<p>I booked my flight for November 3rd!</p>
<p>Yay!! I hope you have a great visit. The students will be all settled in again after October break. It probably won't be TOOO cold yet by then, but bring some warm clothes. The wind can be very chilly.</p>
<p>How warm, do you think? I have a wool coat, do I need to bring it? Or would something like a hooded sweatshirt be okay? Also, should I dress up to interview? I was planning on packing lightly, so I could just bring a carry on and not pay the checked bag fees. But if I had to I could bring my job interview suit.</p>
<p>My S said that just recently the lows have gotten as low as the upper 30's. That may be early morning. For the interview dress casually. It's not necessary to wear a job interview suit. The woll coat could be useful if it's windy. Grinnell can get a rough wind. S also said he was wearing a fleece when he walked into town around dinner time today. Hope this gives you some insight. Have a great trip, it's an amazing school.</p>
<p>For some reason all the threads in the Grinnell forum were gone this am. It said no one had posted in 30 days which is just silly.</p>
<p>andreaaaaaa</p>
<p>I agree with SoCalDad. You can dress casually for the interview (no raggy clothes or tee shirts with inappropriate things on them, but you wouldn't do that anyway). Iwould bring your warm coat. You don't have to pack it--you can wear it on the plane. It will be a short flight. Good idea to avoid the extra fee for checking a bag, but remember about any gels or liquids you are carrying on have to be under 3 ounces in size and you need to put them in a ziplock bag and show it to TSA employees. They will give you a bag if you don't have one, but you should have any liquids or gels all in one spot.</p>
<p>Thanks. I think I will just wear something like dark jeans and a cardigan for the interview. I will bring my coat and wear it on the plane. I will get the three ounce containers, or maybe just buy something at Grinnell. But then again I would face the same problem coming home. Question - is toothpaste considered a liquid that has to be under three ounces? Should I bring money to tip the person that brings me from the airport to Grinnell?</p>
<p>Yes, toothpaste is considered a gel so you want to get a small travel sized tube. It's a real pain. And yes, they get you coming and going--it would be the same problem on the way back. Just annoying. They really do confiscate the stuff. I've seen large expensive looking shampoos, etc. go right into the garbage.</p>
<p>I don't know about the tip. Anyone else know? I will run it by my son. Is this a shuttle from the college? If so, I'd say no need to tip, but I'll still run it by my son.</p>
<p>A parking permit costs $60. Not sure if that is for the whole year or just the semester. parking seems pretty easy--it seems like you don't end up parked in a lot a half mile from campus, even as a first year.</p>
<p>I've e-mailed my son with your question about tips. He hosts prospies so he might know.</p>
<p>I've also seen TSA people confiscate a liquid if the container size is more than 3 ounces, even if the container isn't full.</p>
<p>We'll have a better idea of the weather as the time gets closer. Lately it's been very warm, but these things can change fast!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I will just bring travel sized bottles of everything. Hopefully I won't have to bring a bag, but it won't be the end of the world if I have to pay the fifteen dollars or whatever it is.</p>
<p>On the subject of visiting, can anyone recommend a hotel? Is the Days Inn okay? I see that it's not listed on the college website list of nearby accomodations but the traveler reviews at travelocity seem okay. My daughter will be overnighting on campus. I just need a no-frills but safe and clean sort of place.</p>
<p>We always stayed at the Super 8 in Grinnell. Definitely no-frills, but all I wanted was to lay my head down on clean sheets and sleep, so the place served its purpose. During family weekend, the local motels fill up pretty quickly--I never heard any parents complain about their accommodations, so you'll probably be o.k. wherever you choose.</p>
<p>I have just tried the Comfort Inn and Country Inn and both are good.</p>
<p>You may also want to check out one of the local B & Bs. If I recall correctly, the smallest room at the Carriage House B & B right near campus was actually cheaper than the Country House Motel. I have not stayed there and it was being painted during Family Weekend, but it looks very nice. I agree with Bethievt, both Comfort Inn and Country house are fine. Husband stayed at the Super 8 last spring and had no complaints. I think he got a rate lower than the AAA rate through Priceline or one of those bidding websites.</p>
<p>We've stayed at the Carriage House several times and its very pleasant-a good value. And directly across the street from the campus, so you can walk everywhere.</p>
<p>We also recommend dinner at the Phoenix Cafe for great moderately-priced middle-eastern influenced food in an attractive setting.</p>
<p>Can any of you answer OP's question about tipping the person who drives her to and from the college (from the airport)? I would guess this would be a college-offered service to prospies and a tip would not be expected, but I don't know. We were with our son for both his prospie an accepted student visits, so I don't know. I asked my son and his guess was no also, but he didn't know.</p>
<p>I went to the website, andreaaaaa and it said at Admissions that transportation is provided for students travelling without their parents. I think that means it is covered--no tips.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites -- it was nice, brand-new when we stayed there a little over a year ago. We had a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant that I think was on the same road as the motel. I wish I could remember the name of it...maybe Casa Margaritas?</p>
<p>I think it is Casa Margarita.</p>
<p>andreaaaaa</p>
<p>About the liquids and gels. Those 3 oz. containers are all supposed to fit inside a single quart size zip lock bag. A quart sounds like a lot, but the bags are not large. Only bring what you really need.</p>
<p>Right, a quart is just sandwich sized, right? Do you know if the containers all have to be exactly three ounces? I was just going to squirt some of my lotion into a little bag. Is that allowed?</p>
<p>About the tip - I am guessing a tip isn't required, but I will go ahead and ask when I call and schedule my visit.</p>