Trying to make it out to GenCon this year. I'm curious for those who have gone before or are going this year, what hotel do you suggest to use and why? Where are decent places to eat there?

P.F. Chang's and Weber Grill are really good. The Ram is, too, and it usually has a neat gaming-themed menu with cool movies playing on the TVs just for GenCon weekend.

P.F. Chang's and Weber Grill are really good. The Ram is, too, and it usually has a neat gaming-themed menu with cool movies playing on the TVs just for GenCon weekend.

I'm getting set for my third GenCon this year, and I've never yet been able to eat (or, more specifically, drink) at the Ram. The wait has been 2+ hours every time I've shown up...

You can never go wrong with Steak and Shake, unless you don't consider that decent. Can't help you with hotels never had a room in one myself.

This late in the process, the answer is "whatever hotel you can get into." They opened their housing block a few weeks ago and an awful lot of stuff is sold out/booked up, so right now you should just be looking for whatever you can get, where ever you can get it.

Weber Grill is good stuff (I'm a fan of eating someplace nice, a good meal, once a day while I'm in Indy, but that varies by age and budget), Steak and Shake is nice because it's open 24/7, and the Ram is fun (especially if you're a fan of Warmachine and other Privateer Press games).

For more general discussion (from a thread maybe a month ago, looks like?), you can check this thread: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/131375-gencon-2015-x-wing/

Last year I stayed at the Baymont Inn and Suites (4402 East Creek View Road), but it's 10 miles from the convention center, so you'll need a car. Parking near the convention center is also difficult. Those difficulties aside, the hotel was clean, and the rates were reasonable.

As an aside, don't necessarily be afraid of staying a little distance from the con (err, especially now that lots of closer stuff is sold out). In recent years, I've started going out of my way to purposefully stay away from the convention center and those downtown prices, getting a room at an Extended Stay America (full kitchen, woohoo, cheap breakfasts and late night snacks!) out towards the aiport. I've got to take a few minutes in a cab or shuttle every day, sure, but all things considered I've got my room for all four nights for cheaper than one night at some of the other hotels I've been in. It naturally varies based on what sort of games you're playing and how much stuff you're going to have to be carrying with you to play those games, wear those costumes, or whatever...but to me, being a little away from the convention center isn't too bad.

Even with a daily cab ride there and back, I'm saving money, and I got my room like six months before the GenCon housing block even opened up. It's over, it's done, and I don't have to worry about it; to me, that alone is worth it. I hate the hassle and the roll-of-the-dice (ironically) of trying to get into the housing block.

As an aside, don't necessarily be afraid of staying a little distance from the con (err, especially now that lots of closer stuff is sold out). In recent years, I've started going out of my way to purposefully stay away from the convention center and those downtown prices, getting a room at an Extended Stay America (full kitchen, woohoo, cheap breakfasts and late night snacks!) out towards the aiport. I've got to take a few minutes in a cab or shuttle every day, sure, but all things considered I've got my room for all four nights for cheaper than one night at some of the other hotels I've been in. It naturally varies based on what sort of games you're playing and how much stuff you're going to have to be carrying with you to play those games, wear those costumes, or whatever...but to me, being a little away from the convention center isn't too bad.

Even with a daily cab ride there and back, I'm saving money, and I got my room like six months before the GenCon housing block even opened up. It's over, it's done, and I don't have to worry about it; to me, that alone is worth it. I hate the hassle and the roll-of-the-dice (ironically) of trying to get into the housing block.

I read this same advice you gave on the thread you linked me to. If you would be so kind to answer my questions, I'm new to the whole traveling-alone-for-a-con thing.

Around what is the total cost for hotel stay there? I might just go with that.

Also, what is the typical cost of cab/shuttle rides there?

Is having a lot of cash (rather than using a debit card) on hand a better option?

The Ram and Scotty's are must visits.

they each brew a one-off beer for the con and sell unique merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc) for Gencon.

The Ram and Scotty's are must visits.

they each brew a one-off beer for the con and sell unique merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc) for Gencon.

I bet that all costs a pretty penny.

The Ram and Scotty's are must visits.

they each brew a one-off beer for the con and sell unique merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc) for Gencon.

I bet that all costs a pretty penny.

My personal position is that money is irrelevant when it comes to beer. Of course, I also only drink once a week or so, and I usually stop after two or three, so my perspective is a bit skewed.

(Sorry, I'm not sure how to do the "line by line quote and respond" thing in this forum code)

I read this same advice you gave on the thread you linked me to. If you would be so kind to answer my questions, I'm new to the whole traveling-alone-for-a-con thing.

Around what is the total cost for hotel stay there? I might just go with that.

Also, what is the typical cost of cab/shuttle rides there?

Is having a lot of cash (rather than using a debit card) on hand a better option?

The room I got at the hotel I got -- sorry, I don't have the address handy, and I know Indy has several -- I've got it from Wednesday to Sunday, for about $350, total. In the past, I've paid about that for one night at the skywalk-connected hotels right across from the con, so for me this is a great trade-off. Partially it's because a few of my traditional GenCon buddies have stopped going, so I'm having to cough up the whole price myself (closer rooms are financially tolerable if you're splitting it with a bunch of other gamers, but not, in my opinion, when flying solo).

Cabs ran me maybe $15 a ride (counting my tip) last year. I was okay with the extra $30 a day, personally. That was the times I rode solo instead of splitting it with someone else, etc, etc. Shuttles I've used were either free, $5 a ride, or included with a badge subscription thing (bought ahead of time), it's varied from year to year.

Cash vs. credit/debit varies based on what you want to buy and where. Most of the vendor hall boots, and even some of the food trucks (for those opting for those, which I heartily endorse at least as a fun experiment) have at least "an app for that," and can take a credit or debit card. I'm not a big cash guy, personally, and I know everyone's got a different comfort threshold for how much they like to carry around and have on 'em at a time.

I had a kick ass bit of wagyu at Mo's last year. I'm hitting that place up again.

finding a room for $350 near the con is impossible.

If you aren't from the Mid-west then 'Steak N Shake" is also a great place to visit.

What's wrong with shady places?!?!

Not so much. $350 a night is pretty normal.

ohhhhhhhhhh, I get it...