It’s July 1st 2018, San Diego Comic Con 2018 is weeks away, and for personal family reasons, I haven’t had time to nail down a room – yet. And if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve not secured one, either. So, what are the best hotels for SDCC 2018.
This blogger’s advice is to pick a hotel that has a combination of the following:
1) Proximity to San Diego Convention Center – because you don’t want to spend a lot of time walking a long distance or stuck in traffic on the way to the main halls.
2) Inexpensive relative room price – there are still low prices to be had, but then it’s a matter of luck. Here, the consideration is finding something that’s first, available, then close to SDCC, then on the main shuttle line, and not far from the airport. Be careful in using the hotel booking sites, because some of them tend to steer you to a hotel that has a really jacked up price. Also, don’t fear to share a room with someone or a group. I did two years ago, and met a great group of people who covered Wynonna Earp.
3) Access To The Comic Con Shuttle – and this is a repeat of what I wrote above. One aspect of San Diego Comic Con that has improved annually is the shuttle service. What once ran until the wee hours of the morning is now a 24-hour service and extensively covers San Diego. If you think you have to rent a car, think again. The SDCC Shuttle Service has you covered.
What Others Say About Selected San Diego Comic Con Hotels?
So what do others say about San Diego Comic Hotels? To answer that question, I scanned the forums to locate the most helpful entries. What follows is a sample of what’s reported:
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter: The reviewer stayed their in 2015 and wrote “The rooms are well sized, clean, and quite comfortable compared to other hotels in the area (Omni, Hiltons, etc). It’s just 3 blocks from the Convention center so maybe 5-10 minutes by foot.” Also hotel wifi is free if you are a Marriott Rewards guest.
San Diego Marriott and Marquis: I stayed there with a friend three years ago, and it made for one of the best San Diego Comic Con stays, ever.
First, of all, it’s connected to the San Diego Convention Center, so walking from hotel room to press assignment was a breeze. Second, a lot of talent stays there, so you’re likely to run into Tom Kenny, of Sponge Bob Square Pants fame, or legendary U.S. Congressman John Lewis, as was the case for me that year. Third, the rooms are nice (to say the least) and I especially loved the shower in the bathroom! If you can find someone willing to split the cost of a room, don’t hesitate. And finally, the Marriott breakfast buffet is the best I’ve had in San Diego for Comic Con, as my vlog will show:
Embassy Suites San Diego: A Comic Con goer on one of the forums reported that they “Loved the indoor pool and gym. Hotel staff was very nice and helpful, but that was because I was in contact with the staff prior to my visit,” they reported. As for parking costs “EEEE. first year it was $23/day, then last year it was $45/day…ridiculous jump.” And the person managed to meet a celebrity, too, writing “Didn’t see any celebrities at the hotel but we went to eat at a restaurant by the marina and we sat by the whole case of ABCs Once Upon a Time. Ginnifer Goodwin is soooo beautiful in person. Her eyes were so amazing.”
I remember the time Ginnifer Goodwin was mobbed by fans at San Diego Comic Con:
But I digress.
So, in closing, the best hotel is really a combination of price and availablity. I have to give special praise for the San Diego Marrott Mission Valley. An inexpensive shared room experience that was made even better by San Diego Comic Con’s incredible shuttle service. Here’s a vlog from that 2016 trip:
I also have to praise The King’s Inn, at !333 Hotel Circle South in San Diego. They sponsored my first San Diego Comic Con, and gained a lot of vlog coverage they’re still benefiting from, years later. The hotel is known for its popular breakfast restaurant, The Waffle Stop. Here’s my vlog from that SDCC experience:
Stay tuned.