Convention Survival Guide: Travel

Welcome to part three of our convention survival guide series! Today we'll focus on getting to and from the convention. :3 

TRAVEL

Depending on how far you have to travel, consider driving over flying if you're on a tight budget. It's much cheaper to drive to some places than it is to fly, and if you're going with a group of people it's even cheaper! You can split the gas cost between everyone traveling, you can take turns driving so nobody gets too tired. Added bonus: once you get to the hotel you'll have transportation in case of emergency. It will obviously take longer to get to the hotel than it would if you were flying but depeding on how far you're going and where you're going you could save hundreds of dollars in airfare, and you won't be limited by how much or what you can take on the plane. You might make some fun road trip memories along the way. :) If you're traveling with a group make sure you know who you're going with. Are they good drivers? Can they drive at all?  Do they shower regularly? Are they annoying, loud, or obnoxious? How crowded will the car be? How big will your vehicle be? Five people crammed into a Honda Fit might not be such a good idea. Five people in a Dodge Caravan is much more comfortable. :P 

If you are driving...make sure you have plenty of food and water on hand, espeically if you're traveling during the summer. If you break down you'll need enough water to stay hyrdated while you're waiting for a tow truck. Check the weather and the area you'll be driving through and plan your route accordingly. Make sure there are plenty of gas stations and repair shops along the way in case something happens. Pack the essentials for your car. Before a long trip I make sure I've packed fresh oil, coolant, water, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. If you're driving through a snowy area, carry tire chains and make sure you know how to put them on and take them off, and be sure to pack extra blankets and warm clothing. 

Book your hotel as soon as you can after registering. The closer it gets to convention time  the more expensive your hotel room will likely be, and if the convetion is at a hotel rooms will sell FAST. If the convention is being held at a hotel, call the hotel and see if they have a special discount for people attending the convention. If it's not being held at a hotel, research options thoroughly: how close do you need to be to the convention? Do you have a car? How far are you willing to drive? If you don't have a car, does the hotel offer shuttle service to the convention and if they do, how much does it cost? How much would it cost to take a cab? If you're flying, can you get to your hotel from the airport? Can you get back to the airport when it's time to go home? All these questions are hugely important, make sure they all have an answer before you leave. 

If you're splitting a room, limit the number of people. It may be tempting to cram seven people into one hotel room to save money, but you'll be getting a lot of stress and drama for your efforts. Some people will have to sleep on the floor if there isn't enough bedding, and that's not comfortable nor is it fun. It's hard for that many people to get ready in the morning, especially if you're sharing one bathroom, and only one or two mirrors. You don't get much privacy and you won't get much sleep either. Spend a little more to ensure everyone staying in the room has ample space, privacy, and a comfortable place to sleep. 

Research airlines before you book your flight, and check TSA regulations. This is one of the most important things a cosplayer needs to do if they're flying to a convention, especially if you have props or weapons. TSA regulations may prohibit you from taking certain props as carry-on luggage, especially if you have props that are large, oddly shaped, or look like weapons. Also research airline policies reguarding checked luggage and carry-on size restrictions. For example, Delta charges $25 per checked bag, while Southwest allows two checked bags for free(additional bags are $25, I belive). Also check to see how large the aircraft is. I'm not kidding. I never gave this much thought until I had to fly out of town last-minute. I ended up on a Delta flight instead of Southwest, which is my usual airline. Southwest's planes are MUCH bigger than Delta's. I could barely fit my carry-on luggage during my Delta flight, and the overhead compartments were so small even bags that were within Delta's carry-on size restriction had to be checked on both my flights(they don't charge when this happens). If you have a large, ornate cosplay with lots of props and elements to it, Delta might not be the airline for you. 

Book your flight as ASAP! Hotel room rates go up closer to the convention and so do airline tickets, more so than hotels. Booking a last-minute flight can cost an average of $700 or more depeding on the airline, and that's for cheap airlines! The farther out you can book your flight the better. 

As always, comment if you feel that I forgot something, and stay fabulous!

-Vik