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Comment by cheri on September 11, 2012 at 9:42am

Great info. We haven't been getting much from our son. He's so wrapped up in studying for his last 2 tests. We are flying from Florida panhandle to San Jose. Tickets were not as much as we thought they would be. We leave the 29 th of sept. and will be there a week. We're of course so excited.

Comment by KC'smom on September 10, 2012 at 11:08pm

okay, our flight is at  6:50am and we were planning on getting to the airport at 4:50am! hahhaaa, this should be fun with two kids in tow!!

Also, I loved the N4M website when my son was in boot camp- I got a good tip not to sit in the front row during the PIR ceremony b/c we could get a better birds-eye view from top. Any suggestions on where to grab a seat at DLI graduation? If I have to get there at 3am I will- just want to know what kind of seat to grab and will it be every mom for herself fighting to get the good seats at 6am like at PIR?? (is it indoor or outdoor?)

Comment by Aussiesmom on September 10, 2012 at 2:33pm

Noni, I am also in the group that you mentioned in an earlier post. 

Comment by Reid's Ma on September 10, 2012 at 10:29am

does anyone in this group have a sailor that's in school and is a FLEET RETURNEE?  I'm watching posts closely--the infor about lodging and timing for visits is invaluable. Sorry KC'smom you're have such a mess. Hope it all works out for your family. 

Comment by SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176) on September 9, 2012 at 3:35pm

Lisab4, I was told the Navy Lodge in the Post Graduate School housing area is nice. Stay away from the Army Lodge. Check soon though because I tried for some alternative dates this fall and there were no vacancies.

Comment by ceej on September 9, 2012 at 2:52pm

Lisab4- I just purchased tickets to see my son and we are flying in and out of Oakland.  Since I knew we would be renting a car regardless, I set up a fare watch on farecompare.com for Monterey, San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.

KC's Mom - as an airline employee for over 20 years- don't worry, someone will move.  People are very nice when they see a family has been split up.  If you don't feel comfortable asking another passenger, just let a flight attendant know and they will ask.  

Comment by KC'smom on September 8, 2012 at 9:49pm

Lisa- I am currently going through all of that right now so I will give you advice from a mom who has been confronted with every problem possible.....

I just got done a few minutes ago changing my hotel b/c #1 we also just changed our vacation dates. So to answer the question about getting there before graduation I am going with a big YES!!  At first I booked for  the day before graduation to 4 days after. I figured he would be too busy taking tests the days leading up to graduation and I didn't want to be a burden. Turns out they take the test a week befor graduation so he won't be studying after all. Also, he learned he has to leave right away after graduation. Second question about hotel rates. It cost me over $800 to reserve a rinky dink little ramada for 5 nights. Well, I just changed all that- the problem was they hiked the price from $73 on a week night to $213 on the weekend. Ohhh, I was so mad, but what could I do? I figured it out- I just booked in a town 15 miles away called Salinas. Their weekend rate was $80. So, we will be staying in Salinas for the weekend and then going to the Ramada in Monterey during the week. Now, realize that we are pinching our pennies terribly now b/c as i mentioned, I also had to change my flight dates. That cost me a whopping $600 flight change fee! Yup, can you believe it? Because like a fool, I did not book with Southwest (they offer 1 free flight change).They charged me $150 per person.  I booked with US Air and bought a $69 travel insurance to cover me if something happens and I have to change my flight. Turns out, that's a scam b/c they are denying my claim. I told them I can even show them my son's orders that he is being sent away right after graduation and they said that was not a valid excuse. So, I will never book with anyone but Southwest again, let me tell you.  Problem now has been finding a flight with seats together for my family. My youngest is 8 and there are 2 flights where there are no seats together & I'm not even gaurenteed to sit with my baby girl. I'm going to have to get on the plane and BEG someone to move.

Been kind of a nightmare but the end result will be to see my son, so I am not letting it get to me too much. We leave in 7 days. Oh, and you need to let me know if you come to ft. Meade to visit- I live a mile from there. (Im assuming he's going to the language school there).

Comment by lisab4 on September 8, 2012 at 9:12pm

Everyone,

Our son is graduating in his language on Nov.7th. We're needing to plan a trip to see him. Which airport is best-Monterrey, San Jose? I'm reading that the hotels are charging crazy expensive rates to stay. Is the navy lodge on base good? If so, how do you book with them?

Also, is it better to go a few days before graduation in order to see our son more?  He will be stationed in Maryland after grad.

Any and all ideas, comments are wanted!! Thanks.

Comment by Noni on September 8, 2012 at 10:38am

DOR- "Drop on Request" For the moms of sailors who dropped from BUDs training. It's a private group & there's a mom in the group with me who's online name is "proudmom", that's why I asked.

Comment by proudmom on September 6, 2012 at 12:08pm

I don't know what the DOR group is, so probably not. What is DOR?

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