What to Bring with You for a Convention Room [Room Sharing Essentials]

With convention season in full swing, I figured I’d take a moment to list some important things to bring with you to make sharing a convention room a bit easier. I should also mention that this article mentions rooming with others, but I don’t recommend staying in a room above the intended occupancy. Not only can this put a damper on your convention weekend with stress and crowding, but you can also get in a lot of trouble if discovered by the hotel staff.

Payment: First and foremost, make sure to bring your part of the hotel room payment with you if you have not contributed already. Rooming with others is a great way to split costs but it can also strain friendships if one person is trying to wiggle their way out of paying their share. If something unexpected comes up, make sure to talk with the person booking the room beforehand. And blowing all your money in the dealer’s room is not an excuse.
Shampoo/Conditioner: Most hotels offer complementary shampoo in tiny bottles during your stay. This is great, except if you have long hair like me, one bottle is not enough for the weekend for my own hair, let alone another person. Bringing your own shampoo guarantees there is enough to last.
Personal Towel: There are usually plenty of towels in a hotel and it is easy to request more. The only problem is they all look exactly the same. Packing your own brightly colored towel makes it stand out from the rest and can help avoid and awkward situations.
Snacks: Convention food can get expensive so packing your own is a great way to cut down on costs. Just be sure to check beforehand if anyone else in the room has any food allergies or sensitivities that need to be avoided.

(Snacks that serve as photoshoot props are extra useful! Photo by Webyugioh)

Beverages: Many hotels have mini fridges that are great for storing cans of soda or other beverages for when you need a bit of refreshment. If you are planning on bringing any “adult beverages,” make sure your roommates are comfortable with it. And absolutely do NOT bring any alcohol if anyone in your room is underage.
Toilet Paper: While this one may seem a bit silly, it’s one of those things that is useful to have extra roll of, even if you end up not needing it.
Air Mattress: Again, I hope you aren’t overcrowding the room, but things happen. Having an air mattress or sleeping bag in the trunk of your car is a great precaution in case something unexpected occurs.

Are there any useful items that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!