To get some useful advice, can you indicate what types of things you want to shop for? There are something like 40 shows so it’s not possible to be close to all of them. Also define what you mean by close. Ten to fifteen minutes by car?
And also important is what your price point is for a room.
I’ve found that starting to search for a place around July or August works well.
I am interested in new artisan beads and historic beads. Less than $400 a night would be nice.
For what it's worth, I would recommend booking a place that you find comfortable, and no really worry about being next to any particular show. As others have mentioned, they really are spread around.
While some people just hit the larger shows, I really enjoy going to the many somewhat random shows that are around. There's also a bus that goes between many of the more established shows, although I have traditionally driven.
I will say, the shows are of very mixed accessibility. The larger ones are pretty decent, the smaller ones are all over the map.
Abe
I was interested in the question, so I looked up the shuttle and show accessibility; this is what I found:
According to this year’s website for the shuttle, it runs from Jan 30-Feb 16 and provides access to 43 show locations on four different routes. It’s set up so that if you park at one of the two “Shuttle/Parking Hubs,” you can pick up a handicapped-accessible shuttle (which, and this should be confirmed, will take you to any of the 43 shows). If you don’t need the accessible shuttle, you'd decide which of the 4 shuttle routes will take you where you want to go, then park at any downtown garage or “Shuttle/Parking Hub” served by the shuttle you want to take and, then, pick up the shuttle. Here's the shuttle link with maps showing routes, garages and hubs: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/park-tucson/gem-show-parking
There should be a master list of show locations accessible to the disabled, but I couldn't find it on the Internet. I can't imagine an event like this would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act without it. I would encourage you to contact www.visittucson.org to ask about venue accessibility or the City of Tucson directly:
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (they deal with accessibility)
City Hall
255 W. Alameda, 5th Floor
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 791-4593
Fax (520) 791-5140
TTD (520) 791-2639
Mailing Address:
Office of Equal Opportunity Programs /OEOP
P.O Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726-7210
