<p>I’ve never had a bad meal in Northampton. Yes, sometimes we hit slow service, but that’s about the extent of it. Of course, I use CC and my daughter’s info to choose where we go, so my information is already filtered.</p>
<p>“The no visitors after 8 PM sign was posted by the construction firm. They expect their employees to respect the other guests and refrain from undue noise.”</p>
<p>How could that be? It was posted inside my room.</p>
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<p>Because I recommend the Inn, I thought it appropriate to learn the reason for the BBQ.</p>
<p>As I suspected, it was the contractors. Some of the construction and renovation of various projects around Northampton and Amherst (including Amherst and Smith College) is done by firms from out of the area. Workers stay at the Comfort Inn for up to three weeks at a time.
The BBQ was their form of entertainment and a way to break the monotony when away from family. The no visitors after 8 PM sign was posted by the construction firm. They expect their employees to respect the other guests and refrain from undue noise.</p>
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<p>Carolyn, this too concerned me. I was assured the Limbaugh suite was booked by a family from Texas. How apropos. All’s good. ;)</p>
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<p>Have no idea. Maybe it was left there. All I know is what the manager told me.</p>
<p>Edit: The Comfort Inn has NO rule regarding when guests can visit. The sign might have been posted in all the rooms occupied by workers.</p>
<p>Nothing compared to my friend who took her daughter to visit Goucher in MD and stayed in a nearby hotel - when she arrived there were police and CSI types everywhere. She asked the manager what was going on and if it was safe to stay. She was told yes and head little other option at that point. Went to her room turned on the TV news and saw that there had been a murder suicide 4 floors up from her room and that the police were still in the hotel investigating!! her D ended up at Mnt Holyoke.</p>
<p>Though I have no particular affiliation with Goucher College, I do live about 20 minutes away, and I’d hate for someone searching here to stumble on the post above and get a bad impression of the area near the college simply because of an isolated (though admittedly extremely shocking) incident. That crime was committed by a father who was apparently in the throes of a serious emotional and financial crisis while his entire family was visiting one of his daughters (a student at another local college, not Goucher), and the family was from out of state. It’s the sort of tragedy that could have happened anywhere; that it happened at that particular hotel was a very unfortunate coincidence. I’m certainly not judging anyone’s specific reaction, because it shook me up just reading about in the local paper at the time (to the point that I immediately recognized the story behind the post, even though it happened two years ago), but perhaps it’s a reminder not to judge a place based on what could be an isolated and highly uncommon incident.</p>
<p>What I REALLY wanted to accomplish in reviving this topic is the question of whether it is difficult to park near Smith if you are staying at a hotel that is not within walking distance. The Hampton Inn sounds appealing to me also but I was wondering if during big events like Parents’ Weekend and moving-in/moving-out days what it is like to park either on campus or nearby on the streets of Northampton. We didn’t have much trouble parking when we visited for the first time back in August, but that was August!</p>
<p>We have never stayed in Northampton - once in Hadley and once in Springfield. We helped her move in, and visited for Parent’s Weekend. We have never had trouble finding parking around campus, but we also don’t mind a bit of a walk.</p>
<p>We stayed mostly at the Hampton Inn, and we never had issues parking except if we wanted to park in town. Even then, a little bit of cruising or a trip to the parking garage solved the problem. Usually, we were able to park right on Green St. There’s also parking up and down Elm St. I stayed at the Autumn Inn only twice – once when I came up for a medical emergency and again at graduation. Because of the two reasons, I wanted to be within walking distance to campus.</p>
<p>You may have to drive around a bit to find a parking space, but you’ll be able to find one eventually. It’s loading/unloading stuff that’s sometimes a problem, finding parking right by the front door may be a little tricky. But they cut you some slack on the moving in days andynot everyone drives, or even brings their parents, and when the first years and transfers are moving in, the upperclasswomen won’t be there yet, so you’ll have a bit of a break. </p>
<p>I know on Parents Weekend my parents usually stayed in one of the hotels on the route between Amherst and Noho, and then they were usually able to find parking around campus or they’d park in town in the garage and walk up to campus. As long as your comfortable walking a little bit, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering about parking during move-in also. When we came for admitted students day, we were able to park in the equestrian lot and walk over to the indoor tennis facility; am wondering if we will be able to do that again when getting keys, etc. But am wondering how hard it will be to park close enough to d’s house as to not break our backs bringing in the “stuff” (d really wants a trunk).</p>
<p>RE hotels: We are booked at the Hampton Inn; have stayed there twice and liked it. D and I stayed at Quality Inn once which was kind of thread bare but a little cheaper. Was debating about whether or not to book at the Autumn Inn because of its proximity but decided to go with Hampton. It’ll probably be a Smith takeover of Hampton Inn (and every other motel) on Sept. 1!</p>
<p>For Central Check in you’ll be able to park in the lot at the ITT, so it shouldn’t be difficult. But you’ll be at Central Check In for all of about 10 minutes probably, so then you have to drive up to her house. As for parking, it really depends on the house, some have a lot of parking spaces around, some don’t have many. As it gets closer to move in day you’ll probably be receiving information that will include info on parking. But in terms of loading/unloading, in my experience it’s a lot like when you move anywhere, some double parking and violation of parking rules is allowed provided you’re actively loading/unloading stuff. So maybe you unload most of the stuff in the living room, and then you/your D bring it upstairs while your husband parks or some combination therein. </p>
<p>Anyway, it seems to work out every year. I’ve never heard of anyone having trouble getting their stuff unloaded because of parking, especially not during first year move in (upperclasswomen move in can be a little more hectic, but usually you’re bringing less stuff into the houses in your second-fourth years, cause most of it will be in the trunk room. </p>
<p>if she’s sold on the trunk, she’s sold on it, I guess. But she’s gonna be the one that has to schlep it up and down from the trunk room every year…</p>
<p>USM, if you ever need to give <em>yourself</em> a treat, spring for the Autumn Inn on one trip or another. Not only can the proximity not be beat but the make 'em yourself waffles in the breakfast room are a nice touch. Especially if you’re ordinarily one for a Spartan breakfast. It’s also one of the few places where I can say the entire staff was friendly and helpful. </p>
<p>From my perspective, I don’t think the $$$$ for Hotel Northampton are worth it. But for Family Weekend, Graduation, etc., I really enjoyed the Autumn Inn. </p>
<p>Disclaimer: I am not on the payroll of the Autumn Inn. I <em>do</em> get a discount because I signed up for their “Pineapple Club” program for specials, etc.</p>
<p>My mom has stayed in Northampton multiple times and she says the Autumn Inn is her favorite. Both times we visited Smith we stayed there and I thought it was great. Clean, comfortable rooms, etc., but I’ll have to say that the breakfast buffet was the best part 
And it’s SO close to campus.</p>
<p>I wanted to add, when we were actually unloading the car, we could drive right into the Quad to the door of her house. We had to move the car elsewhere when we were done, though.</p>
<p>I haven’t had problems with hotel reservations for move-in days but Parent’s weekend - the rooms dry up early - so I suggest reserving now if you plan to attend.</p>
<p>This is all very helpful. Thanks! I figured creative parking while actually unloading is forgiven but it is helpful to know there is a parking garage in town. And we won’t mind a nice walk through town once the heavy stuff is out of the way.</p>
<p>By the way, I checked out the rates for the Autumn Inn for Parents’ Weekend…they seem to have a minimum 3 night stay for that time period which makes it nearly as expensive as 2 nights the same weekend for the Hotel Northampton, and I don’t expect to be staying for 3 nights. I found that minimum stay policy a bit annoying but it sounds like there are plenty of other things to like about it. I’m a fan of good breakfasts as well. I like the Hampton Inn group of hotels in general because they tend to have terrific breakfast bars and the staff seem consistently friendly and helpful. The Hotel Northampton’s site says parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis so I suppose that during a very busy period guests might end up having to find parking elsewhere in town anyway. I couldn’t tell what the parking situation is at Autumn Inn. Maybe we’ll try a couple of different places this year.</p>
<p>I also checked Autumn Inn for Parents’ weekend and was surprised there was a 3-night minimum; seems weird because as far as I have read, all activities end on Sunday. I also noticed that all the prices at all of the hotels in the area are jacked up for that weekend. :(</p>
<p>Both the Autumn Inn and Hotel Northampton have minimum night stays during busy times. The only hotels that don’t have it are the major chains – Hampton Inn, Courtyard, Days Inn. The Lord Jeffrey Inn in Amherst has a minimum stay (two nights? three?) even in the summer when classes are out.</p>
<p>For graduation, we had to pay the Autumn Inn for three full nights almost a year in advance, and even then rooms were almost sold out. As I’ve said elsewhere, I’m not a fan of the Autumn Inn (except for the friendly staff), but it’s location cannot be beat. The rooms at the Hampton Inn are brighter and more contemporary. And you cannot get a king-size bed at the Autumn Inn.</p>
<p>@upstatemom - it was Parent’s Weekend that we ended up staying in Springfield. We had stayed in Hadley Econo Lodge for move in and it was clean and reasonable. But for Parent’s weekend the cost was much higher.</p>
<p>There are a lot of good bed and breakfasts near Smith, which might be a slightly more affordable option if you’re looking for something in between the Hotel Northampton and the Econo Lodge. My parents really enjoyed staying at the Sugar Maple Inn and the Lupine Inn (though the Lupine Inn is no more, I believe). You need a car to get to/from the B&B’s but if you are driving or renting a car anyway, and since you’d need one to get to the hotels in Hadley, you might think about it as an option.</p>