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?

[justme_2009]

I guess what I'm looking for
is a hotel that's clean , serves
breakfast , at least quiet ,
price reasonable , I have a feeling
my son will be "Grab and Go ".
If he is Grab and Go for sure ,
ask for reservation at a hotel for 4 night ,
which could really only be 3 nights , how
would I know for sure if this will all happen ?
Other words I might leave a day early , since
we will be driving home .

In these 8.5 weeks doesn't the sons / daughters
know advance if they will be grab and go ?

Thank you for your input.

justpicky

[Jessie17]

My understanding is you won't know if your son is "Grad and Go" until you receive your graduation pack in the mail which should arrive around week 4. If it says "Grad n Go" in the Grad pack, he will ship out the same day as PIR. If he is not Grad n Go, it will tell you if he ships out on Sat, Sun, etc. After reading many Moms' stories on this website, it looks like nothing is for sure - some moms thought their Sailors were Grad n Go and then they didn't leave that day - others thought their Sailors were shipping out on Monday but they ended up "Grad n Go"

I am anxiously awaiting my son's grad pack in the mail - in the meantime I am making travel plans that can easily be changed. Good luck!

[Trish]

I am either thinking of staying at the Hampton Inn or the Embassy suites in Deerfield. They are both 15 minutes away from the base and the Embassy suites serves a wonderful full breakfast(free) and drinks at night(free) and I can also rack up my points. I have heard too many stories on the bugs and noise at motels near the base .

[Melia]

I have to say that is a bit too far and you'll get stuck in traffic. You might want to look into Hampton inn in Gurnee or the hotels at Fountain Square of Waukegan. Fountain square is a brand new shopping center and most of the hotel around there should be fairly new too. Can you get points from hotel indigo? I heard one in Vernon hills is pretty nice.

Most of the hotel which has bad reps are on Green bay Rd. in North Chicago and Waukegan because it is in ghetto. Stay a way from east of 41 (Skockie HWY) and north of Buckley Rd.

Hope you'll have a nice stay!

[Michele]

Does anyone know about Americas Best Value Inn?

[Melia]

Oh no Michele, don't stay there!! Not because of the hotel but the location, I know exactly where it is!!

As I suggested to Trish, stay in Gurnee, Fountain square(shopping center with a super wal mart. address is Waukegan but it is west of 41 and in a better area) or Vernon Hills.

[justme_2009]

Hello ,

I'm just looking for a nice clean , quiet hotel , and plus the area where it's at .
I been reading , a few places sounds nice , but I'm looking for a place that's
close to that base . If you've any recommendation , I sure would appreciate
it . Good hotel .

thank you

Mom

[Michael's Mom]

I'm probably late but it may help others decide where to stay. Like i mentioned, i booked a room at Springhill Suites and it was for $75 for 2 queens and boy, we were so pleased and impressed with this hotel. It was a little suite w/lovely furnishings, separate sitting area w/couches and desk, a flat screen TV, fridge/micro/coffeemaker, hair dryer, internet access for free in room (if you bring your laptop) otherwise they have computers in the lobby that we used,(free also), free breakfast was wonderful...eggs, sausage, danishes, waffles, fruit and juices, and it was just great. We couldn't believe we lucked out on the price for such a really nice hotel. It was located nicely near Wal Mart, Chilis and a great hot wings place that we loved. It's about 5 miles to Great Lakes. I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel to you!

Enjoy!
Laura L.

[Minerva]

hi do you know if they have a free shuttle that takes you to the base and back during PIR? any info would be great. thanks! also how did you get such a low rate? was it online or did you call them and telling them that your were going for the boot camp graduation? thanks!

[Jcnbarb4RN]

Laura,

Did you rent a car or did they have a shuttle or car service available to get to and from the base? My son's graduation is January 15,2010 and we're trying to decide between Residence Inn, Marriott Courtyard, and Springhill Suites! Residence Inn has a shuttle or car service I've been told, but Springhill Suites is newer and nicer and wondered how we would get to the base and how our son would get back to the base when he's on liberty.

Thanks for any information I can get.

Barb

[Trish]

I am up here at graduation now and we are staying at the Residence Inn(Marriott) and it has been one of the best hotels ever! I need an umbrella and they loaned one to me. I also needed a fan to sleep they brought one to my room within 1 minute. I got a rate of $69.00 and they have a great breakfast and they also have dinner buffet (mon-thurs) with drinks. By far this hotel has been great it is about four minutes from the base and I have enjoyed it. You can't go wrong. AAA+++

[Cyndie R]

Yes, we would also rate the Residence Inn with AAA+++ !! We also were fortunate enough to find the Residence Inn when my daughter's boyfriend graduated boot camp the end of January. Great suites! Especially when we were paying just $69/night. That was similar to what others were paying for standard hotel "rooms" in the area. We had a single separate bedroom, kitchen, and what I'd call a living room. It was perfect!
The complementary full breakfasts and week night dinners were amazing and appreciated. The soda fountain in the dining room was always available night and day. There was a computer available in the lobby area with free internet. So many hotels are charging by the minute anymore for internet/computer usage, so this was a blessing especially since we had teenagers with us.
The staff bent over backwards to assist in every way. The distance to the base was minimal 5-10 minutes at most. The only operational snag we hit was with the shuttle service from PIR. A contractual problem that I'm sure has been resolved since then. But, the staff at the Residence Inn swung into action to make everything right.
The only amenity down side that we encountered was that there was no indoor pool on site. They made arrangements for guests to use the Courtyard by Marriott's pool just 5 minutes down the road. The pool room and hot tub there were very clean..( but no bathrooms near the pool area?).
When you call to reserve at the Residence Inn be sure to state that you are coming for Navy graduation to get the $69 rate. If you stay there, please take advantage of the vast local knowledge of the staff..they can recommend restaurants and sights... local and in Chicago. We even called from the Metra train to ask about pizza places in town. Oh... and tell Mario we said Hi.