The 2024 edition of the San Diego Comic-Con is right around the corner, and the people planning to visit the geek extravaganza are more excited than ever. With that, hotel prices have naturally skyrocketed, and even budget-friendly solutions are vanishing.
But fear not as one university has an equally crazy and brilliant solution that will help you save some money on your hotel bills and live a Comic Con stay you won't forget.
Can't Afford a Hotel for Comic-Con? University of California Has You Covered!
University of California in San Diego has created a unique solution for people planning to visit Comic Con this year.
This allows visitors to use dorms as housing during Comic-Con as part of a new initiative to commemorate the event. Executive Director of UCSD's Campus Performance and Events Office Colleen Kollar Smith says this is something new, and she hopes their housing will serve during Comic Con.
There are two housing packages available for visitors. Let’s see these packages in detail:
The Enterprise Package (Housing Only)
This costs $640 per package and will include:
- Four-night single room stay with shared common area/restrooms (Check-in: Wednesday, July 24/Check-out: Sunday, July 28)
- Daily Breakfast
- MTS 5-day Blue Line trolley pass
- Access to public Park & Market events in Downtown San Diego (July 24–28)
Note: This is only open to UC Affiliates (students enrolled in any UC, CSU, or California Community College and any UC Alumni)
The Starfleet Package
This is significantly more expensive than the other Enterprise package. It costs $1200 per package and will include:
- Five-night single-room stay with shared common area/restrooms (Check-in: Tuesday, July 23/Check-out: Sunday, July 28)
- Daily Breakfast
- MTS 6-day Blue Line trolley pass
- A full day of Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Masterclass (morning + afternoon session + Key Note Speaker + Lunch + Dinner included)
- Opening Night Reception at (heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts + one drink ticket)
- VIP Ticket to Opening Night Event at the Epstein Family Amphitheater—A Tale of Two Sulus: An Evening with George Takei and John Cho (July 23)
- VIP ticket to Headliner Event at the Epstein Family Amphitheater—Star Trek in Concert with the San Diego Symphony (July 24)
- Ticket to JAWS film screening at the Epstein Family Amphitheater (July 26)
- Access badge to public Park & Market events in Downtown San Diego (July 24–28)
Apart from these, a Holodeck Package is also available for those who want to attend the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Masterclass and offers other benefits. This package provides no housing.
This initiative is taken as booking a hotel in San Diego, especially during Comic-Con weekend, which can cost as much as $1000/night. It's worth mentioning that these get booked very quickly.