<p>I'll be down at IU for orientation in late June and my mom and dad are coming with. What is included with the orientation because we are charged such a heavy fee. Do we get a dinner either day? Any gear handed out? </p>
<p>Also, any tips for lodging and dining as a family would be awesome. Help out a soon to be Hoosier!</p>
<p>Do not stay at the Travelodge on Third Street. Ever.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Union for our tour , it was relatively cheap and nice. Lots of restaurants in 4th Street area. We liked the convenience.</p>
<p>A lot of parents stay at the union hotel, or at the Hampton Inn/Hilton Garden Inn/Courtyard Mariott. In terms of meals…breakfast and lunch are on campus in the food court at Wright, I think. I can’t remember if we paid or not. </p>
<p>In terms of free gear, your parents will get a bag and a button (at least my year they did) and you’ll get a drawstring bag that, if you choose to carry it immediately after returning to campus, will denote you as a freshman. Yes, we all get them, but nobody really uses them. Mine stores my sports gear, actually. If you want to purchase stuff, I’d recommend TIS (3rd street) over the IU Bookstore…their short sleeve tees are B1G1 and it’s much more reasonably priced.</p>