I need suggestions on travel arrangements if I fly into Chicago, from there to the Navy Training Center?

Question

I plan to attend my daughter's Naval graduation on Oct.13th. in Great Lakes, Illinois. I live in Central NY, and never had to make arrangements before, such as from airport to hotel, from hotel to Navy base. I see there are hotel/flight packages, but I have no clue what hotel is a good choice within the vacinity of the base. How would I find out transportation arrangements from place to place once I do get into Chicago ahead of time so I know my trip is planned out? Any suggestions???

Answer 1

Try contacting the local USO for information pertaining to family visits for graduation. they will have a good idea for hotel/motels and transportation.
here is the info for the USO at the training center.

530 B. Farragut Av., Bldg 27
Second Flr, Naval Training Center
Great Lakes, IL 60088
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

There are also USO's located at the two main airports too.

USO Midway Airport
Terminal F
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Robert Stone, Center Director [e-mail]

USO O'Hare International Airport
Terminal 2 Above the Northwest Ticket Counter
Mezzanine Level
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Virginia Parenteau, Center Director [e-mail]

Any of these should be able to help you with all the info you need.

Congradulations on your daughter's upcoming graduation.

Answer 2

Gurnee, Il is the closest town to Great Lakes, I would imagine they have an abundance of hotels that have limo service to and from O'Hare. Get on the internet and you will be able to locate a hotel and get a limo schedule.

Greal Lakes is a pretty good distance from O'Hare, so you don't want to rely on another means of transportation, such as a cab. If limo service is not available from the hotels, i would guess that bus service is available. Good luck!

Answer 3

You are not planning on turning up as a surprise for this event are you tho ??? Your daughter would be able to send you all this information from her base as the event gets closer.......this is what is in place for the Air Force graduations at San Antonio and they even did it when my husband joined in the Navy some 20 years ago........this info would have ALL the hotels close by, IMO try and get the ones that are actually on base, your daughter can book this for you..........that way you would be ON the base and not have to worry about trying to get from front gate to where the ceremony is.............so either hire a car so you can get a pass for the car YOUR pass would already have been sent to you via your child..........and from personal experience we went to the CLOSEST hotel to the base [not a named chain] and OMG it was grim..............so if you go off base at least pick one that has some sort of reputation to uphold.............

Good luck and make sure you have PLENTY of batteries for your camera.....I took pics of everything lol lol

Answer 4

your daughter's unit should send you a packet of information about arrangements, directions, times for special events, cuz they have shuttle runs from certain local hotels during graduation time, they got info on local hotels offering special rates, and depending on the base you actually would need the letter to get on post. if you want to make it a surprise find your daughter's leters and on her return address should be her unit's designation, go here http://www.nsgreatlakes.navy.mil/rtc.htm and contact them and they should be able to provide you with the info.

in the army for awhile now, been back to basic training land recently and i say get a rental car if you can afford it because new graduates would love to go out and eat, get some civilian clothes on, cuz unless specificed they dont have to travel in uniform, just sit back and watch them go to town on the food, bring a newspaper, their favorite magazine, their fav cds, i still remember like i lived in a vacuum the whole time

Answer 5

whenI attended my then fiance''s graduation, we drove from Syracuse to Great Mistakes and stayed in Gurnee. if you do not plan on renting a car while there, then you will be limited to the Ell and cabs. There an't really any shuttles that run form the hotels or the airport to the base itself.