Help wanted: Where to live/how to eat

<p>Trying to figure out the myriad of housing possibilities/meal plans.
My S would prefer one of the suites or plazas, but the halls are less costly. Any thoughts on the best residence hall for incoming freshmen? Though I suspect you really don't have a choice.
What about the triples in two-bedroom suites ... does that mean six share a single bath or does each triple have its own bath? (kinda confused by the graphic floor plan).
Are the only air-conditioned units in Sunset and DeNeve? How do the newly renovated residence halls look (and are they AC'd)?
As for meal plans, we're looking strongly at the 14 Blue ... figuring he'll have no problem eating twice a day. I don't think it's worth paying $300 to bump to the premier (essentially, you're paying insurance in case you don't use your meal tickets for the week). Is that correct?
Any answers will help. Thank you in advance.</p>

<p>i picked Plaza. residence halls would be more social and you would get to know more people, but i would prefer the quieter plazas anyways.</p>

<p>you have a choice of picking which type, though i dont know the probability of actually getting your first choice.</p>

<p>the triples in the two bedroom suites means that 6 people share one bathroom (i think it was divided into the shower and the toilet separately instead of just one).</p>

<p>i believe all plazas are AC'ed (De Neve, Sunset Village, and, if they get done, Reiber Vista and Hedrick Summit). residence halls and suites are NOT AC'ed.</p>

<p>meal plans...i think i will probably pick 14 blue too, i dont eat breakfast now anyways. i would pick the 19 gold over the 14 premier: its cheaper than premier and has more meals. who needs the "rollover" of premier when you have so many meals you dont even need to rollover?</p>

<p>It is practically impossible for freshmen to get suites, but it is possible to get plazas. Like others on this board...or like UCLAri would said "Suites and plazas are banned for freshmen!"</p>

<p>It's suggested that he lives in a res hall as they are more social. In addition, he will be able to know others who are first years and are in the same situation as he is.</p>

<p>The best res hall for freshmens would probably be Hedrick IMO. Some people perfer Dystra, but that's a bit too old for me and it's also termed as the most "social". </p>

<p>The res halls do not have A/C, but they have heaters.</p>

<p>I would suggest the 14 premier plan after asking other current bruins and they say that it's worth it because you might not be able to make lunch which is the 12-2pm time span i think. If you miss this time span, you won't be able to lunch w/ the regular 14 plan. But with premier plan, if you are busy doing something else between the hours of 12-2, you can eat lunch during the dinner hours and swipe again at a later time for dinner again. With the regular plans, you aren't able to swipe twice in one meal period for example: you aren't able to eat two lunches during the lunch period. With the premier plan, you can get a combo meal at an eatery such as Bruincafe or puzzles and still use another swipe to get a smoothie.</p>

<p>" * The specified non-premier plans may only enter residential dining facilities once per meal period."</p>

<p>with the non-premier plans, i think you can swipe more than once per dining period for eateries and smoothies, etc. you just cant go into the dining halls more than once int he same dining period. can current students confirm? or am i wrong and BenedictChan has it right?</p>