Biggs AAF, El Paso, TX -The Hawthorn Inn & Suites (915) 778-6789 is nice, and they have complimentary drinks 5-6pm M-F -- BONUS! Also, it's right next door to the Cattle Baron's restaurant which has a nice bar, attentive waitstaff, and a great menu. One of the best restaurants, Carlos and Mickey's has AWESOME Mexican food (a MUST for El Paso) with speedy service and reasonable prices; fantastic margaritas too -- get the "TEXAS SIZE". It's only 5 minutes from the hotel which is right near the airport. If you have any problems, call Chief Warrant Officer 3 Roberson at DSN 979-6707 -- he'll hook you up with wheels and hotel reservations. These are good folks and they represent the 204th -- an Army unit from Fort Bliss. They'll make what could be a pain-in-the-a** trip a good time for you and your crew. ~El Paso is a hole for those of you who haven't had the pleasure. The Embassy Suites was nice - all the standard embassy suites stuff like free happy hour and breakfast. About 10 minutes from the field. Close to the hotel was a good mexican place called Forti's - ask the guys at the desk. No Udrives from the base.
Austin, TX - Omni is a palace and only one block from the party on 6th Street. 5 Star accommodations. ~OMNI Austin Downtown (800-the-omni) is fantastic and has a government rate, just ask for it, about $85-95 a night. Best location to party on 6th St. Also, check out the Hula Hut on Lake Austin for great food and try the Fishbowl drink. Antone's is the best place for live music. New Hilton Hotel on 4th Street with government rate. Unbelievably nice, friendly staff, can't get any closer to downtown bars. OMNI is a great hotel. The hotel staff upgraded our rooms to include internet (which should be already included) and a two hour free open bar. The front desk girls even sent the co-pilot a complimetary bucket of Dos Equis. Only a block from 6th St--can't beat the location. Head to Stubb's for some barbecue and a Shiner Bock. Bone Daddy's was recommended for the eye candy, but that's only second-hand information.
Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX - Worthington Hotel is a GREAT Hotel. 10 minute drive from the base. Hotel overlooks the best bars in Ft. Worth. Fills up fast...book early!! Radisson is also downtown, about a 10 minute drive from the base. Hotel is with 1/4 mile from all the bars. Recommend going to 8-O's, cafe USA, Flying Saucer, or any other bar along the strip...great town with a great night life. If you have time...take a trip to Dallas. ~Downtown Clarion was awesome! Navy Ft Worth gave none availability slip to go downtown - no problem. And then gave us transpo downtown and picked us up on Sun morning. Clarion Hotel gave military rate for $49.00 a night in early Nov on Friday and Saturday night! Walking (stumbling) distance to all the downtown restaurants / night life. ~NAS Ft Worth info: Great "Gentlemens Club" just right out the main gate over I-30 overpass on the left called New Orleans Nights (2-3 minutes from the base). For a little lower "quality" of entertainment there's Illusions about 1/2 mile more up the road on the right. Worthington hotel was a Palace! Worthington Hotel is THE place to stay in Fort Worth. For great eats, try Risky's across the street (south side). They have $9.99 All You Can Eat beef ribs every night of the week. Great place for Grita's and ribs. Flying Saucer is the place for beer in Fort Worth. Get there early, it fill up fast.
~Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (Simuflight Training for C-21) -- Homewood Suites Hilton in Grapevine was a nice hotel! (972) 691-2427 Local/ (972) 355-5376 Suites have has two or three bedrooms and a living room with an integrated kitchen. Has a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishes, dish washer, working desk, free wireless internet, two TVs, pull out couch, etc. Very posh. Hotel has an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, business center, gym, tennis court, and basketball court. Free breakfast and dinner. Grapevine Mills mall is just across the street. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is only 10 minutes away. Nice restaurants all around. Very safe area with security. Very friendly service. Simuflight, who does the C-21 ground school and simulator training, makes reservations for its clients here at the Homewood Suites.
Dyess AFB, TX - We were stuck on-base but it turned out to be not that bad. We had the two-room set up. New furniture and the works made it bearable. There was no problem getting a u-drive from transpo. That made life a little better. There are a number of great grill places in town to eat at. The Roadhouse Grill has great Ribeye. Joe Elen's also has great beef. There is a little hole called Squares that has a buffet that you cant beat for $7.00. There beef briquette is great. Don't even worry about bringing you golf clubs. The base course is terrible. Nothing but weeds and hard packed dirt. There are not to many sites to see there, maybe a farm or two if you are interested. That is about it. You could say we spent a year there in one week. ~For the best BBQ in Abilene - bar none - go to Harold's Pit BBQ. This is a no-frills joint with awesome "Q". Most people will tell you to go to Joe Allen's. It's good, but it's definitely second best. (Joe Allen's has some awesome mesquite-grilled steak, though.) Harlow's (BBQ) has a cool aviation museum, but the food needs quite a bit of help. If NY-style pizza is your deal, go to Joe's Pizza at Buffalo Gap Rd and Rebecca. It's run by some Albanians, and they make great pizza. Hampton Inn was decent - about 20 minutes from DYS base ops. The only Hilton-family hotel in the city. Not bad: hot tub, pool, continental breakfast. Very near a few good places, including a large sports bar, which is probably the best nightlife in the city (other than possibly the large country and western bar I've heard about). I don't remember the name of it.
Fort Hood / Killeen, TX - Holiday Inn was awesome at $65 per night. This is a brand new hotel (Jun07) just off of Ft Hood St. on the East bound service road of HW190. It is next to the Fairfield Inn. Very clean, big rooms, nice beds, class-A decor, and flat screen TVs in all rooms!
Laughlin AFB, TX - Laughlin has improved recently! We now have a brand new billeting facility and new 5 star gym with an indoor pool, indoor elevated running track (above the cavernous basketball courts), and juice bar. When in Laughlin, visit Acuna, Mexico: Go to Crosby's for dinner and hit any of the bars around it. From what we understood, it's gotten a lot better over the years in Mexico. Friday night was dead but Saturday night was pretty good with a live band at the Corona Club.
Robert Gray AAF, TX - A new/old hotspot thanks to President Bush's home of residence. Ramada Inn (817-634-3101) was decent and is within walking distance of a handful of restaurants. The Ramada has the all important free USA Today, and free Breakfast Buffet. And not just Continental Fare; all the good greasy stuff. They have a fair outdoor pool with towels provided poolside. They had no issues with our crew bringing a cooler of beer to the pool area. ~Shoney's Inn & Suites 404 S. Fort Hood St. Killeen TX 76541 (254-554-6633/ 800-222-2222/ fax: 254-554-6222) Decent, nice clean, non-smoking, suite type rooms. Just down the road from the Ramada. Not a lot of food around, but we had wheels from KGRK base ops so it wasn't an issue. Breakfast wasn't a huge buffet but it was more than just juice, coffee and rolls. Better than the average from an Army town.
San Antonio, TX - CLICK HERE for the gouge.
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