Guests on the Hill: How easy is it to host guests on the campus? 

Fall Break and Family Weekend brought tons of family and friends to Syracuse University’s campus over the past two weekends. Having visitors while at college can be a fun, relaxing time, but just how easy is it to host guests on the Hill? 

The main challenges, according to nearly 70 students surveyed by Orange Pulse, include housing and parking for guests.

Nearly 50% of students said it’s a challenge to find nearby hotels and Airbnbs.

Some hotels close to campus include Hotel Skylar, The Parkview Hotel and The Collegian Hotel & Suites, but they book out quickly. Hotel Skylar and The Collegian are already booked out for Spring 2027 graduation. 

Kai Murphy, a senior broadcast digital journalism and policy studies student, explained that there used to be more hotels around campus, but they’ve since been converted to residence halls or apartment complexes. SU acquired the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center and renovated it into Riley Hall in 2024. That same year, the Crowne Plaza Syracuse became Tower701 studio apartments. The Mayflower Hotel also turned into The Mayflower Apartments in 2025. 

He said it’s unfortunate that, with the lack of options and availability, parents have to book hotels farther away from campus, potentially rent a car and then face parking on and around SU.  

In terms of parking, finding lots and garages was the most common obstacle, according to 55% of respondents. Forty-two percent said parking is too expensive, and 31% said parking rules and signage are confusing. 

“I’ve had my friends come and visit and stay with me a couple of times, and almost every time they end up getting a ticket,” Murphy said.

Grace Elford, a broadcast and digital journalism and political science student, said it’s hard for guests to navigate a parking situation they’re not familiar with. She added that the existing parking conditions are further hindered by the construction happening on and around campus. 

Other than parking, 36% said the lack of space in their apartment or dorm proved to be difficult when hosting friends.

“Having space for both yourself and another guest and all of their belongings sometimes can present a challenge,” Elford said.

And while not the top reported obstacles, about 20% of students said there are unclear house rules, and 17% said guest sign-in requirements were setbacks. Sarah Gorenstein, a senior in Television, Radio and Film, said she found the guest sign-in process for dorm halls annoying. The SU guest policy outlines that all visitors, including SU students, must be signed in at the main entrance upon entry by the resident and the Residence Community Safety Officer. Residents need their SUID, and visitors need a valid form of ID to be signed in. 

“I think it would be much nicer if there were a visitor pass process, especially when there are certain people who are visiting you constantly,” Gorenstein said.

An anonymous response to the open-ended survey question: “Is there a university rule about guests you would like to change? If so, what and how?” suggested something similar. Respondents said, “In dorms, you should be able to fill out a guest request form, and they [guests] get a temporary SUID for the weekend because it is really annoying having to give the front desk your government ID every time.”

Even though 87% of students said their visitors usually only stay for a weekend, navigating the logistics of hosting can be overwhelming. To ease the process, Murphy, Elford and Gorenstein suggest being prepared and planning ahead.