I missed the memo about lodging through ironmanwisconsin.com starting on Monday the 8th - all the downtown hotels are now booked of course. Anybody have any double top secret ideas to snag a room downtown? Otherwise I guess I’ll keep my eyes open next summer for any ST’ers who may need to cancel theirs. Thanks for any insights.
We didn’t book our hotel for this year until about 6 months ago and easily got rooms by calling the Best Western Inn on the Plaza (I think that’s what it’s called). Fantastic location right by the capitol building and 4 blocks from Monona Terrace. Still $250/night but worth it. Hope this helps.
Interesting - when I called there the woman told me I could only book through IM. I’ll keep at it - thanks!
Interesting - when I called there the woman told me I could only book through IM. I’ll keep at it - thanks!
Who knows, maybe they changed the rules this year?? Either way, good luck!
Things open up spradically over the next year…just gotta keep checking. I got into the Hilton back in June and picked another room there in late July. My buddy got a room there in August.
Just gotta bird dog it and keep calling / hitting their websites.
We stayed at Hyatt Place and booked it through hotels.com. If I recall, it was ~$250 a night or so. Great hotel and while not as good as the Hilton or Best Western in terms of location, it is still close to downtown, clean, and has a good continental breakfast.
I would book something now, and then be on the lookout for something better closer to race weekend. My buddy accidentally made reservations at the wrong Best Western, but on the Friday before the race, the Best Western Inn on the Park (right on the capitol square) still had 17 rooms available (I was shocked).
Spot
hyatt place did not go with the Ironman booking… call them directly. I did about 3 weeks after registering. easy .3 mile walk about… well not so easy after the race but a great hotel and had a super early breakfast buffet race morning.
There is a new hotel called the Edgewater. I think it opens this fall or just opened
You can book the Hyatt Place through Hyatt.com. The current price will set you back a lot, as in 350 a night. I grabbed a room and will watch the price. Another idea is work the points angle. I snagged a room on points at the Hyatt Place for this year on Wednesday before the race.
I’ve done Madison twice and booked the Best Western Inn on the Park (2 blocks from the finish) within 6 weeks of the event. All of the hotels are booked a year out but as you get closer and closer, rooms open up. The bonus is that you are not subject to the 4-5 day minimums and rates normalize. This past year I paid $225 for two nights in a King Suite at the Inn on the Park. I booked the last week of July directly through the hotel website. There were also options at the Hyatt and Best Western InnTowner on the UW campus at the same time.
No guarantees, but it has worked for me this past year and in 2011.
I will probably have a room. I booked a room early on at the Sheraton but was able to get a hotel closer through the registration. Send me a message if you are interested.
I always book a hotel in Middleton ( about a 15 minute drive away) my wife volunteers somewhere and gets a free parking pass at Anchor bank about 2 blocks away. Super easy and and a third the cost of downtown.
I missed the memo about lodging through ironmanwisconsin.com starting on Monday the 8th - all the downtown hotels are now booked of course. Anybody have any double top secret ideas to snag a room downtown? Otherwise I guess I’ll keep my eyes open next summer for any ST’ers who may need to cancel theirs. Thanks for any insights.
There’s also a new, very nice Hampton Inn and Suites downtown . one block off State Street, easy walk up to the start.
I booked a room at the Hyatt place via the ironman site on Monday morning and the rate was $259… So quite a bit cheaper than booking direct. As others said, just keep checking as the race gets closer.
Booked the concourse place for next year. Fwiw, I stayed in Middleton this year as I volunteered at the race and it’s really not that bad of a commute at all. If I was racing I wouldn’t mind staying out there at all, just trying to stay closer next year for the cheering section
Middleton is an awesome place to stay…especially because of Hubbard Ave Diner.
Middleton is an awesome place to stay…especially because of Hubbard Ave Diner.
and Vin Santo, Villa Dolce, Louisiane’s, Sofra, the Capitol Brewery, and of course, The Mustard Museum!
Thanks @jeubanks, but I’m hoping for something downtown - easier for the family.
I’ll continue checking the downtown hotels throughout the year. Thanks everybody!