Does anyone stay anywhere OTHER than the Host hotel?

I saw quite a few deals on Hotels on Priceline...Namely 50% of what the Host Hotel is charging....

Thoughts?

I want to save as much $$ as possible....

I think I stayed at a Baymont last year. An exit or two south of the host hotel. Small rooms, but clean and quiet.No cheaper than the host hotel when I looked a few minutes ago.

Just wanted to make sure it's not some kind of "Unwritten Rule" to NOT stay somewhere else..lol

its nice to have your room within staggering distance

Gearheadotaku wrote: its nice to have your room within staggering distance

Not that we endorse such decadence but, yeah, it's nice being a short walk away from everything. To get to any other hotel, you're driving (or walking fairly far).

The entire weekend is an amazing party, if I could clone myself and be in two places at once I would, leaving the host hotel is simply not an option for me.

Plus they tell me drink driving is frowned upon

Yeah, this is one event I would definitely stay at the host hotel for. Also, most other hotels in Gainesville are pretty bad.

To me the host hotel is part of the event.

Tom Suddard wrote: Also, most other hotels in Gainesville are pretty bad.

The host hotel is the most convenient to the track, that's for sure. And it is pretty far removed from the other hotels in town. For those interested, there is a pretty darn good seafood restaurant just across 39th from the hotel now, named Wahoos. It's a nice place to get a meal.

All that said, Tom, your statement above isn't even remotely true. Not sure when the last time you checked hotels in Gainesville was, but there are at least a half dozen new ones and several are much nicer than the host hotel.

You are definitely going to want to stay at the host hotel. I can't think of any other hotels in town that will have guests painting their cars or installing turbochargers in the middle of the night in their parking lots.

In reply to SilverFleet:

camp in host hotel's parking lot, sneak in for free breakfast

or let us return after some of the antics during our weekends, including and not limited to, incinerating a challenge car in the parking area. (hint, don't do this)

I still do not even have a car lined up yet, but I do have a suite reserved at the host hotel. I think that kind of sums up the order of importance to some extent.

Years ago (2001?), before the current venue, we crammed at least a dozen people into a 5 person time-share condo... shenanigans occurred but the situation at the Best Western truly is something special. Please though, keep your clothes on, practice your potty training and if needed grab a fire extinguisher instead of a bag of marshmallows.

You never really spend much time in the rooms other than sleeping and they can handle 3-4 people easily to defer the cost. What you don't see on the schedule is the Thursday night parking lot bench racing and Friday/Saturday night poolside hangout which cannot be valued. Bring a rolling cooler, enough of your favorite carbinated malt beverage (or whatever) to share and meet some of the greatest people you will ever meet, IMHO.

I show up mostly for the party.

The fun stuff happens at the hot hotel, you miss out on all the fun if you're not there.

Well, I think i'm sold! Now...hopefully they still have a room available!

I have stayed at a camp site an exit or two away when I was a broke college student but it isn't nearly as fun. Stay at the host hotel it is worth it.

The host hotel is very reasonable and there is our own little community there. Its like staying in the dorm at college rather than an off campus apartment.

I booked my room. FYI the Event page is wrong.

It's $94 for a room with two double beds, and $99 for a room with a King bed.

You had me at "Party" lol

I have stayed elsewhere. Never again.

You miss much too much of the camaraderie.

I have had years I brought no car, but still chose to stay at the host hotel.

Also wouldn't want to miss the erotic banana eating contest during the continental breakfast.

I once saw a gorilla steal All of the Bananas from the continental breakfast. You won't see that elsewhere.

QDogg wrote: You had me at "Party" lol

My DJ will be happy to take request at the poolside parties.
Feel free to submit your request via email in advance if you would like.

QDogg wrote: I booked my room. FYI the Event page is wrong. It's $94 for a room with two double beds, and $99 for a room with a King bed. You had me at "Party" lol

What's wrong on the event page? I can update it if need be. Is it the second hotel room rate not being listed?