The Best Deals to Denver in Time for the Democratic Convention

Sen. Barack Obama clinched the democratic presidential nomination June 3, and though Sen. Hillary Clinton has yet to formally concede, democrats are starting to make plans for their National Convention. The University of Colorado at Boulder’s mascot may be the buffalo, but from August 25 through August 28 the Pepsi Center (PEP) in Denver, Colo. will be transformed into donkey country, hosting an estimated 35,000 democrats from across the country.

You might not be a member of Congress or in the media (the typical ways to attend), but there are other ways to get in on the action. Visit the Colorado Democratic Party website and learn how to become a volunteer, or just head to Denver to soak up the atmosphere.

But getting to Denver will be the easy part. Most hotels located in the Denver area are booked solid for convention week. Even budget hotels like The Howard Johnson (WYN) and The Best Western, which usually charge around $69 a night, are completely sold out. Rooms are available through www.eventhotelrooms.com, but you’ll be paying primo. The Best Western and Howard Johnson are currently going for $369 a night. If you want your Democratic Convention experience to be a little classier than the Hojo, then you can shell out $449 for a night at The Holiday Inn (IHG) in Denver-Littleton, advertised as 20 minutes to the Pepsi Center.

Not interested in an overpriced motel room? Consider staying with locals. Denver's Craigslist is abound with housing swap deals from folks looking to ditch the crowds in favor of a stay in your home, assuming it’s in an appealing location. Denver homeowners are currently most interested in exchanging their space for an opportunity to visit the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Napa and Sonoma wine country, or a New York pied-a-tierre.