We are wanting to get our rentals booked next year for I-Day and PPW. So far, I see that I-Day is June 26, 2014. When would the PPW take place? August 8-10??
It's not as difficult to get a hotel room during Plebe Parents Weekend as people think.
Do you want to save serious cash? Learn how to use Priceline or Hotwire or
any of the online hotel reservation sites that are available. We used them exclusively during the 4 years our sons attended the Naval Academy and paid FAR less than the walk-up rates. In fact, we got so experienced at it that we could almost predict the hotel that it would assign us.
Being within walking distance of the Naval Academy is overrated (and expensive). If you have a car, it is completely unnecessary. I much prefer staying at any of the hotels out near the Annapolis Mall. There's more to do and it's very convenient to many restaurants. Plus, it only takes you 15 minutes (at the most) to drive onto the Yard.
We routinely stayed at the Doubletree, Holiday Inn Express, Springhill Suites and the Sheraton - all of which are in this area and are 3 star (or better) hotels. The Best Western is a 2.5-star hotel and is
more than adequate. It even has a FREE hot breakfast. I'll bet you could go to Priceline and place a bid for $60 and have a chance of getting the Best Western. During non-peak times we have got the Best Western for as low as $44.
If you don't mind a little mystery in your life about
which hotel, exactly, in which you'll stay, the online sites are a great way to save a TON of money. Really, what do you care if you stay at the Doubletree or the Sheraton? We never did.
I had a 30-yr reunion back in 2009. The hotel designated for the reunion was the Westin on West Street. They were asking around $250/night. I went to Hotwire and got the Loew's (another 4-star hotel) for $90/night. These hotels are right next to each other! And this was during a peak period and a football weekend. We could've paid even less if we stayed out near the Annapolis Mall area, but we wanted to be close to the reunion activities and were willing to pay a little extra.
Plus, you have to PAY for parking at most of the downtown Annapolis hotels. It's pricey - almost $20/day. If you ask me, staying at a downtown hotel is a pain in the a$$. The "convenience" of being close to the Yard is not worth it, in my opinion.
With Priceline, you can designate the area. For Annapolis, you will have two choices; "Annapolis" or "Downtown Annapolis". "Annapolis" will be out by the mall.