<p>Flying in Aug 15th. Move in is 18th. Planning on buying linens, toiletries, towels, few storage bins, maybe rolling 3 drawer storage containers, printer,and wall decor. Should we stop outside of Tuscaloosa to avoid things being sold out? I’d love to preorder from BBB and pick up in T town but their prices on some things are higher than I want to pay. Thinking more Target and Walmart. I will bring my 3 M hooks and curtain rod in our suitcases since those seem hard to find but will I be ok on the other basics? </p>
<p>Remind me again-- how far ahead is shipping to Pady safe?</p>
<p>Also- if DD’s roommates are all in the week before is it unheard of we could sneak a few things in earlier than move in day? I am sure she will want to meet than as soon as we get there.</p>
<p>Sadly there is not Bed, Bath & Beyond in Tuscaloosa; closest one is in Birmingham. The various shopping areas in Hoover/Birmingham are less than an hour away. I’d plan on shopping there not necessarily because of things being sold out, but because of the craziness level ;)</p>
<p>Site to Store in Tuscaloosa Walmart works out very well. You’ll get text messages when things come in.</p>
<p>Also…to pick up the Site to Store orders, you DON’T go to the front Customer Service Desk…instead, you go to the BACK of the store where there is a Walmart.com sign. You go up to the counter, and touch the screen and that alerts a Site to Store employee to come and help you. It works out very well.</p>
<p>In terms of stopping at other Wal-Marts, there is a nice store in Bessemer, which is on the way to the campus. I’ve been there a few times when I’ve been visiting.</p>
<p>As for moving in some things early, go ahead and do it. If the roommates are there, you can leave things. If the RA is around and in a generous mood, you just may get the keys early to your daughter’s suite. My son has moved in early the past two years, as he and one of his roommates had business on campus that required them to be there early. </p>
<p>If you are shipping to Paty, why not call to double check when shipments will be stored?</p>
<p>Ditto on the Walmart in Bessemer. We stayed at a Fairfield Inn there the night before move in because we got a late start from Atlanta that day because of my teaching job. We did quite a bit of shopping at that Walmart after dinner and except for the locals it wasn’t crowded at all and it was well stocked. In hindsight, not sure why I didn’t just buy it here since we were driving – I guess it was nice to have something to occupy us the night before move in since I was having a serious case of mom sadness.</p>
<p>we found few things sold out in tuscaloosa, so shopping elsewhere because of that is not really necessary. you can do walmart site to store to make it a bit easier. the northport walmart may be nicer than the tuscaloosa walmart.</p>
<p>Seriously, you can Site to Store for almost anything…even things that Walmart normally carries or things the store doesn’t carry, just so those items are packed up for you to pick up…saves a ton of time.</p>
<p>Also…there’s a Walmart in Northport. Go over the bridge (the bridge by the amphitheater), then turn left on McFarland (yes, McFarland continues over to Northport and then heads west), so go left on McFarland (in Northport) and continue on…that Walmart will be on your left.</p>
<p>However, the Ttown Walmart has a Sams Club next to it, so it’s very convenient to hit both stores at one time.</p>
<p>If you use site to store for Walmart, I recommend the Northport Walmart. Less sketchy than the skyland one, which I still refuse to go to after dark. You should be able to find most things in Ttown though, they stock the stores rather well for move in time. Rarely are things sold out, it’s only happened to me on a few items.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. Going to make a big walmart preorder and hope for the best.</p>
<p>I don’t like to hear anything can be sketchy. Still haven’t been to the area ( or the state for that matter) and am imagining I am sending DD to the safest place on earth. Not ready to have that bubble burst just yet.</p>
<p>I shop the Tuscaloosa Walmart frequently and the Sam’s Club as well. I have never, ever had a problem other than one panhandler asking for money once. The area includes the old McFarland Mall area built around 1970 and this area was replaced by the University Mall and Midtown Village. It needs a facelift and rejuvenation for sure. Living near Atlanta, we see much more aggressive panhandlers frequently, but not within our suburban area where we live. I’m guessing someone is referencing the housing project located behind the Walmart. As one would anywhere, one should always use caution, especially at night. I really wouldn’t refer to the area as sketchy at all. Having said that, I would NOT stay at the LaQuinta or any of the motels around the Skyland/McFarland area beside I-20. Many times the motels built beside the interstate have reputations for illegal activity. As in many areas, these motels are cheaper and thus may attract those with whom I’d rather not share quarters and I prefer hotels anyway. I know there are several motels on Skyland that turned to extended stay for tornado victims, some of which who may not have been trying to find a way to make it elsewhere as we noticed them hanging around the perimeter of a few places throughout the day as we drove around scoping out hotels last year. It would be easy to spot these places in most communities.</p>
<p>No matter where you go, it is a good idea for girls to travel with a friend or in a group at night and to be aware of their surroundings at all times. I want to reassure you that you are sending your daughter to a safe and comfortable community. Please don’t worry unnecessarily.:)</p>
<p>We stay at the Country Inn & Suites on McFarland. Is that in a sketchy area? I am worried about having all D’s things for move in left in our van overnight. When D and I stayed there for BB, she kept telling me the Subway access the street was “shady” and refused to get dinner there. I have no clue why.</p>
<p>The rooms at the Comfort Inn are fine. and it is a hotel We looked at the rooms there when we were scoping out all of the hotels in the area last year so we would know what they were like. There is a motel that backs up to the same parking lot that would make me question whether it would be wise to leave a car parked with everything for move in though. That was our concern. I wouldn’t recommend the La Quinta or the motels on Skyland. The rooms at the Country Inn were also fine and it is also a hotel. I think it will be fine. I can also recommend the Hilton Garden Inn, The Holiday Inn Express, The Capstone (with some explanation of what to expect) and The Yellow Hammer Inn (although it is out from town. Oh, and the Hampton Inn is also nice and is convenient.:)</p>
<p>For awhile, I was only going to the Tuscaloosa Wal-Mart late at night. There is a Tuscaloosa Police Officer stationed right inside the Wal-Mart entrance every night.</p>
<p>Overall, it is really a matter of what one is used to. I’m used to seeing panhandlers and have spent large amounts of time in and around questionable areas (pro tip: large casinos are very safe places due to the large amounts of money present), so the area around the Tuscaloosa Wal-Mart doesn’t seem overly unsafe. That said, I try to stay in hotels with interior corridors or on higher floors as a matter of personal preference. </p>
<p>The Bessemer Wal-Mart is located at Exit 108 off I-20/59 and has a big fabric section, whereas the Tuscaloosa Wal-Mart does not carry fabric. Note that this area is a well-known speed trap.</p>
<p>The Northport Wal-Mart is just outside of Northport, so if you are still seeing lots of stores along McFarland Blvd., you aren’t there yet.</p>
<p>When we have the carload of suitcases and tubs, we usually rent a larger room. It’s maybe as much as 40 bucks a night more, but it’s worth the peace of mind. During hurricane evacuations, when we’ve had to leave stuff in the car, usually, one of us actually sleeps in the car to keep an eye on our belongings. (No kidding).</p>