<p>I would strongly suggest you consider going without a rental car if you’re staying right downtown – between parking costs (pricey) and the cost of the rental car (also likely to be pricey) you’ll probably spend a lot more than you would to just grab a cab for those trips where light rail or bus or walking isn’t convenient, and getting in and out of a lot of the downtown parking structures and lots is a little painful. If you do decide to stick with a rental car, I suggest you get collision damage waiver, or, if you have an Amex card, sign up for their $20/car rental (not per day) coverage and then use the Amex for the rental – none of the downtown lots has large spaces, and door dings and scrapes are unfortunately common. These days the rental car companies really go after you for every little thing.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the additional information–need to go to AAA to get maps & more stuff for our roadtrip drive from LA to DC.</p>
<p>It sounds like there are a lot of good options & we’ll have to see what hotels still have rooms & which are already booked up with the large med centers & organizers that tend to book large blocks of rooms for these events for their staffs.</p>
<p>Good luck on your search HImom. For what it’s worth, I’d book something soon just to have it. Downtown Denver can book really fast. Last May, I procrastinated and we ended up at the Tech Center south of Denver because we couldn’t find anything under $300 downtown. If you decide on the Residence Inn, make sure you book the one on Champa (Res. Inn -Denver City Center) NOT Zuni (Res. Inn - Downtown)… that is if being close to the convention center is a priority.</p>
<p>OK, found out the hotel they’re planning to book me into is Embassy Suites, which sounds OK & is adjacent to the convention center. The hotel says that the light rail does NOT go to the airport yet, so you have to either pay $19/person/way for supershuttle (that can take up to an hour or longer) or $65 for a car to/from the airport & can have 3+ passengers splitting the cost or just one or two.</p>
<p>For H, they do have free internet in the lobby & also the free business lounge. They have free made to order breakfast as well as free cocktails & snacks. It should be nice. We have choice of one king or two doubles, plus all rooms have a pull out sofabed. This is nice, so D can come if she’s available (she hasn’t planned that far ahead yet).</p>
<p>The quote for the taxi between downtown Denver & NJ is about 12 miles & about $15 or so. That sounds more attractive than waiting endlessly at a bus stop, but don’t know how frequently the bus runs.</p>
<p>Sadly the Denver airport (DIA) way out of the city. But there is “Skyride” routes for RTD - <a href=“http://www.rtd-denver.com/skyRide_SubHome.shtml[/url]”>http://www.rtd-denver.com/skyRide_SubHome.shtml</a></p>
<p>I’d be tempted to do the more expensive shuttle, but I do see that Skyride sometimes every 15 min at busy times. </p>
<p>For a rental car, you’d need to a shuttle to the lot. But it’s only a few miles or less, no traffic. Another option might to picking up rental car downtown later in the trip.</p>
<p>“The quote for the taxi between downtown Denver & NJ is about 12 miles & about $15 or so. That sounds more attractive than waiting endlessly at a bus stop, but don’t know how frequently the bus runs.”</p>
<p>It might cost $15, but National Jewish isn’t more than 3 miles from the Convention Center, and might be closer to two depending on the route. </p>
<p>If you’re not loaded down with lots of luggage, SkyRide works very nicely – but you have to have the exact fare!</p>
<p>Well, I will be travelling with supplemental oxygen, so will probably decide to splurge for the taxi or some other mode of transportation and save hassles. Somehow, NJ always seemed more than two miles from downtown, but my memory is pretty hazy about distances, especially since it’s been over 6 years since we were last there.</p>
<p>They said that Supershuttle offers either individual or private car rides at $19/person from DIA to downtown or $65 for a private car. There are also slightly lower rates to go to NJ ($45). Will see how things evolve as these arrangements can be made a lot closer to travel time.</p>
<p>OK, just booked at the Intercontinental – wil be staying at the Crowne Plaza in Denver, two blocks from the convention center. The entire hotel is non-smoking & was renovated in 2008. It has free wireless and internet access. It is $141/night government rate for part of our stay & $159 convention rate (double-occupancy) for the rest of our stay. It’s almost $100/night less than the other room we were considering (at the brand new Embassy Suites) & a colleague may be coming & I want to be able to help defray some of her travel costs.</p>
<p>The hotel is only TWO BLOCKS from the convention center, so that seems do-able for me. I think it will work just fine for me & hubby. With the savings, we can afford to have some per diem for food & ground transportation.</p>
<p>That sounds like a good deal, HImom. If time permits, a “trip report” post to this thread after you trip.</p>