Where to stay??

[Gulf Coast Mom]

Okay nuke moms - thinking about going to GC to spend Thanksgiving weekend with nuke son we have not seen since PIR IN May. Where have you stayed when you have gone when you have visited your student? Have seen some info on villas in the campground on base - anyone know anything about these - can they be rented by family or would son have to do it? Also any info on villas on Lake Moultrie, shown as a Navy short stay location. Looking for something reasonable with kitchen. Any input or suggestions would be helpful. We are planning on spending the whole week in the area as we have never been there, even though we will probably only see son from Wednesday evening - Sunday morning. Thanks for your help. Melody

[Laura]

Hi,

I recently stayed at the Villas, the last week of Sept. 2008. It was fairly clean. It's not the Westen or a Marriott. But it is right on base and less driving if you want to see your child. The bed felt very hard, but suprissingly it was comfortable. The sheets were clean. I'm from the north so I kept looking for bugs. It is well extermenated. It was just my hubby and I so we took the smallest one available which was a 2 bedroom.. My daughter recommended it to us, as some of the hotels that are close by are in N. Charleston that has a very high crime rate. Higher then Detroit. Be very carefull where you stay. When I was on base talking to fellow shipmates. I was told by one child that he and another sailor went to a lounge at the Holiday Inn and went outside to have a smoke. they were approached from the corner by 2 kids, one put a shotgun to one kids face the other kid held a 9mm to the other childs head and robbed them both. It is not a safe area they are in. Take advantage of the villas. We were charged 55 dollars a night for a 2 bedroom. We were allowed to call and book it and pay for it by phone. My daughter had to pick up the key to prove that she was Navy.

[Grace]

Has anyone stayed on base at Goose Greek? my son said there is a Day's Inn on the base! was wondering what it is like! We are planning to go and visit in a couple of weeks. thanks

[penina]

i wouldnt recommend staying at the day's inn and its actually right out side of base...theres better places to stay then that day's inn.

[penina]

i would go to hotels.com and take a look at the hotels that are near by, i recommend finding one near the airport, mall or trident hospital and charleston southern university those will be the closes to the base. if your looking for a place with a kitchen i would look into the old base houseing, or studio plus. I live in charleston and have only stayed at one hotel and that was hampton inn by northwoods mall, i love it there. if your willing to spend alittle money i would check out embassy suites i hear so many good things about that place. and i wouldn't recommend short stay, cause it is a drive to get there from the base. i hope anyone that comes to charleston has a great time and sees the sites its a great place with lots of history....you have to have a night walking downtown, please visit waterfront park, the market and the battery...oh and its nice to take a walk on our new copper river bridge, you'll want to park down by patriots point. patriots point is also a good place to go theres the uss yorktown there and you can tour the ship. have fun!

[Laura]

Melody,

I and my hubby, have rented a condo in Mount Pleasant to be there for my daughter for Thanksgiving. We are going down there on Nov 15. You and your family are invited to my house for a good old fashion New England Thanksgiving. I come from the land of the pilgrims and we all cook the same up here. It will be interesting to me to see how other people celebrate and the differant foods. My kitchen will be open to you. Maybe we could teach each other new tricks on cooking or how to bake an apple pie.

[Pat]

The extended stay hotel on the ARCO LN exit off I-26 has rooms with Kitchnettes in them...we did Thanksgiving Dinner there...the staff was very accomodating...and worked with us. We had the turkey cooked and sliced and brought it down frozen from Ohio and had a traditional Thanksgiving in the hotel room...Two queen beds, pull-out couch, refrig, stove, microwave...basically we carried the dinner and all the fixings in! Close to WalMart & Outlet Mall.
Lots to see and do...Look into whether the USS Hunley site will have tours, gives a whole new perspective on subs!
Patriots Point is nice.
Battery...downtown Charleston.
Aquarium...

[D. Anne Wagner]

When I went for A school graduation, my mother and I stayed at the Villas on the station. They were wonderful with 3 bedrooms 2 baths and all the ammenities for staying a week. Even a washer & dryer. I loved staying there and the price was great. If your sailor can reserve one for you, I highly recommend it.

[Becca, Joshua's Mom]

how can I get of phone numbers for the old base housing to make reservations?

[carols_kitchen]

Sorry--no pets

[Inga]

I found two websites that seem like the best bet for staying and visiting our sailors.

http://www.militarynewcomers.com/NWSCHARLESTON/resources/03.html

http://www.spaceatravel.com/links/navy_outdoor.htm

Money well spent I'd say either way.

Cheers

[MiaB]

We just came back from the Power School graduation on the 13th of Feb. We have an RV, so we were able to stay at the RV park on Base (Foster Creek ~ by the villas). Nice, close to the Sailors. But my son's Dad (my ex) and a friend of my son's stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at 8975 ELMS CENTER ROAD NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406. It was close to the base and very clean. It was only about 15 min at the most during traffic. Although the best bet is to definately try and get into the villas. Anything close to Red Bank Rd. They got a great rate thru the Holiday Inn website with a AAA rate or even military discount.

[Another Navy Mom]

Do you have any contact info for the RV park? That sounds like a good bet when we go to see her graduation from power school. She has finished EM and is waiting for next power school to start.