<p>D and I are taking the train from New Orleans to move in in August. D has lots of musical equipment (music major) so flying was a no-go. I was dreading the 2400-mile drive, but then discovered the train. It’s a 48-hour ride, reasonably priced including meals, almost unlimited baggage and a small sleeper. We’ll rent a car in LA and then I will fly home alone. D is flying out alone to orientation in June (I was already there twice, once in January for audition and then in March for scholarship interview). Anyone traveling a great distance should look into the train!</p>
<p>NcMom and Stalkermom. I am an east coaster too, in fact I am flying out of Ft Laud. For the first Orientation too. I am driving my S out for MI (we can use this abbreviation now) in August, figure he needs too much to try to fly out then. </p>
<p>Virgin America is the best for Fl to LAX, so far I have been able to get round trip tickets for 300.00 per person on Virgin</p>
<p>Fun to see so many East Coasters! We fly out of Norfolk, VA, a two hour drive from our house. I usually take Southwest.</p>
<p>My son is a class of 2014, going into his 2nd year at USC, we fly Delta out of Raleigh (RDU), great prices and non-stop on some days! My son LOVES it at USC, and if you are aa DELTA American Express card member, each person gets 50 lbs of one piece luggage for free, and 2nd piece of luggage only 25 bucks. each of us checks two pieces -so that makes 6 pieces to take to LAX. Not Bad cost, worth it.</p>
<p>I’m a fellow east coaster as well, out of Dulles (or Reagan National, if need be). 
I only came home for winter break and summer. Winter we flew United cause that’s where our frequent flier miles are, but for summer I flew Virgin, since that’s the easiest airline to get a one-way ticket on and we didn’t know when I’d be returning. My mom & I drove everything out at the beginning of freshman year, though.</p>
<p>One nice thing about Virgin is your first bag can be up to 70lbs and your second up to 50, so that’s an extra 20 lbs. The first two are $25 each. I didn’t end up having to pay that, though, as their entire computer system was down the day I flew back and they wouldn’t have had a way to charge my card if they wanted to. But they were slightly preoccupied otherwise, seeing as they had to do everything by hand.</p>
<p>Also, jsyk, in terms of getting books/movies/etc out there, 1. don’t bother bringing books to read for pleasure, you probably won’t have time, and if you do, there are plenty in Doheny/Leavey libraries and 2. for the books/movies/CDs you do want to bring out, ship them media mail. I sent a big box entirely full of books (probably 1-1.5ft x 1-1.5ft x 1-1.5ft) from LA to the DC area for $12 and change with the Media Mail rate. Much cheaper than checking them in a bag or sending them flat rate or any other rate. Obviously, use bubble wrap on the more delicate items…</p>
<p>wisdomsomehow, my son LOVES his books and movies. He wants to take his whole collection. I would be worried about sending them media mail though because you can’t insure it, right? </p>
<p>I am going to start a new thread for East Coast Trojan Families, so we can share tips like this.</p>
<p>Well, I think I have a plan. I’ll drive to LA in the late afternoon on Tuesday. We’ll spend the night in a hotel (has anyone tried the Vagabond by USC yet?) We will spend Wednesday moving DS in and spend one more night- might drive out of LA and get over the Grapevine, then stay in an I5 motel (recommendations?) I will be back in the classroom on Friday. So I’ll teach 3 days that week. We have some great retired teachers at my school who enjoy subbing- that will make my absence for two days much easier, and I will be able to enjoy the move-in experience. Good luck to everyone else with your travel arrangements!</p>
<p>Minnymom, I stayed in the Vagabond inn during my sons visit. It is a low quality hotel, it wasn’t horrible however if you usually avoid the el cheapo hotels this won’t be for you. All in all it was a clean, dated hotel that is close to USC. If you usually stay in the Ramada’s and Hilton’s then avoid the Vagabond.</p>
<p>A big Trojan family welcome to all you non-West Coast moms. A few years back, several non-LA moms found good hotel rates using Priceline for downtown LA. I’ll see if I can find that old thread. While downtown is about 10 minutes drive from USC, the hotel selection is much better and Priceline can get you down to a more reasonable rate. </p>
<p>Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but most of the Schools (Thornton, School of Theatre, SCA, Viterbi, etc) throw a very nice afternoon parents/students welcome reception on move-in day. Most dorms have floor meetings around 5 or 6pm that day as well, with bbq or pizza which helps kids gather round their floormates and start to bond. For this reason, it USC suggests to leave campus after the school welcome reception so the kids feel free to start their college meeting and greeting w/o the 'rents. Some students feel guilty asking parents to leave, while others are quite happy to bound on off with new friends. But don’t be sad or feel hurt if your son or daughter wants to be left and get on with it. It’s a good thing. :)</p>
<p>I don’t know if you can insure your things through Media Mail, I think you might be able to, but I didn’t bother, since I was just sending books. I brought out a bunch to read but ended up not reading any of them (though I did buy all the Hunger Games books when the last one came out…)</p>
<p>fyi–Norcal parent of incoming senior here–the August drive to LA from Norcal might take a tad longer this year due to construction on I-5 at state 58 (Buttonwillow)–this hiccup was noted on a thread in the Parents Forum. See the Caltrans website for details.</p>
<p>I also recommend Southwest for those of you flying in as your first bag (or first two bags?) are free; makes it a good option for those looking to save money. If you buy at the right time, Southwest can be cheaper than the major airlines, but not always. </p>
<p>My mom ALWAYS used Priceline for getting hotels and she got really good deals at the nice/major DTLA hotels. If you are diligent you can get a really good (cheap) price. Over the years, my parents stayed at the DTLA Marriott, the Westin Bonaventure, the Biltmore and the Renaissance Hollywood (further, but manageable). </p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend the Radisson. They overcharge and it is not so great. You can end up paying less and stay at a Westin if you do enough price searching.</p>
<p>Priceline is great for downtown LA hotels (DTLA) We are staying a Westin Bonaventure for our next trip to USC for $90 a night.</p>
<p>I’d get the sub. I think you will regret it if you don’t go. Figure on three days. We arrived early afternoon (flew in from midwest), loaded up at Target and BBandB and moved her in the next morning. Be warned, to me the worst part of move in day (unless it’s improved since '07) was the conga line of hundreds of cars coming in off Exposition Blvd. moving at a snail’s pace. It took an hour to go 1/4 mile from freeway exit to gate. We stayed the following day and then went home. Once you move them in they get busy and don’t want you around. Second year I went along but came home a day early because she really didn’t need me. Junior and senior year she went back on her own, I only went out for Parent’s Weekend. Before you know it he’ll be graduating. Daughter did 2 weeks ago and it still hasn’t fully sunken in - don’t know where those four years went.</p>
<p>cdmn–congrats on your D’s graduation. S1 is a senior…how did THAT happen so fast? And S2 is about to start at USC in the fall. I’m happy I get another 4 years!!</p>
<p>Madbean, it’s kind of a weird feeling that she is done already and I may not get back there, unless my younger one decides to apply this fall. I just cannot get over how fast it went, and I kept telling her that all along. Enjoy your second round!</p>