Question About Safety to and from the Convention Site

[TwistedFayt]

Yes I know it sounds like a really annoying question already but here are the details behind it:

• Number 1) I am a girl.
• Number 2) I am 17 AKA a minor but will be 18 a week before the start of the actual 2011 convention in May.
• Number 3) I'm going to be with 3 other girls ranging in ages from 18-19 during the whole duration of our stay in the area of the convention with no adults staying with us at the hotel or anywhere else.
• Number 4) My parents are overprotective. Can be a good thing, can be a bad thing.

Basically, my dad is unconvinced that we will be safe in the hotel that we will be staying at and at the convention area itself. Can someone with background knowledge about the convention please inform me about how tight the security is and everything related to such? It will help give my dad some peace of mind.

[ewu]

If you are staying at the Hilton or the Marriott then it is connected to the convention and it will be relatively busy even at 4 or 5AM. The Crowne is across the street and not that bad either at all hours.

The Fairmont is a bit down the street with some quiet places but again during the con, there will be people walking around all hours of the night.

The doubletree will have a 24 hour shuttle to and from the con...


But because you did not mention your hotel, I can't really speak to your likely experience.

FanimeCon will also have rovers in all convention space, but they are more for informing the proper people when stuff goes down. However, they are a quite a force in making sure shenanigans are kept to a minimum.

[TwistedFayt]

I'm not sure which hotel we are staying at since the girl who organized the trip hasn't told me yet. Although, she did say that we would be taking a bus from the hotel to the convention.

In general, are the hotels safe for us 4 girls to be in?

[Armored-Heart]

I haven't stayed at the Doubletree, but generally speaking you're safe if you use common sense (travel with a friend if you feel unsafe, don't follow that random guy you just met down a dark alley, etc) and stay aware of your surroundings. In past years I've never had an issue with safety either at the con or in a hotel. As mentioned before, there will usually be people walking around at all hours, and rovers can be found throughout the convention center.

Now that's not to say that nothing bad ever happens and everything is a magical land of rainbows, but if you keep a level head and use the buddy system when appropriate, you'll be fine. If you ever have a problem, con and hotel staff are there to help.

[TwistedFayt]

Hmm.. Okay. :3 Thank you to you both for helping me out at my first con~

EDIT

Okay I asked the girl who is arranging everything and she said e're going to be staying at Double Tree. This one is a good hotel right

[Mango Bunny]

I can speak for in the convention center itself....

I've gone to Fanime since I was 17ish. If you're with friends it shouldn't even be a problem in the con center. I've felt uncomfortable before walking around at 3 am by myself. Mostly because I don't have a high tolerance for that sort of thing, but I got propositioned 2 times going back up to my room. Well, the second time was more or less skeezy dudes hanging out by the hotel entrance and cat-calling. I wouldn't have been so freaked out if I was with someone. Also, I've never had the same experience when I wasn't alone. More or less people are totally friendly and won't bother you. I wouldn't even worry about it. If you are worried, don't stay out too late.

Plus, if I wasn't such a goober I'd have complained about those guys. People are present to help you. Actually, I often see the SJPD walking around. So it really isn't a free-for all of whatever. It helps that the part of San Jose the con is in is already a bit late-night friendly from what I see.... just because of the University. Would I walk around alone in the city at 4 am? No. In the con center with friends? Sure! Also, since you're going to be bussed back to the hotel that should be secure enough! Not to mention people will be everywhere from the con!

Just dress in a non-provocative manner, stay together and don't just flounder about the city at night and you're fiiiiiiiiiiiiine.

[Junon]

As long as you stick with people you should be ok, San Jose doesn't seem that bad of a place unless you stray too far out. At the con, I'd try to avoid the Hilton area, Cafe-side late at nights (around 2 - 3 am) as there is typically a fight or some big drama that involves more than a few people. 3 years in a row now! Because that spot is somewhat secluded, I believe people go there to vent.

It may have to do with the 21+ section at the Hilton where they serve drinks and have a smaller dance room, which isn't too far from the other large fanime dance room.

Also, close to and around the convention, there are a lot of alleys and back-roads that seem like good ideas for shortcuts, but they could be dangerous for young girls, especially after 1am.

I'd suggest putting the local San Jose police emergency number on your cell phones just to be on the safe side if you're going to be traversing the city on foot at night.

[ewu]

Junon... <3

[TwistedFayt]

Okay hopefully that will be enough to convince him.

Thank you all~

[Kyra_Maverick]

I've been going for about 6 years now and I've always felt safe in the convention center and the surrounding areas. My first year sounds exactly like yours: 18 and just traveling with girlfriends.

I've never stayed so far away as the Double Tree, but since there is a shuttle I don't imagine there will be any issues with safety.

[Junon]

Junon... <3

Junon and ewu dance room friends 4 ever.  :o

[Maskenlav]

I'm staying at the Double-tree lol and yeah like everyone said don't worry about it, most of the people will be deep into their own little groups to pay attention to other people. Stick with the people you know, and if some guys call onto you then ignore them. You'll be surrounded by con-minded people so I highly doubt there will be sickos attending.

[PyronIkari]

Time for the most realistic post you will get.

Downtown San Jose isn't the safest place in the world, but it isn't exactly dangerous. It's the city, and frankly, it's no different than being out anywhere in any kind of populated city environment.

I have personally seen fights in the surrounding areas, and police cars chasing after people. Now before you say "OMG THAT MEANS IT'S DANGEROUS!" It doesn't. I have seen the exact same things on college campuses, near my house, all over San Francisco and Los Angeles, Hayward, Sunnyvale, and anything else you can think of. Safety is about how you deal with surroundings, not nec. your actual surroundings. You're a girl, who will be 18 years old. Much like anywhere else in the world, this puts you at risk. Just be safe. Stick in a group. Be around people you trust. But this is said anywhere. I wouldn't really want my girlfriend walking around by herself anywhere at night really. It's no safer in say Millbrae than it is near the convention center. And seriously, whatever college you go to will be worse.

Some other advice is to not harass or bother people. Do not give attention to people you don't want bothering you, and be safe. If someone harasses you, don't pay attention and keep walking in your group.

Again, nothing I'm saying is specific to the surrounding areas of the convention center and is applicable anywhere. The area isn't dangerous, and is comparable to almost any other area out there. As long as you are smart enough to be safe, then you'll be safe. If you're weaving in and out of alley ways by yourself, then yeah, it's not exactly safe. If you're in a group staying on the major streets, then you'll be just fine.

[RooBird]

This will be my third year at Fanime, and I'm going to be turning 14 about a week before the convention. I find Fanime is generally a safe place to be. There's almost always tons of people around, even walking towards hotels in the surrounding area will usually have you surrounded by people.

However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take precautions. As others have said, it's important to use the buddy system. Especially at night, when you're going to your hotel. And especially if you're taking a bus or shuttle to your hotel, since there will likely be less people around. As long as you stay in a group, you should be fine. I have personally never had any problems at Fanime before.

[lummy]

I know this may have been answered, but I would like to put in my 2 cents. ....ka-ching

I've been going since....... 7th grade? so like 10 or 11 ish (currently I'm 23). What I have observed is that general other fanime attendees will likely be concern about other attendees well-being (if they are aware enough, and not fangirling about)

If you and your group are in a position where it feels unsafe, be aware of your surroundings, you're likely not going to be wandering the streets of San Jose at night in any case, but if you feel unsafe you can go to any hotel counter or Fanime Staff and they will try to help you as much as they can. (aka wait with you at a shuttle stop or even escort you back to your hotel.

Also, make sure you have a schedule of everything that is important. In your case it would be the shuttle run time.

As someone said above the convention is usually still busy at all hours of the day and night, You will be safe in my opinion.

A good idea is to also get to know people at the convention, see if you hotel neighbors are con-goers, exchange phone numbers, like a emergency contact type thing(though some people are wary of passing out information like that). You should also look up the police phone number and put it in your phone. 9-1-1 usually isn't fast enough in extreme situations.

well I think that ended up being a few cents more.......ka-ching.

[TwistedFayt]

Luckily he finally caved and said that I can go as long as we get a driver. :) Thanks for everyone's opinions you really helped out!

[Mango Bunny]

I'm happy for you! Fanime is a whole lot of fun!

[zeroelement]

Just a few facts. San jose is one of the safest towns in the US. 2 - 4 blocks away is a local police building.
San Jose -- Named Safest City the Country (top 5 overall)
Ive been downtown alot (even go to school like a 2 blocks away) and the scaryist thing you will get is someone scared that YOU might hurt them if your in cosplay (cosplayed ichigo bankai when it came out and people AVOIDED me lol). Biggest thing or closest thing to a fight ive seen are all verbal but those people go to bed early.