It has long been reported that the Democratic convention in Denver has sold out all the hotel rooms.
And the media has been warning people they may have to drive over an hour, or pay exorbitant prices for private home and apartment rentals.
So there’s no chance of finding anything at the last minute, right? Not exactly.
As of Sunday night, plenty of rooms are showing up in my travel agent reservation system for the whole week. Yes, they are expensive. The La Quinta downtown, a two-diamond property, wants $349 a night. But the Hilton Garden Inn near the airport is only $199 a night.
And while most high-end hotels are full, there are exceptions; the JW Marriott even has space for last minute high rollers for the night of Obama’s speech at $499.
But this post is less about this particular high-profile convention, than a general suggestion the next time you want a hotel room in an impossible location at an impossible time. Don’t give up. And if you have a marginal backup plan, it’s worth a last minute check to see if you can improve it.
Now, if your backup plan is staying on an old friend’s couch, this might be easier than if you have reserved a very expensive room somewhere you don’t really want to stay, as many hotels will implement tight cancellation policies. Want a room for the next president’s inaugural in January 2009 in Washington? Most hotels that aren’t sold out already want full pre-payment, and it’s not refundable if the other guy wins.
In addition, it’s not a great idea to book nonrefundable airline tickets without a backup plan of some sort, just in case.
But for many special events, rooms do open up. They may not be inexpensive. Though prices sometimes will drop as hotels find they might have been gouging a little too much, or as people’s plans change.
And with most chain hotels putting their inventory online and in travel agents’ reservation systems, a search doesn’t mean you or your travel agent calling every hotel in town. Most agents will be happy to search for a regular client, although calling out of the blue when you have airline reservations booked online will likely result in a polite brush-off, or at least a request for an up-front service charge.
It’s worth a shot. The money — or the nights on a couch — you save, may be your own.
