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San Diego to Ireland & Italy - Part 1...

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Michael F. Kenny
Member
Username: Mikek

Post Number: 8
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 24.30.143.162
Posted on Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 03:34 pm:   

To John D - I was in error earlier. We had reviewed the hotels on the Charleston AMC Gram. However, a fellow Cat VI suggested the Red Roof Inn for proximity & cost. He said the hotels on the AMC Gram & surrounding the base all had a military contract rate of more than $100 per night. We stayed at the Red Roof Inn, 7480 Northwood Blvd. in North Charleston. The cost was $65.80 for the night. It was clean and adequate for our needs. I would give it a guarded recommendation.

To Edgar - Let's compare notes on travel ideas by separate e-mail.
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Edgar Inocentes
Senior Member
Username: Traveler88

Post Number: 523
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 209.242.132.226
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 08:22 pm:   

Michael, thanks for the detailed report. We live in San Diego as well and have traveled to Europe by way of Norfolk. The info you've provided will give us an option for our next European trip.

Looking forward to the next segment.
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John D.
Moderator
Username: John_d

Post Number: 4290
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 95.208.80.143
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 06:51 pm:   

Michael,

What hotel did you stay at in Charleston, what was the rate and would you recommend it?
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Michael F. Kenny
Member
Username: Mikek

Post Number: 7
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 24.30.143.162
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 06:05 pm:   

The impetus for our Space A trip was a wedding in Ireland. My wife and I decided to combine Ireland with a trip to Italy. I had been watching this board for flight info and doing research for three months prior to our departure. This board is an invaluable resource and, as most contributors would agree, is a constant learning / teaching experience helping us find some wonderful opportunities and avert some (not all) travel mistakes.
We would be departing from San Diego but, using the “Take a Hop” web site, I signed up at all bases where I thought we might end up. I also signed up at all of the European bases for our anticipated return date. Some people travel with the philosophy that you should only travel “cheap and light”. For instance, don’t bring a toothbrush and only one change of underwear. However, getting there is part of the adventure so while we did travel relatively light (less than 60 pounds of total baggage between the two of us, considering the wedding clothes), we don’t squeeze nickels till the buffaloes scream.
Unlike most Air Force bases, North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego maintains an eligible passenger list with a 45-day limit, not 60 days. The base allows in person, fax or e-mail sign up. (E-mail: nasni.terminal@navy.mil Fax: 619-545-9532) Fax & E-mail entries are made the first work day after sent – so plan accordingly.
I had signed up in person aiming at a departure date within a 35 to 45-day window – then carefully watched North Island flight schedules for anything headed east. We appeared at North Island on 17 March (St. Patrick’s Day) for a C-40 flight to NAS Jacksonville and departed in 75-degree cloudless skies – it would be the last we would see of that type of weather for a few weeks. After a brief 20-minute flight to San Clemente Island to drop off 50+ passengers, the 6 remaining Cat VI passengers continued on a smooth flight to NAS Jacksonville. We were the only passengers on the plane. Upon arrival at NAS Jax (in rainy 50-degree weather), we caught a van to the terminal & another van to the Gateway Inn. I had called that day from North Island to reserve a room at the Inn once I knew we were manifested on the flight. The room at the Gateway Inn was $40. Desk personnel here, as well as all of our stops, were personable, knowledgeable and went out of their way to be of assistance.
Navy Gateway Inns & Suites, NAS Jacksonville, Bldg 11, Mustin Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32212. Tel: 904-542-3138 / 3139. DSN: 942-3427. Fax: 904-542-5002.
1-877-NavyBed (628-9233) ext. JAC (522) Website: www.dodlodging.net
The base also has a Navy Lodge, located on Mustin Road, with 102 one-bedroom units, each with two full size beds, fully equipped kitchen, and private bath. Reservations: (904) 772-6000, 1-800-NAVY INN or by mail to Navy Lodge, NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212. In addition, there is an RV Park and Cottages available for rental. See this link:
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Jacksonville/FamilyReadiness/Lodging/index.htm

The following morning, we walked from the Gateway Inn across the street to “Mulligan’s” for breakfast. The restaurant is housed in a relatively new attractive building - home to the base golf course. Mulligan’s had a broad menu with enough choices to satisfy most customers and a good breakfast.
Website: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Jacksonville/FamilyReadiness/MoraleWelfareRecreation/
Mulligans/index.htm

We called the NAS JAX Air Terminal Front Desk the following morning:
Commercial: (904) 542-3956 / 3825 DSN: 942-3956 / 3825
FAX: Commercial: (904) 542-3257 DSN 942-3257
Open 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Daily.

There were no flights for the foreseeable future from JAX heading east. A check at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina showed several flights to Europe. Charleston AFB is a drive up I-95 of about 235 miles or 4 hours. We decided to go there. After calling several Jacksonville car rental agencies (including the Enterprise concessionaire on base), we settled on Hertz. Not all car rental agencies would agree to a one-way rental. Hertz did so and agreed to pick us up at the front gate of NAS JAX & we could drop the car at the Charleston terminal. I had brought my Garmin navigator with both U.S. and European maps pre-loaded, so the Charleston drive and Europe were “map-free”. We obtained a one-way car rental for 24 hours from the Hertz office located at Mike Shad Ford located at 7700 Blanding Boulevard (Phone: 904-317-7516) – about 10 minutes from NAS Jax. The one-way rental cost $139.65
We left Jacksonville late morning (18 March) & arrived in Charleston by mid-afternoon. A quick terminal check revealed no more outbound flights but a flight to Ramstein, Germany the following day. In checking with base lodging, “The Inns of Charleston”, we learned that base lodging would be “thin to non-existent through June”. As has been noted on this board, most of the Haiti relief force has been staging through Charleston and has gobbled up available rooms. We drove through Charleston to see the city and then stayed at a hotel located outside the base, which we found by using the Charleston AFB “AMC Gram”.
The following day (19 March), we gassed the car on base and parked it in front of the terminal for Hertz to pick up. We walked across the street to the terminal and were 2 of several Cat VI passengers to catch a C-17 from Charleston to Ramstein, Germany via a cold and wintry Gander, Newfoundland.

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