<p>wait do you mean all the hotels are sold out for move-in week already?</p>
<p>sd6freelancer: No, the hotels aren’t all booked yet - but it sounds like the cheap hotels close to campus are full for move-in weekend. You’ll probably have to choose between a cheap hotel further away (20 miles or so) vs. a more expensive hotel nearby. And it’s definitely time to book now, so “further away” and “more expensive” don’t get even more extreme!</p>
<p>after eight years, i don’t have to worry about move-in. (yeah!)
however, dd is also thinking of staying in Ithaca for a bit after graduation complicating the move-out schedule…</p>
<p>Just signed up for the “lottery” for a hotel room for next year’s graduation…and they want $500 a night for a regular room in a regular hotel, 3 night minimum. Oldfort (or anyone else) where did you find a nice lake house for graduation? Was it much more than $1500+? And has anyone stayed in the dorms for graduation (which might be very convenient)?</p>
<p>I have no problem paying good money for a nice hotel room (actually I’m a bit of a hotel snob!), but I don’t know if I could get more for my money than that ridiculously priced hotel room! Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!!</p>
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<p>We got on lottery lists for Hampton Inn and Homewood suites last May, and Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard by Marriott on June 1, for this year’s graduation. All charging an arm and a leg. Which we were spared from paying, since we got nothing from any of those lotteries. The several other major hotels had been booked way before that. Which we could not have availed ourselves of, since D2 was not going there to start, she transferred in.</p>
<p>We’re renting someone’s house, via one of these other links, don’t remember which.</p>
<p>Dorms would be just fine with me, and humongously cheaper, however my wife didn’t want to stay in them, for whatever reason.</p>
<p>Book hotels very early. There are hotels which take reservations for graduation 2 years in advance…book as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Monydad, you can stay in the dorms for reunion. At least you would be dry…</p>
<p>oh good, thanks, will check if we decide to do that.</p>
<p>momma-three - Which hotels book two years in advance? D is a soph,</p>
<p>got 2 dorm rooms for family for my d’s graduation in 2008. they stayed in cascadilla hall in college town. wasn’t too bad – but TAKE A FAN as it was hot and there was no air conditioning. If any of the dorms have air conditioning- i’d make that my first choice. staying in dorms is also convenient as you don’t have to worry about driving-parking on campus on graduation day. We drove from Ramada and there really was quite a traffic tie-up to get on campus.
so if you can deal with living in a dorm room for 3 days- it may not be a bad way to go. (of course I can say that as I had the hotel room and sister & brother in-law stayed in dorms.)</p>
<p>Marny, what do they charge for dorm rooms for graduation, and do you have to supply all your own linens etc?</p>
<p>“…as you don’t have to worry about driving-parking on campus on graduation day.”</p>
<p>I was thinking we’d take Ithaca city buses between downtown & campus, but we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>We did one of the Cornell Adult University programs one summer years ago (highly recommend) and stayed in Donlon, it was fine. But hot. Also at that time I got to be re-aquainted with the “great” Cornell dining food, which seemed to me to be exactly the same food as in the old days, but my standards had evidently changed quite a bit in the intervening years and it did not seem too “great” to me any more. We wound up eating out a lot. (Not relevant for commencement, since I don’t think they’re feeding you then).</p>
<p>I think the dorm package for commencement includes buffet breakfast.</p>
<p>Rates
Commencement guest housing is charged at a weekend three-night package rate that includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights (May 27, 28, 29). The rate is the same for a l, 2, or 3 night stay and includes a breakfast buffet on Saturday and Sunday mornings.</p>
<p>Residence Halls: The 2011 housing rate is $162* per person for a 3 night stay, plus Saturday & Sunday breakfast buffet.</p>
<p>*These rates are non-taxable.</p>
<p>Woody…Country Inns and Suites book early. We inquired about graduation when we were visiting a couple of years ago and they were reluctant to book it. I asked them what the rates were and than offered cash…we got the room. Just call them and see if they will book you now. If they say no, try what I did when you move your kiddo in. It is close to the school so you could just stop in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help everyone! I think I read that the dorms come with linens, so that’s not too bad. I guess we’ll see what happens with the lottery and then take it from there.</p>
<p>memphismom, (I know I’m thinking a few years ahead of time, but) in general, when should we be signing up for the “dorm package for commencement”? </p>
<p>I will probably be flying to move-in day. Did any of your children have trouble fitting their life in a suitcase? I’m scared I will have too many things! Did you guys simply pack lighter or ship the things that couldn’t fit?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To the best of my knowledge, you can’t sign up until the spring of that year.</p>
<p>I was afraid they would run out of rooms, so I booked a motel room in Cortland (less convenient and more expensive) for this month’s Commencement last summer. All the rooms in Ithaca were gone by that point, but the drive from Cortland isn’t bad, and I should be able to park at my daughter’s off-campus apartment building. She lives in an area that is not Collegetown, and there is plenty of parking.</p>
<p>By the way, the Cortland motels also know Cornell’s schedule, and they adjust their prices and require minimum stays, too. But they are a little cheaper than Ithaca motels, presumably to compensate for the 30-mile drive.</p>
<p>If you ever find that all the motel rooms in Ithaca are gone when you need to be there for a Cornell event, Cortland is the best second choice. But if you wait too long, you won’t be able to get a room in Cortland, either. We know a family that waited too long and had to stay in Pennsylvania the night before move-in.</p>
<p>We got a single-night stay in Cortland for move-in weekend at a reasonable price when we booked a couple of weeks ago, when the only things left in Ithaca was over $200/night. Seemed like “normal” hotel pricing and no minimum stays or special cancelationg penalties there.</p>
<p>I think the lottery for dorm rooms are in February or March of senior year. Just keep an eye on the commencement website and make sure your kids are aware of these things- as they are the ones who have to sign up for lottery.<br>
also Cortland really is a pretty good alternative. As we had one kid in Cornell and one in Cortland, I spent a bunch of time in cortland. It is an easy drive and there are a bunch of hotels in Cortland including a Hampton Inn, Country Suites, Ramada and a few others.</p>
<p>also admitting- I haven’t read these postings. I just happened to catch it yesterday and read the posting re: graduation. But will also add-- dinner reservations for graduation week-end started in January of senior year- so even dinner has to be planned months ahead. We had a wonderful (and reasonably priced dinner- I don’t think they took advantage of the fact that it was Graduation week-end- but of course that was in 2008) at Taughanuck (?) Farms. Prix-fixed 3 or 4 course dinner. Real nice and not outrageously expensive. </p>
<p>some organizations will host dinners on the Friday of graduation week. My kid was in Cornell Tradition, and they had an awards dinner that Friday PM- so don’t over subscibe to dinner events as some college clubs host dinners on Friday PM.</p>
<p>Re #90:
“staying in dorms is also convenient as you don’t have to worry about driving-parking on campus on graduation day. We drove from Ramada and there really was quite a traffic tie-up to get on campus.”</p>
<p>To our relief, we did not experience any significant traffic problems on commencement day. We arrived well on the early side of the time frame they recommended, perhaps that’s why. But we had no problems getting to Parking Lot B from downtown. And no problems getting out of there after D2’s diploma award ceremony either.</p>
<p>I had a whole bus strategy prepared, running between the Green Street library and campus. I didn’t use it but I will post it for posterity, in case one of you wants to.</p>
<p>Saturday: 70 bus to campus, 70 bus return. Sunday: 72 bus to campus, 70 return.
Fare: $1.50 exact change each way, day passes available at gimmee coffee downtown.</p>
<p>It probably would have worked out just fine.</p>