ATM machines in the area

I remember people looking to ATMs thinking there weren't ENOUGH CLOSE to the convention,
and that's to be expected. I'd plan for not needing one too often. Of course, that's me.
Other people might recommend carrying less cash and using ATMs more. Depends on if you
expect a mugging or "I can't find an ATM" to be more likely.

A good rule is to figure out what you have available to spend at the convention. Just, you entire amount of cash *after* the room is paid for. Find out precisely how much extra you have. And remove ALL of it from your account for cash on hand. Withdraw it at a teller so you can get smaller denominations (like carrying about $100 worth of $5 or $1-bills for the dealer's den. They'll love you for it).

Hash out your mini-budgets, like food, dealer's den, etc, and divy up your money accordingly. Once you have these piles divvied up, mark them accordingly. Now you have cash on hand for each type of budget. All the cash left over, which SHOULD be the majority of what you withdrew in the first place, label it as "reserve/emergency" and stash it somewhere.

This gives you the cash on hand to not have to worry about ATMs. It also gives you a set limit on what you'll be spending for each type of thing (like eating or purchases from the dealer's den), and you'll have reserve cash just in case. It's a rather simple way to keep track of your money, not worry about ATMs, and monitor your own spending.

***EDIT***

And forgot to mention, of course, hopefully you won't dip into your reserve. Whatever reserve you have left over, plus any extras from the rest of your budgets, deposit into the bank after the con. It should go without saying, but might as well cover my bases here.

-Estimated six so far. Let's hope it doesn't go higher!

There are indeed many ATM's near the convention. I did a cursory survey of ATMs for four of the area's largest banks (PNC, National City, Citizens, and Fifth Third) and added them to the Official Anthrocon Map. The closest ATM is mere steps away, in Liberty Center between the Westin and the Convention Center. It's a safe bet that that's one of the first ATMs to get cleaned out, though

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Tom Brady/Duncan da Husky
Artists Alley and Con Store Manager
For fastest replies to questions about Artists Alley, e-mail me at

What Duncan said, I shall second more forcefully:

DO NOT depend on the ATMs actually having money. They get cleaned out fast, and the operators don't make special trips to refill them on the weekends. Bring cash, or if lots of cash makes you nervous, go to pretty much any bank and get travellers checks.

I plan on withdrawing cash before I head out. A chunk to pay the hotel, and to eat for a few days.

I refuse to use any type of plastic when paying for my hotel.

Personally I've found it can be a good idea to bring cash with you, and a bit more than you think you might need at that. You can't always rely on finding a working ATM when at a con. Better to bring too much with you than not enough and not be able to find a place to withdrawal more at the con.

However, remember if you do bring a lot of cash, DO NOT CARRY IT ALL ON YOU! If you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and end up getting mugged (heaven forbid), better to hand over $50 that you have on you, and still have the rest of your cash hidden away back in your room or wherever. (Or however much might be a reasonable amount to carry on you based on your budget)

That's my 2 cents anyway.

I know there was a bank and a Credit Union (Co-Op network) in the US Steel building last year. If the US Steel building is open, they both should have ATMs that are accessible.

Hey, sorry for tapping out the Westin's ATM as much as I did, I wasn't expecting as much of a quarterly bonus as I got.