<p>One of the advantages of being an ED parent is that you can make your reservation early and stay in Ithaca. The RD parents will end up in Cortland – if not Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Cortland is cheaper, so you may want to consider it even if you have a choice. It’s only 30 miles away. </p>
<p>I like the Ramada Inn in Ithaca. Mildly shabby, but it’s right near a shopping area where you can buy all the stuff your kid forgot.</p>
<p>We usually stay at Homewood Suites. Very easy to get to the North Campus freshman dorms.
We were among the regular decision families who stayed in Cortland on move-in weekend freshman year-- could have been worse! 
But I don’t think we booked a room until the summer time. We’re 4.5 hours away and yes, it is best to stay the night before, move in the next day, go shopping and escape before sundown!</p>
<p>FWIW – we were up there last year during admitted students week and there were still move-in day rooms available. However, unless you want to stay in Syracuse, Cortland (if you’re lucky) or Binghamton, I’d make reservations asap.</p>
<p>How long do parents usually stay?</p>
<p>I just booked a room in the Holiday Inn downtown for 2 nights. We stayed there during our college visit. The price and the room are OK, and they have complimentary parking and internet. Close to the campus - you could walk there if you want, about 30 min walk.</p>
<p>Best of all, they have free cancellation, so if I find something better, I have open options.</p>
<p>Tri-Girl – parents and students usually arrive in Ithaca on Thursday, move in on Friday. There’s Convocation(?) on Saturday morning. If you want to go, you need to stay relatively close by … Bing won’t cut it! There are events on Saturday. Leave on Sunday.</p>
<p>It’s possible – but not fun – to arrive on Friday and leave on Friday with no hotel stay. Depends where you are from. I wouldn’t want to drive 4+ hours, move in, turn around and drive home.</p>
<p>Many of the hotels have 3 night minimums (Thurs Fri Sat). Two is really what you need (Thurs and Fri). We had a 2 pm move in last year and did it with one night (Friday). </p>
<p>But – this was our second Cornell student. He was a transfer, not a freshman, and he knew many continuing and transfer students already. As a freshman parent YMMV.</p>
<p>Taughannock Farm Inn is about 8 miles north of Ithaca and where we stayed for 2 nights. </p>
<pre><code> Taughannock Farms Inn
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