On Base? Off Base? Lackland Air Force Base has 3 lodging hotels inside the base. The Gateway Villa, The Gateway Inn, and The Gateway Lodge. In a few words, if you like convenience and practicality book early on base. Another important thing to note is that your airmen need a "Hotel Waiver" in order to enter the hotel room.
Booking a room for the Air Force BMT graduation can be tough. On base, hotels are very practical, but you might also end up having to share a bathroom with a stranger, o so says Zoe Wolf from Military Spouse Guides*.
The hotels are basic but comfortable. Comparable to a best western, they are not luxurious but they aren't bad either. Prices range from $35 - $65 per night. You can request to stay at a specific hotel, but it's really subject to available rooming.
It's also important to note that officers on active duty have priority on booking. This means that if there is a reservation conflict or over-booking you might have to give up the room. Off-base alternatives are usually arranged for you in case you are asked to "surrender" the room. Still, Zoey recommends you always have a backup plan, such as these off-base alternatives. The benefits of booking on-base are being close to everything, also the disposition of areas where to spend time with your airmen when they have base liberties. As there are little other options to spend time together. More about the Gateway Inn
Here is a video from Karey Ellen, who stayed at the Gateway IN, in San Antonio, Texas for her husband's graduation from basic military training in August of 2011.
More on the Gateway Villa
All of them were built to provide facilities to duty airmen, reservists, and families.
Now for some insights into the Gateway Lodge we could not find a video, but found these reviews instead.
For example:
"Well…the room was clean and decently decorated. The sleeping area is about 12 x 13 with enough space to walk around the queen bed. There is a desk on one side of the bed and an easy chair on the door side. At the foot of the bed there is about three feet of walking space and a large cabinet that the TV (a flat 32”) site. If someone is sitting at the desk they occupy all the space between the desk and bed. On the other side of the wall that had the desk is another small area with a sink, closets, refrigerator/microwave and the connecting door to the shared bathroom. If you share the connecting room with a family member the set up isn’t too bad. Bad - The worst thing I noted was that you can hear bathroom noises very loudly (since there is only a slab door for separation) and the toilet is extremely loud when you flush. In fact it was so loud that I felt bad flushing the toilet on my nightly sojourns. There was new carpet in the room but it is a thin industrial grade carpet glued to a concrete floor. This is not very comfortable underfoot. I stayed here for five days and our toiletries were never replaced. Shower head was awful as it was mounted at about 5’6” and the spray came out in a circle pattern with a fine mist. The head has settings available but it was calcified in place so there was no chance of changing it. Good - The bed slept very well and the room seemed to stay nice and dark in the early morning hours so it was easy to sleep in. The internet was fast and reliable. The price is reasonable as you pay less than $45 for the room - I think $44 as of 1 Oct 2014. I wouldn’t stay here if I had to pay more! Stayed: September 2014, traveled with family" AIRFORCE BMT GRADUATION OFF BASE HOTELS |