<p>
[quote]
You're done, not wanted, and the seconds are being counted until you leave.
[/quote]
I have tears in my eyes.... :(</p>
<p>To tsdad: Is the Marriott walking distance of USC? How far by car?</p>
<p>It is not within walking distance. It's about 2-3 miles or so from New/North. S. Fig is one way, going away from USC, in front of the Marriott so you have to go on a parallel street and then come back to Fig where it is two-way. Coming back though it is a straight shot from New/North. But, do avoid Figueroa downtown during rush hour.</p>
<p>There are numerous restaurants you can walk to from the Marriott. The restaurants inside the hotel are fine. It is a safe area although we did see some street people over the years. There is a multiplex movie theater in a building that appears to be attached to the hotel.</p>
<p>When we booked our hotel for Parents weekend we did it through STA Travel (email is <a href="mailto:usc@statravel.com">usc@statravel.com</a>) which has an office in the University Center. They gave us a better rate than we got directly through the hotel. </p>
<p>Another suggestion that I originally found here on CC is a Bed and Breakfast that's not far from the campus. It's called The Inn at 657 and it is popular with USC families (<a href="http://www.patsysinn657.com/)%5B/url%5D">http://www.patsysinn657.com/)</a>. We stayed there for move-in and it was ideal.</p>
<p>I called the Radisson USC and the rep said they are booked with 110 people on the waiting list for the family visitor's week-end Oct. 10-12. What is The Inn at 657 like? Is it walking distance to campus?</p>
<p>FauxNom: I am impressed! I have gotten the Marriott for $77 and the Bonaventure for $80 on Priceline. I don't like the Bonaventure as much because the parking is so much more expensive. On football game weekends it is fun to stay at the Marriott because it is the football team hotel and so the players are walking all over the place! ;-) My D is also in the marching band and she liked staying in the hotel with us after the game and eating at the Sunday brunch the next morning.</p>
<p>To TeachernMom: Thanks so much for the Priceline tip. I went there and got the Bonaventure for $80. a night for family visit week-end in October.</p>
<p>To TeachernMom: I heard you can park across the street from the Bonaventure at the Omni hotel for less money.</p>
<p>mdcissp - the Inn at 657 is not within walking distance really as it's at least a mile away. It is made up of several adjacent older houses. Parking is free and in the driveway behind a gate. I'm not sure if they lock the gate at night or not. We stayed in the main building that has the kitchen and dining room. The room was a funny shape as I recall but perfectly comfortable. We got two rooms for the first night so our daughter was next door to us, and then just one room for the first night she stayed in her dorm room. Breakfast is a communal affair and very good. It wasn't fancy but we liked it and would stay there again. The Inn was fully booked for Parents weekend so we ended up at the Omni. The public rooms there are lovely but the room was very basic.</p>
<p>Did you get a good deal at the Inn at 657? I got the Bonaventure tonight on Priceline for $80. a night for the parents' week-end. Radisson USC is booked with a long waiting list for that week-end. Thank you for the tip. I will tell my husband to drive by the Inn.</p>
<p>Got the Bonaventure for $75 tonight for 10/10-10/12. Thanks for the biddingfortravel tip!!!</p>
<p>BTW, is the Vagabond Inn clean? We have reservations there for Orientation and move-in. I don't particularly care about the overall neighborhood, but I <strong><em>absolutely</em></strong> care about clean sheets and non-smelly mattress. This is one of the great things about Motel 6 --- nothing fancy, but (almost) always quite clean.... at least it seemed that way when I last stayed there 15 years ago :D</p>
<p>The Vagabond is clean in a Motel 6 kind of way. It lacks amenities like a pool and weight room you find at more expensive places, but the walk to campus location and free parking make up for it. We stayed there once when we couldn't get the Radisson.</p>
<p>For those staying at the Bonaventure --- parking is apparently in the $40's/night, pretty ridiculous even by hotel standards. Reading through the biddingfortravel board, I noticed that several people recommended "self park at the World Trade Building next door" for a much more reasonable rate
4*</a> Westin Bonaventure Downtown LA 6/29 - 7/2 $80.00 - California - Los Angeles - Hotels - BiddingForTravel.com - Message Board - Yuku</p>
<p>Way to go on those bids - you guys are bold!</p>
<p>If anyone wants to be car-less, it would be a good idea to look at the LA transit maps. There are these buses (DASH or some name like that) that go up and down the Figueroa corridor. It looks feasible to use them for many of these hotels. But for move-in, a car would be important, I think.</p>
<p>The DASH is great but it runs less frequently on weekends. The schedule is available online. We took it to USC from downtown for the football game during last fall's Parents Weekend.</p>
<p>Anyone know how long the bus trip is from downtown LA to USC?</p>
<p>We had a car so stayed at the beach and drove in for move in day. It was really nice to spend the extra time with our son away from campus and downtown LA. We arrived the day before so moved all his crap into the hotel room but we had a really good time at the restaurants and beach. The traffic was not bad for move in day.</p>
<p>Which beach? We went to Venice beach, last time and I was not very impressed. Maybe i was right in the middle of the "tourist trap" section</p>
<p>Santa Monica Pier</p>
<p>Santa</a> Monica</p>
<p>Redondo Beach
The</a> Redondo Beach Pier* ::* Redondo Beach, California</p>
<p>Manhattan Beach
Manhattan</a> Beach, Califonia on L.A. South Bay</p>
<p>Malibu beach</p>
<p>Malibu's</a> Beaches</p>
<p>San Pedro</p>
<p>San</a> Pedro, California USA and the LA Harbor Area - Welcome!</p>
<p>We stayed at an expensive hotel in Marina del Rey last August when my son went to tour USC. The harbor area smelled terrible. We have also stayed in Santa Monica. Walking along the beach is really beautiful. However, the hotels are over priced. I mean around $70. for breakfast for 4.... Homeless are on the side streets in Santa Monica. If anyone knows a great, reasonably priced hotel in Santa Monica, I'll go there. At this point, $80. on priceline for the Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles with a pool, sounds great for parents visitors week-end in October.</p>