Start Plannng for 2012 SDCC

I know we’re still months away from San Diego Comic Con and most people don’t have tickets yet. However, it’s never too early to begin planning. Most of these tips will only apply to people with tickets already, but hopefully, they’ll be useful.

1. Look For Flights

With SDCC drawing people from everywhere, there’s a good chance you’ll have to fly out. Gas prices are on the rise, and the airlines are only going to pass the cost off to you. I already booked my flight three months ago. It may seem a bit excessive, but the ticket was $85 cheaper than my flight for SDCC ’11. Currently, the cheapest ticket available for my flight is $240 MORE than I paid. So again, it’s never too early to book. Orbitz offers a refund if the same trip is booked for a lower price, so that’s who I used. But Travelocity, Southwest, and Kayak are among other popular options. One thing to keep in mind is whether or not to purchase a refundable ticket. A non-refundable ticket is cheaper, but comes with some risk. You need to ask yourself what would keep you from attending this year’s con.

2. Keep An Eye on Groupon/LivingSocial

Everyone has to eat, but who has the time to figure out which restaurants to check out? Groupon and Living Social are great ways to find places to dine and save money in the process. Both of their apps even have a built in map, so if you’re not too familiar with the area, you can make sure it’s close enough to the convention center or your hotel. Additionally, some folks spend a week or more in San Diego, so it’s a great way to get discounted tickets to shows or other events.

3. Catch Up On Your Backlog

Whether you’re going to SDCC because of comics, movies, or TV shows, it seems each medium is putting out more quality content than ever before. Yet, we’re still stuck with only 24 hours a day to fit it all in. Needless to say, you’re not the only one a few issues or episodes behind. For example, I’m a few issues behind in Chew. I know that John Layman and Rob Guillory are special guests this year, so I will make it a point to be caught up in time.

4. Try Something New

I know this goes against the point I just made, but if you do find yourself with some downtime, try something new out. When you’re picking up your weekly comics, grab an issue of something you haven’t read before. If you have Netflix, try out a show that you’ve never seen. Given the volume of panels, signings, merchants, etc at the con, your new found hobby will surely have a presence there. 

5. Start Saving

Now, this one should be a no-brainer. Whether your financial situation lets you put $5 or $5000 aside each week, you’ll be guaranteed to have a better time at SDCC. Sure, you can pack lunches, drink from fountains, and not purchase exclusives. But knowing you have a few extra bucks and can afford that limited edition Back to the Future DeLorean (my favorite purchase from SDCC ’11) will make the trip that much more special.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment with any other tips. If you liked this, let me know either here or on Twitter (@TheArtimus). This way I know to keep writing.

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