Our daughter will be a freshman at Brandeis in the fall and Parent’s Weekend is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 21-22. As our youngest will have a long school holiday that weekend as well, we would like to spend Oct. 18, 19, 20 in Boston (Copley/Back Bay area) and Oct. 21 near Waltham. I was shocked when I began researching hotels today. NOTHING is available for those dates in either Waltham or Boston. Can it be possible these dates are all already taken with Parent's Weekends at other schools as well? The airfare also seems to be double what it normally should be. Am I just looking too early? I will also call the school and hotels near Brandeis to see if rooms are being held for Parent’s Weekend. Any advice or suggestions? Thanks!

That weekend is the Head of the Charles Regatta which is probably why you're having a tough time finding accommodations. You may have to look further west. Try Natick/Framingham.

In the Waltham area there are a number of hotels including a Westin

If it weren't for your younger kid's holiday, I would recommend that you reschedule your visit. In my experience, the events planned for parents weekends aren't worth the hassle, and it's more productive to visit the campus when the other parents are *not* around because it gives you a chance to take your kid out to dinner (for "real food") and bring their friends along so you can meet them. Plus the city is a zoo over Head of the Charles weekend. Does your younger kid get a long weekend for Columbus Day?

Aliska,

What hotels did you check? Out of curiosity I plugged your dates into the Colonnade Hotel and came up with availability.

Though October is one of the most popular months in Boston (colleges, football, foliage), it did seem awfully early for everything to be booked.

Good luck,

cw

I stayed at the Colonnade a few months ago and it was a nice hotel. I wouldn't call it a luxury 5 star like the website leads you to believe, but it was nice, in a central location, good area, restaurant, etc. I would stay there again if I return to Boston.

Joni

I don't know about hotels, since I live in the area, but our daughter is in her second year at Brandeis so I have a little perspective on the parents' weekend. I went to the weekend the first year she was there but not this year. The best parts for me were the Friday night concert of student performing groups (of particular interest to us since our daughter plays in a student-run orchestra) and the classes held on Saturday by Brandeis faculty. We went to two of these, and they were great fun. Made me want to go back to school. Well, except for the writing the papers part...

There are lots of interesting ethnic restaurants in Waltham, so it is fun to take your student out for dinner in the neighborhood.

I would keep checking airfare and hotels. I believe Brandeis might have special arrangements with a couple of nearby hotels. One of them could be the Newton Marriott, which is not in Waltham but which I believe is actually the closest hotel to the campus.

You also may have some luck with some of the travel websites, like www.hotels.com, www.travelocity.com, www.cheaptickets.com, www.libertytravel.com and www.priceline.com

I have found hotels.com to be one of the best sites out there.

Have a great time in Boston.

Where are you looking? I just went to hotels.com and there are TONS of hotels available in Boston for those dates.

i have found that some hotel websites, as well as Expedia, etc. have difficulty with dates over 6 months out. Even with Head of Charles, I can not imagine everything is sold out, although you are wise to make reservations now - that is a popular time for college events in Boston area.

Now I am really starting to think your computer had a problem, or you mis-entered the dates. I just plugged in those dates on Expedia for both the Boston part and Waltham part of your trip and got multiple possibilities - not cheap, but hotels in Boston never are.

As far as airfare, air fares have been creeping up over the past 6 months - our trips Boston-Savannah, for example, are now 150% what they were last year - and we shop around.

I agree with Gail on this. It seems you have been searching on-line. Just make a couple calls to the hotels directly. I bet you'll have more luck.