Flight, Hotel & Car rental

[Dave's Mom]

My son is scheduled to graduate on 9/1  we don't do much traveling but no way in the world I would miss this. I have no clue where to start on booking a flight whats the best way to buy my tickets? And any suggestions on hotels close to the base. Also what's there to do in Chicago that's fun & reasonable? Thanks!

[Juleslynn1211]

I am there with you Denise. But after researching & talking to others, it is said to be better & cheaper to fly into Milwaukee. That's what I'm doing. PIR 9/9

 

[bekka2u2]

I waited til about 3 weeks away from graduation day to try to make sure that it was pretty sure she was doing ok in BC and would likely graduate. I know things can still happen but..........I am going by train from NY.And it goes into Chicago. My sister will meet me there (shes flying in from CO) and then we rented a car. It is suposedly about 30 minutes to the base. They do have a shuttle like a tram or something that costs about 5.00 from airport or train station to the base. We are staying at the Navy Lodge which is about 1 mile from the base. We will go and see things that we want to see on Thursday (day before graduation). And we are going to meet up with other families that are in my daughters division that evening. They do not have a shuttle bus to take you to the base on Friday morning But you can walk the distance to the base or they do have taxis that can come and get you. We are going to drive on the base. If you are going to drive on the base then make sure you have your insurance card along with registration, gate pass, and drivers license. If it is a rent a car make sure you have a copy of the contract. When you get a room make sure that they have shuttle service if it is very far away and ask whaat time the shuttles start for the graduation because you can get on the base at 6:30 and all seats are first come first serve.

Hope this helps some. This is just some of the things we have learned along our way in the last 8 weeks.  Good luck.

[Chris, Forever Ray's Proud Mom]

Take an umbrella.  There is so much info on this site and the web--Chicago is about an hour away, so take a map as well. GPS is good, but when my son graduated, the rain closed major highways and the GPS did not know...My son also was staying in Great Lakes for A school, so after grad, he had to move into another shop and we could not see him until around 3, so Chicago was out for us with the time available on fri.  Learned after booking flight that he has all weekend liberty, so we lost a day with him :( but he had time to himself to get resettled.

[VINNIEJOESMOM SHIP07 DIV 289]

HI DAVES MOM

I AM JOES MOM PIR 9/1/11 WE ARE IN NEW YORK SO WE BOOK WITH JET BLUE TO OHARE IN CHICAGO AND ARE STAYING AT THE QUALITY INN, (THERE ARE ALOT OF PLACES RIGHT OUT SIDE WERE THE KIDS ARE. THEY ALSO GIVE YOU A NAVY DISCOUNT OR A AAA DISCOUNT. WE BOOKED EVERYTHING EVEN WITH THE RENT A CAR THROUGH EXPEDIA . GOOD LUCK

[ptsedler]

our son graduated 7/29 we are from pa we drove it was a 12 hour drive we stayed at hom wood suites it is very nice there we were 15 mins away from graduation the hotel was very nice complimentary breakfast  and comp. dinner from mon.thru thurs. rooms were very clean and people were very nice they have a pool and a gym(not very big) we were not so lucky to see our son the whole weekend we got to see him for 7 hours after graduation and he had to leave sat. morning for the airport    ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING WHEN THEY SAY DOORS OPEN AT 6 30 YOU NEED TO BE THERE THEN seats fill up so fast so do not hesitate to get there we got there at 7 30 7 45 and alot of the good seats were taken   your son or daughter div. number is on a sign on the floor that is where you will sit   when you do arrive there at 6 30 am it will be a long wait till graduation  actuallly starts his graduation did not start till 9am but it is well worth the wait take alot of pics  we were hearing that when the parents asked there son or daughter what they wanted to do after graduation they would say just to hang out at the motel room just to relax and hang out with there loved ones so just don t be surprised if they don t want to do anything the last 8 to 9 weeks they did not get to relax and just chill we also took him out to eat then went to our hotel so good luck at your graduation best of luck to you child     God bless

[Joesmama]

My husband keeps asking about what we will do in Chicago. My answer is we will most likely enjoy the airport and whatever we see on the drive to and from. I want to leave it up to our son to decide what to do. He may leave early the next day so my gut feeling is that we will just hang out around the hotel and the area. I agree that he will want to just chill with us. We have relatives in the Chicago area and we said we would see them for dinner on Saturday and they should be flexible.

[ptsedler]

is you son graduating on a friday

 

[ptsedler]

the only bad thing was when he graduated friday he needed to be back by 8 pm that night

[mybabyboyzasailor]

Just a little suggestion for everyone. I am sure you'all are familiar with this site http://www.graduations-for-basic-training.com/GreatLakesNavy/Maps.asp There is a great tip about parking. The link suggest parking at the train station and walking a block to base. We are renting a car so we can see the town with our son after graduation and did not want to wait in a long line to get onto base. We are definatley going to plan on parking at the train station. Just thought I would share!

[navy25]

Yes Milwaukee is much cheaper it seems I always go through Cheaptickets for years  Ive never had a problem and Ive done the compare of other websites also the average price is the same all around I didnt see any difference.My sons PIR was Oct. 2010 we were 3 traveling and we decided to drive from NJ it took us a bit longer 19 hours due to my medical problems but we had a GPS and it was fantastic it took us right to the front door of the hotel. I searched around on line and for us with our very limited budget the place to stay was The Navy Lodge [phone] 2500 Meridian Drive Great Lakes,Ill for us it was the best choice and its about 8 to 10 minutes to the base off the same road where the base is located safe area very clean friendly plus you let them know its for the Navy PIR and youll get a discount you just need your sons name and rate at the time in Oct we paid $65 a nite which we were able to stay longer there with our son it happenned to be Columbus weekend.The convinience of being so close to the base was terrific especiall when you need to be there so early at 6:30am to PIR the later you go the worst traffic forms into the base.The Lodge also has a breakfast to go free and coffee all the time and they gave us a discount card to use at a NEX(military) that is nearby there is also a gas station by the Nex store. they also have parking free on site.The rooms are clean have a microwave and small fridge some suites have a small kitchen, even my son has used the Lodge when he has been on leave. Before you leave make sure you print out several copies of the parking permit for the base it has to be in car at alll times and every passenger in car going into base must have their Govertment IDs with them like a drivers license or passport.The PIR its amazing bring a camera and lots of tissues.Im sure youll be fine just research. If you search on here awhile back I had put in some info and foto of Navy Lodge just write that and search it should come out.Chicago its about an hour away no traffic but its a very busy city with lots to do especially by The Navy Pier especially in the summer if you do go Go very early because the Sailors have to be back on time I believe by 8pm to the base we always had our son back at base by 7pm and we were able to get souvenirs at the NEX in the base and that way we knew he was back on time.Good Luck let us know how much fun you had going to see him at PIR.Navy25