Hotels in the area of Great Lakes

[DaLinda]

About a month ago a lady told us all about some great hotels to stay at around the great lakes area, I want to see my daughter graduate on Jan 30th 09 but I am not sure where to stay, as in if there are shuttles, not one that in on base but close enough to catch a shuttle or bus, or something.
Who ever did that post could you do it again, Or if anyone else has some ideas, I would love to hear them. Thanks so much.....Hope all your sons and daughters are doing well. They all make me proud of their courage at what they are accomplishing. Sunshynemom

[Trish]

From what I have heard a lot of the motels near GL's have roaches(ewh) so I am thinking of staying in Chicago where I know there are a lot nicer places to stay. But someone on here will help you with a decent place to stay. My son doesn't graduate until March. Let me know where you do stay.

[Kirsten]

Hi DaLinda,

most hotels do have a shuttle around the area. But as Trish said the motels I would not recommend. I stayed at the Residence Inn in Waukegan and absolutley loved it, and there prices aren't to bad either. I paid 109.00 for the 1 bedroom Suite (full kitchen) and it was very nice and clean. We had our own transportation, but I did see a Shuttle outside when we left. They have from mon.-fri free hot buffett breakfast and snack hot buffett at night from mo-thu. Plus Walmart and a few Restaurants right around the corner and it's about 5-10 min. from base. If you have more questions just leave me a message on my page :)

[Melia]

Hi. I have posted this on different forum before. I wrote.....


Waukegan and North Chicago are one of the worst area in North Suburb. Many crimes and one of the worst school district. I DO NOT recommend anyone staying in those areas. I understand it is very close to the base but please think about your safety first. If you must drive through those areas, stay on Green Bay Rd. or 41. Stay away from side roads and Lewis Ave.

Gurnee is very good. Close to shops and restaurants. Traffic can get really bad sometimes. I would like to suggest Key lime cove. http://www.keylimecove.com/ Our family stayed there on Thanksgiving. Cheapest room is around $100 and up to 4 people's room and pass to their water park is included. New hotel so everything is brand new and very clean. They have stay 1 night get 1 free deal all the time.

Holiday Inn Express in Libertyville will be the best. Less than 10 mins away from the base and it is on 137 (Buckley Rd.) which the base is on. Just down the street from down town Libertyville, which is a very nice small town. Across the street from the hotel is a restaurant called "Wildberries" Very good breakfast. http://www.yelp.com/biz/wildberry-cafe-libertyville



On this post, I forgot to mention another area which is in Waukegan but newly developed area and away from bad part of Waukegan. It is a shopping area called Fountain Square of Waukegan. (41 Skokie HWY and 120 Belvidere Rd.) There is a Wal mart and some other restaurants like Chili's there. There are Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, Residence Inn in and around this shopping center. It is only 10 mins away from base and I did hear that some or all of them do shuttle service to base for a small fee.


I just hate to see people staying at motels in Waukegan (On Green Bay Rd. and such) and North Chicago not knowing what kind of area they are. Our family always lock our car door while we drive through those areas.


I live in this area so let me know if you have more questions.

[Melia]

If the money is not an issue, I would love you all to stay at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. If you go south from base along the lake, you will see beautiful homes and very cute towns along the train track. Michael Jordan used to live in Highland Park which is a little more south from Lake Forest.

[Cindy Corpsman Mom]

Hi DaLinda ~ We stayed at the Navy Lodge. It's about 1 mile from the base and a shuttle will pick you up on her PIR day. I hightly recommend the shuttle and it's not very expensive. It also saves a lot of time from having to park on base, go through security, etc. The greatest thing about the shuttle is that it bypasses all the cars in line and drops you off at the entrance, where you go through security. We rented a car front Midway and drove to GL (get a GPS). If you reserve early enough at the Lodge, you could get one with a little kitchen. The Navy Lodge isn't fancy (no restaurant, no swimming pool), but it's clean. You can always take the train into Chicago. The station isn't that far from the base entrance. Morgan, my son, said it's about an hour to 1.5 hr ride. Congrats to your daughter and please tell her 'thank you' from another Navy mom.

[Jody Gault]

Hi DaLinda, our son also PIR on Jan. 30th. He sent us last Friday (Jan 2nd) the invitation and a flyer that lists hotels and such. You've probably gotten that by now as well. From what I can see there would be shuttles from the hotels listed to the base but you need transportation from the airport to the hotel I'm sure. Since it's 4 of us the $14 per person for the Continental Airport Express seems too high. We can get an ACE car rental for $17.95 per day. The hotels concern me too. I've read everybody's remarks here and what one person says is good another says is not. Our neighbor went thru Great Lakes BC but that was 10 yrs ago. If he remembers I'll let you know. My husbands cousin's daughter was just up there this past summer in BC so I'm awaiting her reply on hotels. Since budget is key for us (lost my job in November) we need to stay low because we intend to fly to PNS to be with him over the weekend since he's grad-n-go. Luckily I , and my family, all fly for free because I accepted a retiree type benefit when the airline I worked for closed their office where I worked several years ago. I'm new to this site and it's a wealth of information that I really appreciate (first hand information if you will).

[DaLinda]

Sorry Jody, I don't know if the first email went to outterspace....or to you....I will start over....We booked our flight tonight and our room, We went on the site hotel - guide for the great lakes., I wound up calling them and asking questions (the hotel that is), checked all the ones over 3 stars, the one we chose is :Springhill Suites Marriott. This place is brand New.....hopefully no bugs...shouldn't be....they have photos....the rooms are quite modern and soothing . The cost was about $79;.00.m a day plus tax which was about 7 dollars more. Two queens, 1 sofa bed. Free breakfast.and some other ammenities. here is their site and phone number. 1-866-313-5183 or www.marriott.com/hotels, then look for the one at 4101 Fountain Sq. Place, Waukegan, Ill. 60085. Courtyard and Residence are also Marriott hotels, you can also go to google maps, and type in the address and then click on maps then if they have a street view you can look at that. They are about 3.8 miles from the Base. There is a shuttle that will take you there for about 3 bucks each way....I thought that was reasonable.If the Continental Airport express will take me to the hotel for $15 dollars, that would be cheaper for us than renting a car and having to drive it in a place I have never been too.HUm Ace car rental sounds reasonable to me also. My daughter has to be in California by Monday, I think they are flying her out on sunday....I am taking my son in law with me.....We will try to grab as much time as we can with her.....what program is your son going into? My daughter is will in the CTI.
Sorry about the job loss, I wish you well there.....
Southwest has the best rate for us....but we will be flying into Midway airport. I did find out that it was an easier route than coming out of O hare.....but a little longer drive, 49 miles as compared to 32 from Ohare.Glad you get your flights for free. yeah for benefits. We have been in the Cabinet business for 33 years, and it is getting harder to stay in business and keep you employees from the soup line. I want to retire....maybe we will by year 35. that's a good number.
Did your son have a shorter training time.....My daughter was going to graduate some time in the third week of Feb. but they doubled up their training and what ever else they do there....lol
If you need to talk, I am so here.....add me as a friend. Good Luck....and maybe we will see each other at
the graduation....we will arrive on the 29th....just in case there is some delay in flights....we will be coming from Oregon....and with our crazy weather lately, I don't want to have too much of a delay.
DaLinda

[Jody Gault]

Hey everybody. I just got home from our 1st ever Central Fla. Navyformoms get together. It was wonderful. I would 'highly' recommend that you all do that in your areas or organize one. There were about 15 of us there and I learned a wealth of information and we also brought enough stuff to pack up 3 very full boxes for the 'adopt a sailor' program. There was 1 mom whose son is in PNS now at A school, 1 mom whose really on top of her game because her son doesn't even go to BC until March and most moms whose sons are away in other states or deployed. I can let you know 2 great suggestions that I pulled out of it that I can let you know is that the Navy Lodge hotel (1-800-NavyInn) is where 3-4 of them stayed and it was fine. I just called they have 2 queen beds, fridge, microwave for $65 no tax and their cancellation policy is very much more lenient that the Quality Inn that we were going to stay at. You can cancel up to 6pm on the day of arrival. They also gave me the room thru Sunday incase we needed it and if stays grad n go we don't get charged to leave on the 30th.