I’d like to make hotel/condo reservations that don’t require a deposit. That way I can make reservations for a multi room unit and a one room unit, and cancel the one I don’t need, depending on whether my family can make the trip.
Anyone know if there are some decent accomdations that will allow me to make multiple reservations and cancel at the last minute w/out losing a deposit? And preferably w/in a quick walking distance of the finish area.
Thanks.
Try the Americana
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You are the reason most accommodations require a deposit. You want to hold a room you are not going to use, making the management turn away someone who does need it, then dump them with an unrented room they will most likely not be able to rent at the last minute. This is one reason accommodations are so hard to get at Ironman races. Pretty inconsiderate if you ask me.
Support Crew
I would also recommend the Americana. I stayed at there for Gulf Coast a few years ago. It’s a decent, oceanfront hotel with pretty good prices. It isn’t too far away, but I wouldn’t call it easy walking distance on race day - maybe a mile or so away from the start/finish. The owner is (was?) a triathlete, and was very supportive of the racers. He even ferried us to and from the race personally.
I’m assuming that IMFL start/finish/transition are in the same location as Gulf Coast.
(Edit: I don’t know their deposit policy)
Totally agree with “support crew”. What the hell makes you think it’s right for you to book 2 rooms and cancel one at the last minute? Didn’t you get brought up the kind of way that might make you think “Hey, this is a good thing for me but isn’t really very fair for the owner of the hotel or others who are looking for a room?” What happens if everyone did that? You realise you’re screwing not only the owners but another competitor who would otherwise have taken the room you seem to think you can just cancel at the last minute.
Hold on, Chief. You’re making the assumption that I wouldn’t tell the owner/manager. I don’t know why you have to assume the worst in people. Some people are honest. Don’t think everyone is out to scam.
And since you don’t know the reason that my family may not be able to attend (medical issues), it might be wise of you to ask my intentions before you insult me.
Even if you were to tell the owner, and even considering medical reasons, i still think its unfair to another competitior who is forced to another hotel farther away. My advice (depending on your finacial situation) is to just get the smallest room your whole family could fit into. That way, you only reserve one room, and you dont have to cancel.
Well, since the medical reason is a 2 week (approximately) old newborn baby, I’m thinking small single bedroom isn’t the way to go. I’m thinking sleep won’t be much of an option if we are all in one unit. (didn’t want to bring personal crap into this, but was forced to in order to explain my situation).
And, as for “fair” (whatever that is), well you’re going to have to help me out on that one.
Hypothetical: If I rent two separate units (one for me, and the other for my wife, newborn and in-laws), is that fair to the other competitors. After all, a “competitior . . . is forced to another hotel farther away.”
If your answer is “no, that is not ‘fair’,” I look forward to the new rule mandating that only competitors may stay in accommodations w/ in 5 miles of the race/transition area.
And if your answer is “yes that is ‘fair’,” does it matter if the other unit goes unused because my family can’t make it and the unit goes unused? Again, a “competitior . . . is forced to another hotel farther away.” And this time, no one is even staying in that room.
Uh oh, looks like we’re getting into some mighty grey areas here. Maybe even some logic flaws.
While we are playing that game, here are a few more: (1) is a fair that some racers can afford $5,000 bikes, weekly massages and coaches, but others can’t; (2) is it fair that some racers have jobs that allow them to train harder/more often; (3) is it fair that some racers are, by nature, less flexible than others, and therefore can’t hold a good aero position; (4) is it fair some people can drive a short distance to to the race while others must fly from another country, crossing multiple time zones; (5) is it fair that IMFL will be some racers first swim in an open body of water?
The list of advantages that some competitors possess is endless. But certainly you learned long ago that the playing field in life is not “fair.” Some racers will always have advantages - - outside what goes on between the start and finish line - - over other racers. As long as a rule of the sport isn’t being violated, I have no understanding of this “fair” concept that your propose. Its unworkable, unmanageable and unenforceable.
Bottom line: if I make an arrangement w/ a hotel/condo owner that allows me to cancel my prime room 3 days before the race, that’s part smart planning and part good fortune. No rules are being violated.
What Would Becca Do?
I guess fair was a bad word. How bout this, “nice”. If somebody falls in front of me, i see if they are ok. There is no rule mandating that i do this, i just do it to be nice. If im not gonna be using a room, I try not to take it. Is it fair that you might take a room from another competetor, debatable, but its not nice. While you may laugh, i think being nice to other people is a big deal. My first triathlon, I ended up striking up a conversation while waiting for the start with this guy. When he finished (way before me) he ran back before the finish to encourage people on, including myself. That guy was Jeff Cuddeback, and the comraderie he showed with his fellow racers is one of the reasons i like triathlon so much; you put two triathletes in a room, and they instantly have a connection.
BTW you must have the most understanding wife in the world for her allowing (bad word choice, but you know what i mean) you to do IMFL with a baby due right around then. Everyone i know got pissed at my cousin when he went to Costa Rica for a few days a month before his baby was due.
Also, dont know why letting you cancel a room is smart planning. A hotel so close to the race isnt hurting for buisness. The only way they could possibly not fill every room is by last minute cancellations like you. And dont tell me its good buisness for next year, because if the hotel is busy this year, itll be busy next year too.
last year we gave a deposit, but had to keep increasing the size of the condo, as friends wanted to stay also. One bedroom, to two, finally to three. The difference was about $30/night per increase in size. Not worth stressing about.
Having never done IMFL, I was hoping that (1) all of PC won’t be booked up; (2) a hotel/condo will let me cancel last second; and/or (3) 3 - 4 day minimums won’t apply. Was hoping someone could provide me information on this one way or the other. I certainly could have made that clearer in my orginal post.
I figure worst comes to worst, I’ll get a room for me close by in Panama City for me, and if they can make it to the race , I’ll put them up in the Sandestin/Grayton/Seagrove area. It will be nicer and shouldn’t be much of a problem on a last second basis. They can use my hotel for homebase in between long waits at the transition area.
As for the wife being understanding, when you find a good one, you have to marry her. She knows that this is my first IM and means a lot to me. The window is open now; who knows whether I’ll be in a position to train for it next year.
She’s understanding as hell right now. (maybe its because I just bought her a new ring that matched the price of my new bike. What can I say? I had to relieve my guilt somehow). I’m crossing my fingers that the hormones won’t disrupt the current happy feelings. Sept. and October are going to be interesting.
I did it last year, and the fact of the matter is, unlike almost every other IM event there is an overabundance of offordable housing in the race start area. I don’t think you are going to be putting anyone out by cancelling with a fair notice. A person could literally have gone to the host hotel the night before w/o a res. and gotten a room. They are prepared to handle 100,000 Spring Breakers, a few Triathletes is nothing. This is of course totally NOT the case at races like Canada, Hawaii or LP. Call one of the Panama City reservation services and get some ideas. Good luck. Watch out for the jelley fish!
Okay, sorry if I jumped to conclusions. I’m actually the last person to assume the worst in anyone else, normally quite the opposite which can get me into trouble for thinking others will have the same values as I do.
I still don’t think that it’s right to book the two rooms, personally my plan would be to get a room big enough to accommodate the whole family in a more basic hotel if possible, and if they can’t come then too bad and it’s a cost you bear. It’s refreshing that you had consideration for the hotel, thanks for clearing that up. I think your original email could have been worded better because unfortunately there are plenty of people (not a big percentage I would hope, but still plenty of people) who couldn’t give a rats arse about any consequences of something like this on others.
All the best with the baby and good luck for your first IM, it will be long and it will be hard, but I guarantee you it will be awesome!
I forgot it was in Panama city, which has a rediculous amount of hotels. I was thinking it was in clermont (is that close?), which i think is a smaller place. Man, im from florida, and dont even know the area
I stayed at the Sunbird last year and I would recommend it. I got a 1 bedroom condo last year for around $80/night. I brought my support crew (wife and 8 and 11 year old daughters). There is a pull out couch in the living area that you can sleep on if the baby is keeping you awake. It is a 5 minute walk from the start and your wife can take the baby into the room for a break while you are out riding and running. You will require a deposit but I’d stay there again whether I was going solo or with my support crew.
Agreed. If you’ve got the bucks, I’d look in the Carillon Beach and Rosemary Beach areas. Closer to PCB than Grayton or Sandestin, and very very nice. (though you still need to hit the Red Bar in Grayton beach for lunch)