Seniors who haven't made hotel reservations for their relatives on Commencement weekend might want to act fast, or they could find themselves with a couple of extra roommates for the occasion.
Hotels in Lebanon, West Lebanon, Lyme and Hanover are already booked solid for the weekend of June 10.
In fact, some hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts in the area -- such as the Chieftain motel in Hanover -- are already completely booked for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 graduations.
"We establish relationships with our guests," general manager of the Chieftain motel Karen McLellan said. "When they stay here ... we allow freshmen parents to make reservations for senior graduation."
At the Hanover Inn, parents of graduating students might find it even more difficult to secure a reservation, as most rooms are set aside for special guests and alumni.
"Our rooms are being used for honorary degree candidates, Trustees, members of the Class of 1950, and other guests of the College," Matt Marshall, manager of the Hanover Inn, said.
Although it's not likely, there is hope for a few people to find rooms opened by last-minute cancellations, Marshall said.
"Very occasionally, we have a cancellation. But the 50-year class has a huge waiting list," he said. "If they cancel it's at the last minute."
The lack of available accommodations in Hanover means the majority of senior parents need to find a place outside of town. But many out-of-town establishments are likely to be booked, as well.
The Alden Inn in Lyme allows reservations up to four years in advance. It is also completely full for graduation weekend.
At larger chain hotels in the area, the reservation system works differently than at the inns. But relatives seeking a room for June 10 will still run into the same problems.
At the Holiday Inn Express in Lebanon reservations opened at 7 a.m. one day after last year's graduation, and the hotel was booked solid before 8 a.m.
The Radisson in West Lebanon also fills reservations one year in advance, and it is also full for the dates of this year's commencement.
At this time, most seniors seem to have made reservations for their families, but some have not quite gotten around to it.
"My mom got reservations pretty far away, in Windsor. That was two weeks ago. If my parents didn't already have them, I'm sure they wouldn't be able to [get reservations]," Alison Hendrix '00 said.
"I booked very early, in June or July of last year," said Lukas Cadil '00. "A lot of my friends are worried, looking at places even an hour away ... I'd be hurrying."
If students do not heed the advice to make plans early on, there is one contingency plan -- renting vacant dorm rooms here on campus.
The Office of Residential Life sends out a mailing in March to all the seniors' families with the forms required to reserve dorm space.
This year, the rates for Dartmouth accommodations are $30 per night for adults and $20 per night for children under 18.
"We try to make it like a hotel," said Lynn Rosenblum, director of housing services.
"We've always been able to get everybody in ... It might be [a last resort] for a lot of people, but sometimes people are able to bring more family members because of the lower cost."
About 1,100 people took advantage of available dorm spaces at graduation time last year, Rosenblum said.
