USMA Lodging

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TNElvis

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Jun 20, 2017
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My DS has been fortunate enough to receive an appointment for the class of 2023. We have been advised to go ahead and start making lodging reservations. We have made reservations for R-day and A-day as it will just be mom and dad. We have also told we might want to start looking at graduation as places will start filling up shortly after R-day. That’s hard to believe but want to so if that’s the case. For graduation we imagine it will be our immediate family plus grandparents. Does anyone happen to have any recommendations for a home that would house 12-14. Thinking that would be more affordable than booking 5 rooms at the Thayer. I know I’m putting the cart before the horse but also don’t want to be scrambling. Thanks for any help.
 
You have years to start thinking about grad rentals. Check out airbnb when you get close. For both 2018 and 2019 booked a year out and had plenty of options.

Congratulations - you are in for a heck of a ride!
 
TNElvis said:
My DS has been fortunate enough to receive an appointment for the class of 2023. We have been advised to go ahead and start making lodging reservations. We have made reservations for R-day and A-day as it will just be mom and dad. We have also told we might want to start looking at graduation as places will start filling up shortly after R-day. That’s hard to believe but want to so if that’s the case. For graduation we imagine it will be our immediate family plus grandparents. Does anyone happen to have any recommendations for a home that would house 12-14. Thinking that would be more affordable than booking 5 rooms at the Thayer. I know I’m putting the cart before the horse but also don’t want to be scrambling. Thanks for any help.
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When is A-Day?
 
TNElvis said:
My DS has been fortunate enough to receive an appointment for the class of 2023. We have been advised to go ahead and start making lodging reservations. We have made reservations for R-day and A-day as it will just be mom and dad. We have also told we might want to start looking at graduation as places will start filling up shortly after R-day. That’s hard to believe but want to so if that’s the case. For graduation we imagine it will be our immediate family plus grandparents. Does anyone happen to have any recommendations for a home that would house 12-14. Thinking that would be more affordable than booking 5 rooms at the Thayer. I know I’m putting the cart before the horse but also don’t want to be scrambling. Thanks for any help.
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We’ve been eyeballing for 2021 graduation and haven’t made a commitment yet. Many Air BNB’s won’t rent till one year out.

Edited to add: There have been rumors of a new resort type hotel close to USMA. Hoping it comes to fruition sooner than later. Supposed to be a group of old grads as the owners.
 
If you book the Thayer now...it is expensive, now. People who rent houses for graduation normally get them a year in advance or in the fall before graduation. I booked the Thayer on R-Day for my older cadet's graduation--and A-Day and Ring Weekend...the Thayer started taking reservations at 0900 on R-Day. I had my parents call and book a room, too..so we had an entire set of rooms. Now they do it before R-Day. We were very happy to have those rooms inside of the gates for that week. However, you never hear anyone say, "Oh we did not like where we stayed"--people make it work. (I didn't tell Capt Am that I had booked rooms for graduation until well into the process...did not want him to feel any additional pressure.) Also, with my handicapped mother it was a pleasure to have the direct shuttle to everything from the Thayer. <3 Also, the rented wheelchair was delivered to and picked up from the Thayer. The wonderful people made it very easy to enjoy that stressful, busy, joyful time.
 
Oh, and if you book the Thayer now for graduation...and the price goes up or taxes go up...you can expect to pay more at graduation--like a few hundred more. I was a little surprised...I was like, "I thought we were good four years ago?" when they handed me the bill--which I gladly paid with a happy heart and credit card..thankful for the Zulu Time lounge, being inside the gate, the shuttle bus for mom, and the valet parking!

I am not going to lie, it did seem like a lot of money--but we were close to our cadet who popped in for dinner and drinks or for a quick nap because we were on West Point and so close.
 
DrMom said:
Oh, and if you book the Thayer now for graduation...and the price goes up or taxes go up...you can expect to pay more at graduation--like a few hundred more. I was a little surprised...I was like, "I thought we were good four years ago?" when they handed me the bill--which I gladly paid with a happy heart and credit card..thankful for the Zulu Time lounge, being inside the gate, the shuttle bus for mom, and the valet parking!

I am not going to lie, it did seem like a lot of money--but we were close to our cadet who popped in for dinner and drinks or for a quick nap because we were on West Point and so close.
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Agreed, location can't be beat. I love the fact that the Thayer staff remembers us and our DD whenever they see us. Even when DD sneaks over there alone to get their salmon that she loves. On R-Day. We walked out the front doors and started walking over to BSF at 0515. One of the staffers pulls up next to us in a golf cart and offers us a ride. Well sure, what the heck! Love the place.
 
Thank you for the information. Hope to be able to meet folks from the SAF one day. You have been incredibly helpfully these last couple years.
 
We just booked for 2019 graduation with no issues. I don't think you have to do everything so early unless you're trying to stay in Highland Falls or you're trying to get a ton of people into the same place. We picked our son up on the last day of school last year totally forgetting that it was graduation day for the class of 2018. We stayed the previous night at the Homewood Suites near the Stewart Newburgh airport which we had booked two weeks prior, again no issue, but not Highland Falls.
 
We booked and paid full for the Thayer on RDay.
Expensive for sure, but it’s location can’t be beat. We will book outside the gate for family closer to graduation.
 
We got an AirBnB for R-Day and will see how we like it before booking A-Day. We are bringing the whole family of six (including the one who will be remaining at WP on 7/1 [emoji28])
 
SAparent2023 said:
From West Point to Times Square and/or LaGuardia. I know it wont be hard to get an uber to West Point but just curious if it's difficult to get one going to the city. I'm guessing it's about $100 each way.
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We’ve used Lyft and Uber from USMA. At times, it can be pricey from USMA. Taking an Uber/Lyft to Peekskill and taking the train is a good option to Times Square. LGA involves a bus from the Harlem train stop. My 2021 navigates NYC well and it was relatively easy to learn.
 
I made reservations at the West Point Motel in October before May 2018 graduation for the full week. More expensive than usual rates but worth it to be in Highland Falls. Family arrived later and stayed in Fishkill. I was in the hotel room to basically sleep, shower and dress. I was on post everyday involved in some activity with my son. He would pack through the week and we would offload in the room. It was awesome to be close in and an incredible experience to spend the week taking advantage of everything West Point had to offer.
 
Love4monsters said:
We’ve used Lyft and Uber from USMA. At times, it can be pricey from USMA. Taking an Uber/Lyft to Peekskill and taking the train is a good option to Times Square. LGA involves a bus from the Harlem train stop. My 2021 navigates NYC well and it was relatively easy to learn.
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This.
From LGA-West Point. Take the M-60 bus to Harlem/125th Street Station, then Metro North to Peekskill. Uber from there to West Point. Garrison is closer to West Point than Peekskill, but Uber/cab from Garrison can be iffy, especially late at night. Harlem/125th Street looks rough, but people leave you alone. There is a police station in the Metro-North station there. If time is tight, Uber to Harlem/125th Street
For the city, Metro North to Grand Central Station. Again, either from Garrison or Peekskill.
During warm weather (April-October), there is a free ferry from South Dock at West Point to Garrison Station Fri-Sun and on holidays.
Cheapest Uber/car I have found West Point-LGA is $125. Normally more.
 
@TNElvis - just an FYI in case you don't already know - There is a FB page for the parents of WP cadets . One for the moms and one for the dads. I highly recommend these pages to you as they contain a wealth of good information. For example, on the mom's page, in the files section, you'll find a list of places to stay in the area, info on how to get to area locations (like how to get to the city/the various air ports, etc) and many other things.

My cadet will graduate next year and I have yet to arrange for lodging for graduation. I know that I still have plenty of time (and I don't plan to stay at the Thayer). I'll likely find a place via AirBnB.

You may also want to pick up a copy of The Mom's Guide to Surviving West Point because it will quickly answer a lot of your questions. If you are inclined, you can have the authors sign it on R day.
 
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