Where to find travel arrangement help for PIR 12/30

[Ellen Isabel Hudgins]

I'm currently living in Mexico, and my mom received my son's graduation information. All I know is that he graduates on Dec. 30th, but I have no idea if he's PIR & GO, as I've read here below. She's going to scan the docs she received so I'll look for that info there.

I'm totally ignorant of where to stay and how to plan my trip. I can look for flights online from here, to ORD or MKE, and the cheapest one to date is US airways via PHX. But when it comes to hotels & local transportation I'm lost. I'll be traveling alone.

I've tried to to open the bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp website to no avail. It just won't open and all others that are navy.mil won't open either. I don't know why, my internet is working fine.

Any suggestions are welcome, thanks!
Isabel

[James' Mom]

We were just there for our son's PIR on the 4th of Dec, and I just thought I would let you know, if you will be traveling from Miwaukee to Great Lakes, IL. on Hwy 94 there will be one toll @ $1.50 and then another on the off ramp @ .50. Have a wonderful time at PIR and dress warm, that wind gets very very cold!!!

[MommaT]

I had to download mozilla firefox (a browser) to open the site. My internet explorer wouldnt do it either....Try going to google and download it and then try again....should work then look over all the info about grad and such....look at videos too,,.also all A schools are closed until the 4th of Jan so there is no grad and go for 12/30 Everyone stays until the 3rd of Jan.....Hope this helps : )

[James' Mom]

These Mom have much excellent information that will help you out very much. We flew into Milwaukee on Southwest (they had the best prices), the rental car agencies are right across the street from the baggage claim area. If you have AAA auto insurance, please use it, we ended up paying $16.00 for our 2 day rental = we were amazed = Oh, we used a special code offer in the AAA magazine, which ended up being a $30.00 off coupon plus 10% off too!
The drive from Milwaukee was easy, it was snowing too. Be sure to have spare change with you, there are tolls to be paid on the freeway and be careful, don't go through the I-Pass lanes, stay to the right for the cash lanes. Tolls range from .50; .80; 1.00; 1.20; & 1.50. It was intresting, you pay on the freeway and then need to pay .50 to get off the freeway in some areas.
We stayed at the Navy Lodge, it was clean, very friendly and informative!!! :)
They have breakfast to go bags too! Yogurt, Orange juice and a danish.
Bring a good camera and very warm clothing. A thick coat, scarf, ear muffs and gloves!!! We were standing out side waiting for our Sailor to return with his pictures, my husbands ears were so cold and so very red once we got into the car! The wind is extremely cold!
We did drive to Chicago O'hare airport to see our son off to Florida, I'm glad we flew into Milwaukee, it is much easier. Try not to get stressed, just be sure that any reservation is refundable or transferrable to another date if needed. Take Care. :)