Given a URL, can I find if the site exists using the client object model?

Question

I am looking for a "cheap" option to find out if a site exists, given a URL.

I have no control over the server environment, so I am not able to add web services or code to it.

Is there a way to find out whether a site exists on the specified URL without resorting to catching ClientRequestException?

Answer 1

I know these are not client object model related, but wouldn't these be quicker?

1. Try pinging it? (if you get a response, there a good chance it exists).
2. Use a http tool such as fiddler