<p>We are making a trip East to visit some colleges. Any recommendations when visiting the University of Virginia? What to see, where to stay....</p>
<p>[site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia</a> visit - Google Search](<a href=“site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia visit]site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia - Google Search”>site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia visit - Google Search)</p>
<p>I stayed at a lovely B and B at the Corner called Dinsmore House. It is just a block from the main campus at UVA on Main St and is very close to restaurants and shopping. The hotels are limited – the nicest is the Omni on the downtown mall but is a little out of walking distance and more expensive. It is quirky and old (built around 1817 – Dinsmore was Thomas Jefferson’s master builder) but lovely and great breakfasts.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Cavalier Inn. Clean, relatively inexpensive, continental breakfast buffet included. Easy to find driving in late at night, 5 or 10 minute walk to the admissions office the next morning, espresso stand down the street. Not too close to the “Corner” but we walked over there after our tour, and then back to the hotel, no problem. It worked for us very well, and free parking!!!</p>
<p>Be sure to check out Little John’s on the Corner. Excellent sandwiches, open all the time!</p>
<p>in fact the cav inn is .5 miles from the corner (walk straight up university ave) and admissions is .46 miles, according to gmap-pedometer.com</p>
<p>I always liked the Boar’s Head Inn which is owned by UVa I think. I’d guess they run people to campus all the time. I once saw Terry Holland entertaining a recruit there at dinner.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.boarsheadinn.com/[/url]”>http://www.boarsheadinn.com/</a></p>
<p>There are plenty of hotels in Charlottesville and a range of price points. National brand hotels are: Omni, Doubletree, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Hampton Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn, Best Western, and economy places like Red Roof Inn, Budget Inn, etc. There are a good number of inns and b&bs both in town and in the surrounding county that are a nice alternative. </p>
<p>A few websites that may help:
[Plan</a> a Visit, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/planvisit.html]Plan”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/planvisit.html)
[Places</a> to Stay, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/placestostay.html]Places”>http://www.virginia.edu/placestostay.html)
[Map</a> & Directions, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/Map/]Map”>http://www.virginia.edu/Map/)
[General</a> Visitor Parking Information, Parking & Transportation, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/parking/visitor/generalvisitors.html]General”>http://www.virginia.edu/parking/visitor/generalvisitors.html)
[Exploring</a> the University of Virginia and Charlottesville](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/exploring.html]Exploring”>http://www.virginia.edu/exploring.html)</p>
<p>The best sandwiches on The Corner are at Take It Away, but there are plenty of good options there and on the Downtown Mall for food. Check my blog…I’ve talked about food before. :)</p>
<p>We usually stay at the Doubletree outside of town because we use our Hilton Honor points. It’s not within walking distance to Grounds or the town like other places, but it is a nice place to stay. Plus, some people will do anything for the warm Doubletree cookies. :)</p>
<p>There is also a nice Residence Inn near the Barracks Road shopping center for anyone using Marriott points. This is close to some of the athletic venues (JPJ, soccer/baseball fields, U-Hall), Darden and the law school, and is a 15-20 minute walk to Grounds. You could also take university transportation.</p>
<p>S is a 4th year. First few visits we stayed within walking distance of Grounds–Cavalier Inn (not crazy about it), Hampton, Courtyard. After a while we figured out that you could save a lot of money by staying out on 29–several chains there that include breakfast, etc. We’ve also stayed at the Sleep Inn & Suites several times and will be there again for graduation. You can still enjoy the Corner easily. There is public parking in the back. You can easily eat in one of the Corner restaurants and walk around Grounds from there.</p>
<p>There’s also a free (to students and non-students) trolley between grounds/the Corner and downtown. There are two large parking garages downtown. The trolley runs along University, which turns into West Main – along which are also numerous restaurants. Last June, my trip on the trolley took longer to get from downtown to UVA Grounds than it did the other way, due to how it was routed. I’m not sure if that’s still the case.</p>
<p>FWIW my parents also stay at the doubletree up near walmart.</p>
<p>^^^Same Doubletree on Hilton Heights Road. The added bonus is that parents can do a WalMart run for student items. FWIW, many UVA reunion groups and visiting athletic teams stay at the Doubletree too. It’s far enough out of town for the athletes to avoid temptation. But you need a car to get to the University from here.</p>