<p>Since there are some auditions scheduled back to back (ex. Syracuse and Ithace), I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts regarding travel and lodging or even ride sharing.</p>
<p>Trying to schedule all of this is a bit overwhelming!!</p>
<p>Re: Syracuse & Ithaca – my D just graduated from SU, and I strongly suggest a 4WD or AWD vehicle if your audition is in the winter! It’s hilly and the chance of bad weather is very high.<br>
And I recommend the Parkview Hotel or Genesee Grand if you’re planning an overnight in Syracuse. They are both within walking distance of the theater. Ithaca has some good hotels right in the downtown area about 1 mile from campus. Very cute little town with lots of nice restaurants and shopping.
Good luck with your auditions – I’d be glad to share info about SU – if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Back when my D auditioned for Syracuse and Ithaca on campus in January of her year, we also did these two auditions back to back in the same weekend. We stayed in Syracuse at the Genesee Grande, because, like onstage indicated above, it is right in walking distance of the theater/auditions and so very convenient. I recall driving after the Syracuse auditions onto Ithaca (one hour) and staying at a hotel in town about a mile or so from the Ithaca campus. It may have been a Day’s Inn. </p>
<p>I agree about having a car with 4WD or at least AWD and good snow tires. The driving in that part of the state can be treacherous at that time of year. We were lucky to not get into bad weather that time. I recall driving home from Cornell (also in Ithaca) one year with my other D and running into white outs on the highway.</p>
<p>We stayed in Ithaca at the Country Inn and Suites, which was just down the road a bit from Ithaca (but not in town). I agree about the driving conditions. We also hit a pretty nasty snow squall on our way to Ithaca on a really desolate highway. No cell phone coverage in that stretch of road. Made my daughter respect how difficult winter driving can be. </p>
<p>Agree with others that you can do both of these in one trip.</p>
<p>I looked back at my D’s Ithaca folder and the hotel was the Super 8 on 96B, which was 2.5 miles from the Ithaca College campus. It was on a main drag with restaurants and services.</p>
<p>I just also looked up where we stayed in spring of 2008 when my other D got into grad school at Cornell and we went to visit and that was the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, though I selected that hotel in Ithaca due to proximity to Cornell, though the town of Ithaca is small and so one could stay there to go to Ithaca College too.</p>
<p>We got a good price on a hotel near Syracuse when we booked one through priceline last Spring. We ended up in the Parkview after bidding for hotel near the University for about $70.</p>
<p>thanks for all of your responses! The flights (thank goodness for mileage plus!!) and hotels are booked and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates. </p>
<p>Would love to try and ride share with another parent between Syracuse and Ithaca…any thoughts on how I would post this?</p>
<p>You could mention your dates and desire on this thread or post it in the Syracuse and Ithaca MT forums by starting a thread and ask anyone interested to PM you.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say that I have found great room rates at Extended Stay Hotels and Suites. We have used them numerous times and always found them to be clean and well staffed. They are not everywhere…and usually not close to a University (within 20 miles)…but the website is worth checking. Each room has a kitchenette and many have a pool. The hotels are normally for business travel for extended stays but their weekend rates are great. I just booked a room for an upcoming audition for under $50.00 plus got a $10.00 off rate voucher. It is 15 miles from campus…but well worth the short drive. Just wanted to pass it along because we all know that this “tour” is expensive!</p>
<p>One of our favorite audition experiences was the Syracuse/Ithaca combination because so many of the kids were doing that route. The kids bond so quickly at these things and having them go through the same two sessions in two days was nice.</p>