<p>Over Labor day weekend USAFA will hold an annual event called Parents Weekend. It celebrates the end of BCT and begining of the Academic year for the newly accepted Cadets. This year like last there will be a USAFA Football game which drives up the crowd. The thing to remember is Hotel space will be at a premium, and if possible you shoud begin thinking about reservations. There are many good hotels in close proximity to the Academy, and I am sure they will all be mentioned below. This will also be the first chance to see your Cadet after dropping off your Cadet in June…I am sure Hornet will have transformed them by August.</p>
<p>Be it known that hotels are filling up really fast, and I'm assuming flights are doing the same. My mom tells me that the hotel closest to the Academy is booked and we reserved one of the very last rooms at the Hilton by the airport.</p>
<p>Zach - I hate to think your only choice was by an airport (COS ?) this early in the year. Wow! </p>
<p>And, yes, hotels book quickly for PW and as said before, it is a football weekend and coming off of a really great season, too. </p>
<p>Since you are at the Hilton, I may rightly or wrongly assume your mom is choosing the Hilton chain. What about these hotels of the chain in COS - Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites (both near north gate at Briargate Mall), Hampton Inn and Embassy Suites (Commerce Drive near south gate).</p>
<p>Can't remember what hotels are in Castle Rock but that may be closer for you than the airport.</p>
<p>All hotels are ramping up fees this year and extending the required cancellation time frame, some to 30 days. Hard to believe though that they are all so booked this early.</p>
<p>It's the COS airport, yes. I'm not sure where else she checked, but she may come in here and tell herself (I got her registered as "zachsmom," she lurks around a bit but doesn't post). I believe for however many nights they/we are staying (Thurs night->Monday night?) it's around $900! My dad has a frequent flier membership and a lot of miles, so they may be able to use those for the flight, which would help. Also, this particular chain says we can cancel up to 24 hours before the reserved night. This may be due to the aforementioned frequent flier membership, I'm really not sure. </p>
<p>Anyone else got their reservations yet?</p>
<p>Yes, Parent's Weekend is an expensive weekend for sure. We have stayed at the Embassy Suites the past two PW's. Husband travels a lot so we have lots of FFmiles and when I say he travels, I mean travels - he is a Diamond member at Hilton. Regardless of our good standing, we will pay the same rate as everyone else I think ($189/night) at Embassy this next PW as it is a prime weekend for business. The only perk I think we get is that we do have an edge for actually being given the rooms over others. </p>
<p>So, if you get a hotel in COS, most are now asking for a longer commit for cancellation time frame. Rumor was, last year right after PW, this was due to last minute cancellations that could not be filled and hotels were upset because it was a football weekend and they could have filled every room. Don't know for sure but this was the rumor - also the reason rates were escalating. One hotel is charging $300/night this year for the rooms last year that were less than $200/night!!!</p>
<p>Football and cadets...............they know, no matter what, parents will be there!</p>
<p>Thanks to all you very informative CCers, we have reservations already for parents weekend. I haven't gotten flights yet because Southwest Air is only booking through Aug. 3rd. I made the hotel reservations shortly after the appointment package came because of all the advice here. I too saw that several hotels inflated their prices quite a bit. One was over 300 a night, that was normally 189...I think it was Residence Inn but can't remember now which one for sure. We have a room at the Hampton Inn that's supposed to be near the Academy. We LOVE the beds at Hamptons! Thank you to all current cadet parents for keeping us newbies in the know. It really helps.</p>
<p>Flymom - If you are at the Hampton on Commerce, you are right next door to the Embassy Suites and I have stayed at that very Hampton and it is nice and they do have those new comfy, white fluffy beds!</p>
<p>Yes, this hotel is an exit away from the South Gate and from Commerce, everything is easily accessible and you are right there at the I-25 so easy to get to everything.</p>
<p>Each Cadet here has a sponsor parent that they will be able to contact before Parents Weekend. Most sponsor parents would have no problem with and actually like it if your parents stayed with them over parents weekend. If you are tight on money and can't afford the $300/night for a hotel room, that is a great way to go. It might seem a little imposing, but most of the sponsor families have huge houses and would not mind at all housing your parents for a weekend.</p>
<p>See, that's what I'm talkin' about! More great info! </p>
<p>Thanks BJ10MOM for the affirmative on the white, comfy beds! That is indeed the Hampton that I've reserved. It's all so bitter-sweet. We know we have those comfy beds waiting, but it'll be so long to go without seeing our daughter!! Wah!!!!</p>
<p>And thanks too, multiple 23er. That is very nice to know about the sponsors. I cannot wait to feel like I know what's going on for our 2012ers. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Oh, and thanks to ds52262 for starting the thread! Please feel free to keep me informed of upcoming events! Man, I love this place! I hope Potter is having a great year.</p>