<p>I guess I did not realize how big football is at IU. Visiting on Nov 10th weekend and cant find a place to stay in Bloomington. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>That’s the UWisc game and they bring a lot of fans with them. Rooms for those types of games have been booked for months.</p>
<p>Best recommendation: look for a hotel in Bedford, Martinsville, Elletsville, even Columbus or Indianapolis. You’ll have to drive 30ish minutes to Bloomington, but those are really your only options. Football weekends are not the best times to visit as traffic is a mess and things are definitely crowded.</p>
<p>If you’re flying, stay at a hotel by the airport in Indy, and you’ll only be 45 minutes from Bloomington.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Found a dive motel in Martinsville for $70/day. Might have to sleep in my clothes but at least it is a cheap place to stay. Know better next time. Hotels in Bloomington make a killing during football season.</p>
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<p>It’s not just IU.</p>
<p>I have a pretty firm rule to never travel to and stay at any college area during a football weekend.</p>
<p>And if i have absolutely have to, plan at least nine months to a year in advance.</p>
<p>Ran into the same problem. DS was invited to tailgate and attend the game, but when we tried to find a hotel, everything was sold out.</p>
<p>It’s been a couple of years since we were there, but the Holiday Inn Express in Martinsville was a good option when we couldn’t find a place right in Bloomington. Just 20 minutes up the road from IU.</p>
<p>It’s a good idea, once you commit to going to IU, to make your move-in reservations as soon as possible. This will increase your chances of being able to stay close by. We always had good luck staying at the Hampton Inn on Walnut Street. We also stayed at a B&B by the name of Grant Street Inn. A delicious breakfast there!</p>
<p>Main issue is that I am coming by myself from California and I cant rent a car. Can get shuttle from airport to Bloomington but need to be able to walk to campus. Think I might have found a frat that will let me crash there. Just got my ticket to football game so I hope it is going to be a good one</p>
<p>which game is it?</p>
<p>Don’t know the weather in your CA location, but be prepared for colder temps.</p>
<p>@rrah-- That’s the UWisconsin game</p>
<p>rrah…i live in beautiful, warm San Diego. Last Charger game I went to we were wearing shorts and t-shirts. It will be a good introduction to Indiana weather for me.</p>
<p>By early November, you’ll generally be in (at minimum) hoodies and jackets, sometimes even coats, and Uggs will be prevalent. Halloween last year was in the 40s, so check the weather and plan accordingly</p>
<p>If you are a student, ask around for someone that knows someone that will let you stay with them. My sons never paid a dime in hotel costs when they went on college visits alone. I also go though my friends/family list when I do these trips. </p>
<p>Do you know anyone who is there from your high school from previous years?</p>
<p>One thing you can do is to watch the hotel availibility leading up to that weekend. I was able to get a room the weekend of the Ball State game on the Thursday before the game. Before, there was nothing available and I was planning on staying in Bedford. People’s plans change and sometimes rooms become available at the last minute. Keep watching.</p>
<p>Sometimes if you call the hotels directly on Monday the week of the game there are suddenly rooms available.<br>
This is also a problem for graduation weekend - I forgot and booked late (August for a May graduation is LATE) but found a place in Nashville about 30 minutes away</p>
<p>@ShanghaiMom–Actually, you did better than staying in IU! My BF graduates in May and his parents booked last May…the Hampton Inn on Walnut is a flat rate of $500 a night!</p>