coloraturagirl—- I hear you. We really didn’t have a budget for checking baggage fees. One carry-on was my son’s instrument so I packed both of ours in a small carry-on to survive in much colder weather. Luckily or unluckily, my son refused to wear suits (and dress shoes which didn’t make any differences on his acceptances, by the way) for live auditions so we could save some space for extra socks and clothes just in case of miserable weather. I packed for our first 3-night trip to Boston successfully, so I packed the exact same set for 2 more trips. No extra checking baggage fees on all 3 trips. It doesn’t mean my son cannot pack by himself, I am just a little O.C.D. about packing…
We flew with either JetBlue or Alaska, non-stop flights, except one flight which I chose to stopover “absolutely-no-snow” airport. One flight got canceled due to severe snow storm. But JetBlue gave us 8-hour notice via text before our departure and gave us the flight 12 hour later than our original flight without stress.
About hotels, I booked a room in advance with Hotel.com for free cancellation fee rooms until we confirm his audition days with schools. I could find / guess his audition day(s) from school website. After we heard back from schools with his audition day, I cancelled and re-booked with cheaper deals and we stayed one place for 3 or 4 nights (with no-cancellation policy).
Boston: Sheraton, Very roomy. I heard someone was practicing keyboard on the same floor around 11PM. My son did, too. So, practice is allowed.
Baltimore: Embassy Suits Inner Harbor, We arrived around 5AM, our first room was a mistake and run down. But they gave us a “promised room” within 8 hours, super roomy, great free breakfast but so many people during breakfast hours. Lots of musicians stayed for auditions and I heard instrumental practices evening and daytime. My son did during daytime. So, practice is allowed.
New York: The Belvedere Hotel on 48th street, easy to take metro from/to JFK, uptown and downtown, small (off course), the most expensive hotel in 3 (off course), old but clean, no bedbugs(!), internet charge (resort fee?) was expensive, I didn’t hear any “musical sounds” because noise from outside police / ambulance activities and constructions were so loud. My son didn’t practice in a room at all. But I am pretty sure it would be OK to practice during daytime.
For Jazz studies musicians, try to find a time for a local place(s) to jam or see some performances before / after auditions. Getting a feel of the outside-of-school performance opportunities would be pretty important especially for jazz performers who learn music and business not only at the school. My son and I arrived at least 2 days before his scheduled audition day. He met / played with local music students and musicians (as well as school faculty).