<p>GOOD MORNING! I thought I would be proactive for a change and get the ball rolling for organizing something for I-Day week and share some information concerning Hotels in the Annapolis Area for I-day (slow at work this morning). As I had not decided whether I was going I think I have now made my decision and will make a mini-vacation out of it and will head to Annapolis June 25th so we will have a couple days to relax before the big day.</p>
<p>I researched about 10 of the bigger hotels and here is what I have discovered.</p>
<li><p>Loews Annapolis. 10 blocks walking distance to USNA 1-800-526-2593 $116 govt / $169 </p></li>
<li><p>Marriott Annapolos Waterfront. Next to USNA $237 govt/$319</p></li>
<li><p>State House Inn, similar to a B&B. 410-990-0024 $189 </p></li>
<li><p>Quality Inn Annapolis $81 internet rate/ $90 govt rate. 6 miles from USNA</p></li>
<li><p>Comfort Inn Annapolis $89 AAA, $90 Govt, $126 regular rate. 5 miles from USNA</p></li>
<li><p>Days Inn and Suites Historic Annapolos 410-224-4317 2.5 miles. No availability currently for I-Day week.</p></li>
<li><p>Doubletree Annapolos 410-224-3150 $269 Govt rate</p></li>
<li><p>Extended Stay American Annapolis 410-571-9988 $109 Govt/$129 10 min drive to USNA</p></li>
<li><p>Homestead Studio Suites Hotel 410-571-6600 $125</p></li>
<li><p>Sheraton Annapolis 410-266-3131 3 miles $116 govt/$179 net</p></li>
</ol>
<p>After much research this morning, I found Loews the best bang for the buck. Appears to be a very nice place and just 10 block walk from USNA and Historic district down Main Street. According to the lady I spoke with the next closest hotel would be the Marriott Waterfront. Loews has a full service restaurant as well as a casual restaurant and bar. Would be a great place to meet! Just an idea.</p>
<p>Also, the Internet Rates are almost always cheaper than calling hotels directly.</p>
<p>I highly recommend staying at Loews. It's a short, easy walk to USNA and the rooms very nice. We stayed there for my son's PPW and we're planning to stay there again in September for Firstie Parent Weekend. It's also a good idea (if you can do it) to come in the day before. Some of those report times are very, very early!!</p>
<p>If you need a place for a whole group of people I found Country Inn and Suites sounds quite reasonable. 410-571-6700. About $116 per night/govt for 4 adults, 2 Q with sleeper. They are 4 miles from USNA.</p>
<p>Alos.. Hampton Inn and Suites and there is a Days Inn and Suites.</p>
<p>You can also rent private homes in the are but that seems to be a bit outrageous in price.</p>
<p>I'd feel a little funky staying in someone's private home that I don't know. I'll stick with the Loews. Too bad it's not by Lowe's, I love that place, too! </p>
<p>Save the private homes for Commissioning Week. Just a side note, parking on the Yard is extremely limited and most likely will be reserved to those with DoD stickers. Shuttles will run from the stadium but if you don't want to deal with that, I'd suggest trying to get on of the hotels in DTA (Downtown Annapolis), leaving the car and walking in. Remember, everyone age 16 and over needs to have a valid picture ID to get on the Yard.</p>
<p>Walking distance it huge. You will have time to walk back to your hotel and get package to mail, and pick up snack to take to your plebe before heading back for the oath of office. Advantage of the Loews is the post office is on the way to the yard. It is about a 15 minute walk.</p>
<p>We did exactly what Mom2 is planning. Went up Monday morning. Spent Monday getting our bearings around Annapolis and mine has his pilots license so wanted to go out and see different airports that he could fly out of - not that he would have much time for flying but at least we got him set up so when he did have a chance he was good to go...
We then took the metro into DC and had a great afternoon and evening being tourists and booked a nice restaurant for dinner as he was convinced that Tuesday night he was not going to want any "heavy" food!</p>
<p>Tuesday was spent on the yard, at the mid store and walking around Annapolis. Got our parents midstore cards on Tuesday so wouldn't have to wait inline on I Day. We were able to buy gifts and memory items ...company patch, 2010 shirts, 2010 tote bags to name a few.</p>
<p>It was in it's own way relaxing and gave the three of us time to hang.</p>
<p>We booked PPW at I-Day and had no problem getting the Loews. The big thing to remember for PPW there is a chance that your plebe will get to spend Sat night with you so book a room that that will be possible...they will want a real bed!</p>
<p>FYI..
LOEWS for PPW.. Rates at Loews are double for PPW. Start at about $226 a night/govt rate</p>
<p>PROFMOM2.. should we also consider Loew's for PPW due to the walking/parking situation, do you think it is worth the $226 a night.. I am thinking maybe I just book it for one night. Also, do you know of any other hotels (other than the $300 a night Marriott) in the USNA area with walking distance?</p>
<p>Also.. what is the routine for PPW.. You see them what days, Fr, Sa, Sun? Any info is greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>PPW is a little different than I-Day since almost all Plebes want to get OFF the Yard! If yours doesn't have duty, plan on hightailing it out of there as soon as you're able to go. Friday morning (at 5:30 AM) you'll get the opportunity to watch PEP and I highly recommend doing so. You'll get to hug your plebe after Noon Meal formation, they'll be signs on Stribling Walk alphabetical by last name were you'll meet them. Right after you'll get a chance to see your plebe's room! Do it because you won't have another chance until FPW. The closest hotels to USNA are Loews, the Marriott, O'Callighans and the State House Inn. All the other hotels are a drive away.<br>
Make sure your Plebe eats a decent breakfast before he/she reports on I-Day, it might be the only meal they get until dinner!</p>
<p>More info on Loews for PPW Aug 10 and 11. Superior Room is $206 per nt, Deluxe Room $233, Jr Suite is $287, King suite is $332. 2 adults in room, $15 a nt each addl adult in room.</p>
<p>The Marriott is evidently already sold out that weekend as I checked their website and then called directly.</p>
<p>Lastly, for this post, I called the Chamber of Commerce and there are no other hotels within walking distance of USNA in the historic district.</p>
<p>So I assume my question to self is.. TO PAY AT LOEWS OR NOT TO PAY :)</p>
<p>Anything within walking distance for PPW will be expensive. Shuttle bus service from the stadium is provided but I understand getting it back to the stadium is a problem. More importantly you will get your plebe on Friday night, they will need to be back at Bancroft by 10pm and traffic is a nightmare. If you are within walking distance you can walk them all the way back to the hall which was nice.</p>
<p>You will want to be in Annapolis on Thursday night as you will get to go to PEP at 5:30am Friday morning - it is a blast and you will sit with your plebes company parents. Following PEP there are tours of the engineering labs etc, displays by all of the departments and even a computer set up where you can get your plebes e-mail address and be the first to send an e-mail to their account! Then there is the Supe's brief followed by a time that you can meet your Plebes company officer and senior enlisted. You can even sign up to eat with Plebe for lunch but most will want to get out of dodge! You will meet your Plebe on Stribling walk following noon formation. Bancroft will be open for a tour of your plebes room - the only other time that will occur is during FPW. If they have qualified they can take you out sailing in the afternoon, most really will just want to get off the yard and talk on their cell phones to everyone!</p>
<p>Sat morning will have the parade and then the reaffirmation of the oath of office. You will meet your Plebe about 11:30am. Depending on the administration at the time, Plebes may get an overnight and can put in a chit for the 22 mile rule - last year they were allowed to travel 1.5 hours away from the yard. We went into DC, saw a lot of other's touring the monuments! Sunday they had to report back to Bancroft by 6pm although they really do need to be back by 5:30 as they will probably have a uniform change and need to be ready for formation by 6pm.</p>
<p>ATR MOM.. so when making reservations for PPW there is no need to stay so close? Also .. sorry .. again.. for PPW you pick them up and keep them til Sunday (unless they have duty)?</p>
<p>There are some events on the Yard..hold on, let me get my program from my son's..Here we go:
Thursday-Early registration featuring exhibits and deparment displays
Friday-
PEP 5:30 AM
Supe and Commandant's Welcome-Alumni Hall
Noon Meal Formation (Town Liberty begins)
Tour of Bancroft
10:00 PM Town LIberty expires (all Plebes must be back on the Yard)</p>
<p>Saturday-
9 AM Dress Parade on Worden Field
11 AM Reaffirmation of the Oath of Office in Alumni Hall
11:45 AM Town Liberty( the past two years the Plebes were given an overnight which meant they didn't have to be back on the Yard until Sunday.)
Sunday:
6 PM Liberty expires for Plebes with mandatory evening meal formation</p>
<p>Here's the thing..there are enough activities on the yard that you might want to be close and for those times that your plebe has to report back at 10:30 or so, the traffic will be intense...under no circumstance can they be late getting back.</p>
<p>Small things change from year to year but the basics stay the same. If it's not a hardship, you might want to go ahead and bite the bullet and stay at Lowes. Either way, it all seems to work out and the important thing is that you'll be able to spend time with your daughter and see what a different person she's become from that day in June when you dropped her off!</p>
<p>Sometime in May/June I don’t remember exactly you will get your Plebe to be’s company assignment, address, and report time. Last year every one was speculating on “who got early and why” frankly it’s random. Plebe had a very early Appointment, Feb 1st accepted the Appointment and got the last time slot go figure!</p>
<p>Have a good breakfast…even if they say they are not hungry. They will be too nervous if they even get a chance to eat once they are through the doors to Alumni Hall. Do not go to alumni hall earlier than your report time…I cannot stress this enough as all it does is cause everyone else to get backed up because you “jumped the time” That is not fair to those who follow their orders properly.</p>
<p>You can wait inline with your plebe. There will be members of the Chaplains staff that will visit with you. We even met Mrs. Supe. After they walk through the doors you are on your own. There will be a picnic – last year it was in Halsey field house. Most of the states Parents Club’s will have a table set up. We then left and walked back to our hotel to get the care package and walked to the post office to mail it. After getting back on the yard went to the midstore, and then sat on the steps watching the plebes come off the bus…really I almost felt bad for the Cadre as opposed to the plebes as many were very uncomfortable with the whole “yelling” thing. Once the cadre pulled the next group of bags from the truck they let parents look around the pile to see if their plebe would be the next bus load. Your heart almost sinks when you see their last name, Company and Alpha Number…now you really know it is real! We got great pictures of him although they all look like deer in headlights!</p>
<p>Then off to the Supe’ brief where he, the Dant, and Athletic director all speak about plebe summer etc. Following the brief everyone heads to T court to get a seat or stand to watch the Oath of Office. Following the oath of office you will meet your Plebe on Stribling walk. Again depending on the Brigade Officers you will get 20 to 45 minutes with your Plebe. Some are ok and some are really a mess…be prepared for anything because until that day you nor your plebe will know how they will react. We walked back to our hotel about 8pm and that is it for I day. There is nothing the day after as they are already into Plebe Summer.</p>
<p>For other reasons were in the area through to Sat. and were on the yard on Friday not to get a glimpse, in fact we tried hard to be nowhere near any Companies. I will tell you that there were even groups out learning to sail 2 days into Plebe Summer so there really is no time wasted!</p>