Where to stay for Blue Angels?

fishbit · 07-05-2012, 12:05 PM

Long time lurker..first post.
My son and mother want to go see the Blue Angels (July 14 weekend). I was wandering if anybody could recommend a hotel that would in close proximity to the show (doesn't need to be on beach)? Thanks in advance.
Sorry!! I should have posted in off topic..

Fletch Lives · 07-05-2012, 12:10 PM

It will be next to impossible to find anything on the beach. I would try the ones downtown Crown Plaza, Courtyard Marriott. The key isnt going to be where the room is since you wont be finding anything on the beach. The key will be getting out to the beach early to beat the traffic. We will be heading out there before 8am and making it an all day event. If you leave pensacola 3 hours before the show...youll probably miss the show... Good Luck.

fangard · 07-05-2012, 12:13 PM

Might try a last minute rental on www.vrbo.com.

We are staying in Gulf Shores 14-21 and plan on heading to Pensacola to catch them practicing that Wednesday, the 18th.

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil

Good Luck and have fun...

fishbit · 07-05-2012, 12:18 PM

Thanks fellow fishermen! I knew I'd get some help here.

welldoya · 07-05-2012, 01:23 PM

Unless you have a money tree, you really don't want to stay at the beach that weekend anyway.
My family and I stayed at the same hotel out there for the Blues about 6 years in a row. When we first started, it was $125 a night. Kept going up every year. The last year I stayed it had gone up to $180 a night and that's before all the taxes so really it was closer to $225 a night. There was a two night minimum.
Then Ivan hit and everybody jacked up their rates. This hotel raised theirs to $375 a night plus taxes and required a 3 night minimum.
I don't guess I can blame them since they don't seem to have any trouble filling the rooms but they won't be getting it from me.
Like somebody else said, go early and stay late.

SHunter · 07-05-2012, 02:10 PM

There are several cheaper hotels/motels off PIne Forest exit. I think that I've seen a Holiday Inn Express, a Best Western and Red Roof. This would be easy access onto the interstate to get to the beaches. I would go ahead and make reservations.

Dagwood · 07-05-2012, 03:07 PM

We got to the beach at 745am 2 years ago and the parking was almost gone. By 0800 you couldn't find a parking spot.

I'd go to the rehearsal show on Friday if you can. Crowded but nothing like Sat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch Lives

It will be next to impossible to find anything on the beach. I would try the ones downtown Crown Plaza, Courtyard Marriott. The key isnt going to be where the room is since you wont be finding anything on the beach. The key will be getting out to the beach early to beat the traffic. We will be heading out there before 8am and making it an all day event. If you leave pensacola 3 hours before the show...youll probably miss the show... Good Luck.

aroundthehorn · 07-05-2012, 03:15 PM

Not worth it IMO.

welldoya · 07-05-2012, 04:00 PM

A couple of years ago we were staying at Navarre that weekend. My wife wanted to go to the show. We had watched a steady stream of cars pass the house all morning.
We waited till something like 1:15 and then drove towards Pensacola Beach. No traffic at all. We drove until we saw the cars parked alongside the road (around the residential area) and pulled over. We walked about a 1/4 mile west and then down to the beach. It was a great place to watch from.
Then as soon as the last plane flew , we hauled back towards the car. No problem at all getting back to Navarre. If I don't go by boat, I think that's my new strategy from now on.

07-05-2012, 12:05 PM	#1
fishbit Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	Where to stay for Blue Angels? Long time lurker..first post. My son and mother want to go see the Blue Angels (July 14 weekend). I was wandering if anybody could recommend a hotel that would in close proximity to the show (doesn't need to be on beach)? Thanks in advance. Sorry!! I should have posted in off topic.. Last edited by fishbit; 07-05-2012 at 12:07 PM. Reason: I'm dumb

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07-05-2012, 12:10 PM	#2
Fletch Lives Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pensacola Beach Posts: 95	It will be next to impossible to find anything on the beach. I would try the ones downtown Crown Plaza, Courtyard Marriott. The key isnt going to be where the room is since you wont be finding anything on the beach. The key will be getting out to the beach early to beat the traffic. We will be heading out there before 8am and making it an all day event. If you leave pensacola 3 hours before the show...youll probably miss the show... Good Luck.

07-05-2012, 12:13 PM	#3
fangard Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: May 2012 Location: Spring Valley, TX Posts: 34	Might try a last minute rental on www.vrbo.com. We are staying in Gulf Shores 14-21 and plan on heading to Pensacola to catch them practicing that Wednesday, the 18th. http://www.blueangels.navy.mil Good Luck and have fun...

07-05-2012, 12:18 PM	#4
fishbit Junior Member Cigar Minnow Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	Thanks fellow fishermen! I knew I'd get some help here.

07-05-2012, 01:23 PM	#5
welldoya Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pace, Florida Posts: 3,180	Unless you have a money tree, you really don't want to stay at the beach that weekend anyway. My family and I stayed at the same hotel out there for the Blues about 6 years in a row. When we first started, it was $125 a night. Kept going up every year. The last year I stayed it had gone up to $180 a night and that's before all the taxes so really it was closer to $225 a night. There was a two night minimum. Then Ivan hit and everybody jacked up their rates. This hotel raised theirs to $375 a night plus taxes and required a 3 night minimum. I don't guess I can blame them since they don't seem to have any trouble filling the rooms but they won't be getting it from me. Like somebody else said, go early and stay late.

07-05-2012, 02:10 PM	#6
SHunter Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,465	There are several cheaper hotels/motels off PIne Forest exit. I think that I've seen a Holiday Inn Express, a Best Western and Red Roof. This would be easy access onto the interstate to get to the beaches. I would go ahead and make reservations.

07-05-2012, 03:15 PM	#8
aroundthehorn Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pensacola, FL and East Central AL. Posts: 3,826	Not worth it IMO.

07-05-2012, 04:00 PM	#9
welldoya Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pace, Florida Posts: 3,180	A couple of years ago we were staying at Navarre that weekend. My wife wanted to go to the show. We had watched a steady stream of cars pass the house all morning. We waited till something like 1:15 and then drove towards Pensacola Beach. No traffic at all. We drove until we saw the cars parked alongside the road (around the residential area) and pulled over. We walked about a 1/4 mile west and then down to the beach. It was a great place to watch from. Then as soon as the last plane flew , we hauled back towards the car. No problem at all getting back to Navarre. If I don't go by boat, I think that's my new strategy from now on.

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