<p>I'm from California so I was wondering what day would be a good day to leave for Cornell's move in date? My dad's also coming with me so what would be a good day for him to fly back?</p>
<p>you can't move in until Aug 17,time depending on your last name and your dad should plan to leave by August 19th morning.- Cornell just sent a booklet to parents that I got yesterday describing the process from a parent's point of view - and listed area hotels - HOWEVER - when I made resv in April most places were full - there are bed & Breakfasts you could consider...if flying and you can't get flights into Ithaca Binghamton is an hour away and my son has flown in and out of there several times over the last 4 years - but you will need a rental car...</p>
<p>Hi - NY Mom here. It's probably better to fly into Syracuse. It's also about an hour away, but it is a much larger airport than Bing. Jet Blue flies into Syracuse, so you may be able to get something from Calif to Syracuse (with a probable change of planes in NYC) </p>
<p>As you probably can't get a room in Ithaca, you may need to check out some of the surrounding areas including Syracuse, Binghamton or Cortland (which I think is the closest- but still 30 minutes away)
My younger kid goes to SUNY Cortland, so I am know there are a few hotels in Cortland including a Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn. </p>
<p>When we dropped d off for orientation- we took a mini-vacation-- and then returned to Cornell a few days later. We used the time to get what she still needed for her room- as "Everything" was already sold out in the Ithaca Target and BB and B wasn't yet in Ithaca. So your dad may want to stay in the area for a few days to make sure you have everything you need. Ithaca is in the Finger Lake region, so there is alot of nice countryside around if he wants to stay close by for a few days more. </p>
<p>Also- FYI- Some hotels will take pre reservations for Graduation now. Yes, your parents drop you off for Orientation and they can make Hotel reservations for 4 years hence. So you guys may want to make some inquiry. BUT it is much cheaper to stay on campus for graduation. But you cannot reserve a room until the semester of graduation (I think around February). There are NOT enough Hotel Rooms in Ithaca to accommodate the graduation crowd, so parents need to be willing and able to stay in a dorm, get a room in Bing, Syracuse or Cortland- or make inquiries for Graduation now and be willing to spend $300 + a nite for a Hotel in Ithaca for graduation!!</p>
<p>good advice ...altho we did not make resv for grad '07 and lucked out by a Cornell grad friend from Memphis building a beautiful 2nd home in Ithaca which we were able to stay in ...but it's hard to plan for that!! ;)</p>
<p>Also, check on Rochester as an airport - did that with dd in April for Cornell Days and it was a pleasant all expressway drive from the airport to Ithaca - tho probably a bit further than Binghamton or Syracuse - </p>
<p>I don't know why it is but from Memphis we have never gone thru Syracuse over the last 4 years - perhaps it's NWA schedule which is our major carrier...</p>
<p>Mom from So Cal here. A year ago, on the day before freshmen move-in, we flew from LA to Syracuse Airport. Since S had a late check-in time at the dorm, we stayed in Syracuse and next morning (Friday) rented a car for the drive to Cornell (since we had booked too late to get a room in Ithaca, our weekend reservations were in Cortland, which wasn't too bad). Friday afternoon was spent checking S in and helping him set up his room. Then he went off to Orientation and H and I went back to Cortland for dinner and a stop at the local Wal-Mart to pick up supplies, which unlike Ithaca, had plenty in stock. Back to Cornell on Saturday to deliver the supplies and to attend Parent Orientation. After a nice dinner with S at the Commons, returned S back to his dorm and said our good-byes, and drove back to Cortland for the night, and then out to Syracuse Airport early Sun. AM. </p>
<p>One word about Syracuse airport - in comparison with Ithaca, Syracuse has more airlines, more flights, cheaper airfares, and less risk of weather-related flight delays especially during the winter months. Carriers out of Syracuse include Continental (my current personal favorite), United, USAir, Delta and Northwest. Also Jet Blue, which D flew for her 4 years at Syracuse U without trouble, although they have had their problems recently. A big advantage of Jet Blue is that you can book the outbound and return flights separately, so that you do not have to commit to a return date right away - a big plus if your return plans change. Ithaca Airport Limo runs a bus service from Syracuse to Cornell which costs around $60.00 one-way. Even with this additional cost, you will probably find that airfares into Syracuse are cheaper than Ithaca.</p>
<p>Thank you for everyone's input. Flying to Syracuse instead seems like a good idea because I had a really bad experience getting to Cornell through the Ithaca airport. I guess then I should book tickets either August 15th or 16th?</p>
<p>Assuming you can't move in until August 17th-- I think alot depends on how much shopping ya gotta do once you get to NYS (this is where a mom's advice is so helpful) and what time you land in Syracuse (or in Rochester as that is a possibility too- a bit longer drive but not by much).
If you are pretty prepared, then just get to NY on 8/16 spend the night and go straight to campus on 8/17 at your alloted time and move in. (I think they were strict about the move in time) If you need time to shop or pick up your order at Bed Bath and Beyond and you want to get stuff from Target etc., you may want to fly in 8/15 and use 8/16 to pick up your "orders" and do last minute shopping. If you need to do major shopping, I suggest you do it near Rochester or Syracuse. They are both major cities. Alot of stuff can be ordered from your "home" BB and Beyond and picked up at the local store. There are plenty of BB &B in both the Syracuse and Rochester area as well as major shopping malls. We picked up alot of stuff for my kid near Rochester as we were college touring with d # 2 in that area. If you do fly into Rochester, you may want to stay in Auburn- it too is close to Ithaca and it is a bit more west than Syracuse/Cortland. There is a Holiday Inn in Auburn. If you do fly into Syracuse, staying in Cortland is ok, as it is directly south of Syracuse on route 81 and 30 minutes from Ithaca.</p>
<p>If you do use Syracuse and need transportation from/to campus, Ithaca Airport Limo asks that you book your ticket at least a week in advance.</p>
<p>In the eastern suburbs of Syracuse (same side as the airport) there is a Bed Bath and Beyond 5-10 minutes from a nice big Target, which is right next to a nice grocery store. Syracuse University students don't move in until the 23rd so you won't have to contend with them.</p>
<p>If you go to Rochester you'll probably add about an hour onto your trip. You'll just have to come east on I-90 (NYS Thruway) until Syracuse when you'll get off and get on 81 south. If you come from Syracuse you can just start that 81 south part. The drive town to Ithaca from Syracuse is not long or confusing at all.</p>
<p>I have found one-way trips from Ithaca to Houston for about $150. </p>
<p>US Airways is the cheapest carrier at Ithaca Airport. You can find a cheap deal like this, but I have to leave Houston at 6:30AM.</p>