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?

[Lori Luyten]

Jenny - Hi! I saw you are in South Bend. My Dad was born in SB! Can you tell me how far away Great Lakes is from Shipshewana? We visited Indiana 2 years ago but our recruit wasn't with us and I thought it would make a fun day-trip but on the website noticed it said they can't go farther than 50 miles. Can't remember how far we were when we were there.
thanks, Lori

[Lori Luyten]

Here is a list of of hotels given to me by the Visitors Bureau

Great Lakes Partner Hotels – ask for the special Navy Graduation Discount
• Great Lakes Motel – 3101 Buckley Rd., North Chicago – [phone]
• Red Carpet Inn (FS) – 3207 Buckley Rd., North Chicago – [phone] ● [phone]
redcarpetinntrtc.com
• Comfort Inn (FS) – 3031 Belvidere Rd.,Waukegan – [phone] –
• Americas Best Value Inn (FS & ND) – 411 S. Green Bay Rd. – Waukegan – [phone] ● [phone]
americasbestwaukegan.com -
• Ramada Inn (FS) – 200 N. Green Bay Rd. – Waukegan – [phone]
ramadainnwaukegan-gurnee.com
• Super 8 Motel – (FS) - 630 N. Green Bay Rd. – Waukegan – [phone]
• Courtyard by Marriott (FS) – 3800 Northpoint Blvd. – Waukegan – [phone] ● [phone]
marriott.com/chiwk
• Days Inn – 1809 N. Milwaukee Ave. – Libertyville – [phone]
thedaysinn.com/libertyville13906
• LaQuinta Inn – 5688 Northridge Dr., Gurnee – [phone] ● [phone]
• Holiday Inn – 6161 Grand Ave., Gurnee – [phone]
holidayinn.com/chi-gurnee
• Hotel Indigo – 450 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills – [phone]
vernonhillsboutique.com
• Homewood Suites – 10 Westminster Way, Lincolnshire – [phone] ● (800)CALL-HOME
homewoodsuites.com
• Motel 6 - 31 N Green Bay Rd., Waukegan – [phone]
motel6.com (Motel #4359)

(FS) - Hotel offers free or small fee shuttle to and from Navy Graduation

[Kelli S.]

My son graduates on May 8, 2009. I will be flying out alone due to the $$$. Are there any other single moms that would consider sharing hotel and or rental car ? Even if I end up getting my own hotel maybe there is someone out there that I might hitch a ride with. Women or Families only please. My husband is concerned about me going alone and I would like to try and keep the costs down. I was thinking of staying at the Spring hills Suites or La Quinta. They both have free breakfasts and good reviews from other moms.
Kelli email me at [e-mail]

[Jessica:Michael's #1 Fan]

So it looks like My boyfriend's family isn't planning on going there wonderful son's graduation so I'm flying solo. Being only 19 I'm scared out of my mind to fly from Maryland to Chicago, and everything else like getting a room, and transportation. Any advice? Not going is not an option. He needs someone to be there on such an important day

[Tammy]

Jenny,
We just returned from PIR 6/12/09 we stayed at the Navy Lodge from 6/11 - 6/15 it was GREAT! We had a room with a small kitchen. Plenty of room we even had a roll-away (they don't charge for). It was very clean and comfy beds. You can even wash a load of cloths for just a $1.00 and drying it only a $1.00. They had a 'breakfast to go' every morning. Best of all it's VERY VERY close to the base. (no pool...but we walked every evening to the park that is across the street) Advice on the morning of PIR leave EARLY we left at before 6:00am and sat in traffic until they open the gates at 6:30am. If you want a good seat you need to be there as soon as the gates open. We were sitting down at around 7:00am and had to sit for 2 hours but we were on the 2nd row. If you have little ones it's probably very hard on them so I would bring snacks and something for them to do. About 45 min. before it starts they do bring out snacks you can purchase but we were afraid to leave our seats and our youngest is 11 so he could handle it the waiting. Oh...don't forget the box of kleenex's.

[Wendyloo (HM A-School Mom)]

I stayed at the Days Inn that's real close to base when I attended a PIR in 2006 and it was a horrible stay. The walls were so thin we could hear people cough in the next room. We had to call security at 3am to shut them up as they were playing music all night long. This time we are staying at a hotel next to the Gurnee Mills Mall because it's close to restaurants and other things to do. We got a rate of $70 as I work for state government. I have heard a lot of these hotels offer special rates just for graduation weekends, but you have to call them directly to ask. Thank goodness for Google Maps Street View because you can zoom in and see the area a hotel is in before you go.

[Carrie-Proud Mom of Amber]

We got reservations at the Ramada; has anyone stayed there?

[Brenda]

My son's graduation was June 19 - it was awesome!! We initially reserved at the Red Carpet Inn, however it wasn't what we expected. We ended up checking out and once we found the city of Gurnee, IL - we checked into the Best Western for $88/night. It was great! Two double beds, fold out couch, fridge, microwave, hot breakfast, great staff. No shuttle, but we had our own car. Getting on base wasn't that bad however we only had 7 divisions graduating. Gurnee is only about a 15 minute drive from the base. I've also heard the Navy Lodge was great. Gurnee is where the mall is, and also Six Flags. Everything you need is there. We also went to the Volo Car Museum, it was a very nice rural drive only about 30 minutes away. We had Chicago style pizza at Giordano's which is close to the hotel. We didn't want the stress of driving into Chicago. My son didn't care what we did he just enjoyed being apart of civilization again! I brought my laptop and he really enjoyed being online again. Hope this helps. Just enjoy the time with your son/daughter!
Brenda

[1983Co317Dad]

We are staying at the Homewood Suites in Lincolnshire. It's about 10 miles or so from the base, but we are driving anyway, so transportation is not an issue. The rooms are suites. There is a separate living room, bedroom, and has a full kitchen. Hot breakfast is included, and I've read some good reviews. If you ask for the Navy discount, the rate is about $79.

[Michele Peterson]

Stay clear of the Econo Lodge...it was filthy, there was drug deals going on . The bedding was disgusting. The furniture had a film on it. The "continental breakfast" had bugs crawling in the bagles. We slept in shifts in the car. We were going to stay for two nights. We brought 4 of my daughters friends and they were going to stay the night in two additional rooms. Hotel management would not refund our second night. Never again! Spend an extra $10 and stay at the Holiday Inn Express...OUTSTANDING!!

[Carrie-Proud Mom of Amber]

We've got 3 weeks until Amber's graduation & I had asked if anyone has stayed at the Ramada. Does anyone know if it's a nice place to stay?!

[Laura J]

The Ramada Inn was very nice. It's clean, not fancy. Beds were comfy, I slept so good. We're from Ohio so we are used to the EST zone. I would wake up at 5:20 am. Which is when the sun rises. We were 5th car in line at PIR! There's a great bkft place a little farther up Green Bay Rd. Emily's Pancake House, homecooked food, my Sailor wanted biscuits and gravy.
If you have anymore ?, ask away. Ramada has indoor room doors. You need your key(card) to get in all outside doors, even the pool door. They's even an courtyard area. The workers take good care of the motel and it's grounds.
I'd stay there again.