Travel Tip of the Day

When deciding where to stay on vacation, don't forget to check military installations near your vacation destination. Often, we think of military lodging as a place to stay only when in a PCS status. But don't forget, military lodging can make for affordable and comfortable lodging that could be far superior to local hotels. On top of that, many military lodging facilities have kitchenettes and separate bedrooms, much like mini-apartments.

The only catch is that for many installations, you can only make reservations a few days in advance. But you may be surprised to find that many of the lodging facilities will have availability as your dates draw closer. To get an idea of whether the facility fills up quickly or often has vacancy, you can call several weeks in advance. While they may not be able to yet hold a room for you, they can give you an idea of whether or not they usually have availability at the time of year at which you plan to travel.

Also, don't forget that even if you are from another branch of service, you can stay in the lodging facilities of any military facility. Over the years, we've enjoyed Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and, of course, Air Force lodging. In that length of time, I would not be surprised if it's saved us thousands of dollars!