Hotels for Boot Camp Graduation

[Jenny]

We're thinking about staying at the Great Lakes Motel about 1 mile from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Does anyone know anything about that motel?

[Jim Gramza]

Hi Jenny.
You caught my attention because I am in South Bend.When our son graduated, we stayed at a Super 8 north of the base. There are hotels all around the base and they are all about the same.I would not stay at the Super 8 as it was not too good. But there is an Econo Lodge a lot closer. Just get on line and do some research. Most of those hotels make their money on the weekends from us Navy people. We were at Great Lakes twice after he graduated because he was on medical hold for a while due to anemia. He's in Pensacola now in school. Just let us know if you need any help. There are lots of knowledgable people on this web site. When is PIR?

[resqmermaid]

How is Pensacola..my son goes there. One my my clients today told me that his grandson is one of the instructors

[Tamie (mom of Michael)]

I did find out that if you stay at the Navy Lodge if you ask for a guest pass, at the front desk you can use the nex gas station down the road, gas much cheaper there. Tamie

[Karen]

I passed by there on my way to our hotel and it looks pretty rundown. Its right across a real noisy bar too. I would recommend staying at the Days Inn right down the street. Its nice and clean. If you need their number its 8478879000. I loved my stay there. Hope this helps you

[shannon proud navy mom of luis]

Hi karen Did you stay at the navy lodge? Also can you get me days inn number?

[Debbie (George's Mom)]

Karen I was told the Great Lakes Naval Lodge was good to and like 65.00

[Char]

Hi,
Please don't! We just stayed at the Springhill Suites. Its way nicer, close to restaurants, close to the naval station,close to WALMART!!! You will like it a lot, plus every morning they serve a nice breakfast and there is internet access free!

[donna hearn]

do you have a number for this hotel. we cant find a thing

[Jody]

thanks for the info ladies and gents. will be hopefully going in jan for daughter graduation. which airport is closer to the naval station?

[Dawna Widmar]

Jody, when I went to my son's PIR in October, I flew into Milwaukee. I chose Milwaukee because then I wouldn't have to deal with traffic in Chicago and it was all freeway from Milwaukee. From what I heard the distance was a little longer, but the drive was easier. It is a toll road, so have a couple of dollars handy for the booth. There was also a lot of road construction going on, so have directions and back ups just in case your exit it closed. I also saved $150.00 flying into Milwaukee instead of O'Haire or Midway. I stayed at Super 8 in Waukegan. It wasn't fancy, but the room was clean and the staff was very nice.

[JunieB]

For airports, Chicago (O'Hare) is the main airport distance wise it is closer, but traffic wise it is about an hour away. Chicago (Midway) is even farther south, so you would have to drive all the way through Chicago, depending on arrival time, that may not be fun.
Milwaukee airport is a little farther mileage wise, but because it is all freeway, it is only around 1/2 hour travel time. I had planned on using Milwaukee, but the flights were more expensive to there from here (OR), it saved about $80 to go to Chicago (O'Hare). We used "ACE" rental car, they had a shuttle van pick us up at the airport & had directions to the base in the rental car for us, the drive was pretty easy.

[Mary from Cali]

We stayed at the Residence Inn...very nice/clean, free hot breakfast every morning, very helpful and nice staff and reasonable rates too....check the different places on line. Good Luck.