IDay & PPW Lodging

emeseye

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Hoping to get a head start on hotel reservations for IDay and Plebe Parents' weekend. Can anyone recommend hotels for I Day & PPW? Possibly include prices & proximity to the USNA. Any additional info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 
Suggest you check out the Facebook group called USNA Class of 2019 - Parents Page. Ask to join if necessary. Lots of helpful info from other parents about places to stay. Some realtors have also posted info on private homes they are renting out for clients for I-Day and PPW.
 
We stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn for DS's I Day and liked their free breakfasts. The kids liked the outdoor pool also. It is not as close as the Waterfront Marriott, but the drive isn't bad. There are parking lots around downtown Annapolis where you can park and then walk the rest of the way to USNA. A lot of parents ride the buses with their mids from the stadium in the morning of I Day and then have to wait in rather long lines to ride those buses back after the swearing in. For Plebe Parent Weekend we stayed at the Loews and so we were a little closer in. The Loews has a free shuttle that will take you down to the gate of USNA and you can call them later and they will pick you up. We stayed at the Hampton Inn for Second Class Parents weekend and they were okay as well. For recent prices I would look the hotels up online. The prices tend to be higher for USNA event days so make sure you have the exact dates when comparing. Also Loews has special prices if you tell them you are a USNA parent. We have reservations for the Residence Inn for both I Day and PPW as I prefer the suites over one nice room.
 
Check out the Westin on West Street. We stayed there for both I-Day and PPW. It's about a 10-15 minute walk to Navy/Marine Corps Stadium so we just walked there on I-Day morning and walked back from Bancroft after swearing in. If you are physically able, be prepared for a fair amount of standing and walking on I-Day!
 
Might also search back for posts from the last year or two as this is a frequently discussed topic. The answer basically depends on your budget and personal preference. Hotels within 'walking' distance in DTA are generally quite a bit more expensive and either charge for parking and/or have no or limited free onsite parking. The distance can be quite a bit depending on your definition of 'within walking distance' to USNA. Make sure to ask about the parking arrangements when booking those hotels. Don't assume the hotel you have chosen includes free/onsite parking or you may be in for a surprise at check-in. There are also hotels at the Mall and other nearby surrounding areas which have free/onsite parking and some of those have shuttle bus service to USNA.
 
The parking garage on Gorman Street, off Main Street, is where we always parked. It's not cheap, but when you figure in the cost of a close-in hotel vs. the cost of a hotel near the mall, you are still ahead of the game. We never had a problem finding a spot in that garage, even for I-Day and PPW. It's about a 3-4 block walk to the main gate.

Sometimes you will get lucky and find a spot on King George street.

If you are flying in and renting a car, get the smallest one that you and your group will fit in + luggage. Parking in Annapolis is tough to find on a good day, but it's even worse if you are driving a big SUV.
 
Also, just food for thought, the day before Iday is pretty stressful on the Plebetobe. My first Mid had bad memories of that night and that hotel, SO, he asked that we stay somewhere different for PPW, so we frantically had to change our reservations in July. When we picked him up on PPW, he was so happy he didn't have to go back to the Iday hotel! Over the years we have stayed at Residence Inn, Spring Hill Suites, and Country Inn and Suites (free cookies), and Homewood Suites near the airport. Haven't decided on PPW yet. My mids have all preferred to NOT stay in DTA. They want some space.
 
We always stay at Loews! Walking distance to DTA & gates 1 and 3 (DS will not use 3 anymore--guess if you DOR or have to leave you exit gate 3??? So now he's superstious about it!!) As parents of USNA we have always received free parking--unlike Westin. Was disappointed last time for Army Navy game Loews was booked and had to stay at Westin-did not feel like they treat you the same as Westin--and they charge for parking!
 
We always stay at Loews! Walking distance to DTA & gates 1 and 3 (DS will not use 3 anymore--guess if you DOR or have to leave you exit gate 3??? So now he's superstious about it!!) As parents of USNA we have always received free parking--unlike Westin. Was disappointed last time for Army Navy game Loews was booked and had to stay at Westin-did not feel like they treat you the same as Westin--and they charge for parking!
Blondie1, thanks for the help. Just got reservations at Loews and I'm feeling good about it even tho the price seems outrageous! The plebes are not allowed to stay overnight during the PPW, correct?
 
Son graduated a couple years ago, stayed at Loews every chance we had. Great location you can walk to the yard although they ran shuttles to the yard on the morning of I day. It is a no stress hotel. You dont have to worry about traffic, bridges, driving. Park the car and enjoy your time. Not only did we book it for Iday, PPw, but almost every other stay other than commissioning week, we rented a house for that. You may want to look into a suite for PPW. You made a great choice. And you are correct no matter what rumor you hear prior to PPW your plebe will not be staying overnight.
 
Blondie1, thanks for the help. Just got reservations at Loews and I'm feeling good about it even tho the price seems outrageous! The plebes are not allowed to stay overnight during the PPW, correct?
The plebes do not spend the night, usually. A few years back they were allowed because some water pipes broke. Ours had different times each day that they had to be back by. They were very concerned about not being late!
 
Toughest part of this entire adventure --so far---was PPW--taking DS back Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night! Was REALLY tough on him as well! Like REALLY tough!!!! IDay was incredible, all the great opportunities for parents! Have to say USNA knows how to make parents feel special! (Okay maybe IDAY wasn't great for the plebes--but it was a blast as a parent!!!!) BUT PPW just plain sucked emotionally for me! Husband and I still talk about returning DS Saturday night (they had to be back at midnight). Made the BIGGEST mistake walking through DTA where the parties were spilling out of the local bars while we are marching him back to his controlled, demanding, difficult environment. We've joked about how PPW is actually just a cruel joke played on parents and plebes alike. Not sure if our emotional distress was normal or not. DS will never ever admit it but he was in serious emotional distress when we hugged good-bye THAT Saturday night! For me......that has been the "suckiest" part by far!!!
 
For those of you who choose not to stay in DTA for PPW . . . be sure to allow PLENTY of time to get your mid back to the Yard each night. Traffic can be a nightmare b/c there are very few roads leading to USNA and 1100+ mids are all trying to get back at the exact same hour. Those quaint little roads become parking lots in a hurry and your mid will not want to be late. How much time? If you're on the outskirts of Annapolis, I'd allow 90 minutes. If you're further out, at least 2 hours. Better to be back an hour early than to be one of those mids who is literally sprinting across the Yard . . .:)

[Lest some think I'm nuts, I attended an evening event at USNA last year, staying at the Westin. It's about one mile from USNA -- a drive that, even with traffic and hitting the lights wrong shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. There was apparently an accident on Rte 50 that caused huge amounts of traffic to divert onto the local roads. It ended up taking an hour and 15 minutes to drive that one mile to Gate 8. That is a very, very rare occurence but the point is that there aren't a lot of alternate routes and, as a plebe parent, you won't know them anyway. So do be prepared.]
 
Toughest part of this entire adventure --so far---was PPW--taking DS back Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night! Was REALLY tough on him as well! Like REALLY tough!!!! IDay was incredible, all the great opportunities for parents! Have to say USNA knows how to make parents feel special! (Okay maybe IDAY wasn't great for the plebes--but it was a blast as a parent!!!!) BUT PPW just plain sucked emotionally for me! Husband and I still talk about returning DS Saturday night (they had to be back at midnight). Made the BIGGEST mistake walking through DTA where the parties were spilling out of the local bars while we are marching him back to his controlled, demanding, difficult environment. We've joked about how PPW is actually just a cruel joke played on parents and plebes alike. Not sure if our emotional distress was normal or not. DS will never ever admit it but he was in serious emotional distress when we hugged good-bye THAT Saturday night! For me......that has been the "suckiest" part by far!!!
Blondie1, I am trying not to read your words over and over again, fearing that time when we will be returning our DGS to the academy after PPW evenings. My heart is already breaking about that and I haven't even yet stopped blowing my nose in thanks for the BFE's arrival. Seems like one roller coaster after another....
 
Booked a room inside USNA =). Navy Gateway Inns & Suites. I'm sure for some already knew to book there if you are active duty or retired.
 
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Booked a room inside USNA =). Navy Gateway Inns & Suites. I'm sure for some already knew to book there if you are active duty or retired.
I looked at that but it shows no availability online. Did you call or book online? Is it on Academy grounds?
 
This is the "new" name for the former BOQ rooms (bachelor officers' quarters) on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the historic old Officers' Club (now the Naval Academy Club) on USNA grounds, right inside Gate 3. It's adjacent to Alumni Hall parking lot. Best thing - a dedicated parking lot!

There are relatively few rooms, and many of them are DV suites, where flag officers stay when visiting.

It's a coup to get them. Rooms are given to active duty first, then others such as retirees who rate the benefit.

There is also the Navy Lodge across the Severn River at the Naval Support Activity Annapolis.
 
How easy is it to get from the Navy Lodge to USNA? I haven't been to Annapolis yet so I'm not familiar with the layout, etc.
 
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