An hour is a lot of time to lose on a commute. I'd opt for the hotel personally. For my liking, there's just too much that could happen that could turn an hour commute into a really stressful situation.
I'm not only because I know my test center very well (it's my alma mater) and there's 0 issues arriving to the location/parking. Have you visited your center before?
Hotel. I am not going to stay in one because my test center is literally within walking distance of my apartment.
An hour commute is just un-needlessly stressful. Too many unknown variables from car trouble, to traffic, to getting lost, etc.
Also, staying in a hotel will let you sleep a bit more the morning of and give you more time for any morning rituals.
I usually just look for deals online. Perhaps even try AirBnb... I also think if you have AAA car service, you can get Day's Inn and Holiday Inn Express for a good discount.
I just did some quick search again. There's a subway station 2 blocks away from the test center (on the map it says it'll take about 38 min. to get there but I often take more time...) but if I stay in a hotel it'll be 30 minutes walk I guess...not sure which is better now. Is there usually a hotel close to a test center? I do not usually stay in a hotel so maybe I did not search well...
@mw393730 If you are going to stay in a hotel just make sure you stay more than one night if I remember correctly I read somewhere our brains does not fully fall sleep in a new environment as it takes at least a night for our brains to realize that our surrounding is safe.
I'd recommend against the hotel. I'm opting for the drive myself. Had a nightmare scenario last time with a hotel. At home, much less can go wrong. I'll have enough trouble sleeping as it is, without worrying about loud people partying, dogs barking, fire alarms being pulled, etc. My personal suggestion only.
@zkchrumz said: I'd recommend against the hotel. I'm opting for the drive myself. Had a nightmare scenario last time with a hotel. At home, much less can go wrong. I'll have enough trouble sleeping as it is, without worrying about loud people partying, dogs barking, fire alarms being pulled, etc. My personal suggestion only.
Good point.... A lot can go wrong with a hotel. Sounds like you stayed at a damn resort, haha.
@zkchrumz Thanks, Sounds like kind of similar suggestion as Nader's...so if you are not familiar with the place it may actually hurt you. (my neighbor is actually pretty noisy and I could not sleep at all at first...but now I'm already accustomed to it and it does not bother me anymore.)
By the way, any thoughts about using melatonin? the sleeping pill? Do you think it helps or hurts you?
I'm planning on staying at a hotel the night before the February test. The test center that I'm planning on registering for is 30ish minutes away from my place, at least according to Google Maps. My reasoning is mostly due to the variables at play. I live in the North East, so it isn't out of the question for us to get a significant snow that could wreck havoc with travel times. So, as long as I can find a hotel within a 15min drive of the test site, I'll book that.
Granted, I travel a lot for work, so sleeping in a hotel isn't exactly an uncommon occurrence for me. I bring my pillow from home, ear plugs, and whatever items I need for the next day (breakfast, snack, caffeine, etc). I don't tend to have issues with falling asleep at hotels either.
As far as sites to find hotels, I use Hotels.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, and Priceline.com.
I wouldn't mess with sleeping pills unless if you have the opportunity to give them a dry run. I would be concerned about feeling groggy the next day.
@cam Thanks, Oh right...you have to bring all of the stuff including breakfast and...yeah maybe everything I need in the morning. But if you stay at a hotel that means you can just leave all of your stuff there and just bring the plastic bag to the test center...Humm, sounds like both have good points. Thanks for the websites, those are really helpful. I'll do some search.
I'm planning on leaving everything except for the plastic bag stuff in my car. If you want to leave the rest at the hotel, I'd check before booking if they can hold luggage for you until a certain time (e.g. after the test). Most of the hotels I have stayed at have check out times by noon.
I live in a city where the average daily commute is an hour each way, so driving sounds fine to me! However, you should do what makes you feel the most comfortable. I would personally want to sleep in my own bed.
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Where do you usually find a hotel? Do you know any websites?
I just did some search and it's...ehh...I don't know.
Are any of you going to stay in a hotel?
An hour commute is just un-needlessly stressful. Too many unknown variables from car trouble, to traffic, to getting lost, etc.
Also, staying in a hotel will let you sleep a bit more the morning of and give you more time for any morning rituals.
I usually just look for deals online. Perhaps even try AirBnb... I also think if you have AAA car service, you can get Day's Inn and Holiday Inn Express for a good discount.
but if I stay in a hotel it'll be 30 minutes walk I guess...not sure which is better now.
Is there usually a hotel close to a test center? I do not usually stay in a hotel so maybe I did not search well...
That's good to know, thanks.
Thanks,
Sounds like kind of similar suggestion as Nader's...so if you are not familiar with the place it may actually hurt you.
(my neighbor is actually pretty noisy and I could not sleep at all at first...but now I'm already accustomed to it and it does not bother me anymore.)
By the way, any thoughts about using melatonin? the sleeping pill? Do you think it helps or hurts you?
Granted, I travel a lot for work, so sleeping in a hotel isn't exactly an uncommon occurrence for me. I bring my pillow from home, ear plugs, and whatever items I need for the next day (breakfast, snack, caffeine, etc). I don't tend to have issues with falling asleep at hotels either.
As far as sites to find hotels, I use Hotels.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, and Priceline.com.
I wouldn't mess with sleeping pills unless if you have the opportunity to give them a dry run. I would be concerned about feeling groggy the next day.
Thanks,
Oh right...you have to bring all of the stuff including breakfast and...yeah maybe everything I need in the morning.
But if you stay at a hotel that means you can just leave all of your stuff there and just bring the plastic bag to the test center...Humm, sounds like both have good points.
Thanks for the websites, those are really helpful. I'll do some search.
Thanks for the info.
In that case I might need to take another stay...I don't know...