<p>O.K., sitting around the dinner table tonight, my S and I discussed the possibility of visiting Rice week after next. He would like to do an overnight then attend classes/interview the next day. Our initial game plan would be to fly into Houston on Thursday night the 27th and fly home on Sat or Sun. I know we must coord any overnights thru admissions, but any other suggestions out there? How about a hotel? Hobby better than International I assume for airports if we have a choice. Thoughts, recommendations, suggestions? Thanks!</p>
<p>If you want to visit Rice then, you should call tomorrow morning - they have few spaces for overnights, if any, available that week since it's getting so close. The closest hotel to Rice is the mariott medical center, but the other medical center hotels are all very close. If you rent a car, it doesn't really matter as much. Please be aware that there are absolutely no overnights allowed the night of 10/29 (it's our big halloween party). Be sure to check out the area surrounding Rice on your visit (Rice Village, Med Center area, Museum District, etc.) There's a ton to see. Post more specific questions here, or feel free to PM me! Have a great visit!</p>
<p>The Marriott is nice, but is on the hospital side of Main Street and will charge for parking. The Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Hilton all have free parking, and I think they are easier to get out of and head to Rice. You can go out the little back street and never have to get on Main Street. </p>
<p>Also, I used priceline for a hotel for my husband last time he was there and it worked fine - a big savings.</p>
<p>You can use Priceline, but I know I got a $79 per night rate using the "Rice rate" at the Holiday Inn.</p>
<p>I have always used the "Rice rate" too when I went. I just decided to try Priceline to see how it worked last trip for my husband. We paid $46 for the Hilton Post Oak - 4* hotel near the Galleria. Actually, my husband said it was nice, but he'd just as soon had a 2.5-3* place in the Med Ctr area. Just thought I'd mention it.</p>
<p>Even though the parking charge is a pain, I like the Medical Center Marriott. You can get a Rice rate and sometimes on weekends you can get a deal with breakfast included.
If you are there on Friday the 28th, order up tickets to see Hansel and Gretel, the Rice opera. My D is playing Hansel and she says the show is really good (she is usually quite critical...).
Hobby is the closer airport by far.</p>
<p>Great Suggestions Everyone. I am calling Rice right now to set up the overnight. Hope that tropical depression doesn't mess things up!</p>
<p>Jenskate1, you were right. I didn't call quick enough. All the overnight slots are booked up already. Will have to fall back, regroup and try another date.</p>
<p>Yeah, they generally recommend giving them at least 2 weeks, just because they get so many people wanting to do overnights and we are a small school so it's hard to get hosts for all of them sometimes. I hope you do get to come visit soon, because Rice is a great place to go to school.</p>
<p>We are contemplating going anyway since our schedule won't enable another visit anytime soon. Am thinking S can hang in dorms as late as he wants with a couple of friends from his HS who are freshmen now, then call me for a pick up back to the hotel whenever. Not as optimal as a real overnight, but next closest thing. Thoughts? Should we hold out for the official overnight? What would he miss by not doing the real overnight? Thanks!</p>
<p>He is more than welcome to stay overnight with his friends from high school, if they are willing. By not doing the "real" overnight, he will miss out on the whole idea of meeting a ton of new people and feeling slightly out of his element. So maybe that's good and maybe that's bad. If he does go the route of staying overnight with friends, encourage him to go off and spend time on his own - see classes that interest him (not just those his friends are in), talk to students and ask them about their rice experiences, meet with professors, wander around alone, etc.</p>