejournal.com]

I live in Atlanta in the Brookhaven area (just about a 2 miles north of Buckhead-Lenox mall area for those of you familiar with the area). There are many hotels in the Buckhead area that are near Marta stations. Some of them are on the pricey side, but there are some, like the Wingate by Wyndham on Piedmont road (Piedmont is a long road, so make sure to check the one in Buckhead) that tends to be more reasonable. It caters more to business travelers so weekends rates are sometimes more reasonable, like 85 bucks a night and the rooms have a micro and fridge. And last I heard they offer a free shuttle so you could grab the shuttle to the Marta station which is less than a mile away. Here is their website: http://www.wingateatlanta.com/ There are also many hotels in Perimeter area, but that is a bit further than 10 miles out, but there is a marta station right there and tons of cheap hotels that also cater to business travelers and the rates are very reasonable. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and I'd be more than happy to help you out.

Edit: also, you don't want to drive every day. 1)Atlanta traffic is a bitch. And it can get confusing if you don't know where you're going. 2) Parking does get a bit expensive. You just want to buy a multi day Marta pass for like 13 bucks. What we did last year is ride the train down for all the day events then like last year on Saturday we rode the train back that evening and drove our car down that night because we wanted to attend a party. The trains stopped running at 12:30 or 1:00, I believe. So it takes a bit of planning but it can definitely be done fairly stress free. ;) And we did it with a large group. I had several people staying with me. And I had 30 people ride the train from the hotels downtown to my house for a party and back downtown on Sunday night and we were able to coordinate those logistics. So it can be done.

[veracity]

There's also a couple hotels off Pharr, which is really close to Lindbergh (like 30 seconds by car). I see them whenever I leave my house. I agree about driving. I lived in Duluth for my first car and commuted. If you're not used to all the walking and hiking that the con takes, you're exhausted by the end. I didn't even make it Monday that year and Sunday I left by 6:30. Traffic is bad on any given day, but it's murder in holidays. We have a lot of out-of-towners that don't understand our messed up roadway system and it gets dicey. *is not really fearful of Lenox to 85N onramp at this point, really*

Use priceline

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

Select downtown and then midtown if you don't win a bid there. You'll be able to get one. I waited until late July one year and got a hotel within walking distance for about $80.

I would not recommend staying outside of downtown/midtown because you'll miss a lot driving and parking and dealing with all that crap.

If you get a hotel and base your choice based solely on a Marta train station you're going to have to call it a night fairly early as well. I love the Marta, but Atlanta is not Chicago or New York and therefore the transit shuts down.

I had not heard of the 2am thing for the Marta

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

If that's the truth then that is something new and it is awesome. We usually stay later than 2 on Saturday but I like to get enough sleep on Friday night to watch the games.

We're staying midtown about 1/2 block from the Marta .. we'll walk home at night and ride the cab in the day.

Atlanta traffic can be hell on Earth in and out of downtown. Worse than cities with much larger populations.

monday panels

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

Some of the best panels I have been to have been on Monday, and last year several of the guests were still around. I think it's worth staying .

[memysza.livejournal.com]

I you want to be halfway... Last year I stayed at the Atlanta hostel (http://www.atlantahostel.com/) and took MARTA in during the day, which worked out fine. I don't remember their parking specs, but there was something on the site. Availability was still open when I booked in June last year, though you'd have to check for now.

It is one mile north of D*C and about 4 blocks west of the MARTA stop (basically a straight line) plus other con goers stay there too.

Thanks!

[wtfrak.livejournal.com]

Thanks everyone for your replies! You all have been most helpful. I will definitely take everyone's advice. Thanks again!