HUGE Kudos to Guam USO

Author Message   Paul Allen Intermediate Member Username: Paulallen Post Number: 64 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 174.18.15.207 Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 - 02:51 am:    Navy MWR has a shuttle on base and to the USO,etc. The Guam Regional Transit Authority operates bus service around the island. The region where Anderson is located is a demand service area. I do not know if they will come to/near the gate for pick ups if called. http://www.grta.guam.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=4817   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 253 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 09:53 pm:    There are no military shuttles available on Guam. No shuttle on base or to the USO off base. It is essential to have a car or someone to take you. Car rental is available in the terminal. It is a beautiful island and lots to see.   Edgar Inocentes Senior Member Username: Traveler88 Post Number: 558 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 209.242.132.226 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 08:55 pm:    I wonder if there's a military shuttle from Andersen or Naval Station to the USO?   Bob Dart Senior Member Username: Bobdart Post Number: 1554 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 76.29.23.90 Posted on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 - 02:44 am:    I have always rented a car on each of my visits as I have found that there are so many interesting places to visit over the length and breadth of the island that one really does have to bear the expense to see and enjoy everything. I enjoy driving down to Jeff's Pirate Cove for a sandwich, beer, and swim or exploring the numerous WWII sites. Guam reminds me of what I think Oahu would have been like in the 1920s. You need a car to take everything in.   Dakota Ray Senior Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 452 Registered: 05-2007 Posted From: 69.62.147.217 Posted on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 - 01:56 am:    Bob, I am curious how you got to Tumon Bay? Do you rent a car, have friends, etc?? I do think that a Taxi is fairly expensive. The last time that I was on Guam was 20 years ago and I do love that area. So do other countries far east of ours. It was post card perfect!!! The USO sounds fantastic and thanks for the info.   Bob Dart Senior Member Username: Bobdart Post Number: 1553 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 76.29.23.90 Posted on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 - 01:22 am:    I have visited this USO on several occasions and have found it, as John mentioned, convenient to both bases. Most spats will usually take a run into Tumon while on the island and then it's up to them if they want to stop in for information, a cool water, or just a look around. It's really a great place to rest a spell before heading back out.   John David Brooks Senior Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 428 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 205.172.16.179 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 03:28 pm:    I like the idea that it's in downtown Tumon, almost exactly between Andersen AFB and Naval Base-Guam, so that airmen and sailors have an equal distance to travel to use it. Inconvenient for SPATs who don't live on Guam, perhaps, but they get more than 100 visitors a day on most days in their current location. I doubt they'd see that kind of volume if they were at the Andersen PAX Terminal.   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 202 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 01:17 pm:    The fact that it is not located where SPATS or new comers to the island of Guam can access it is a problem. It would be so much more useful to have it in the PAX terminal. The Tumon area where it is located is not close to Anderson AFB or the Naval base. One has to have a car to use it. It is great that the Royal Orchid donated the space and utilities.   John David Brooks Senior Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 426 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 205.172.16.179 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 08:47 am:    Greetings, Fellow SPATs: My wife just completed a 3-year assignment at Andersen AFB, Guam. During her final few evenings there, we stayed at a nice hotel in downtown Tumon located directly across the street from the Guam USO. The Guam USO is actually located on the ground floor of the Royal Orchid Hotel. The space occupied by the USO is donated by the Royal Orchid Hotel, and all utility costs (water and electric) are included in that donation. The USO facility itself is quite a thing to behold. All of the interior design and layout was constructed from donated building materials that were then used by U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Air Force Civil Engineers (during donated off-duty hours) to build an incredibly professional, warm environment to host visits from members of the military community. A local business, GTA, donates unlimited free internet access, cable TV services, and unlimited phone calls to all U.S. states, territories, and possessions. In addition to those very generous services, GTA also donated two 52" hi-def TVs, six Mac workstations, and six PC workstations for the benefit of USO visitors. There are at least a dozen large-screen, hi-def TVs scattered around the entire layout, and at least a dozen assorted leather recliners, massage chairs, and hammocks...all donated by other local contributors (Continental Airlines is one of the biggies). There is a full-service kitchen. Books and magazines abound...almost all of them from current subscriptions. The USO volunteer staff, ranging in age from teens to 70s, are some of the most helpful, cheerful folks I've had the pleasure to meet. "Free" hot dogs, freshly-cooked chili, cookies, sodas, bottled water, and hot popcorn are all abundantly available on request...and always served to USO guests with a smile. I am embarrassed to admit, despite visiting my wife no less than 10 times during her time on the island, and despite that she lived only a couple miles from the USO for the whole 3 years, I never visited it until just a few nights ago. What an amazing place...open 7 days a week, even on holidays. If anyone is ever spending time on Guam, I highly recommend a stop at the USO. If there's a better one out there, I certainly have never seen it. They are doing a mighty fine job.