<p>I screwed up the RSVP date for Ride the Tide because I admittedly have very little common sense :) Does anyone (interesteddad, achat?) know of clean/fairly affordable hotels in the area? I live about two and a quarter hours away and don't want to have to do any more driving than necessary. And even though I am an ED-er so know I am attending Swat, I really want to go to RTT! Thanks a ton.</p>
<p>This place is convenient to Swat, clean rooms, safe location, and reasonably priced:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mcintoshinn.com/view-media.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.mcintoshinn.com/view-media.asp</a></p>
<p>It's probably about five miles due west of Swarthmore, just on the other side of "downtown" Media. Easy access -- straight shot out the Baltimore Pike.</p>
<p>It was full of Swattie families during orientation.</p>
<p>I don't understand why you need a room though. Has the Swat admissions office told you that you can't attend? </p>
<p>Here's a little secret. If you show up with your sleeping bag, they'll eventually find you somebody's floor to sleep on! Not everyone who RSVP actually shows up. I seriously doubt you would be the first person in RtT history to just show up.</p>
<p>The matching of hosts and specs is such a madhouse that it doesn't really matter. The notion of "reservations" is a bit like trying to have reserved seating at Woodstock.</p>
<p>I agree with interesteddad. Just show up with your sleeping bag. If they can't find anyone to bunk with, (I doubt that would be the case), then you could look for a hotel room.</p>
<p>(I personally don't know any).</p>
<p>You can post on Swarthmore LJ forum, and someone will probably volunteer to host you.
<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/community/swarthmore/%5B/url%5D">http://www.livejournal.com/community/swarthmore/</a></p>
<p>Actually, if you are a girl, just read the comments to the last message on that forum, and contact the students who responded.</p>
<p>With all due respect to Interesteddad, a great advice giver, beware of the McIntosh Inn. We stayed there last year during Parents Weekend and I would never go back. Our room faced the Denny's Restaurant parking lot. (A whole bunch of the rooms face in that direction.) There were very noisy groups of motorcyclists and other folks hanging out well into the wee hours of the morning (perhaps even all night-can't remember.) I don't think that my family slept for more than an hour or two. That being said, the advice to contact someone on the Live Journal page sounds great, or if you're a guy start your own message on that page and I'm sure there will be a number of student offers to host you. Have a great time!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, everyone. The person I spoke to on the phone was not the person really in charge of RtT. The person in charge is travelling at the moment. The guy said that I could come to the event but that there would be no room for me to sleep at Swarthmore. I will try Livejournal.</p>
<p>The HIUSA hostel in downtown philadelphia could also be a very cheap and nice option since it's next to the railroad.</p>
<p>check <a href="http://www.hiusa.org%5B/url%5D">www.hiusa.org</a></p>