Issue date: 10/6/09 Section: News

From Effingham to Tuscola or national chains to the local bed and breakfasts, rooms are going fast in the area for Eastern's 2009 Homecoming weekend.

Room prices in the area range from $75 to $115, depending on the hotel chain.

As of Monday morning, the Days Inn of Charleston, 810 W. Lincoln Ave., had four rooms available for Oct. 16, and two available for Oct. 17, said front desk manager Don Hise.

"We were completely booked in the beginning of September, but you are always going to have the last-minute cancellations," Hise said. "Its about an average year, because that's when everyone gets the schedule and the students and alum get ready to come back."

Queen Anne's on 7th Street Bed and Breakfast, 899 Seventh St., Charleston, is full for Homecoming weekend.Co-owner David Reichart said boarding rates were kept the same as usual from previous years. In the eight years it has been open Queen Anne's has nearly packed every room during Homecoming weekend.

The Comfort Inn Hotel in Effingham, a 45-minute drive south from Eastern, has multiple openings for that weekend, with a rate of $77.95 per night. The Comfort Inn Hotel in Arcola has 20 rooms on Oct. 16, and no available rooms on Oct. 17, said Usha Patel, wife of the hotel owner. Rooms are $79.99 per night for the weekend.

In the neighboring town of Tuscola, the Baymont Inn and Suites has about half the rooms open thus far. Baymont rooms are priced at $89 per night.

"We expect to be booked by the time the weekend comes," said Vida Murry, the Baymont general manager. "Most people don't like to look this far out, but when they realize the lack of options they book at the last minute."

The Holiday Inn Express in Tuscola has been entirely booked at $99 per night.

"We usually are booked for the big weekends at Eastern like (Family) Weekend and Homecoming," said Lori Bales, front desk manager of the Holiday Inn Express.

Another reason the Holiday Inn Express is seeing a lot of business is because of the Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana, Bales said.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.

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