<p>Our only child, DD, will be attending college on the east coast. We are from Houston, TX. How did those of you in similar situation deal with the move into college? How many of you drove versus flew and if you flew, how did you get everything for the dorm room? Any tips for this big move would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>We flew and rented a car. When we went, we each were allowed two suitcases and carryon item. So...we had four suitcases, plus two backpacks, an instrument case and a computer case. We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies without the rocking chair! Three suitcases were for DD...she had to pack everything she wanted to take into those. The fourth suitcase was used for her linens...sheets, quilt, towels, etc. We also ordered the bulky items at Bed Bath and Beyond here and they were prepared and ready for us to pick up THERE....it was great (mattress pad, pillow, lamp, etc). I rented a car so we were able to go to Target, Staples and other places for other items while I was there (I was there for four days because it was concurrent with orientation and then I stayed the weekend). </p>
<p>I will say...DD was moving from a cold weather climate to a warm weather one. She therefore didn't need any bulky clothing or bedding items, and that did save space. Flip flops take up far less space than boots:) </p>
<p>You will need to check the suitcase allowances for the airlines. I understand that many of them are changing and allowing less weight or charging for additional bags. Even so, it's probably less expensive to pay the extra than to ship things.</p>
<p>The reality is that it was impossible for us to drive her from CT to CA. It would have been six days total just driving time. I do know families, however, who have driven from TX to the northeast...perhaps combining it with an end of summer vacation.</p>
<p>Flying was not impossible. DD knew she had to pack lightly and she couldn't take everything in her room with her. BUT she knew that when she chose the college. She had no trouble figuring out what she needed. And yes...we did end up sending her some items (look into the fixed rate Priority mail boxes....about $9 and the weight in unlimited...for those forgotten items).</p>
<p>We also flew and rented a car, but I don't think I would do it that way again. To what East Coast city are you headed?</p>
<p>We live in NYC and our eldest S started his first year at U Chicago last September. We flew out with him, the afternoon before he was to arrive on campus. We had him pack all of his clothing but then mapped out locations of big box stores (e.g. Target, Costco) close to the hotel where we all stayed overnight. Right after arriving in Chicago, we filled up the rental car with newly purchased toiletries and other dorm supplies and dropped him on campus the next day with everything.</p>
<p>I don't know where on the "East Coast" your DD will be going, but I found that lots of families followed our same strategy, by sending the minimum as luggage and purchasing the rest at a store close to the college.</p>
<p>We went from Houston to MA and this will be our third year doing so. We flew and rented a car. The first year, I took my stuff in a small carry-on and that gave DD an extra 2 suitcases. Ordered (purchased) what she wanted here, and picked it up at Linens N Things there. Made many runs to Wal-Mart, as well. That's where the rental car and Mom making runs to the store came in handy. School provides storage over the summer, so no need to bring it all back.</p>
<p>ivyalum- She will be attending Princeton. </p>
<p>At this point, we are thinking of flying. But, I'm also toying with a drive. I am originally from NJ and my mom, who lives with us here in Houston, will be joining us on the trip- this will probably be the last time she will get to make visits to the remaining relatives in NJ. She would be more comfortable driving, I think since she is really not up to lugging luggage through airports. </p>
<p>For winter gear, since we don't own much, I was thinking of buying thru Land's End or some other mail order and having it shipped as cool weather approaches.</p>
<p>We did the reverse, DC to Houston. SW airlines still allows 2 bags per person but last year it was 3. DH and I both went with her with the extras. She was taking a keyboard, boxed to meet baggage measurements. Can't say enough about BB& B. You can pick out what you want in your city and pick it up at one in the other. You don't pay until you pick up so if you change your mind it is OK. Get all the linens, etc that way. We rented storage facility with her friends for the summer so it did not come home with us. I just went and took the extra bags for the trip home. Save all the coupons they don't expire.</p>
<p>You can go to your local Bed Bath and Beyond, choose what you want, and then arrange to pick it all up at a store near your D's college. Then, if you don't want to cart it all home in the Spring, your D can arrange to rent a storage unit (perhaps with other students) and store the college-only stuff.
(cross post with Singersmom)</p>
<p>We drove out last August as my S was bringing a car with him so we caravan-ed over a couple days for the original trip out then we took off for a "driving vacation" and the long, slow route home. We were loaded to the gills with his Thule and ours full on top and the back end of his car loaded. He flew home for Christmas and just this week for the summer, left his car in storage for the summer and rented a store'n lock for all his winter gear, TV, microwave, bike, longboard, skis, and other accumulation. If you are sending your kids long distance, you do need to kind of figure this stuff out ahead of time. We really expected him to drive home for the summer but he balked at driving cross country alone so the storage of the vehicle became abit of a "mother's headache" this past month helping him figure out where to stash the car right in the middle of him studying for exams, etc. Even packed to the gills we did have to pick up some odds and ends at the local stores once we got there. He "forgot" to pack his pillow!</p>
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She would be more comfortable driving, I think since she is really not up to lugging luggage through airports.
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<p>Is that her sole objection to flying? If so, that's solvable. If you get a cab or friend to drive you right up to the airport departure, you can have all of your large luggage checked in curbside before you even walk into the airport terminal. If that's not possible due to security rules, there are shopping-cart type devices that can be obtained to roll her suitcase around until it's checked at the first gate. </p>
<p>On the other end, when you all walk down to the baggage pickup area, you can take turns with everyone pulling her bags off the conveyor belt while she stands guard over all the suitcases.</p>
<p>She doesn't have to actually lift a suitcase at the airport if she brings a large one. For her carry-on luggage, which she might not even need, there are rolling suitcases on wheels.</p>
<p>Paying3tuitions- That's a good idea for the luggage. She also has lymphedemia as a result of double mastectomies, so she tends to swell in the air. But she might be OK with just a 3-4 hour flight. </p>
<p>I have been saving the BB and B coupons- I know there is a store near Princeton. Did you all baggage the computer or carry on? We will also have a violin to carry on. How many books did you take? My inclination is only a few- language dictionary, thesaurus, maybe a novel or two.</p>
<p>We went from Boston to Virginia. We drove over 700 miles - we were ALL crying or antsy all the way there and some of us cried nearly all the way back (!). Believe me, it's a LONG ride home! It was a tedious, tough ride with the car packed to the gills and nobody feeling great. Even the most excited college students develop pangs of doubt and fear during a 12 hour car ride and believe me, so do the parents. If my kid had said he didn't want to go any further, I would have turned the car around (smile). I vote for the plane and sending stuff ahead, if you can. As someone already mentioned, you can select stuff ahead of time at BB&B and pick it up there later. Also, we have discovered that anything your student needs can typically be bought close to the college or sent to the college. Remember that they don't have much space anyway. We drove home with several items. </p>
<p>When S came home for Thanksgiving he returned home with a nearly empty suitcase and we sent him back with a second suitcase - both filled with the winter clothes. Frankly, it is sometimes cheaper to buy things onsite than to ship them. Good luck - it is a very difficult thing to send your kid so far away. Do what feels most comfortable to you.</p>
<p>Re: double mastectomies - she should get a compression sleeve for each arm if she doesn't already have them if she plans to fly.</p>
<p>Pipmom...we also had an instrument case and a computer. DD carried the computer bag and I carried the instrument bag. We also each carried a backpack (and our purses went INSIDE) the backpack.</p>
<p>I will say...my daughter had difficulty one time travelling because she had her purse, instrument case AND her computer case. We TOLD her not to carry three items (told her to ditch the purse). She had to check one. Since she had a large purse, she had to decide which one to check. It was a no brainer...the instruments (oboe and English horn) are worth ten times the computer worth. So she checked the computer. BUT she was fuming. She never made that mistake again...just brings the instruments and the computer.</p>
<p>We brought NO books...none. They are just too heavy. But we did send the dictionary and a couple of other reference books in a fixed rate priority mailing box for $9...a lot cheaper than paying $50 for an overweight bag!!!</p>
<p>Rileydog- Good point about the amount of time in the car together possibly fretting. I know I will be. My mom has the sleeves, but still swells with flying. </p>
<p>An alternative would be for my mom not to come in August, but go up for a parent's weekend in Oct. or another time during the year. She and I could then extend the stay so she can visit relatives. She will not be able to help a lot with move-in anyway and this will probably aggravate her- it's hard to accept one's failing body, especially when she was so physical before.</p>
<p>^^^that may be a really good idea.
Move in can be physically demanding and involve much running around, often in heat and humidity. It might be difficult to juggle the logistics of moving in, shopping, meeting new people and saying goodbye to your daughter in addition to your concerns for your mother.</p>
<p>Visiting with your mother after your daughter has settled in may be an excellent solution.</p>
<p>If time and money are not a big issue, taking Mom on a later trip is a very good idea. You and your daughter may want to focus more on each other and her "big" move. You may also want to max out the carry ons and checked luggage...which will make it a little harder for your to help your Mom if her swelling is particularly bad. </p>
<p>If she goes with you at another time...you will be able to focus on her while traveling. By that time, your daughter will have a chance to get to know some people and the campus...and will probably really enjoy "showing off" her college to her mother and grandmother...without any of the pressures that come with moving in.</p>
<p>Also did a cross country move-in with my child...and...like a previous poster...flew in, rented a car and mapquested all of the significant stores that were near the campus. Also brought maps of ones that were a little further away...thinking the ones near campus might be out of some key items. There's lots of shopping areas within 15 to 20 miles of Princeton, so...you might want to choose the 2nd closest of each store and it might not be so busy at move-in time!</p>
<p>Just a note about the books - picked up S on Friday, who had brought all of his favorite books with him. Said he would not do that next year, no time to read them! Who needs a dictionary these days, isn't it all available online?</p>
<p>My 2 cents -- I would never check a computer. Checked luggage is scanned, and a computer could easily be "taken." I've had first-hand experience w/ things "disappearing" from checked bags.</p>
<p>CBB...in our kid's case (I'm guessing you're responding to me), DD had the choice of checking a $1500 computer or $15,000 worth of instruments. Her case locks and is very durable for her computer. She sputtered, but there really wasn't any choice. Her computer was taken from her as she was boarding the plane...by the flight attendant. It went through security as it would have if she had been allowed to carry it on.</p>
<p>In most situations, I agree with you. Do not check your computer.</p>