Using Sponsors as lodging for Herndon

P

ProudDad2022

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Would I be way out of line if I asked my DS sponsor family if I could stay with them for Herndon? I've only emailed/texted/phoned with them and I've never actually met them. They are fantastic to my son and I believe they would be open to the idea. I just want to make sure I'm not overstepping my bounds. Do parents do this kind of thing?
 
Go for it, the worst they can say is no. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
 
I say let someone here who is a sponsor (like @Capt MJ , for instance) chime in.

I might take the sponsor a gift ("here, have some wine! Thanks for looking after my kid") while I was there, but I wouldn't ask to stay. That's just me, though. Maybe I'm not "with it". There exists that possibility.
 
THParent said:
I say let someone here who is a sponsor (like @Capt MJ , for instance) chime in.

I might take the sponsor a gift ("here, have some wine! Thanks for looking after my kid") while I was there, but I wouldn't ask to stay. That's just me, though. Maybe I'm not "with it". There exists that possibility.
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Sponsor families come in all sizes and types and sponsoring styles - various house sizes and potential guest rooms, work schedules, their own kid schedules. Some have military background, some do not. Some portion out a part of the weekend for mids, and the rest of the week they have their other busy lives.

On weekends, one of us always makes sure we are at home if mids are there, and the focus is on them. Weekday guests are difficult for us, if they are not our own family. I work remotely but am often on the road at client locations these days, or running a webinar out of my home office. We have large and enthusiastic boxers. Our family members who are large dog people are comfortable with dog routine if we are not in the house. I wouldn’t ask that of anyone else. I feel one if us has to be there when a guest is there, which can be a challenge, even if the guest is up and out early. It restricts the day.

As the relationship progresses over the 4 years, we have become close to many families and have certainly hosted them when we can.

It’s the mid who has the primary relationship with the sponsor. Great opportunity for a little adulting practice to ask for a parent to stay. It can feel awkward, but it’s a learning experience. The mid may also have insight into how easily, or not, the visit might be hosted.

Edit:
DH reminded me Herndon is usually Monday of Commissioning Week, and we have mids in and out all that week, including firsties crashing for naps, picking up stuff, rummaging for food, as they run from one event to another that week.

Annapolis accommodations will be expensive starting the weekend before Comm Week. There are plenty of other chain properties 20-30 minutes away which won’t have the price jump.
 
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A lot depends upon the nature of the relationship between Midshipman and Sponsor. My sponsor was an active duty, officer in the yard, and while I visited a few times , was never really comfortable and didn't really see much of them after Plebe Year. I would never have dreamed about asking my sponsors to host my family.

On the other hand, some sponsor relationships become like family, In that case, I would leave it up to the Plebe to see if the relationship has developed to a point where he/she would be comfortable asking. If asked, it should certainly come from the Plebe, not the Parent. Also, consider the soft ask, ie. asking for recommendations where to stay in Annapolis that aren't super expensive, and see if the Sponsor offers.
 
Agree on letting your DS taking the lead on this. If the sponsor family has sponsored other Mids who are more senior and your DS knows them it might be worthwhile to ask them if something like this has happened and if they are open to it. Accommodations even 15 miles from campus can be much lower than around Annapolis if you are looking to cut costs.
 
It's always more complex hosting a set of parents (+) than hosting a "kid" (or even several of them). For example, I'm sure your kid is now comfortable grabbing cereal from his sponsor's pantry. If parents are there, sponsors either feel they have to prepare breakfast or have to let strangers cook in their kitchen. One is just more awkward/inconvenient than the other.

Some might also depend if this is a one-night event or if you plan to stay for several days (see Blue Angels, etc.). An overnight MAY not be an imposition . . . I guarantee that more than a night probably is for most.
 
Thanks for the insights everyone. I was more worried about being late to the party as far as hotel reservations go. After reading some of the responses and putting myself in the sponsor's shoes, I think I'll look for an alternative. I like the idea of a hotel 15 - 30 minutes away.
 
Look in the area of Riva Road. Close to the Double T diner!

You drive straight down West Street to DTA. A 10-minute drive, at most.
 
If the Annapolis hotels are booked/pricey, given Herndon is at the start of Comm Week, look at:

Annapolis Junction, or Odenton, both near Ft. Meade

Bowie

BWI airport area - Linthicum, etc.

The Annapolis business chain properties just off Riva Rd will be heavily booked for Comm Week, but it’s always worth a try.

Some people also like to use AirBnB.
 
DoubleTree on Riva is $139/night that week, and they have free parking and a free shuttle to DTA
 
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Capt MJ said:
Sponsor families come in all sizes and types and sponsoring styles - various house sizes and potential guest rooms, work schedules, their own kid schedules. Some have military background, some do not. Some portion out a part of the weekend for mids, and the rest of the week they have their other busy lives.

On weekends, one of us always makes sure we are at home if mids are there, and the focus is on them. Weekday guests are difficult for us, if they are not our own family. I work remotely but am often on the road at client locations these days, or running a webinar out of my home office. We have large and enthusiastic boxers. Our family members who are large dog people are comfortable with dog routine if we are not in the house. I wouldn’t ask that of anyone else. I feel one if us has to be there when a guest is there, which can be a challenge, even if the guest is up and out early. It restricts the day.

As the relationship progresses over the 4 years, we have become close to many families and have certainly hosted them when we can.

It’s the mid who has the primary relationship with the sponsor. Great opportunity for a little adulting practice to ask for a parent to stay. It can feel awkward, but it’s a learning experience. The mid may also have insight into how easily, or not, the visit might be hosted.

Edit:
DH reminded me Herndon is usually Monday of Commissioning Week, and we have mids in and out all that week, including firsties crashing for naps, picking up stuff, rummaging for food, as they run from one event to another that week.

Annapolis accommodations will be expensive starting the weekend before Comm Week. There are plenty of other chain properties 20-30 minutes away which won’t have the price jump.
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This.
It's tough to say without knowing the specifics. On one extreme we know a family with 7 kids in junior field grade housing. They are great people and would probably open their house to anyone who asked... but... seven kids... three bathrooms... would be interesting.
On the flip side are people like me and my DW, Capt MJ... senior officer housing, no kids at home.
How close is your midshipman with the sponsor? We haven't seen some of the Cadets we sponsored. Others are over about once a week to at least do laundry and are almost part of the family.
Have they made the offer to you or your midshipman? We've actually made the offer to some Cadets that their parents can stay with us if in town. On other occasions, we have met parents and told them our house is open if they need it. Of course, Highland Falls is not quite Annapolis when it comes to lodging.
The best route might be to make a visit to Annapolis and include a visit with the sponsor in your itinerary. Then get a feel for it.
 
Ok. I just reserved my first Air BNB ever. It's a small apartment on West street roughly a mile walk to the Academy. I'm so excited and I thank everyone for the views and suggestions. I've booked to arrive on Friday, May 15 and leave on Tuesday, May 19. Hopefully that is enough time to hang out a bit and enjoy seeing all the mids. I know that I'm leaving before the Blue Angels show but, being a Navy brat, I've seen them many times and I'm kinda wanting the next time I see them to be in May of 2023 :-)
 
Coincidentally, I reserved my first ever AirBnB recently in Annapolis. The gal who owns the place took our money 2 months ago and just recently cancelled our reservation and refunded the money. No explanation whatsoever for the cancellation.

Last night, we saw the same place back up on AirBnB (for the same dates we had reserved) for a substantially higher rate.

Apparently she just now realized that our reservation was during Commissioning Week - and thought she could make more money - hence the cancellation on her end.

Really shady business practice, there.
 
THParent said:
Coincidentally, I reserved my first ever AirBnB recently in Annapolis. The gal who owns the place took our money 2 months ago and just recently cancelled our reservation and refunded the money. No explanation whatsoever for the cancellation.

Last night, we saw the same place back up on AirBnB (for the same dates we had reserved) for a substantially higher rate.

Apparently she just now realized that our reservation was during Commissioning Week - and thought she could make more money - hence the cancellation on her end.

Really shady business practice, there.
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That’s lame.
 
THParent said:
Hey, I'm not bitter. I'll tell you what property she's renting and what her name is if you PM me, though! :biggrin:
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You can flag the host, and AirBnB will look into it. At a minimum, it is action taken to register what appears to be verifiable unbusinesslike behavior, even if technically permissible. It may be part of a pattern, in which case your complaint adds to the case. AirBnB has suffered some hits to its brand recently, and it wants to continue to grow business; fair dealing by hosts is part of that brand rep.

All it will take is your cancelled booking, host cancellation, screenshot of the current jacked-up rental. The host did an end-run, because they can’t change the price of a current rental.

community.withairbnb.com

How do you file a complaint against a host?

Had a confirmed booking, had already paid, then the host said he wanted $100 in cash on arrival as a surcharge. We disagreed, but eventually cancelled, since we knew he would eventually cancel us out so he could gouge someone else. Because we cancelled, we have to eat the service charge...
community.withairbnb.com community.withairbnb.com
 
THParent said:
Last night, we saw the same place back up on AirBnB (for the same dates we had reserved) for a substantially higher rate.

Apparently she just now realized that our reservation was during Commissioning Week - and thought she could make more money - hence the cancellation on her end.

Really shady business practice, there.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing there is some hidden clause in the AirBNB terms and conditions that allows cancellation by owner. Even so, extremely unethical and should be reported. It's stories like that that make people question the legitimacy of AirBNB and drive everyone's values down. If there is a provision for placing reviews, I would also recommend that you post a review on the property ..but keep it completely factual, ie. no accusations but reporting that it was reserved, cancelled for no reason, then put on the market again. Consumers should be able to read between the lines and figure out what happened. (Sorry THP --it doesn't help you out, but knowing that you cost them future business always makes me feel better).
 
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