I have a rice cooker and an extra microwave, and I'm wondering if there's a way to sneak those into the Fairmont.....
.....or would they not really care if I brought it in?
I don't know about the Fairmont specifically, but most hotels don't mind. So long as you're not bringing in a hot plate or something that could start a fire, they're usually okay with it. Your best bet would be to ask first.
Something like a microwave is going to be very difficult to hide from housekeeping, so you should make sure it's okay first.
huh? can't you just keep the 'do not disturb' thing on your door when you go out? that's what I did last year.
If you don't mind never getting your sheets changed or having clean towels, I suppose there's no reason you couldn't.
However if I'm on vacation, I enjoy little luxuries like clean linens XD So not letting housekeeping in would not occur to me.
I'm just wondering why go through the hassle for a 3-4 day stay? The rice cooker, maybe...but a microwave? *shrug*
Quote from: Moonblossom on March 11, 2010, 02:59:22 PM
If you don't mind never getting your sheets changed or having clean towels, I suppose there's no reason you couldn't.
However if I'm on vacation, I enjoy little luxuries like clean linens XD So not letting housekeeping in would not occur to me.
You're not necessarily stuck with being unable to get any room service at all. You can usually call the front desk for clean towels if you need them at any time of the day, which is helpful if you've missed the way-too-early-sometimes housekeeping call (or gave them the shoo-away).
As for sheets...a lot of hotels will only change your sheets if you ask them to now, as an environmental gesture (less sheets to wash = less water and electricity used). There's usually a card in the room that you can use to indicate if you want a sheet change. Towels can also go on a plan: if it's hanging, it's left, if it's on the floor, it's taken away and replaced.
Not sure what of the Fanime hotels incorporate this practice..I'm guessing the Hilton might because it seems to be common in the Doubletree in San Jose (which is where BayCon and a few other conventions are hold), and Doubletree/Hilton are now connected.
But back to the situation: my -guess- is that so long as your microwave and rice cooker are small (as in dorm-size), you should have no problem. If you're really worried, put them in the closet when not in use. Housekeeping tends to not bother with the closet; their focus is the bathrooms and beds, and whatever else the hotel states they have to take care for and restock during their run.
Quote from: FanFicGuru on March 11, 2010, 04:39:23 PM
I'm just wondering why go through the hassle for a 3-4 day stay? The rice cooker, maybe...but a microwave? *shrug*
Don't ask me. I can live my life with just rice. My fiance and my friends apparently need the microwave for, say, Easy Mac, soups, etc.
I'm fine with just rice and tuna with soy sauce. Grew up eating that and never go back ^^
Damn it.
I talked with Fairmont and, and they said that BOTH rice cooker and microwave are both against their fire code, so I can't bring it.
I can understand the microwave, but......rice cooker too?? oy.....
Quote from: Dany on March 11, 2010, 04:42:59 PM
Quote from: Moonblossom on March 11, 2010, 02:59:22 PM
If you don't mind never getting your sheets changed or having clean towels, I suppose there's no reason you couldn't.
However if I'm on vacation, I enjoy little luxuries like clean linens XD So not letting housekeeping in would not occur to me.
You're not necessarily stuck with being unable to get any room service at all. You can usually call the front desk for clean towels if you need them at any time of the day, which is helpful if you've missed the way-too-early-sometimes housekeeping call (or gave them the shoo-away).
As for sheets...a lot of hotels will only change your sheets if you ask them to now, as an environmental gesture (less sheets to wash = less water and electricity used). There's usually a card in the room that you can use to indicate if you want a sheet change. Towels can also go on a plan: if it's hanging, it's left, if it's on the floor, it's taken away and replaced.
Not sure what of the Fanime hotels incorporate this practice..I'm guessing the Hilton might because it seems to be common in the Doubletree in San Jose (which is where BayCon and a few other conventions are hold), and Doubletree/Hilton are now connected.
But back to the situation: my -guess- is that so long as your microwave and rice cooker are small (as in dorm-size), you should have no problem. If you're really worried, put them in the closet when not in use. Housekeeping tends to not bother with the closet; their focus is the bathrooms and beds, and whatever else the hotel states they have to take care for and restock during their run.
The Hilton does use that green policy, but I go out of my way to request them. I've got severe dust allergies and change my sheets at home several times a week. If I'm traveling, I generally request new linens every day because I am a sucker for crisp, clean sheets and if I'm paying to stay there, I may as well take advantage of the service.
Quote from: Moonblossom on March 11, 2010, 05:41:14 PM
Quote from: Dany on March 11, 2010, 04:42:59 PM
Quote from: Moonblossom on March 11, 2010, 02:59:22 PM
If you don't mind never getting your sheets changed or having clean towels, I suppose there's no reason you couldn't.
However if I'm on vacation, I enjoy little luxuries like clean linens XD So not letting housekeeping in would not occur to me.
You're not necessarily stuck with being unable to get any room service at all. You can usually call the front desk for clean towels if you need them at any time of the day, which is helpful if you've missed the way-too-early-sometimes housekeeping call (or gave them the shoo-away).
As for sheets...a lot of hotels will only change your sheets if you ask them to now, as an environmental gesture (less sheets to wash = less water and electricity used). There's usually a card in the room that you can use to indicate if you want a sheet change. Towels can also go on a plan: if it's hanging, it's left, if it's on the floor, it's taken away and replaced.
Not sure what of the Fanime hotels incorporate this practice..I'm guessing the Hilton might because it seems to be common in the Doubletree in San Jose (which is where BayCon and a few other conventions are hold), and Doubletree/Hilton are now connected.
But back to the situation: my -guess- is that so long as your microwave and rice cooker are small (as in dorm-size), you should have no problem. If you're really worried, put them in the closet when not in use. Housekeeping tends to not bother with the closet; their focus is the bathrooms and beds, and whatever else the hotel states they have to take care for and restock during their run.
The Hilton does use that green policy, but I go out of my way to request them. I've got severe dust allergies and change my sheets at home several times a week. If I'm traveling, I generally request new linens every day because I am a sucker for crisp, clean sheets and if I'm paying to stay there, I may as well take advantage of the service.
Allergies are definitely a good excuse to go the daily route ;) And there is nothing schmancier than new sheets, I will certainly agree ;)
Quote from: amaya_JDB on March 11, 2010, 05:35:32 PM
Damn it.
I talked with Fairmont and, and they said that BOTH rice cooker and microwave are both against their fire code, so I can't bring it.
I can understand the microwave, but......rice cooker too?? oy.....
It is understandable. Anything that generates heat is technically a fire risk, but some things are riskier than others, especially if they have no emergency shut-off mechanism and the hotel doesn't standardize it in their rooms. Another thing that may not be something they will be up-front about: anything that prepares food keeps you away from spending money in room service and their restaraunts. So fire code is the first and publically acceptable answer, but no less correct would be the "we want your food money" theory.
If you can't live without rice, I suggest bringing a hotpot and the precooked rice that they sell at Korean markets.
A standard Fairmont room supposedly comes with a coffeemaker, which should be ideal for boiling water. So for instant foods (Ramen, EasyMac, etc), you're already covered. At least, it's what their website is saying, and I myself am counting on it.
Quote from: InsaneChan on March 11, 2010, 11:38:03 PM
A standard Fairmont room supposedly comes with a coffeemaker, which should be ideal for boiling water. So for instant foods (Ramen, EasyMac, etc), you're already covered. At least, it's what their website is saying, and I myself am counting on it.
Wow, I totally forgot about that! I've done tea and sometimes oatmeal that way before it was more common to provide tea in the room (coffe and I are not the best of friends). The only thing is how big the pot is...I want to say it's about 5 cups, half of what a standard coffee maker brews, which is usually around 10. I don't think it's less than four though.
Quote from: jacktchance on March 11, 2010, 08:26:00 PM
If you can't live without rice, I suggest bringing a hotpot and the precooked rice that they sell at Korean markets.
Holy crap I forgot about those. Every single time I see them I just pass it without thinking about it.
Thanks ^^
Quote from: Dany on March 12, 2010, 07:37:27 AM
Quote from: InsaneChan on March 11, 2010, 11:38:03 PM
A standard Fairmont room supposedly comes with a coffeemaker, which should be ideal for boiling water. So for instant foods (Ramen, EasyMac, etc), you're already covered. At least, it's what their website is saying, and I myself am counting on it.
Wow, I totally forgot about that! I've done tea and sometimes oatmeal that way before it was more common to provide tea in the room (coffe and I are not the best of friends). The only thing is how big the pot is...I want to say it's about 5 cups, half of what a standard coffee maker brews, which is usually around 10. I don't think it's less than four though.
oops, i forgot that coffeepots boil water. And here I was thinking about bringing my electric kettle.
I didn't know there's Easy Mac like that though. I thought it only came in microwave, not water only.
yeah they have lots of things that previously needed microwaves but now only need hot water. last year in our hotel room, we made oatmeal, tea, coffee, ramen, cup-o-noodles... yeah. you could always experiment with making rice in the coffee pot at home, or with an electric kettle...
...or you could bring foods that don't require cooking. there's a food list here: http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948 (http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948) and also if you have any suggestions, please post them and i'll add to the list.
Quote from: michiko nakano on March 13, 2010, 05:47:12 PM
yeah they have lots of things that previously needed microwaves but now only need hot water. last year in our hotel room, we made oatmeal, tea, coffee, ramen, cup-o-noodles... yeah. you could always experiment with making rice in the coffee pot at home, or with an electric kettle...
...or you could bring foods that don't require cooking. there's a food list here: http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948 (http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948) and also if you have any suggestions, please post them and i'll add to the list.
oh wow, I've been looking for something like this everywhere.
Thanks very much.
Quote from: amaya_JDB on March 14, 2010, 08:38:19 PM
Quote from: michiko nakano on March 13, 2010, 05:47:12 PM
yeah they have lots of things that previously needed microwaves but now only need hot water. last year in our hotel room, we made oatmeal, tea, coffee, ramen, cup-o-noodles... yeah. you could always experiment with making rice in the coffee pot at home, or with an electric kettle...
...or you could bring foods that don't require cooking. there's a food list here: http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948 (http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,10753.msg364948.html#msg364948) and also if you have any suggestions, please post them and i'll add to the list.
oh wow, I've been looking for something like this everywhere.
Thanks very much.
you are most welcome! glad to be helpful :D
Quote from: FanFicGuru on March 11, 2010, 04:39:23 PM
I'm just wondering why go through the hassle for a 3-4 day stay? The rice cooker, maybe...but a microwave? *shrug*
...
i think its a good way to save money. i dont know about bringing a microwave. i was pretty shocked when i saw a rice cooker at first...but then it grew on me. maybe that can happen to the microwave this time.
welp, because you need rice (and i'm bored)
i'm going to attempt to find a solution for you.
minute rice makes "ready to serve" microwaveable cups of rice.
however, we have a problem with no microwave
but... we have a coffee pot (i've already experimented with my coffee pot, making pasta, ramen, and cooking an instant cheese sauce utilizing a small metal cup and the hot pot portion of it)
so, i'm gonna try to cook the rice by just pouring in the hot water.
if it works, it works, if not, i'll nuke it and not bring any to fanime.
minute rice:
first i've opened the package, 1/2 the way.
meanwhile i've put some water in the coffee pot.
water going into cup. 12:23
the cups are of a pretty much pre made rice, so i didn't put a lot of water.. will check it in 2 mins
put the lid back on btw...
12:26. drained hot water
rice is sub par... pretty lame actually
but.. okay in a major pinch!
This won't help you this year but for future reference, you can request a microwave at the Hilton for about $25. They go fast though so if you don't nab one the first night you won't get one. I can't imagine they'd have trouble with you bringing items like that.
Quote from: kingsnake on May 23, 2010, 09:28:31 PM
This won't help you this year but for future reference, you can request a microwave at the Hilton for about $25. They go fast though so if you don't nab one the first night you won't get one. I can't imagine they'd have trouble with you bringing items like that.
That is AWESOME to know that's for the insight
When I first saw the title of Sneaking In, I thought it was going places without a badge.
Quote from: Otakuya on May 23, 2010, 11:48:39 PM
When I first saw the title of Sneaking In, I thought it was going places without a badge.
This thread would have progressed much differently in that case. ;D
Again, guys... you realize that hotel representatives read these forums, right? You should probably check with them before attempting to sneak in stuff - who knows, maybe they'll be ok with it. Otherwise... don't expect that "do not disturb" sign to actually stop them from checking your room - it won't, if they're after you...
About sneaking in a rice cooker and a microwave... The best solution is, don't do it. Hotel staff WILL know that you have them there. Even if you have the "Do not Disturb" sign up all weekend, room service is still allowed to go into your room (especially if they suspect something funky is going on.) Besides that, if you cook food in the room, the smell lingers once you leave. And you can get charged for it after you leave.
Not to mention, it creates a bad bad image for Fanime goers. We want the hotels to like us, remember.
For me, there seems to be a fine line between being frugal and being downright cheap. It's a convention, and it's something that you save money to do. If you're going to go through the trouble of saving for a hotel room, save another 50-100 bucks for food. Chances are you won't need it all anyways, but you won't have to worry about pulling a MacGyver with the room's coffee pot, a filter and a package of ramen.
Quote from: kingsnake on May 23, 2010, 09:28:31 PM
This won't help you this year but for future reference, you can request a microwave at the Hilton for about $25. They go fast though so if you don't nab one the first night you won't get one. I can't imagine they'd have trouble with you bringing items like that.
Woah, wait, they're charging for them now? They must have just recently implemented this since it's always been free since I first started staying at the Hilton in 2004 and was still free last year. The only catch was that they were incredibly limited. I'm really disappointed if they're charging now.
The fairmont turning the rice cooker down is a bit odd. My group stayed in the fairmont, visibly brought a rice-cooker with us, and the hotel didn't say a word.
So I talked to this cool dude that worked at the hotel that was helping my group put our baggage in our car, and apparently they get in to the convention for free because they work there.
Maybe in two years I'll go to SJSU and work at Hilton or Marriot.
On the subject of rice cookers and hotpots and other such heating devices, I have a question about camping stoves.
I'm talking about the little backpacking stoves, with the fuel canister and the little tripod flame thingy and you have a little pot to cook food in... my vocabulary is failing me. let me find a picture.
here we go! http://www.trailjournals.com/images/gear/tjgear_1064_121602_4140.jpg (http://www.trailjournals.com/images/gear/tjgear_1064_121602_4140.jpg)
one of these. will it set off the fire alarm? there's no way to open the hotel windows... so if you used this little stove in the hotel room... would chaos happen? I would never forgive myself if I set off the fire alarm.
if they wouldn't be good for the hotel, i'd consider using it at the park or something to heat up soup... is that legal though?
I would highly avoid bringing anything with an open flame into the hotel room. As for legality of using a camping stove in the park... I don't know about the park downtown, but most big parks have a camping/cooking section. I doubt it would be a big problem to use it around there.
Open flame...? Absolutely not. Those are meant to be used outdoors, not anywhere enclosed with lots of flammable material nearby. Excellent chance of setting off a fire alarm with something like that, if not catching the place on fire.
Quote from: amaya_JDB on March 11, 2010, 05:35:32 PM
Damn it.
I talked with Fairmont and, and they said that BOTH rice cooker and microwave are both against their fire code, so I can't bring it.
I can understand the microwave, but......rice cooker too?? oy.....
Heh heh. Oops. For the past two years my room mates have been bringing a toaster oven and a small refrigerator to the Marriott as well as the Fairmont. And we haven't gotten any flack for it. ^_^;
Quote from: Freedom Op666 on June 27, 2010, 06:20:09 PM
Heh heh. Oops. For the past two years my room mates have been bringing a toaster oven and a small refrigerator to the Marriott as well as the Fairmont. And we haven't gotten any flack for it. ^_^;
Don't do it. You may not get caught, but housekeeping notices and worse, it may cause a fire. You may or may not need to deal with these things, but it definitely sours FanimeCon's relationship with the hotels and leads to things like the Fanime waiver, not as cool discounted rates, hotel staff crackdowns, and a general loss of good will and the good working relationship that Fanime has with the hotels.
Again...DON'T DO IT!
yah, Locked.