Baseops.Net

Eglin AFB, Denstin/Ft. Walton Beach FL - Be careful when they put you up (ACC Base). They love to split the E's and O's. Officially, they quote a piece of the reg that states that you are required to house us all either on base or in one hotel off base. At Eglin, however, even if you have it all set up to stay together on-base, they will bump you E's to the VAQs that are 7-8 miles across base.~I am in week 3 of a 30 day TDY here. I am a Major and have an old Q room with no A/C. They don't turn it on until 15 April. In addition, they don't seem to differentiate between VOQs and VAQs. A Lt that I'm here with is staying in a nice room with full-size fridge and stove/oven. I share a "kitchen" with the SRA next door. This kitchen has a microwave, sink and 2 small refrigerators. The rooms are clean but old. They are decorated to 70s standards. The lack of A/C is the biggest problem. If you have to stay on base, be sure you ask for the rooms with the full-size refrigerators. They are newer. There are many good places to eat in Ft Walton Beach and Destin. I recommend either FudPuckers or Old Bay Steamer-which has FANTASTIC Steamed (not fried) seafood. Start off the night at AJs - outdoor bar with music and then just make your way down the strip- hit the HogsBreath Tavern, Kangaroo Jacks, Night Town is a decent club. Only good thing about the Sea Isle Motel 850-243-5563 is its location is next to Sammy's on Okaloosa Island (New law makes the girls keep their pants on! $6.00 cover) Bedsheets are too small for the bed, so they come off within seconds of hitting the rack. Free breakfast consist of coffee and plain, cake donuts. Nothing else. There's a lot better places to stay, but during Spring Break, you're at the mercy of billeting. Make sure you get a U-drive if stuck out on Okaloosa Island. Carousel hotel sucked. The sheets are thin and the A/C is horrible in the summer. Avoid at all cost. ~ASK to stay at the Sheraton Four Points in Fort Walton Beach if the billeting office says they have no room at the inn. If you don't, plan on staying somewhere completely crappy and far from the action. The Sheraton has government rates (a highly guarded secret) of just under $80 so take advantage of it if you can. Once you get to the Sheraton, ASK if you can get a towers room if any are available. If you can, you have just gotten yourself a $200 room with a patio that goes right out to the beach (I swear, it feels as though you're doing something very wrong). This is undoubtedly one of the best kept secrets out there, and all you have to do is ASK! If you don't ask, you deserve what you get. Nice nightlife places in town include The Swamp (which is conveniently within walking distance from the Sheraton mentioned above) which has live music and lots of good fun. The place was packed and the people were looking to have fun. Join them! There is a great Bar-B-Q place just over the bridge on the way back to base on the beach side of the road. It has outstanding Bar-B-Q and the service is down home and accommodating. The Islander is your own private condo on the beach for a total of $88 a night!!! If you find yourself going to florida, the Islander will turn your TDY into a Vacation!! By the way if my finance did not complain, you're in! ~Suburban Lodge in Destin looked like a nice enough place, but they screwed us pretty good. Gave them a call from base ops and they said the reservation system was down, but they would hold our rooms on my name. When we got there (30 Mins away from the 15 they told us it would be), they had given our rooms away. The asst manager was the guy I talked to and he changed his story to "we're first come first serve." After talking with the manager, she found us rooms at the Village Inn in Destin. It wasn't too bad of a roach motel, but a couple of the guys had to double up and one guy had to make his own bed. Location was key--right across the street from AJ's! Slick Micks located on the corner Eglin Parkway and Hollywood Boulevard is an outstanding establishment that is a great crew hang out with the best sandwiches, munchies, beer, and wine for a great price. This place is a must for excellent food in the Eglin area. Comfort Inn Navarre, FL was a dump! This place sucked me in and stole my money! I was on PCS orders and was looking for a hotel that would allow pets. I thought I was in luck when I found out that the Comfort Inn Navarre, FL allowed pets. I called and made reservations, told them I was on Military orders and was quoted the govt rate of $65.00 and some change over the phone for the duration of my stay. With my Hurlburt Field Non availability and tax except forms in Hand, pregnant wife, two kids and a dog, I arrived and was checking in. To my surprise, the rate was not what I was quoted. It was now $120.00. I asked why, they said they could not offer the Govt rate since Hurlburt did not make the reservation. I argued that it did not matter, I was quoted a price and had the required documentation for that rate. Now with no kennels avail to check my dog into, and no other hotels in the area that allow pets....the Comfort Inn had me and they knew it...my only option was to press the issue....I got Hurlburt Billeting on the phone and talking to the Comfort Inn. Hurlburt was helpful and tried to go ahead and make me a reservation and play Comfort Inn's little game...Guess what, now they had no rooms avail at the govt rate... So what happened, the manager agrees to knock $10.00 off each night...and I was forced to pay the ransom fee! I am a Wing Planner for the 16 SOW at Hurlbut FIeld and have coordinated several trips and hotels for myself and others....This is the first hotel that did not honor the Govt rate that they quoted me over the phone... I have never had a billeting office at any base coordinate for me, I have always gone VFR direct. With over 25,000 miles of frequent flyer miles this last year and numerous TDY's all over, I have never run into this problem. Recommendations......Forget the fact that Comfort Inn Navarre FL takes pets, Kennel the Dog and stay across the street at the Best Western for the Govt Rate of $65.00. I would have done just that...but there was no room at the local kennels...thus the Comfort Inn Navarre FL stole my money! Holiday in Sunspree Resort Fort Walton - 850-244-8686 - was a nice resort. Pretty nice hotel right on the beach. One of the few in the area that will match perdiem rate if you show up with orders. Decent little hotel bar. Ramada Plaza Beach Resort (850)-243-9161 is a nice hotel to stay at. They have a government rate of $80. When you make reservations ASK if you can get a beach tower room. (If you don't ask they'll stick you in the B or C Wing which are the older rooms in the front of the hotel with a view of the parking lot.) The hotel also has a fitness room and a pool with a Grotto bar. For rental cars, Hertz (850-651-7012) is the only brand with on-base pick-up/drop-off. Give them your ETA and they'll leave the car at Base Ops for you. When you leave, just park it at Base Ops, leave the keys at the desk and call them. They'll fax your receipt the same day. Very convenient! "Gulf Dunes Condominiums (866)-292-3639. Recently retired from Hurlburt--now I operate the Gulf Dunes Condominiums. We're a luxury condo on Okaloosa Island. 100% Beachfront. Full Kitchens. High Speed Internet. Best of all, we honor per diem rates. I need military/govt to 'fill the gaps'...and per diem is all you need. (Long Term available also.) Thanks." Fort Lauderdale, FL - Our crew stayed at the Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport and we do not recommend this hotel based on the following reasons: price gouging for all services ($5.45 for bottle beer, $10 club sandwiches and $10/day internet service), old hotel in an old area of town (although the area around most US airports is not the best, this is one of the worst. There are no restaurants or clubs in the area to walk to, requiring a 10 minute drive) and the general lack of attention to detail. We noticed the lack of cleanliness in the guest rooms, no complimentary breakfast or anything, for that matter, and numerous problem were noted in each of our three rooms. This is not the place to stay in Fort Lauderdale! Homestead ARB, FL - The biggest thing with Homestead is billeting -- it SUCKS!!! You better be ready to wait at LEAST an hour, probably two while they figure out what the hell a non-a is and print them out one by one. Evidently, they have no idea what a fax machine is. Feel free to spam the hell out of the services (what a misnomer) commander about this second-class citizen service. Be sure and ask for UDI's at baseops there. Best Western in Florida City (305) 246-5100 was decent. Gusto's is a pretty cool bar/grill near the hotel. The Mutineer is another restaurant about a block away, good seafood there. The gym on base isn't open on Sundays and other services are limited due to it only being a Reserve base. If you want to drive about 25 miles, you can get to Key Largo (south) or Miami (north). South beach -- topless -- nuff said... Jacksonville NAS, FL - Radisson or Hilton on the Riverwalk are good choices. There is a brewery within walking distance and if you want to take the water taxi across to the "Landing", there are several bars and restaurants there. If you are good to the driver from "Sky Valet", he/she may take you downtown. It's about a 20 minute drive. Key West, FL - Cuban Club Suites (800-432-4849) has two story suites (bedroom loft and pullout on first floor). Very expensive ($1 for local calls). Down at the far end of Duval St so it's a hike to the bars. Visit RumRunners and The Bull. I was there during spring break and the wet t-shirt contests degenerate into full nude contests. Top floor of The Bull has "shirt optional policy" for women and nipple painting. Recommend the Hyatt or the Wyndham for hotels. Went on a RAS down to Key West one time and there was this bar called the New York Pizza Cafe, I think. The special every night there is FREE beer with your meal. Its down by Duval Street. I don't mean one free beer, my crew put down a case by the time we finished dinner! ~For breakfast or lunch, try Kim's Kubans. The Cuban sub is awesome but if you prefer no cheese tell them before they make it. Have a seat in this tiny cafe, order some great fries with your Cuban, and get a beer or two out of the cooler right thru the entryway at the small grocery that is connected to Kim's. Saved a brochure for our crews doing the GITMO run and RON'ing in Key West. Kim's delivers so you may be able talk them into getting your subs out to the NAS if time is short and your order is large enough. I forget the name, but during Spring Break the best beach, with best views naturally, was the furthest one east on south side of the Key. The other beaches seemed deserted, and this was prime Spring Break time. If you have a video cam, have it running/ready as you drive along the south side of the Key & Duvall St. You never know what you might see, and drunk locals do the funniest things. For dinner, if you want to spend your per diem on a great meal, go to the American Cafe just off Duvall St., on the street that ends at the Hyatt. Eat outside and enjoy the changing view as people walk by. Great seafood, wine selection, and Tapas here; everything was great about this dining experience. If the right hostess is on duty, she'll make you thirsty. ~Before making reservations at the Cuban Club Suites ensure that you will absolutely, positively be there. They are very adamant about their cancellation policy. If for any reason you cannot arrive, such as refrag, mission cancel or god forbid an aircraft break etc.. you can "float" your reservation to a later date. You WILL incur a deposit charge equal to one nights lodging that is non-refundable. Recommend crews find a more aircrew friendly establishment. ~El Sibone restaurant, by far the best Cuban food I have ever had. Huge portions for under $9. Off the beaten path sort of mom and pops place, if you want Cuban roast pork, this is the place!! ~Just a heads up on Key West. Our crew went to The Bull, you know, where they had a "shirt optional policy" for women and nipple painting. Yes, that is true, however be warned; we saw A LOT more sausage than we wanted or were prepared for; FULL NAKED DUDES everywhere. I'll be in therapy for years. Better quel it with some Captain Morgan. Anyway, if someone's crew is into naked dudes (and I can't ask that), then this may be the place for you, otherwise there are plenty of other places to enjoy such as Captain Tony's. ~Crown Plaza La Concha Key West (800-745-2191) was a Palace! We called Trombo Point (Navy Lodging) about 3 weeks out and they told us they were booked solid. Of course the day we show up to get out Non Avail slip they say they have plenty of room. Being that we are inside the cancellation window, we have to strong-arm them (or browbeat them - whichever you prefer) into making them understand that we'll be charged anyway even if we cancel the request right now. Needless to say, staying on Duval street in one of Key West's best/oldest hotels does not suck. Beats the hell out of a tent! A good place to get a cheap meal is at Monty's Raw Bar on Caroline Street. Reasonable menu. They have a 40% off happy hour Monday through Friday. Also, when it's time to settle up your food and bar tab, show your military ID and get a 50% discount off the entire order. ~Key West NAS - The "Fly Navy" tower and Trumbo Point is full of displaced base-assigned personnel, but they managed to find 6 rooms for our crew. The new Commanding Officer's policy is the duty driver CAN NOT make ANY stops off-base for the aircrews - meaning, no food stops. They can make stops on base at the Bowling Alley (if it is open) or the Shoppette. Plan accordingly. The "Fly Navy" tower only has their Brunch on Sundays now, also. MacDill AFB, Tampa FL - The Wyndham Westshore is a fancy hotel, with a government rate under our limit. They sport great king-sized beds and are near various restaurants; also it is a short cab/car ride to 'Ybor City' - the great bar district. Another good place to stay is the Sailport hotel. La Quinta is a decent hotel as well. Airport Doubletree [(813)-879-4800] offers great chocolate chip cookies when you check in! It's right near the airport so it's full of flight attendants and airline dudes. Rooms are nice. Pool, hot tub, and bar. 10 min from MacDill and 2 blocks from The Dollhouse (show mil ID and get in free). 5 min from food. Don't stay at Ramada Airport Inn -old and smells bad, do not stay at this dump!! Hilton Tampa Westshore is a great hotel at per diem rate. Hilton will drive you to bars/restaurants. 25 minute drive from MCF. Contact: (813) 877-6688 FAX(813)879-3264. If you must stay on base, the billeting is pretty nice. The only downside is during the week, be prepared to be awakened by the buzz from the USCENTCOM front gate. The original Hooter's is nearby in Clearwater (2800 Gulf to Bay Boulevard, roughly 25 miles/45 mins, take Dale Mabry north to 60 across the bay)). For 135 crews, make sure you check out 11-2KC135's special departure instructions for MacDill. ~Radisson Riverwalk was a great hotel right on the water. Free van rides upon request to and from Ybor city. Cafe Creole fine cajun cuisine. Inflight meals can be prearranged by calling Sgt Roach's pager at 913-8614 or ext 8309 onbase. ~Stay at the great Embassy Suites if you can. It is a short taxi ride from the FBO. After your free happy hour drinks, get directions (and/or ask them to make reservations) from the front desk to Charley's Steakhouse. This place is only a couple of blocks from the hotel. The best pepper steak I have ever had was right here--'melt in your mouth' medium-rare, filet mignon, Steak au Poivre. Go ahead-- spend that per diem; if there is a place to do that, Charley's is it. Wash that steak down with some good red wine off their extensive wine list. Tampa is also known for Bern's Steakhouse. President Bush ate there during his campaign trip to Tampa. Chase Inn Suites was awesome! Chase Inn Suites is more like waterfront efficiency apartments. This place is on the Rocky Point area and is highly recommended! They had free beer and wine a couple of evenings a week and a good continental breakfast at the lobby clubhouse. They were fairly new with a deepwater dock where Okie reservists could chum without getting their feet sandy. Bahama Breeze restaurant was literally across the parking lot--great food, hoppin' bar with live music and the patio is cigar friendly. And never forget that Mons Venus--one of the world's most famous strip joints--is just less than 10 miles up the road at 2040 North Dale Mabry! Cover is usually $20 and the dances are $20 to $30. It can be a very "hands on" place! Miami, FL - Embassy Suites offers free drinks at Happy Hour 1730-1930 and a free full breakfast. Cost is $5.00 over per diem but worth it considering the benefits. Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel (305 261-3800) was great and had nice big rooms. 10 minutes from Signature FBO. Happy hour was excellent. However, they charged us the wrong rate as opposed to the Government rate. Desk manager refused to change the rate. It took 3 days to get the rate changed. Commander put this place off-limits because of their anti-military attitude. Orlando, FL - Hampton Inn on T.G. Lee Blvd. (407)888-2995 was a Nice Resort. Hotel is nice new and clean with high speed, wireless internet. The military rate will get you double beds with no fridge or microwave. The workout room is very small and has only a treadmill and a bike. The area behind the hotel is good for running and there is a gym east of the hotel about 3 miles (forgot the name but ask at the desk). It is very nice and they let you workout for free - just sign in showing the local motel and room number. Several good "chain" type restaurants just outside the motel parking lot. Located very close to SIMCOM. Patrick AFB, FL - Holiday Inn-Melbourne Beach (321-777-4100) is right on the beach and has live music Weds on the patio Good bars near the hotel: Ichabods, Purple Porpoise, Coasters (really good beer selection and humongous sandwiches). Conchy Joes is a great place to eat and has live Reggae from 1 pm to 7 pm on Sundays. Thrifty Car Rental is located in the billeting office and delivered our car to Base Ops. Be careful all the car rental agencies in the area close very early on the weekends. Watch out for the Wing Commander, he doesn't like crews standing outside billeting drinking beer while waiting for transportation. ~Travel Lodge, Indian Harbor was a Dump! Do not stay here. It's to far to the south with nothing to do there. We had roaches in the rooms and the bathrooms all smelled like mildew. The free breakfast was a joke, absolutely the worst. Try to stay North of the base by Club Coconuts. Also try out the Lido Cabaret they have a very nice staff!!!!!!!! ~ Radisson or Quality Suites was decent - South of Patrick...about 15 min from BX on A1A. Both are oceanfront suites..micro, sm refrig, coffee, etc. Two TVs! Balconies overlooking beach. Radisson is showing its age; haven't tried their restaurant. Gov't lodging rate MOST of the time. Quality Suites..same format as Radisson, however, it's newer. Complimentary cold breakfast buffet in DR. Gov't lodging rate MOST of the time. Other restaurant: Texas Roadhouse and on EuGallie ~Radisson Inn at the Port was a nice resort. Stayed here for the week of 12 Jul 04. Billeting is full of the ANG folks providing base security, so expect to go downtown. Billeting will NOT let you book your own reservations. Call and ask for their contract hotel list and review them online prior to choosing. Radisson Inn at the Port was a nice hotel, but not on the beach like we had been told by their reservation clerk. Gorgeous pool and lounge area and mgmnt was fine about us having our own cooler by the pool! Try Thai Thai III for some great Thai food and sushi! Make sure to call in advance if you need latrine servicing. The contractor is at Melbourne Int'l and we had difficulty getting in touch with them, then they had difficulty getting on base. Pensacola, FL - Go out to Perdido Key and have pizza at Lillian's. One of the best bars is the FloraBama, located on the Florida/Alabama border (also on Perdido Key). The place has four or five different rooms, and they always have live bands. They are located right on the beach. ~On base at the NAS, the O' Club is very good and is well appointed with naval decor. The bar there is very good and extremely flyer-friedly. Zappers for the bar mirror are a must. The museum on base is a good side trip if you are stuck, and is very close to the field. ~Intermission is the best bar downtown, with Thursday being college night at the nearby French Quarter. The Quarter is usually packed late in the week, but there is a small cover. McGuire's is also close to downtown and is a panhandle chain that has become a staple for eating and drinking. If you can get to Pensacola Beach, go to Flounder's. The Boardwalk on the beach is also acceptable, and always be on the lookout for the local toolbags in jorts and wifebeaters, and the flight school students, who are only slightly less annoying than the locals. Tyndall AFB, FL - Holiday Inn Select, Panama City 1-800-670-5445 was a Nice Resort! Ended up at the Holiday Inn by contract billeting. Although we weren't on the beach, the hotel was a good 15 minutes closer drive (great if your show time is early the next day). They just finished a re-furbishing of the hotel, although the lobby area is still a bit rustic, the rooms were clean and the beds comfortable. Most notable are the telephones and TVs in the new bathrooms, and the red bathtubs. Our rooms had mini-fridges, too. There are some regular fast-food joints within walking distance, and a bar/restaurant on premises if you don't want to venture out. If you'd like to chow on some good seafood (fried, broiled, baked, or stuffed) visit Captain Anderson's in PCB (the hotel desk clerks can lead you in the right direction), though you should bring some cash. The nightlife exists, but the locals are on the lookout for crewdog vans and trucks so be wary. They'll even report a vehicle at Hooters!

Dover AFB, DE -The Comfort Inn is probably the best bet since it's next to TGI Fridays and a Outstanding BBQ place called Where Pigs Fly. Very Friendly staff and much better than most of the hotels in town that are dumps! avoid the following rat traps at all costs: Econo Lodge (rats), Holiday inn. If billiting trys to send ya out of town for rooms and it's not race weekend call the Sheraton and see if you can get them to come down to the military rate, it's on the other side of town but close to food and the mall. Stayed one night at the Howard Johnson. Scary from the moment we checked in. Elevator(very questionable). Walls are paper thin. The heater/AC unit sounded like I was on a C-5 (in the back). Had to pay extra for a safe that didn't have key. Room door's extra security feature only had 1 1/2 of four screws. The alarm clock was plugged into a switch out let - didn't work when you turned the light off to get some sleep!! Don't be looking for no sympathy from the hotel staff!!! Great place for Halloween! ~Ramada Inn is a dump!! The people working there treat you like they are on some sort of prison-work release program. The local civil alert "air-raid" siren is right next to this dive and goes off every so many hours. Really can interfere with crew rest...don't know if there is a tornado coming, an air raid or if there is a prison break in progress. ~Sheraton is a sweet hotel!! The ONE MAJOR Problem is currently they are charging the Dover Billeting contract rate of $69 which is $5 more than the USAF max billeting rate for Dover. Thus you will have to fill out additional paperwork when you get home to get the overage authorized by your Group CC. I don't know about yours but ours is a pain in the butt to get signed rapidly. Dover finance and billeting have been informed but am uncertain of corrective measures if any. DO YOU REALLY EXPECT FINANCE & BILLETING TO WORK FOR YOU? Hell, the motto of the USAF is to fly fight and to not bother finance and billeting...we are here to make their life easier. That's the real secret on how we won the cold war! Wilmington, DE - Hilton Christiana was a Nice Resort. Best place to stay in Wilmington, everyone who stayed at a different hotel moved here! Good rooms, restaurants, and bar. 15 minutes to New Castle airport.

Hartford, CT - Hilton Hartford was decent. Tac Air at Windsor Locks/Bradley International was very helpful and friendly in assisting us with our last minute reservations when our plane broke. We stayed at the Hilton in downtown Hartford, which was decent, but I would expect a little more for a $120 hotel room. The hotel was right downtown, and we could walk everywhere we wanted to go. City Steam, Morton's, Lord Jim's, and the Pig's Eye pub were all good places to eat/drink, within walking distance. I would also recommend the Chowder Pot if you have a rental car. The Goodwin Hotel, which was also at the max rate, looked nice, but we didn't get a chance to try it out.

Buckley AFB, CO - DoubleTree Hotel (303) 337-2800 was the best. Free hot breakfast not skimpy continental, the best hot cookies I have ever had delivered with my room key and one of the best rooms I've ever stayed in. Very close to Buckley AFB if you're flying in. Recommend heading out for dinner at Cool River, the best restaurant I have ever dined at. This place has fine dining, a separate cigar lounge and live music all in the same building. Don\'t forget the best wine available. If you're a helo guy the Army Guard can provide ramp space and some Mx support but make sure you coordinate with transient alert for fuel. Peterson AFB, CO - Antlers Adam's Mark in downtown C-springs receives highest marks! Pool, weight room, hot tub, nice view of the mountains. Be sure and ask for a west room when you check in. They have a gov't rate -- $73 which is what you are allowed for off-base if no-avail from Peterson. Peterson billeting is nice, though if you can get it. You'll need about 20-25 minutes to get to the hotel from Pete. Nice place to stay is Radison at the Airport - # free drink coupons for each guest. Indoor pool. Modest but functional gym. 15 minutes to all the action and food. If you have a day off in C-springs, you MUST go to Garden of the Gods - great scenery and great rock climbing too! The Doubletree is the nicest hotel I've stayed in on a TDY in years. No complementary breakfast. Get cookies, however. Close to food. If you thought Ramada was cool...think again. (Ramada on Murray Blvd 719-596-7660) Tiny rooms, no bar or free stuff, and nasty continental breakfast are the best things this place has to offer. If you want a nice place, the Sheraton Downtown is great. Free Breakfast, bar on site, and American airlines crews always on location. Econo Lodge is a brand new hotel right outside the front gate. Amenities include: no bar, no free food, and a very poor continental breakfast. Rooms are okay but small and the pool is almost as big as your bathtub. Niceties nearby include an adult bookstore (XXXtreme), biker bar (Suffrin Bastard), and liquor store across the street. Management almost understands and speaks english and don't count on your wake up call in the morning or hot water in the shower. ~Hey, when you get your rental cars, definitely us Enterprise. They have an office on the base and great service. Talk to Steve. Good dude. He'll bring the cars to base ops, meet you there for all the paperwork, let you leave them there when your done, just like your own car. Except new and nice. Was just there and he hooked us up with a 2002 Suburban that only had 280 miles. Base ops has their number, you have to call them anyway. ~Although not downtown, the Radisson (corner of Fountain and Powers) by the airport is pretty nice. Crew Dogs get free drink coupons and a free buffet in the morning. There is a huge static display airplane out front that doubles as a restaurant. Our Boom went to store our COMSEC and the people at Base Ops weren't sure where to store it. Update 3 May 08- If you don't mind two to a room to afford it, go for the Cheyenne Mountain Resort (its actually in Colorado Springs despite the name). Its right at the base of the mountains, with great views from every room. Only drawbacks is the rate (about $115 a night) and the lack of free internet. But its a full lodge- includes a full bar with food, a restaurant with great food, and free pool tables and darts. We stayed one night there with four crews and had a blast. And the staff was nice on the eyes.

We would like to advertise our FBO and location with your site. We were referred to you by a C-130 Air National Guard flight crew. They have visited us several times and are so pleased with the service they have asked that we contact you to let other crews such as themselves find out about our great location. We are located in Chino CA, CNO. Our FBO is Championship Aviation, the only full service FBO on the field. please visit our site at www.championshipaviation.com or call us at 1-866-FLY A JET for more detailed info. Our FBO offers the following FREE amenities to our military and civilian guests: FREE CREW CARS, FREE WINE (RED & WHITE) IN GIFT BAGS, FREE TOILETRY KITS, FREE T-SHIRTS (MEN), FREE TANK TOPS (WOMEN), AND MUCH MORE.... Castle Aiport - Good morning OPs: I wanted to add some info pertaining to Castle Airport (formally Castle A.F.B.) to your site for aircrews to consider should the need arise. We are located in central California and our company is always ready to welcome and accomodate all types of military aircraft and crews. We have billetting at perdeum rates, 24/7 Crash/fire rescue on field, Transportation and a DESC fuel contract. Additionally we have briefing/conferance rooms, pilot lounge, internet and fax and more. More detailed info can be seen on our web site at www.castleairport.com . Should you have any comments or suggestions please contact me any time. Thanks for your help. Chico - The Oxford Suites is the place to stay. Every other place is pretty much a dump. The Oxford has large suites, free full breakfast, free food at night and two free drinks each night (they keep re-filling your beer glass if you're nice and tip.) This place is walking distance to the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Edwards AFB, CA - Essex House, Lancaster Ca (805)-948-0961 is the closest place to base (about 30 min). Free fitness and racquet center next door. Free breakfast (eggs/bacon/etc). Happy hour has free food. Within 15 minutes of lots of restaurants. LA is only about 1.5 hour drive. Hotel is well within the govt rate and you can make money on this trip. LA per diem rates. ~If you have to stay off base down in Lancaster, definitely ASK to stay at the Essex House. It sucks to drive to Lancaster from Edwards, as the base if quite a ways away. And most of the hotels in town completely suck. The Essex House, with all of its warts, is as good as it comes in Lancaster. They even have a car rental place on the premises (I believe it was AVIS), so you can rent a car and head down to LA for a day. LA is only an hour away (almost 2 in heavy traffic) and yields some excellent places to go. I highly recommend the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach, as it offers some of the best foods around. While in LA, be sure to stop at a Trader Joes and grab some outstanding trail mix and other fresh "california type" foods at rock bottom prices. For a good drive, drive around the point of Ranchos Palos Verdes and stop at the whale watching spot. If it is closed, go just to the East of it and walk down to the rocky shoreline for some "rock skippin'" and water fun. If you're into surfing, Manhattan Beach offers some of the best waves and best looking locals. A trip to LA would never be worthwhile unless you visited the freaks down at Venice Beach. An hour is all you can stand there, but it is usually worth the trip on the weekend. If you are cruising Beverly Hills and find yourself on Melrose, have lunch at the Moustache Cafe for a really upscale, trendy "feel like you fit in" dining experience. The chocolate souffle at the end is outstanding. As with everything mentioned in this paragraph on LA, bring your wallet well stocked, as LA will take every dime you have. ~Just went on a tanker business effort to Edwards AFB. The support from the 418 FLTS tanker ops section (DSN 277-7895) and heavy maintenance is marginal because the whole test operation at Edwards is unpredictable, F-22s mostly with some JTFs, B-52s, B-2s thrown in. Expect receiver delays 75% of the time and cancels about 40% of the time. I was there a week and cancelled twice. The tanker ops section will fill you in on the VFR flight ops at Edwards AFB. Take the time to read all the info. Long story short, Sport and Joshua are the controlling agencies for the area but mostly provide VFR advisories. Stay outside the jet! Help your maintainers by requesting fuel trucks an hour out from the base because it takes POL about two hours to get a truck to your jet. Also, plan your redeployment leg before you leave home station. Mission planning at base ops or the tanker section blows. Rental cars are a must for the front end and recommended for maintenance. Waleed at Enterprise Rental (on base at the gas station, 661-258-1586 ) is extremely helpful. When faxing your request to billeting, be sure to request the Antelope Valley Inn (Best Western). First, free full breakfast buffet (eggs, bacon, pancakes, fruit, etc.) and two free happy hour drinks, only one if you stipulate the brand of liquor. Second, free gym passes to 24-hour fitness less than 5 minutes away. Third, free local calls, even to the base. The Best Western is located in Lancaster, about a 40 minute drive from Base Ops heading south toward Palmdale and L.A. Palmdale is about 10 miles south of Lancaster and has a lot of popular restaurants, bars, theaters, etc. Las Vegas is a good four hours from the base. We packed a change of clothes and waited for a receiver cancel day (40% of the time) to leave from the base instead of the hotel saving us about an hour and a half. L.A. is about and hour and a half depending on traffic. As for Lancaster, I've heard that Schooners is good on Wednesday nights after about 9 p.m. Also, the Thai Inn, down the street from the hotel is recommended. Stay away from the Thai Cafe on base!! Horrible. ~Oxford Inn in Lancaster, CA is a pretty cool place to stay, they had typical rooms but they had free FULL breakfasts i.e. eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, snosage, pastries, cereal etc. Plus there were free evening (after 5:30) snacks such as veggies, chips and dip, plus something hot like chicken wings, and two free beers per night for your entire stay. And there was a huge health club/weight room down the road, that was free if you showed them your room key. The hotel also had a pool and hot tub. Inn of Lancaster: Not all that bad. We stayed here on a business effort in March of 2008. The hotel looks pretty rustic from the outside, but its well kept and offers your standard free dinner every night (mostly grilled hot dogs, burgers), and free breakfast as well. They also have wireless internet, which helps to pass the time in Lancaster. Rooms were a little dated, but they were very clean. The negatives: train tracks across the streets w/a train coming down the tracks every hour or so. When the trains come by, the whole room shakes like you're having an earthquake. Not the best crew rest overall. If I had to do it over again, I would of stayed at either the Hampton Inn or Hilton Garden Inn in Palmdale. There's a nice mall there and tons of places to eat/grab a few brews. If you get the day off while you're down there, I highly reccommend making the drive to Six Flags Magic Mountain. It took us about 50 minutes from Lancaster...with hardly any traffic. They don't have a military rate, but talked real nice to the ticket lady, so she gave us all half off. ~Update on Lancaster: We found two great restaurants. Don Cuco's mexican restaurant, located at south side of Avenue J, about two block east of Hwy 14, had really good mexican food...can't go wrong with any of their specials. If you want an Oriental buffet on steriods, go to the Blue Koi. It's located on the southeast side of Avenue N and Hwy 14. The variety and selection is overwhelming for $13.99. If you like sushi, eat at the Blue Koi. It's included in the buffet. Also, every crewmember must make a pilgrimage to the "Wing and a Prayer" bar/grill. It's a bit of a drive from Lancaster (20-25min) at the intersection of Avenue J and 90th East. You can also get there from the South gate exit at Edwards AFB...so when the F-22 cancels you can swing by there for a cold one on your way back to the hotel. This bar is a piece of aviation history that every crewmember must visit. They close a 9PM on weekdays...later on weekends. Don't forget to sign the wall out back. ~Oxford Inn is decent, and right off the Freeway. Time to EDW Base Ops from the Oxford is approx. 45 minutes with average traffic. The 2 free beers and free breakfast is great. If you tell them you have early show times, they will make sure the breakfast cooks show early just for the crew. The gym deal is still good. We only ate out twice and struck out both times - Los Toritos (SLOOOOW service, mediocre food), and Black Angus (thin steak, overcooked). Also - don't go to La Rue, unless you like to be patted down. It's California, expect to pay at least 15% more than you're used to for everything. Be aware in the 2508 complex, there are very few rules. As the locals say "it's Red Flag every day in there". Current 17 Dec 04. ~Double Tree Largo pretty much sucked! Rude, slow staff, 45 min wait at check in, Bar had few drinks, Coffee was put in Nav's iron and soiled his shirt! My A'C didn't work. I would not stay here. ~I am a long time resident of Palmdale and former employee at the rocket propulsion lab at Edwards so I am quite familiar with the area. I hope you won't mind if I submit a few corrections: The Blue Koi is just south of the intersection of 10th St. West and Avenue P (the address is 39224 10th St. West). And we have our own Trader Joe's. It is in a shopping center on 10th West across from the Blue Koi. There are new Marriot hotels (Residence Inn and Courtyard) in Palmdale, too, just west of Hwy 14 on Avenue P. I've never stayed there, but it looks nice and is across the parking lot from a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, so can't be all bad. And it's just a few minutes farther down the 14 than the Oxford Inn. And for a real taste of Edwards history, try Domingo's Mexican restaurant in Boron, northeast of the base on Hwy 58. Although it is about a 30 minute drive from main base, it's worth it. I've heard most if not all of the shuttle crews that land at Edwards go there and they do have pictures of some of the crews in the restaurant. NAF El Centro, CA - Camacho's Place (796 Wahl Rd. El, Centro, CA 760-352-5810) has fantastic Mexican food. The restaurant has been in business since the 1940's. The restaurant is about 15 minutes from the base and is out in the middle of nowhere. The carne asada & rolled tacos are the best around. The restaurant is open TUES-SUN (closed MON) and is cash only. Plan accordingly. It is well worth the trip. NAS Lemoore, CA - First off, don't expect too much support from the Navy. We got lucky finding a vehicle for our use while we were there. Stayed on base, the rooms were nice and clean, a bargain for $12.00. Expect to see the crew separated by rank, it's the Navy way. Navy Lodge was allright. Take the trip to Fresno. We ate at the Bulldog Brewery. Great food and beers and after 10pm on a friday, the place was packed with women. Didn't stay long enough to explore Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks, but it's a definite possibility on longer layovers. Long Beach, CA - This airport is extremely busy. AirFlite is an awesome FBO (as you'll notice by all the awards in their trophy case). You can rent a car through Enterprise at the FBO. For large aircraft, read the ASRR careful to determine your taxi routing. We stayed at the Residence Inn which wasn't bad at all. Every night they have appetizers and drinks. For Krispy Kreme fans there is one a few blocks from the hotel. For those early shows, the only place open is Denny's which isn't too far from the FBO. If you have COMSEC to store this is probably not the best place to RON since you'd have to drive out to LA AFS which is like a 45 minute drive. March AFB, CA - First off, March is a reserve base so service is limited. If during a UTA weekend expect to stay off-base. We stayed at the Best Western in Moreno Valley and it OK, no freebies. If you do stay on base stay away from anything but building 100 and 456. Sally's Alley behind the Club is a cool place with a lot of history. Base pool is free with military ID. The base is split in half, the main gate leads to the ops side while the Riverside gate leads to the BX and Commissary. The Riverside gate is usually closed so you'll have to go out the main gate, hang a right and make another right at the light with the March Federal Credit Union. The base is next to I-215 so if you are stuck rent a car. We used the AVIS in Riverside, talk to Manu the owner. He was very friendly to military and will come pick you up.There is also an Enterprise in Moreno Valley but we heard mixed reviews. Food wise, check out P.H. Woods on Allesandro Blvd, they brew their own beer. Of course any stop in California requires dropping by In-n-Out, there is one off Highway 60 at Pigeon Pass road. If interested there is a Krispy Kreme on University Ave between Chicago and Iowa. Near the Comfort Inn.in Riverside. Driving times: San Diego1+15, Six Flags Magic Mountain 2+00, Newport Beach 1+30, Las Vegas 3+30. Flying out of March can be a pain because an airport that has gliders and parachutists sits along the SID routing and the final for runway 32. If winds permit, get a rwy 14 departure since the SID is a little easier to fly. The smog can obscure the terrain so be careful. ~At March ARB, you'll get limited KC-135 support (0730-1600L). TA leaves the ramp at 1900L whether you're parked or not. Don't show up for normal AMC support on a Guard/Reserve weekend. You'll be off base. There's no transportation. TA works the crew bus, but they don't pick-up or drop-off off base. You'll need a rental car, but Enterprise (the closest agency) opens late and closes early. It's closed on Sundays. Oh, and there's no drop box--coordination is a nightmare. A cab or a UDI (they only have two) would be my recommendation if you're just there for one night during the weekend. Most likely, you will be put up at the Best Western Image Suites in Moreno Valley (less than 10 minutes from base). There's a restaurant with limited hours in the lobby, a pool and many fast food restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Try to get billeting to put you up at the Holiday Inn Select (909.784.8000) in downtown Riverside (20 minutes from base). The rooms and pool are nicer and there's a bar/restaurant. The UC-Riverside on University exit has a great coffee shop/restaurant/movie theater complex with a refreshing college atmosphere--dry campus. For eats, head to Alessandro Blvd. You'll run into many restaurants. Joe's is heavy Italian--a lot of food for the price. In and Out Burger is a California standard. The only microbrew pub/restaurant with atmosphere is P.W. Woods--worth the trip. McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA - Don't let them send you to the Ramada - it's a dump! MCAS Miramar / North Island NAS, San Diego, CA - Horton Grand Hotel 1-800-542-1886 (x-585) is located near the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego, this older Victorian style hotel offers great access to brewpubs, restaurants and shopping. Easy access back to Coronado when working with the US Navy. POC at Hotel reservations: Julie Scheessele (shis-a-lee). They will give rooms at the existing per diem rate for the area. Harbor Lights (619 233 3300) is a great hotel (recently renamed to Prava Hotel) and location is key! Hotel is right in the middle of the GASLAMP (party) district and is AWESOME! Huge rooms with kitchens. Crawling distance from several pubs. As with just about any Navy base, North Island was a nightmare. Prior to departure Billeting at North Island advised us that they had no rooms available. After landing 7 minutes short of a 16 hour day we jumped in the rental cars to head to our hotel. The next day we go back to Billeting to get our non-avail slips and they tell us that they have rooms and we will have to move on base. Back at the home base we are engaged in a major pissing contest because someone at NAS North Island wouldn't do the right thing and fork over the slips. Oh yeah, one other thing that needs to be mentioned. The friendly folks at North Island expect you to check into one of the numerous Billeting facilities located in the area before heading off base. Id rather not spend valuable time battling CA's traffic. The bottom line is AVOID NORTH ISLAND LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!! Quality Inn & Suites Harborview was an excellent hotel with great location (7th St and Ash) on the outskirts of the Gaslamp District. Hotel very helpful with free rides downtown, advice about places to go, etc. Got the same runaround from North Island NAS. ~Sheraton Four Points (619) 277-8888 was fantastic! Address: 8110 Aero Dr., San Diego. This was the best hotel as far as hospitality goes. Rooms were standard Sheraton quality (nice). Losers at MCAS Miramar base ops would only point us to a pay phone for lodging. Sheraton came out and got us a courtesy van at 1 am, opened up the bar, and comped us two cases of cold beer, munchies, and coupons for a cooked to order breakfast the next day. Courtesy van and driver were at our disposal both days. Awesome service that’ll be hard to beat anywhere on the planet. ~El Cordoba hotel was a nice resort. Actually on Coronado Island. Great place to stay when working with the SEALS. Right across the street from the beach. Most of the rooms are either a one or two bedroom apartment. That's if your lucky enough for Navy Billeting to allow you to stay off base. In the courtyard is Miguels. Great food and drinks!!! Down the street is McP's, a great Irish Pub with live music. Harbor Lights listed in the San Diego-Miramar listing has changed names. Still a GREAT place to stay. New name is Prava Hotel. Under renovation as of mid-August, but looks to be only an improvement of an already great place. Phone number is the same. Hello my name is Espie Collier from Four Points Sheraton Hotel. I would like to introduce to you our government program here at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel San Diego. We are offering a "Montfield Club" program at the government rate of $110.00. Which includes, Full American Breakfast Buffet, Hosted Evening Beverages with Dinner and Salad Buffet and one complimentary Round of Golf. This program is offer to all government employees. If you have any questions, pls. feel free to contact me via email or by phone. Thank You! (858) 810 - 5615 ~Four Points Sheraton (858-810-5615) was a nice resort. We stayed at the Four Points Sheraton, located adjacent to Montgomery Field, for two nights in Sept 04. Hands down - the best service I've seen in 13 years in the AF. To make reservations, call 1-800-992-1441 or go to www.sd4points.com and request the "Montfield Club" Govt Travel Program. That'll get you the govt per diem rate, plus transportation between Miramar and the hotel, free breakfast buffet (Mon-Fri), free dinner, 3 free drinks, free round of golf, free broadband internet, free parking, and more! Transportation was prompt, all the employees were friendly, and the hotel has great facilities. Fridge, microwave, high-speed internet access in the room. They provided transportation to the Gaslamp, Old Town, anywhere we wanted! It was an outstanding experience - super job! For being a MCAS, Miramar was not bad. We parked our KC-10 right in front of base ops for three days on a Busy Effort, aside from a C-5 quick turning, we were the only AMC aircraft there. That C-5 set our ground refueling back by three hours, though. Other than that, the service was good, unusual for a fighter base. ~W Hotel (619-231-8220 / FAX619-231-5779) was a palace! W Hotel San Diego is very convenient to the FBO at San Diego Lindberg Field (JimsAir). Less than a five minute ride in the courtesy van. The hotel is very "art deco" in appearance, but the bed was a really big, comfortable king bed. No problem getting the per diem rate and the Starwood Preferred Guest points. There is a small workout area and pool, plus a bar on the second floor balcony with 3 tons of heated sand on the floor. It is only a couple of blocks from the Gas Lamp district, but we spent our evening at the Microbrew Restaurant conveniently located right around the corner. The W was very comfortable, we slept great and recommend it to others. ~21 AS BEELiners (USAF C-5 Sq) Input on where not to stay in San Diego: Avoid Harbor View Inn and Suites. They did a rate bait and switch on one of our crews... told them that they would get the per diem rate over the phone; once they had a credit card number, they bumped the rate 60 bucks when they showed at the hotel; Crew decided that they were going to stay elsewhere... Oh by the way 48 hour cancellation policy applies to a same day reservation. The guy who made the reservation was billed any way. ~Courtyard Marriott (619)-446-3000. You cannot go wrong with any Courtyard Marriott, and this one is no different. Located right in the heart of the GASLAMP district, it is accessible to many great restaurants and bars. Rooms were spacious and sheets comfortable. Hotel bar is nice, but no complimentary buffet. Great coffee (Seattle's best). Gas Lamp Hilton is, as the name implies, in the Gas Lamp district. Very nice hotel within walking distance of all the good restaurants and bars. Nice rooms, pretty nice gym, with heated outdoor pool and hot tub. The pool is small but it's heated. Very nice breakfast buffet, free if you're a Hilton Honors Gold member. Check out Nicky Rottens for awesome gourmet hamburgers in an upscale sports bar atmosphere. Moffet Field, San Jose, CA - The Residence Inn/Mt View is NICE. It is just a hair under the government rate and provides a Happy Hour and Free food for those staying there. Also, it is close to Moffet with many places in walking distance. Also, try the Brass Rail for good entertainment and really good beer. Point Mugu NAS, CA - Country Inn & Suites (805) 986-5353 Treated us very well. Gave all crewmembers free strawberries during the festival. Stay includes 2 free drinks per night, free breakfast buffet, and good cocktail hour hours douvers. Adjusted rates to = per diem. 2 blocks from the beach. Adequate food within walking distance. Avoid the Whale Tale at the harbour. They ripped us off twice miscalculating the tab. Hollywood Guard unit bent over backwards to help us out. Travis AFB, CA -Set up the Hoilday Inn Suites with Travis Prime Knight so ask CP to set your crew up there and get U-drives. Near the mall and right off I-80 so San Fran is a short 1 hr drive away. The Hungry Hunter is a good restaurant one exit NE on I-80 from the hotel. Fairfield Inn is decent and just north of the base on I-80. Serves a good free breakfast (make your own Belgain Waffles). Of course, while in California, you must go to any In-N-Out resturant. ~Travis billeting is screwing aircrews. They will double everyone up for $32.00/night for each aircrew member. The rooms only have one bed and a rollout bed. They are charging $64.00 for the night and you get a rollout bed without adequate crew rest. They have a new Services commander and this is his policy. [ONLY Installation Commanders, i.e. Wing CC have the waiver authority to change the billeting standards for aircrews... Read the REG.] Avoid the EZ-8 at all costs. Makes a Motel 6 look like a palace. Rooms are usually dirty and their idea of a Continental Breakfast is coffee and a box of doughnuts. So of course Travis Billeting loves it. About the Fairfield-Napa Valley Holiday Inn, also in the mall across the freeway. There is also a Marie Callenders, Chevy's(Mexican Food), Red Lobster and a Olive Garden. There is also a Denny's right next to the hotel. Good for breakfast at o-dark-thirty. The Raleys market next door has a great deli department and a excellent mix-your-own trail mix/dried fruit department. Stop here and pick something up for the next day and avoid the box nasties. Hilton Garden Inn was a very nice hotel. Just returned from a mission and RON'D at Travis AFB. Billeting put us up at this hotel and it was great. It also has high speed internet, and is in walking distance to everything like Chevy's, Marie Callendars, Johnny Carrinos, Mimi's Cafe, and Red Lobster.This hotel along with the Courtyard Marriott are excellent hotels and I highly recommend them. ~Marriott Execustay 888-751-7829 was a palace! As an activated reservist that lives out of state, the prospect of calling a hotel room 'home' wasn't very appealing. lucky for me, travis billeting authorizes Marriott's Execustay program, where you get to live in an apartment, furnished, with all utilities included. I even have DirecTV! Update on Travis AFB 3/25/07: I guess these gripe forms are working, or someone in the AF is reading them because when I stayed at Travis recently, we had NO problems what so ever. I guess they fired their Services CC! When we arrived, they had billeting arranged for us. There are brand spanking new billeting buildings. All crew members had their own rooms in the VOQ, you know, the ones with the mini bars! They're suite style with a kitchenette, and the works. Very nice. The price was $30 a night. But I guess the key here is get your folks at Current Ops to arrange accordingly! One more thing to add to my positive rating of Travis AFB: The UDI selection has been cut in half!! If you are staying on base, no UDI, period! The personnel at motor pool really don't care about anything, anymore. It sounded like they were on the verge of the getting their pink slips. According to them, more than half of their UDI's were taken by the AF because the vehicles were needed overseas for AOR support. If you wind up staying off base, then you MAY get a UDI. Otherwise, you're more than likely to get a base taxi to take you off base. Vandenberg AFB, CA - They lodged us in the Days Inn located about 5 minutes from base in Vandenberg Village. The hotel had become a Days Inn Franchise in August 2001. The hotel bar was nice for warming up prior to us departing for dinner. The breakfast the next morning was very good. The BEST part about this crew rest was the restaurant we ate at. I am from this area myself but had never been before. Two of our crewmembers had previously been stationed at Vandenberg and heard of this place. You must take your crew to the "Hitching Post" http://www.hitchingpost1.com/ located in Casmalia, CA. It took us 15 minutes to drive from the hotel to the restaurant. Several of our crew members commented that the steaks were the best they had ever had. I know from my uncle, who lives in the area, that this restaurant is where many locals also go. It is a very small and out-of-the-way place that is well worth the 15 min. drive. The Filet Mignon was outstanding. Also worthy of mention was the service. Our 12 person crew had only one waitress but she took incredible care of us. My soda glass was never empty and the excellent garlic bread kept flowing! Must check this one out! IMPORTANT: RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED due to popularity of restaurant! Also recommended is a one hour drive to Santa Barbara (my hometown) to check out the beach if your layover provides enough time. Solvang, Buellton, and Santa Ynez are about 20 minutes East of VAFB and worth a look also. Solvang is a Danish tourist town. Buellton is a small local community on highway 101. They have great food. An excellent breakfast is: PAULA'S OLD TOWN BURGER BARN (805) 688-2366 3621 SAGUNTO ST SANTA YNEZ CA 93460 Victorville, CA - Lucky you, off to V-Ville to support the USA NTC... Victorville....aka... Southern Cal Logistics... aka... Ex-George AFB ... ain't exactly what most folks (in these days and times) would call a Garden Spot. Seems like the Ramada Inn Victorville (760-245-6565) is the primary choice, and it does suffice just fine.... A bit quirky, but OK... The free full breakfast in the morning is clutch.... Quite strong... Next redeeming factor would be the impressive and intriguing saltwater fish tank in the Del Taco fast-food Mex place just across the parking lot. Party life? Stay in the hotel... Bars and clubs here sound scary (we didn't press-to-test, on the advice of others...). There is a Mexican place across the street (in addition to Del Taco across the parking lot)... Los Domingos, I think is the name.... Highly recommended... good stuff... With all this talk of Mex food, beware well the potent incoming next-flight "Howdies".... Although it should be obvious, you've been warned.... Enjoy! Retrieved from "http://www.flyingsquadron.com/wiki/index.php/California"

Little Rock AFB, AR - Going TDY to Little Rock? Read our Schoolhouse Gouge first! Do not let billeting send you to the Inn of America, period. The rooms are poor (noise from the stairwells reaches the rooms, the AC units are old and loud, and the hotel personnel attempted to double-up our crews). The Comfort Inn is noisy and is full of lovely things like bugs and Arkansans; but they have the full setup with fridge/microwave/coffeepot, as well as daily breakfast, indoor pool, jacuzzi, and exercise room (nice if you don't want to go into the base to work out on your many days off)... Days Inn - Jacksonville is a dump, changed rooms twice - 1st room, horrible stench (dead rat) 2nd room, ant infestation. Insist on staying either on base (try for the VOQs) or off base at the Cranbury Inn and Suites (501) 985-7666 where they offer king size bed, air conditioning, highly lit parking lot at night, small refrig, and a microwave. Pool and continental breakfast. Limited Cable TV. Separate phone jack for your computer. I stayed at The Southern Comfort Hotel (501)985-4400 for 12 nights before a room at the Q was available. It is a former Holiday Inn Express. The continental breakfast was good. The staff went out of the way to make the military comfortable. Advice: Do not park in the backside at night. My car was broken into the first night. This is not a normal for this place, it just happened. Some friends were at the Days Inn next door and complained. I did not have complaints at all. Newly opened Executive suites at Marriott Residence Inn - (501 945 7777 / 1-800 331 3131) superb rooms, most of us had suites with kitchens. It comes with a free breakfast every morning (Eggs,Toast, Waffles, Biscuit, Sausage), food throughout the day and an occasional free meal at night depending on the situation (ie Mon Night Football). It also has an indoor pool/jacuzi and a small exercise room. 4110 Health Care Dr, (McCain Mall) North Little Rock, AR 72117 About 15 minutes from LRAFB - $59 cheeses a night. ~I'm staying at the Southern Comfort--it's pretty decent as far as cleanliness and condition, it looks fairly new. Some drawbacks: No fridge/microwaves or coffee pots in the rooms, (but you can ask for one, they have a limited number, sometimes there's a waiting list, and there's also an extra charge of a dollar a day). The breakfast area has a micro available for use and coffee is usually on throughout the day. There's laundry rooms but the dryers seem to be set to a short cycle (30 min) so you might have to run them through a couple times. ~The place I wish I'd known about was the Best Western Jacksonville (501-982-8181), right next door to the Southern Comfort. It looks very respectable (I haven't been in their rooms but I talked to their desk clerk the other day). Some rooms have jacuzzi tubs, king size bed and fridges. These jacuzzi rooms cost a little extra, at $55/day. (Max lodging is 72.) Eventually they're getting all their rooms done with fridges and microwaves. They also have a fitness room and outdoor pool. No breakfast in the lobby, but they'll provide you coupons for a complimentary breakfast at the Shoney's next door--full breakfast buffet, not just the bagels, muffins, and juice you normally get in a hotel lobby. The catch is that you have to be paying full price ($55 for the jacuzzi rooms, $52 for normal rooms.) The contract rate with the base is four or five dollars less than that, and you don't get the breakfast coupons with the reduced rate. As I mentioned though, max lodging is 72, so maybe you can ask to pay full rate and claim it anyway. ~Check out the Cajun Wharf down by the river (downtown)--excellent spot albiet a little pricey. Also Flying Saucer has a large selection of tap beer and a good atmosphere. ~Residence Inn at I-40 and I-67 was a great hotel. I can't believe no one has listed The Mean Pig in Cabot. They have awesome BBQ sandwiches. Take US 67 to the first Cabot exit. Go through the light. It's on the left. Owners are ex-military, and they love you. For more substantial BBQ, try Pig 'n' Chick out the back gate. The Athenian Grill in Sherwood has good Greek food. ~Southern Comfort 501-985-4400/501-985-4819 was decent. Close to base/Walmart/Quizno's. Wireless internet provided (though erratic at times). Microwave/fridge (w/out freezer) provided. Room was okay, though it lacked the sofa/recliner that they give you on base (those are nice for studying, if you're into that). All in all, I was pleased, other than having to move there w/ 3 weeks left (make your reservations for 2 months past your scheduled grad date). ~"I am the Sales Manager at the Residence Inn by Marriott in North Little Rock, Arkansas. We have just gone through a complete renovation as of April 2007. I am looking for personnel that are staying 5+ nights. We offer a Military Rate of $76.00 per night. We have One Bedroom Suite which have a separate bedroom with a Queen Size Bed or King Suite that is like an oversized hotel room with a King Size Bed. We have a full hot buffet breakfast 7 days a week and our evening social Monday - Thursday where we serve such things as Lasagna, Burgers, Chicken Alfredo and Hooter Wings. We have an indoor pool and hot tub as well as a Cardio Room. All of our rooms have full size fridges, stove tops, coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave, pots and pans and dishes. Come enjoy your stay in Little Rock." - Lana Perry. ~The Marriott Residence Inn (501)-945-7777 was a palace! I've been TDY for school (1 year total) in Little Rock three times and have always stayed at the Residence Inn. The suites all have full kitchens and a full size refrigerator. The staff is wonderful and the location is close to many restaurants and shopping. There is now even a Starbucks nearby which is next door to Kan Pai, a Japanese steak and Sushi restaurant I highly recommend. --Baseops.Net 21:06, 28 March 2008 (CST) Retrieved from "http://www.flyingsquadron.com/wiki/index.php/Arkansas"

Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson AZ - There is a GREAT Marriott downtown (2nd Street) right at the edge of the University and so close to the bars, etc... Another Marriot in town is the Courtyard Marriot. Staff is extremely helpful. Restaurant has nice breakfast buffet each morning. Hotel has swimming pool, whirl pool, work out room etc. Very convenient to restaurants, shopping and even to base. Not as close to U of A as some may like however. Embassy Suites is $58 a night for off-season and the on-season rate is still covered under the $ amount. There is free drinks every night from 5:30-7:30pm as well as a free breakfast every morning. It will help offset the $36 a day per diem. Close to the base, but not too close. Huge suites...bedroom and refrigerator. Two TV's and internet connections in every room. Eat at the El Paso Restaurant They serve BBQ and authentic AZ meal for a reasonable price and there are only six stores in the chain. They have numerous beers on tap and the service is excellent. We told the owner that we would recommend their restaurant and they comped our meal two nights in a row. Doubletree Suites has nice suites and service. Close to Pinnacle Peaks restaurant and nightlife. Try to get the breakfast coupon or they will charge you for their breakfast buffet (which is really nice) About 5 minutes from the base (Speedway Rd.) Eat on 4th Street at Bysonwitches - great drink prices, huge sandwiches, and bread bowls. The food's good, and the prices are cheap. Close to UofA. La Fuente (520-623-8659) is an outstanding Mexican Restuarant! 1749 North Oracle Road. Not expensive/ Moderate with Live Mexican Music and outstanding food. Try the fresh made Guacamole!!!!!!!!!!!! ~Bison-Witches - Great food - soup/sandwitches/good beer Frog&Firkin - On University - Great beer - Friendly U of A college waitresses; Gentle Bens - On University - Brewpub with good hot wings - Try the oatmeal stout beer Tucson International Airport. Premier Aviation/Million Air - Highly recommended. Excellent line service 24hrs/day, service crew met aircraft with coolers full of refreshments after every sortie. Fuel trucks always on time. Great people to work with who really appreciate the military. Comm 520-889-6327, VHF 122.95 (ask for Premier Aviation) www.millionairtucson.com. If you want authentic Mexican food try Chaco's Cafe about a 1/2 mile outside the main gate on Craycroft. Owned / operated by a husband and wife team with great food and service. Recently there's been a great mobile BBQ place in the BX parking lot, Wed-Fri. Looks like a shed on a trailer, but they dish up wonderful beef brisket, ribs and sausage. I second the El Paso comments. On the other side of Craycroft, across from El Paso, is a shopping center with an Olive Garden. Tucked away towards the end is a place called the Good Egg, wonderful breakfasts and lunch. The Marriot Courtyard is right behind it, ask for Nancy (she's even an honorary Sqd/CC on base). Luke AFB, AZ - Windmill Suites (623-583-0133/623-583-8366) was nice!15 minute drive from Luke AFB, in Surprise, AZ, the staff here was very friendly and the location ideal, within walking distance of several good restaurants. The rooms were big and clean, lots of cable channels, a pool, and free use of bicycles. They also deliver continental breakfast to your room in the morning. For less than $50 per night government rate, I'd recommend the Windmill for crew dogs to RON at Luke. Sierra Vista, AZ - Thunder Mountain hotel was decent, but call the St. Joes guys and find out where they stay. It's better Firday night to go to each shack then the club. Saturday is Dillon's Bar night - tip the waitress and do well! Tues. is Famous Sam's night - ask for Edith. Thurs. is Dillon's again for $1 drink night and $.25 drinks at the Beach Shack. ~Just got back from Tactics School. AATTC is billeting crews in Sierra Suites now. Pretty decent hotel. Good continental breakfast every morning. Nice courtyards for socializing/war stories after yankin' and bankin' before you go out on the town. ~Windemere Hotel (1-800-825-4656 Fax 520-458-1347) was great. Very clean, nice rooms. 3 free drinks per day in the lounge. Free breakfast everyday. Lots of shopping and places to eat at nearby. Yuma, AZ - Do NOT go to the Interstate 8. The place has dinky rooms (you can almost have one hand out the front door and the other in the toilet while passed out on the bed). The walls are paper thin. Days Inn was okay - Denny's is right next door and McD's down the street. Radisson Suites is great and has a free happy hour from 5-7 everyday and suites ... under per deim limit and next to Mcdonald's. across the street is a GREAT mexican restaraunt called Mi Rancho they have a burrito there $8.95 it weighs about two pounds.. also mexico is only 30 mins away San Luis.. go to a place called (the wild Zoo??) if you ask a cabbie you'll get there; negotiate the price before you get in though.. La Fuente is a nice hotel with nice rooms, microwave and fridge. Happy Hour 5-7PM, free breakfast 5-9AM. Located by intersection of HWY95 and Interstate8. Next to Denny's and Cracker Barrel. Only 30 minutes from Proving Grounds. Eat at Burgers and Beers for good food of all sorts as well as beers and lots of TVs to watch the game. Radisson Inn Yuma (Comm:520-726-4830; 2600 S. 4th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364) was a palace! Heated Swimming pool and hot tub; Free wells, draughts, and snacks from 5-7pm each night (all you can drink); all rooms are suites; great military rate $58/night. ~Just got back from Yuma. Found a couple of good bars. Jimmy Dees on first street is good Thursday night (Ladies night). Also, Ron's Place is good on Friday night. Radisson and La Fuente are both good hotels, very comparable. ~I'm a former (retired) AMC Loadmaster assigned at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. For 5 years here I received first hand reports from aircrews on local hotels in Yuma. Based on aircrew opinion, here are my top four picks for Yuma: Clarion (formerly the Radisson) 928-726-4830 LA Fuente 928-329-1814 Inn Suites 928-783-8341 Shilo 928-782-9511 All four of these hotels meet government rate, have free happy hour nightly and have free chow on Wednesday night. ~Holiday Inn Express, 928-317-1400 was a dump. If your unfortunate enough to be passed over for a descent JA/ATT and recieve the displeasure of TDY'ing to Yuma, Arizona, avoid the Holiday Inn Express off of 3E at all costs. Nobody in the front desk speaks English, it took 30 minutes to check in 6 guys, the interstate is next to the hotel, and it is located next to a migrant farm where illegal aliens have fiesta's playing Tejano music day and night while they pick their food. Breakfast in the morning is the best time to watch swarms of employee's run over the guests to grab the last of the bagels and bananas. This place fuckin sucks. Ride Fourwheelers at the Dunes. Best TDY day trip I've done in a while. Call Jet Rent (928) 314-4345. It's located directly across from the Walmart in Yuma. Just take a truck/van if you have one, the guy will even loan you a trailer & ball. You can fit up to 5 fourwheelers, four is a good number though. It's $35 per hour, and the travel time is free. We did two hours, that was a good amount, three hours would be good also The 450 cc is the best option for the Sand Dunes over at Imperial Dunes rec area - just 25 minutes west. Take the Gray Mill (sp?) exit. We stayed at Wingate, right by Cracker Barrel. New, pretty good. Free breakfast, bad coffee, free internet cable and wireless. Pool, hot tub. Walking distance from the mall area restaurants & shops. 30 minute drive to Yuma Prov Grnds (YPG). For a hike/rock climb, we went to Mulligan Peak. Search the internet & google earth for directions. One trail in the dry creek bed, and then no trail up to the 1500' peak. Drive straight on 7th st past the fenced in area on the dirt road, and park by the Wilnerness area map/info poster.

Birmingham, AL - Days Inn was a dump. It's the Day's Inn by the Airport in Birmingham Alabama. The pool was brown and black, the water that is... the rooms were not clean, one room the sheets were torn.. not a pleasant experience... Huntsville, AL - Candlewood Suites is excellent in that it has government rates that max out the Per Diem, but there are a few things I wish I knew before I went there. Huntsville had an E-Coli outbreak while I was there; I ate at Logan's Steakhouse and Atlanta Bread Company and got it. Candlewood only offers cleaning service once per week, which I would think is nice for extended stay, but is not so nice when you need additional cleanings. You have to take your trash down to the end of the hallway. Sheet exchanges can be made earlier. They have a DVD exchange program (free), and an extensive snack bar that you can charge to your room. There is no pool or spa. Fort Rucker, AL - Had to stay on base and it was standard Army lodging. Not horrible but pretty below what you find at most Air Force Inns. The Base Ops staff was friendly but more or less useless. Because all computers are CAC enabled you can't log on to do any mission planning. I asked the Base Ops guy to get NOTAMS and he didn't know how. I actually had to go to his computer and look it up on Baseops.net myself. The weather shop just read off the TAFs of our destinations and showed us a radar picture. Fueling was a pain because you actually have to wait for the truck and stand there next to the guy while he refuels, and he's in no rush to get out and meet you. If you have to go here do your mission planning before you arrive or before you leave your hotel. Montgomery, AL - If you can manage to stay off base, there is a new Renaissance Hotel downtown for the Gov't rate. Nice indoor/outdoor bar at the hotel, and a brewpub 2 blocks away. All highly recommended. Added 3 Jun 09: If staying for any extended period, DO NOT stay at the Studio Plus Extend Stay. It's a roach motel. The Azylia Hills apartments are a good stay course like SOS or ACSC. The rate is under max lodging and almost at the $27 per day on base rate. Friendly staff and great rooms.

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