Things I've learned having gone to 1, prepped for 1 but scrapped it at the last minute:
Some hotels are not posted by ASHP. I booked the Red Roof Inn thats right by the convention center just last week. It's cheaper than the ones listed by ASHP. Downside is I'm stuck in the smokers section of the hotel. Upside: I managed to get a two-bed room at the same rate as that of a King size for a whole week at the equivalent of a short notice.
ASHP's helper service is targeted for those trying to fly in from anywhere and everywhere. If you shop around, you can manage to shave an extra few hundred off your flight.
I missed out on a Vegas ASHP twice. I went to Anaheim as a P4 in 2006, and despite being extremely busy hunting for a residency, the much needed winddown at night is lacking. All you have for entertainment/ nightlife is Disneyland, and that 24 hour Denny's. Hotel bars do not count, though there are LOTS of hotels/ motels. If you don't NEED to go to an ASHP/ APHA at Anaheim, don't go. If you're going because you are a 6th year/ PGY1/ PGY2 having to promote/ recruit for you residency, good luck. If you are the type that needs to go out to winddown (I'm not talking about alcohol, I mean simple entertainment and something to do/see that is NOT pharmacy to decompress, unwinde) good luck in Anaheim, and I hope you like Disneyland and the mouse.
Every time I register for a pharmacy convention, I can't help but wonder, if this were to be in NYC, what would be price have been to rent out Jacob Javits as compared to city X, and the cost for the convention attendees vs. city X.
