TOPIC: Any Suggestions For First Time Travelers Going to Indy?

Hey Y'all,

What better way to keep from making stupid mistakes, than to get suggestions and tips from seasoned veterans.

So what kind of suggestions and tips would you give to a first time Traveler going to Indy?

Remember to always bring your towel. One never knows when it might be useful. ^_~

I don't know if this is so much relevant for "travellers to Indy" as "travellers to large gaming convention" but here's my advice:

Bring quick&easy breakfast food!

When you've got a busy gaming schedule, or if you were up late the previous night doing a midnight dungeon crawl, it's easy to skip on meals. There's pitifully few places at the Con which offer good breakfast food, and even fewer do it at reasonable prices. So you end up going hungry, and realize around lunch that you're starving, and wind up spending more than you planned on greasy food which you wolf down on your way to the next game/session/competition.

I suggest any of the following:
Cereal
Bread & jam/cheese/peanutbutter (don't forget a knife for spreading)
Muffins
Fresh fruit.

Remember to always bring your towel. One never knows when it might be useful. ^_~

You meanthere are people who go places without their towel???? *clutches towel tightly*

I don't know if this is so much relevant for "travellers to Indy" as "travellers to large gaming convention" but here's my advice:

Bring quick&easy breakfast food!

When you've got a busy gaming schedule, or if you were up late the previous night doing a midnight dungeon crawl, it's easy to skip on meals. There's pitifully few places at the Con which offer good breakfast food, and even fewer do it at reasonable prices. So you end up going hungry, and realize around lunch that you're starving, and wind up spending more than you planned on greasy food which you wolf down on your way to the next game/session/competition.

Ahh yes, I plan on bringing my granola bar to ensure I have some Joy-friendly foods.

I suggest any of the following:
Cereal

*whimpers* Wheat. :

Bread & jam/cheese/peanutbutter (don't forget a knife for spreading)

*whimpers* Wheat :

Muffins

*whimpers some more* Also wheat. :

Fresh fruit.

Do they allow that on airplanes?

Thanks for the great suggestions and advice Raven, you rock. Plus I know who to pester if I get a muffin or pb craving.

Please keep suggestions coming. I know I always forget something. And I'm sure as soon as I get there, I'll be all Doh!>_< I forgot that!

We know some Indy natives, so we can probably do a run to a grocery store and pick up all sorts of food stuffs... (Fruit, etc.)

I know at SoCal, Lori was awesome about keeping snackables in the break area! You guys take great care of your volunteers! Thanks bunches

With at least one or two runs to Wal-mart for extension cords and the like, I am sure foodstuffs can be added to the list.

DD, also timing provided, there are several good stores for those on restricted diets (Trader Joes and Wild Oats to name a few). PM me with a list closer to the con and I will see what I can do to help you out (pick up and bring with me).

To others, in general, if you have transportation, Indy is laid out in a grid so heading in any direction within 10 miles will get you to some lower priced grocery and discount stores.

Speaking from personal experience many, if not all of the airlines have a weight limit restriction on how much you can carry in your luggage. If you are bringing gaming books and paper, that eats up a lot of weight. You may want to call to see what that limit is prior to packing, or be prepared to pay a $25-50 fee if you exceed that weight. (no comments Drahga... and oh yah, swag takes up weight too for the return trip) I would concentrate on bringing easy to eat snacks and meals that do not need refrigeration. If you have water and soda needs, someone will be going on a supply run and can probably get it for you at a discount price (if you are nice to them) so that you do not have to pay the $2.50 premium.

For volunteers, the Marriott has a "cooler" in each room (i.e. dorm fridge without freezer). They are small but will keep perishables from, well... perishing. Locals may still want to bring a cooler for water, sodas, and Dwarven Ale .

If you are a little paranoid about sharing a bed with one of your fellow volunteers (rooms have two double beds) note that the hotel can not put any rollaways in rooms with two beds already (violates fire codes.) You may want to bring a single size inflatable mattress, unless you plan on being one of the ones who gets the bed.

I have yet to check on the internet access from the Marriott (cost, access types, etc.) but will the next time I am over that way.

Dave

Thanks Dave!

DD - I'll have access to a car there, so we can stop by a grocery store when you get there.

Hey Dave,

Thanks for all the great info and suggestions, and offers for help!!

Thanks Niles,
Its good to have friends at the con! hehehe, especially considering I can't drive. And while I don't mind a 12-15 mile walk, I do prefer it being a place I know and am comfortable at. So assistance is greatly appreciated!

Any other suggestions or traveling tips?

Checked on the internet access. It is $9.95 a day for a wired connection, that also includes unlimited local and domestic long distance. If it is the same set up they had in SoCal, we arranged to activate the access from the room held on my CC. We then could use any of our laptops to access the net (e.g. no registration). I would assume you could bring a hub, switch, or router and several people could access at the same time.

Dave

As far as transportation to and from the airport.

My company uses Indy Airport Taxi, (317) 381-1111.

I think they have a flat rate of $15 one way, which is kind of pricy considering it is only about 10 miles or so and the Super Shuttle from LAX to Anaheim was only about that much.

Posted on the Gencon website was a reference to a share-ride limousine, available for $10 per person. The service is offered by Carey Indiana and you have to make reservations in advance at 800-888-INDY.

Dave

Thanks for posting all this great info Dave!!!