Once they start packing up Gen Con, it happens really quickly. By Monday morning, after I’d packed the suitcase & checked out, there were signs in various stages of dismantlement, most of the Gaming Hall was clear, and the Exhibit Hall was a mass of boxes and people packing up their stuff.

I normally stay an extra day at the end of the convention just so that I’m not immediately packing up and leaving. Usually I’m able to stay at the same hotel, but in this case the price shot up as soon as the convention block ended, so I switched to a different hotel in the same city block which was about half the price for that one night. (I’d already booked the flights)

Something I’d been a little concerned about is how I would feel on that Monday after the Con. I remember feeling really sad back in 2022 on that day, but that didn’t happen this time, perhaps because the convention felt a lot more normal to me this time around.

In 2022, by comparison, we were still coming out of the deep covid period, masks were everywhere, and it was the first time I’d been back since my fairly disastrous medical repatriation from the US at the end of Gen Con 2019, so it’s kind of reasonable that emotions were running high.

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I had a memory that the Springhill Suites didn’t do early check-in unless it had been specifically arranged, and based on the line when I went to check in at the appropriate time I’m guessing that’s still the case.

Because the two hotels were functionally connected in a couple of different ways, I just checked in without any bags then went back for the suitcase once I had the room. It seemed easier.

I’m not sure whether there’s much of a time or distance saving in cutting through the shared car parking structure which links all four hotels on that block, as opposed to following a long ass corridor to achieve the same result, but the car park route is at least a bit more interesting and kind of fun. And also a much easier surface to move a wheeled suitcase on.

I’d been very idly wondering whether I should at least re-examine my hotel choices for Gen Con. Not that there’s anything wrong with the JW, but the thought occurred that if the Springhill isn’t much further away, and is both cheaper & maybe more comfortable (on account of being a suite), that it might be a better option. I can, after all, still use the restaurants over at the JW if I want to.

I think I’ll stay put. Nothing wrong with the Springhill either, but the room isn’t noticeably bigger, I’m not convinced that I’d actually use the mini fridge or the microwave, and while there IS a sofa, it’s one of those low-back things that need a bunch of cushions if you want to sit upright.