[Tashigi2526]

So I'm having a hard time picking out a hotel to stay at this year. I really enjoyed my stay at the Double Tree this past year, but some of the people in my group felt the walk to and from the convention center through the hamster trails (that tunnel-like network of sky bridges that connects the convention center to some of the hotels in the area) was a little too long, and didn't enjoy having to cut through the parking garage at night when it was cold out. We were thinking maybe of staying at the Hilton this year, but weren’t sure if it was connected to the convention center by the hamster trails. Does anyone know if the Hilton is connected to the convention center at all, or if there are any other hotels connected to the convention center that would be a slightly shorter walk through the hamster trails? I remember there used to be a map posted on the forums somewhere that showed which hotels were in the immediate vicinity of the convention center, and which had access to the hamster trails, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[XenoBlade]

IIRC the Hilton is connected, but the walk is really long too. It's the furthest connected hotel.

[TheStrongJaeger]

Obviously the Hyatt will be the closest one since you can get there without the Skywalk through the Hyatt front door in about a minute. The Hilton will be shorter walk than the Doubletree but still an ok walk. In general if you can afford to walk outside you'll save yourself some time no matter what.

[Tashigi2526]

We've been avoiding the Hyatt since catching an elevator there has always been next to impossible (and it's no fun running up and down multiple flights of stairs with luggage). I know there was some talk of them trying to fix the elevator overcrowding problem, but I have no idea if they were successful or not. (Does anyone know?) It's no problem for us walking outside when the weather is nice, but if it's cold or raining (which often seems to happen at ACen) we'd prefer to use the Skywalk. Are the Hyatt, Hilton and Double Tree the only hotels connected to the Skywalk?

[TheStrongJaeger]

Tashigi2526, on 01 October 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

Are the Hyatt, Hilton and Double Tree the only hotels connected to the Skywalk?

Yes. The Embassy Suites (in between the Hilton and Doubletree) isn't officially connected but it has access to the parking garage that does connect to the Skywalk. It's also arguably the shortest distance via outside walking. This map may help a bit as well if it still works. The purple line is the Skywalk.

ACen Map

This post has been edited by TheStrongJaeger: 01 October 2012 - 03:35 PM

[Smokey]

Tashigi2526, on 01 October 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

We've been avoiding the Hyatt since catching an elevator there has always been next to impossible (and it's no fun running up and down multiple flights of stairs with luggage). I know there was some talk of them trying to fix the elevator overcrowding problem, but I have no idea if they were successful or not. (Does anyone know?)

There were still periods when they got a little bit crowded, but it was nothing like past years. IRT did a great job.

[TheStrongJaeger]

Smokey, on 01 October 2012 - 03:41 PM, said:

There were still periods when they got a little bit crowded, but it was nothing like past years. IRT did a great job.

I will second this. Other than checkout on Sunday I had no issues with the elevators last year.

[XenoBlade]

Ill third it. Irt did a beyond great job.

Now if only the embassy fixed their scary slow elevators, i might stay there lol

[MsLovelyCookie]

XenoBlade, on 01 October 2012 - 03:50 PM, said:

Now if only the embassy fixed their scary slow elevators, i might stay there lol

It would help traffic in the lobby. I would like if The Embassy redid the whole building from scratch since the over all look is like the 90's. The hotel needs to look like 2030.

I also agree Hyatt is the best choice for fewer steps.

[Tashigi2526]

Thanks so much everyone who replied. This information will really help a lot. Now I'll just have to talk things over with my group so we can pick out a hotel. Thanks!