main hotel is the marriott. the hotels are connected to the convention center. other hotel is the hilton (not much happens there)
and the overflow is the fairmont (the hotel that FC was at after it moved from the doubletree.

I went in 2013 and the complex was massive. I ended up with sore feet by the end of the con and I wasn't even there the whole time! Can't say which hotel was better, except maybe the one closer to the convention center. The two hotels are connected by a labyrinth of skyways and indoor passages and you'll be exhausted if you end up in the top floor of the overflow hotel.

At least one of the hotels had an entire floor where all the rooms were converted to open bars with themed parties inside! (I learned there that vodka and kvass do NOT mix well!). Ended up way more drunk than I planned to be, stumbled back to my room and accidentally ended up in a cetacean furs room party and got even more drunk with furries of the orca/dolphin variety.

I imagine the con would be more fun with a fursuit. I didn't have one; I just had a costume based on the 14th century costumes the characters wore in the book I debuted at the con, though that little publicity stunt was an expensive failure...

Didn't go to FC 2014 because I didn't have a book to debut, but I'll be there again this year, probably spending a good chunk of Saturday and Sunday at the Furplanet table, then flying home late Sunday. Shame, I wanted to go see Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley really bad but time's not going to be my friend.

Thinking of attending FC in 2015? I've never stayed at a hotel for FC, so I wouldn't know. But it'd be cool to run into you. You'll probably see me wearing a cat tail and chipmunk hat. My poor man's fur suit until I get an actual head.

My first (and only) FC was the last one at the Doubletree, I remember seeing you in suit there! Many good memories :)

You don't have your fursuit? Shame, I always liked how it looked.
Whatever you decide, think it through, give it time in your head.

If you're gonna fursuit, you should really try to stay in the Marriott at all costs. Hilton is the nicer hotel - better bar, nicer rooms, and nicer staff - but you have to walk down a quarter-mile hallway just to get to the convention space, and it gets very annoying after a few times.

I usually get a room at the motel 6 a block away from the con or any of the other cheapy motels/hotels near the convention center. Much cheaper and less noisy/smelly *chuckles*

I went this year and had a blast :D Been too long since I saw my friends and most of us were in the overflow hotel. I enjoy walking so being on the other side of the convention center was not a really big issue for me. ONLY issue we had was we had to park like 3 or 4 blocks away in a pay to park parking lot but meh I love walking.

Get a room quick!

The Marriott is the main hotel, with the second and third floor bing convention space. 4th floor is the party floor and the rest is normal housing. The Hilton which is at the opposite end of the Marriott compared to the convention center is the other main hotel. Not to far of a walk and really easy to get in and out of. The official overflow is the Fairmont, a bit of a walk away. The Fairmont is where FC used to be held in 2010 and 2011. There are other hotels that are nearby but not official. The San Jose Ramada and the St. Claire are both right next to the Marriott.

Check out the FC Website about Hotels, it does a good job of showing you what is what. Also, you need to book from the FC website to get the convention rates!

There you go! Have fun!

-Roman

(FC Masquerade Staff)

I think your last time at FC was my first time at FC... Oh those double tree days

Well Roman pretty much went over everything you need to know as far as hotels go, but I'd definitely recommend getting a room soon! FC has grown quite a lot since you were there last.

I will echo that the Marriott is the hotel of choice. I don't have a room either. It seems that finding roomies is not all that difficult. And yes, I for one would love to see that suit of yours again. Of course, it might make you much more recognizable too!

Hope to see you there! }:=)

I only went to FC three years--2010, 2011, & 2012. Of those 3 years, only 2011 was a year I consider having had a good time, even at the Fairmont. 2012 was the first year at the Convention Center. I roomed with friends at the Marriott, although with some friends at the Hilton, there was quite a bit of walking back and forth. For a first year at a new venue, I understand there were issues with other events going on, and logistics of elevators and stuff.

I haven't had any intentions to return to FC. I guess they've worked on settling into the Convention Center, but, I don't know...something about the leadership at the convention I have found displeasing, and often finding myself surrounded by other furries with displeasing attitudes...I can do without all that. I have many friends in the area that I know I'm not getting to see, but I'm hoping I'll have some vacation time to just go there at some other point.

*pet-pets* But do have a good time if you end up making it there.

Yeah.. I hear funky things about FC. I don't know where the magic went from 2008 and 2009. Maybe it's that those were concentrated spaces and the new one feels more like a business convention?

I hear nothing but good things about Rainfurrest.

Ah yes, now that I can speak highly of. I'll be there this weekend; it's the only con I've been to consistently since I started attending furry conventions in 2009. There were a few things I learned about the event that I wished someone would've told me before I went there, but I've always had a good time. Con staff is great, hotel staff is great, and (most of) the attendees are great. RainFurrest is one I can recommend.

I have to agree on the magic going missing from FC. The highlight years for me were from 2004-2009. My first con was FC in '04. It was incredible...the organization was first rate, lots to see and do. The political scape changed after 2010 and the con went from tons of panels to very few scattered on only one day (Saturday, 2013). The variety show was so bad I was embarrassed for my friends who had flown over from England to attend. Our one bright spot was meeting Beastcub there and getting to talk with her for a bit in suit. Unless something massive changes, we'll be attending Eurofurence from now on. I've attended Eurofurence twice so far and both visits reminded me of what FC used to be.

I had a less than favorable experience last year, from running a gauntlet of drunken furries outside the hotel, to dealing with incompetent staff (true of many conventions, sadly), to nearly getting into a fight on an elevator at the Mariott. I'll probably go back next year, but until I see significant improvements I can't in good conscience recommend this convention to anyone, furry or otherwise.