R-Day Hotel?

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Looking for a recommendation for R-Day, if Appointed. Any ideas... Would like to have a pool and fully refundable if not appointed or appointed and choose another SA?
 
There are a lot to choose from on both sides of the Hudson River. The Thayer Hotel is historic, on post, but more expensive than most others, especially on special WP weekends. You can find dozens and dozens of hotels/cottages in the surrounding towns. We have stayed in Newburgh near the Stewart Int'l airport because of its location and restaurants/shops, plus it is only a 20-30 min drive away. If your son/daughter receives an appointment, you can join a couple of FB pages (official 2019 page and WP Moms or WP Dads pages). Both will have a comprehensive list of tried and true hotels. You still have plenty of time to make reservations, and there are always last minute cancellations.

Or you can try Expedia, look at the map and depending on how close you want to be, you will find dozens and dozens of hotels in Fishkill, Peekskill, Fort Montgomery, Cornwall, New Windsor/Newburgh, Highland Falls (West Point Motel is very close).

For fully refundable, don't go through a 3rd party reservation system (Travelocity, etc). Heard some recent horror stories about no rooms available at arrival/prepaid and no refund from either last year's A-Day or Parent weekend (I don't remember which). Always safest to make your reservation through the actual hotel.
 
Another personal resource you may consider is Mark Mansbach of Hillsdale Travel. I've used him before, he has had a child as a cadet at USMA and definitely is familiar with travel to and from there as well as places to stay. He is on the WP Dad's fb page too.

Remember, R Day is only the beginning, there are going to be lots of times for leave travel (holidays, summer training, special weekends and what-not) all the way through to graduation (coming up this May for my DS) during your cadets' time at the academy and having a familiar contact who is a travel pro is a plus.

Hillsdale Travel Agency Inc
800-538-8028
201-664-4850

Hillsdaletravel.com
mark@hillsdaletravel.com

No, I am not Mark. Yes, I have used Mark. Highly recommended. Won't hurt to talk with him.
 
There are as many with bad experiences with the above suggestion as with good. It's so easy to find a hotel by going to hotel websites...just my opinion (and after years of reading posts w/ experiences of various travel agents who profit from academy parents).
 
parent said:
Looking for a recommendation for R-Day, if Appointed. Any ideas... Would like to have a pool and fully refundable if not appointed or appointed and choose another SA?
Click to expand...
I just booked at the Thayer. They raise the rates because it is a "special West Point" day and require a 2 day minimum. Also, the reservations are not refundable.
 
mom3boys said:
There are as many with bad experiences with the above suggestion as with good. It's so easy to find a hotel by going to hotel websites...just my opinion (and after years of reading posts w/ experiences of various travel agents who profit from academy parents).
Click to expand...

I agree, mom3boys. No need to use a grouchy travel agent when it's simple to book your hotel and airline yourself.

Fishkill, NY has nice chain hotels with pools and places to eat and the drive to West Point is pretty. I have never stayed anywhere that I had a nonrefundable rate.

The Thayer is always expensive except for the winter months. Also try the town of Goshen and the various lodging at Bear Mountain State Park.

You can always check hotel reviews on Trip Advisor.
 
Well, moms and dads can get recommendations on West Point Moms or West Point Dads facebook pages...and on this page. Hotels in Highland Falls are limited...but if you go further out, you can find most of your favorites...depends how far you want to go and how much you want to spend.
 
There are a lot of options and many opinions to this question. It really depends what you want - good price, convenience, refundability, etc.
We stayed at The Thayer for pure convenience. We decided that the primary concern for us was to make R-Day as stress free as possible so we were willing to pay the jacked up prices at The Thayer. Stress free to us meant not to have to worry about traffic getting on to post. There was suppose to be a shuttle running from The Thayer up to Ike Hall. However, it never showed. No problem - we just walked. Still made it in plenty of time.
There are many options depending on what you want.
 
I usually stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Ft. Montgomery (just north of the traffic circle). It's very clean, and breakfast is included. I too have reserved R Day "just in case". They have a non-refundable price which is a little less than the regular price. I have reserved at the regular refundable rate for Sunday and Monday night. When we know for sure, I can call and if they have any non-refundable rates left, I will change to that to save a little money. I think when I checked a month or so ago, the Thayer was either full or crazy expensive. I stayed there once and it was lovely. The location can't be beat.
Another option to consider, if you are military, is to stay at the Five Star Inn, which is the guest house for USMA. The main hotel is by the museum in Highland Falls. (Can you tell I like closer rather than further?) During the summer it is quite full of transient personnel (active duty moving in or out of housing on base) but during the regular year, it is an option for those who qualify.
Just my two cents, for what it is worth.
 
The Thayer is booked already for R-Day. My mom tried to reserve a room about 2-3 weeks ago and they are all filled up. If I remember what my mom said correctly, I believe they are for A-Day as well.


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If you really want The Thayer, have them put you on the waiting list. People cancel and spots become open. Hard to believe that all those reservations are for accepted candidates.
 
How is it booked before the acceptance starts?


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You can't book for R Day through the website because they have to explain the no refund policy. I had no problem getting a room for R Day at the front desk (since we happened to be there). I even had a choice of rooms. So call The Thayer directly.


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Hopeful candidates?
Could be those who are 3Q'd with a P-nom. Or LOAs with a nom.
 
I have been accepted along with numerous others so I'm sure it's that and hopeful/LOA and principles that just haven't got the BFE yet. My mom did go straight through the hotel phone line.


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My son and I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Ft.Montgomery for R Day and it was really nice and convenient. We arrived two days early and enjoyed visiting the area and touring everywhere at West Point. It was less stressful to get settled and have some breathing room. The Thayer is awesome but just very expensive during events. For A Day we stayed at the West Point Hotel and it is nice as well. A nice short walk to the gates.
 
We have a USMA 2018 cadet >> Recommend Hampton Inn Harriman-Woodbury in Central Valley, NY or Holiday Inn Express in Fort Montgomery, NY
 
How feasible is it to fly into NJ for R-Day and then travel on into NYC for a few days without renting a car?
 
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