Cosplay USA

That’s right, a list. It may sound simple, but if you forgo it, you will likely regret it. Thanks to lists, I can sucessfully accomplish last minute packing.

I’ve actually had dreams about forgetting things. In my dreams I’m usually far away or about to go on stage when I realize there is a part of a costume missing. Practical items are just as inconvenient to go missing. If you aren’t driving, it’s nearly impossible to get some things in some tourist areas. If you are driving, you can usually go outside of town to pick up odds and ends.

I make a list of everything I could possibly need on the trip. If I’m not using it daily, I throw it in the bag/pack it ahead of time. Nothing is left out from this list and I go over it a final time before I leave the house. It also takes away some of the pre-trip panic in the days before the journey. The list lets me know visually that I’ve got it all under control.

Another big “duh” is check your hotel room before you leave. Don’t forget the bathroom, drawers, and under beds. Beds are commonly known to eat objects.

I also left a phone charger in the bathroom of my hotel room once. I did a visual check, but for some reason the charger registered as coffee maker/hair dryer/shaver/random electronics cord that didn’t belong to me. That sucks but I have several phone chargers to misplace at my convenience. I also thought I left a wig or two behind on the same trip. I found them though; just another case of paranoia. Hey, but better safe than sorry! - Or in this case - Better packed than lost!

Booking in advance makes all the difference in convention/event travel. It can mean the difference between getting a ticket or room or not. If you live in the same town as your favorite event, go you! For all the rest of us there is planning to do. Even if you live in the same town as the event, sometimes it’s fun to stay at the convention and if you book early there are usually discounted rates.

Last year Anime Expo moved to downtown LA. There are very few hotels in downtown LA. I booked early and got a pimp room at the official hotel. I decided not to go and cancelled but my cancellation made someone’s miracle happen.

Comic Con has plenty of nearby hotels but they all sell out. They usually sell out for miles in every direction. One year we decided to call their bluff and thought there was no way every single room was taken. We were sort of right; there was one $250 suite available in some random town about 40 minutes out of downtown San Diego. Everything else was booked so we stayed over an hour or two north in Irvine. Even that hotel sucked. It was a La Quinta Inn built on some historical railroad station. I don’t care if it’s historic or not, it’s a train station!!! Rumble, rumble, CHOO CHOOOOOO!!! Last year there was some offroad event the same weekend which made matters worse. For some reason something inside me still says there’s a room available somewhere… Will I ever learn?

So seriously, I’ve been there done that for you so take my word for it. It sucks no matter how it pans out. Book early. Have relatives in that city. Something! Just don’t be an optomist like me in this situation because it doesn’t work. It’s not hard to book online or call up the hotel, then be sure to confirm as the time nears. If you heed these words, good times should be had by all.