It is best to stay in the host hotel. That way you are walking distance from the conference. I attended during the summer between my third and fourth year of medical school and found it to be a great experience. There will be booths set up of representatives from most of the Family Medicine Residency programs all across the country. It is a good way to get information about different programs. This is an aspect of the conference you definitely want to take advantage of. I do not know where in the country you are looking to do your residency but I recommend you go by the South Carolina program booth. There will be representatives from all eight programs there. Although SC is a small state it has very strong Family Medicine programs. I would say that the education you get at these programs rival any state in the country. Besides getting a good education, the weather is great, the pay at all of the programs is good, and the cost of living in SC is low. I am getting ready to start my second year at a program here in SC and I have loved every minute of it. Even if SC is currently not on the top of your list of states to look at, I encourage you to go by and talk with the programs. I think you will be very impressed with what your see and hear.