<p>Hi
I am a new freshman who will be arriving with my parents and they are wondering if anyone has recommendations of where to stay.</p>
<p>I am an international student, so I have to arrive earlier than regular freshman for international orientation.</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/467148-safe-hotel-stay-while-visiting-college-park.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/467148-safe-hotel-stay-while-visiting-college-park.html</a></p>
<p>the thread worrywart refers to gets into a lot of discussion of whether College Park is safe or not.</p>
<p>Top recommendations gleaned from that thread…most (but not all) people like the Marriott that is actually located on campus, the Holiday Inn that is across from IKEA (just off the highway), and hotels in Greenbelt or Silver Spring aren’t too far away, and are nicer than the other options on RT 1 (Baltimore Ave) in College Park.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Holiday Inn-Greenbelt when we went up for Spring Open House. I got a great rate using Hotwire ($60/night). It’s six miles from campus. It was near restaurants and a grocery store/shopping area.) I didn’t see any indication of crime, it was in a nicer residential/business park area. Hotwire was definitely less expensive than going thru Holiday Inn reservations. I’ve heard that the Marriott on campus is quite expensive.</p>
<p>I would try to stay at the Marriott, it is on the 193 side, back entrance, closer to the sports fields, stadiums. I believe it is off of exit 28 on 495. We have stayed at the Clarion Fundome (rt 1 side). Not the greatest rooms, but it is so close it is worth it. It also has a restaurant to have dinner in or breakfast.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already opened up a rewards account with these hotel chains, I highly recommend it. After four years of staying at the same chain when moving DS1 in and out of his school, we are now enjoying free rooms at UMd when we move DS2 in and out.</p>
<p>I made a reservation at the Marriott for Orientation (July 16-17) using Marriott rewards points, so I’m close to campus and paying nothing!</p>
<p>That’s the best rate, jnrsmom. We’ve found that the rates at the marriott on campus fluctuate greatly (that whole supply/demand thing). It’s always the first place we check rates on, but we’ve only stayed there a couple of times…</p>
<p>In addition to the Mariott, I would recommend the Quality Inn. It’s walking distance to campus South on route 1. You can put the adress into Google Maps to see the exact distance but my friends and I have walked to nearby Plato’s Diner many times. It was also one of the cheapest stays in the Route 1 area, and seemed the nicest, too! (For example the Econo Lodge was more money but it looks disastrous! And is quite far from campus). Stayed in a “Towers” room; dunno if that made a difference.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone!
I did look into the Marriott on campus but it was sold out. I will look into the other ones now.
The rewards account was a great suggestion.</p>
<p>We wanted something comfortable because we have to be there for a week - I have to attend International Orientation and then have to wait to move into the residences.</p>
<p>You have given us some great options</p>