My partial family (total 6 people) stayed at the Bellows beach cottages. They were wonderful with a couple peculiarities. We occupied 2 cottages. Each cottage has two bedrooms, huge kitchen/dining room, and some furniture outside on the porch. Air conditioning is only provided in the bathrooms. Ceiling fans also in bedrooms. There are ceiling fans and maybe 1-2 portable fans for the rest of the house. The. Beaches are a casual 2-3 minute walk, sunsets are incredible, and, as you mentioned, very small fees for extra chairs, boards, scuba equipment, and whatever else they have on hand and working. There are minor maintenance issues (expected due to humidity) but beach time is a hypertension reduction program of the first order. Thanks for your videos which I have shared with Space-A Fledglings.
Thank you for your comments and I sincerely appreciate your willingess to share these videos. I have been to Bellows on three occasions, (have never stayed overnight - but will eventually). It is a must stop anytime I go to Oahu - I just have never experienced anything like it. I am grateful for the privilege we have everytime. Hope to take my extended family someday. In the meantime, I will keep planning my next space-a adventure! Cheers!
Hey CW, I'm a former C-17 Loadmaster out of March ARB, Riverside, Ca., Perhaps this info will help out others. Most of our flights which departed out of Hickam AFB to Travis AFB, usually continue on to their bases, such as our base in Riverside, Ca. We had a family of 4 or 5 headed to Disneyland, who were going to jump off at Travis, rather than continue to Riverside. I explained we were apprx. 75 miles away, instead of driving 5-plus hours from Travis to Anaheim. When they got off at Travis, they ended up back on our flight and spent the night at March Inn. I gleefully gave the LTC. a quick ride to Ontario Airport and he quickly got a large SUV and drove back to March for the night. Talk to your aircrew and terminal personnel for travel advise. God bless you all. Semper Fi
@@CliffWagnerwere you a marine or army I was in the marine corps 0311 was station on Sea-Duty in Japan then back to Camp Pendleton, CA then was on I -I duty in Memphis TN training reserves! Just subbed to your channel you’re doing a great service. Thank you sir.
My best advice is to sign up ahead of time for space a travel for retired military personnel the sign up lasts 2 months for active duty you can sign up space a while on leave and travel is free
No kidding right? I remember my active duty days in the early 90's, I stayed at the Hale Koa Hotel for $39/night! What the heck happened? Now these Hotel run as profit centers, raking Military Personnel over the Coals with the rates they want now! I just don't get it.
Thank you for these videos. We were stationed on Oahu for a few years and now we are looking to go and visit to get out of the snow up here in Alaska. This is very helpful for our family to travel on a budget.
Monica, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I am sure that while stationed in Oahu, you had some amazing experiences there. Glad you found the video helpful.
Thanks so much for doing these videos. I am a fellow Army veteran and am 100% disabled P&T and want to take a space A hop to Hawaii. Your hotel trick in this video might just open the door for my wife and I. I'm going to go to go get my DOD card this week so I can check that off of my list. Now I can formulate a plan to book a room. Then I need to see about getting to the West coast so we can catch that hop! We will probably take Amtrak there on points.
Thank you for your comment. As you have already recognized, the key is getting to Travis AFB on the cheap. Amtrack works, but there are low cost air carriers like Spirit and Frontier who can get you to San Francisco or Sacramento inexpensively. The key to the low cost air carriers is traveling light so that you are not paying for baggage fees. That probably is not so much of an issue with Amtrack. All that said, good luck on your adventure!
According to my information it was named after Lt. Franklin D. Bellows: aviation.hawaii.gov/airfields-airports/oahu/bellows-field/2nd-lieutenant-franklin-b-bellows/
@@NickB-yq7ng Now that you’ve explained it - I get it… I never viewed much of that series, had two tv channels growing up and that show was not one either of em.
Thank you.What a great video .I have never been in the Hawaiian islands . I am 100 P/T with my DOD ID . I could sure use some guidance for a first time trip for my brother and I ...
Good to know about your 100% disability. Hawaii is authorized for Space-A. Enjoy. As Cliff states, where you can easily get to determines the ease of travel to the islands.
If you are staying at HIckam Lodge why even fight traffic going to the Hale Koa? You don't even have to leave the base. Hickam Beach is a very good beach and if you do want to leave the base anywbere on the North Shore but for my money Bellows Beach is the best beach in the islands.
Can you please help me? I have done research but still confused. I am 100% disabled veteran P&T. Can my spouse and children use Space A Travel as well? I’m in CA only 1.5 hours from Travis Air Force Base. I would love to take advantage of Space A Travel but still unsure how to.
Brian, there is slightly different language used between Air Force and Navy Policy guidance on the subject, but the short answer is yes they can. I would refer you to the AIR FORCE MANUAL 34-135: static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afman34-135/afman34-135.pdf Page 28, Item 39 regarding disabled veteran eligibility. Alternatively, the Navy has published NAVY GETAWAYS (RECREATIONAL LODGING) PATRON ELIGIBILITY www.dodlodging.net/documents/REC_LODGING_PATRON_ELIGIBILITY_FEB2021.pdf looking more or less center mass of this document, they explicitly outline eligibility for veterans with 100% service connected disability. To be on the safe side, if planning an excursion, I would always recommend contacting the facility staff directly to confirm all eligibility and accessibility questions. I have ALWAYS had better luck calling directly for reservations or general questions. Hope that helps!
I will be traveling alone and I’m 100% service connected P&T. Can I stay at a military installation or the least expensive facility? Being on fixed income, limits my choices . I understand that I CANNOT travel space -A. Thank you.
If you are 100% P&T you absolutely can travel space a within the continental United States CONUS, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and all US territories. Additionally, you are authorized to stay on space available basis at most US military installation, hotels, and inns. Although, the cost of staying on installations has been increasing faster than the cost of staying offsite in many cases.
I live in Corpus Christi,Texas I would like to see a list of bases in the area that have Space A flights to Travis or Andrews AFB. Thanks for you excellent instructions. I have been calling Lackland/Kelly and flights are few.
I'm trying to understand the big stink about staying at these OVER-PRICED Hotels in Hawaii?? When I was active duty in the early 90's, the rate was like $39/night at the Hale Koa Hotel. Now as a disabled vet it is $239/night? OMG! I guess I was naive and thought the whole purpose of being given these military resort style benefits were to assist veterans in saving money and allowing them the affordability to travel? I'm sorry, but $239 per night is NOT affordable travel. I can actually stay at a nice Outrigger for less than that! Am I missing something here? Since when were these "Military Hotels" expected to be run as "profit centers"? It's like any other benefit such as the BX/Px, prices are not any different most of the time than Walmart or Target, just avoiding some taxes on some things. I guess when I was young I really thought MWR type of places were going to offer extreme value and sorry, I'm just not seeing it. If someone can explain to me where my thought process is incorrect, I'm grateful to be informed. Same with gasoline on the Base. I thought the idea was there was no tax on the fuel and it would be significantly cheaper than off base. Nope, I get a better price on gas on average at Costco than at the base. So all the benefits I worked so hard to have seem to be for naught. Either we are all getting taken for complete suckers or I'm missing something here. I could be wrong, but it seems like the Government slowly stripped away any of the real value that was behind these services years ago that now are required to run at a profit, .which makes it difficult to even provide any value anymore to the Active Duty/Retired/Service Connected Disabled Veteran. Would love people's thoughts.
You are correct, the financial incentives/benefits for active military and veterans has eroded substantially in the past decade. I would attribute it to the fact that until 1980, a large majority of members of the US House and Senate were veterans and were aware of the need to provide for affordable options for our military. That is no longer the case and so the needs of veterans are becoming a lessor priority for policy makers now.
Yes, spouses and dependants of 100% Permenant and Total rated disabled veterans are eligible to fly with their veteran to and from destinations in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and US territories. No foreign travel.
![PCSing To Hawaii Naval Base - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam [EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hPCkwUi8OHw/mqdefault.jpg)
My partial family (total 6 people) stayed at the Bellows beach cottages. They were wonderful with a couple peculiarities. We occupied 2 cottages. Each cottage has two bedrooms, huge kitchen/dining room, and some furniture outside on the porch. Air conditioning is only provided in the bathrooms. Ceiling fans also in bedrooms. There are ceiling fans and maybe 1-2 portable fans for the rest of the house. The. Beaches are a casual 2-3 minute walk, sunsets are incredible, and, as you mentioned, very small fees for extra chairs, boards, scuba equipment, and whatever else they have on hand and working. There are minor maintenance issues (expected due to humidity) but beach time is a hypertension reduction program of the first order. Thanks for your videos which I have shared with Space-A Fledglings.
Thank you for your comments and I sincerely appreciate your willingess to share these videos. I have been to Bellows on three occasions, (have never stayed overnight - but will eventually). It is a must stop anytime I go to Oahu - I just have never experienced anything like it. I am grateful for the privilege we have everytime. Hope to take my extended family someday. In the meantime, I will keep planning my next space-a adventure! Cheers!
No a/c in the room? That is unfortunate. 🔥
Hey CW, I'm a former C-17 Loadmaster out of March ARB, Riverside, Ca., Perhaps this info will help out others. Most of our flights which departed out of Hickam AFB to Travis AFB, usually continue on to their bases, such as our base in Riverside, Ca. We had a family of 4 or 5 headed to Disneyland, who were going to jump off at Travis, rather than continue to Riverside. I explained we were apprx. 75 miles away, instead of driving 5-plus hours from Travis to Anaheim. When they got off at Travis, they ended up back on our flight and spent the night at March Inn. I gleefully gave the LTC. a quick ride to Ontario Airport and he quickly got a large SUV and drove back to March for the night. Talk to your aircrew and terminal personnel for travel advise. God bless you all. Semper Fi
Thank you for the comment - very good advise that I will make sure to share!
Way to keep looking out for other service members marine. Thank you.
@@CliffWagnerwhat was your rank at your retirement?
@@22jaydogg 0-4
@@CliffWagnerwere you a marine or army I was in the marine corps 0311 was station on Sea-Duty in Japan then back to Camp Pendleton, CA then was on I -I duty in Memphis TN training reserves! Just subbed to your channel you’re doing a great service. Thank you sir.
Great knowledge, thank you so much for sharing. As I approached my retirement in the next year I'm going to be studying your videos very closely.
Glad you found it useful - best wishes as you approach your retirement and thank you for your service!
My best advice is to sign up ahead of time for space a travel for retired military personnel the sign up lasts 2 months for active duty you can sign up space a while on leave and travel is free
Thanks for your comment!
I stayed at Hostel for $50 per night and loved it.
That is an awesome way to travel cheap! Happy adventures!
Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks for supporting the channel!
Mahalo Cliff! Oh how I long for the 20.00 a night transient accommodation on Hickam…long gone😢
The good old days...
No kidding right? I remember my active duty days in the early 90's, I stayed at the Hale Koa Hotel for $39/night! What the heck happened? Now these Hotel run as profit centers, raking Military Personnel over the Coals with the rates they want now! I just don't get it.
Excellent presentation. Need more of this for first time travel military
Thanks Paul, I am working on bringing in some interviews of space-a first timers as well as pros and getting interview style trip reports. Stay tuned!
@@CliffWagnerDo you know what the current rates at the Hale koa?
Thank you
@@CliffWagnerIs the Royal Alekai part of Navy lodge?
@@CliffWagnerThe first time I went to Hawaii I stayed at the Navy lodge at Hickman is that what you call the Royal Alekai?
Thank you
@@CliffWagnerVery informative and entertaining video
Thank you very much!
Thanks for the info! Now all we need is a direct MAC flight from Fort Leonard Wood to Oahu, lol
Too bad the Army does not participate in Space-A.
Thank you for these videos. We were stationed on Oahu for a few years and now we are looking to go and visit to get out of the snow up here in Alaska. This is very helpful for our family to travel on a budget.
Monica, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I am sure that while stationed in Oahu, you had some amazing experiences there. Glad you found the video helpful.
Thanks so much for doing these videos. I am a fellow Army veteran and am 100% disabled P&T and want to take a space A hop to Hawaii. Your hotel trick in this video might just open the door for my wife and I.
I'm going to go to go get my DOD card this week so I can check that off of my list.
Now I can formulate a plan to book a room.
Then I need to see about getting to the West coast so we can catch that hop! We will probably take Amtrak there on points.
Thank you for your comment. As you have already recognized, the key is getting to Travis AFB on the cheap. Amtrack works, but there are low cost air carriers like Spirit and Frontier who can get you to San Francisco or Sacramento inexpensively. The key to the low cost air carriers is traveling light so that you are not paying for baggage fees. That probably is not so much of an issue with Amtrack. All that said, good luck on your adventure!
Bellows Air Force Station...obviously named after Col Bellows 😀
According to my information it was named after Lt. Franklin D. Bellows: aviation.hawaii.gov/airfields-airports/oahu/bellows-field/2nd-lieutenant-franklin-b-bellows/
@@CliffWagner you totally missed the joke. I was joking that it was named after Col (Dr.) Bellows of I dream of Jeannie
@@NickB-yq7ng Now that you’ve explained it - I get it… I never viewed much of that series, had two tv channels growing up and that show was not one either of em.
Great video keep it up!
Will do!
Thank you.What a great video .I have never been in the Hawaiian islands .
I am 100 P/T with my DOD ID .
I could sure use some guidance for a first time trip for my brother and I ...
Where do you live? That will determine your best route and options to get to Hawaii.
Good to know about your 100% disability. Hawaii is authorized for Space-A. Enjoy. As Cliff states, where you can easily get to determines the ease of travel to the islands.
@@CliffWagnerI signed up to your channel.
Keep the videos and tips about space A coming.
Thank you
Great information and thank you for posting contact numbers!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your. comment!
If you are staying at HIckam Lodge why even fight traffic going to the Hale Koa? You don't even have to leave the base. Hickam Beach is a very good beach and if you do want to leave the base anywbere on the North Shore but for my money Bellows Beach is the best beach in the islands.
It all depends on you preferences, your budget, and what you want out of your experience. That said, thanks for the comment!
❤❤❤
Thank you!
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Thanks for checking in!
Can you please help me? I have done research but still confused. I am 100% disabled veteran P&T. Can my spouse and children use Space A Travel as well? I’m in CA only 1.5 hours from Travis Air Force Base. I would love to take advantage of Space A Travel but still unsure how to.
Also could you maybe do a walk through video from scheduling to check in and flight then lodging?
Yes, your lawful dependents are authorized to fly space-a with you.
Start here: ruclips.net/video/spPZ_GaInXA/видео.htmlsi=ofFi0F4jA9M0lBvM
Do any of the resort have golf courses?
Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam has an 18 hole course, Bellows Air Force Station has a driving range.
Is space available lodging open to 100% rated veterans?
Brian, there is slightly different language used between Air Force and Navy Policy guidance on the subject, but the short answer is yes they can. I would refer you to the AIR FORCE MANUAL 34-135: static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afman34-135/afman34-135.pdf Page 28, Item 39 regarding disabled veteran eligibility. Alternatively, the Navy has published NAVY GETAWAYS (RECREATIONAL LODGING) PATRON ELIGIBILITY www.dodlodging.net/documents/REC_LODGING_PATRON_ELIGIBILITY_FEB2021.pdf looking more or less center mass of this document, they explicitly outline eligibility for veterans with 100% service connected disability. To be on the safe side, if planning an excursion, I would always recommend contacting the facility staff directly to confirm all eligibility and accessibility questions. I have ALWAYS had better luck calling directly for reservations or general questions. Hope that helps!
What about family with a pet?
Unless it is a service dog it is a NO GO.
I will be traveling alone and I’m 100% service connected P&T. Can I stay at a military installation or the least expensive facility? Being on fixed income, limits my choices . I understand that I CANNOT travel space -A. Thank you.
If you are 100% P&T you absolutely can travel space a within the continental United States CONUS, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and all US territories. Additionally, you are authorized to stay on space available basis at most US military installation, hotels, and inns. Although, the cost of staying on installations has been increasing faster than the cost of staying offsite in many cases.
How much did the space A cost for the 4 of you?
We flew on an USAF C5 cargo aircraft so there was no cost.
@@CliffWagner that’s awesome
Thank you I’m try it one of these days
Love the content/info sir!! Subbed!! Oooohrah!!🙏🏽🇺🇸
Awesome! Thank you!
I live in Corpus Christi,Texas I would like to see a list of bases in the area that have Space A flights to Travis or Andrews AFB. Thanks for you excellent instructions. I have been calling Lackland/Kelly and flights are few.
I'm trying to understand the big stink about staying at these OVER-PRICED Hotels in Hawaii?? When I was active duty in the early 90's, the rate was like $39/night at the Hale Koa Hotel. Now as a disabled vet it is $239/night? OMG! I guess I was naive and thought the whole purpose of being given these military resort style benefits were to assist veterans in saving money and allowing them the affordability to travel? I'm sorry, but $239 per night is NOT affordable travel. I can actually stay at a nice Outrigger for less than that! Am I missing something here? Since when were these "Military Hotels" expected to be run as "profit centers"? It's like any other benefit such as the BX/Px, prices are not any different most of the time than Walmart or Target, just avoiding some taxes on some things. I guess when I was young I really thought MWR type of places were going to offer extreme value and sorry, I'm just not seeing it. If someone can explain to me where my thought process is incorrect, I'm grateful to be informed. Same with gasoline on the Base. I thought the idea was there was no tax on the fuel and it would be significantly cheaper than off base. Nope, I get a better price on gas on average at Costco than at the base. So all the benefits I worked so hard to have seem to be for naught. Either we are all getting taken for complete suckers or I'm missing something here. I could be wrong, but it seems like the Government slowly stripped away any of the real value that was behind these services years ago that now are required to run at a profit, .which makes it difficult to even provide any value anymore to the Active Duty/Retired/Service Connected Disabled Veteran. Would love people's thoughts.
You are correct, the financial incentives/benefits for active military and veterans has eroded substantially in the past decade. I would attribute it to the fact that until 1980, a large majority of members of the US House and Senate were veterans and were aware of the need to provide for affordable options for our military. That is no longer the case and so the needs of veterans are becoming a lessor priority for policy makers now.
Would you know if spouses are eligible to fly Space A for 100%SC veterans
Yes, spouses and dependants of 100% Permenant and Total rated disabled veterans are eligible to fly with their veteran to and from destinations in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and US territories. No foreign travel.
So a C5 aircraft is with passenger seats? Not jump?
C5 hav 72 airline style rear facing passenger seats, in the top most section of the airplane. Separate from the cargo area.
@@CliffWagner ahh, I remembered taking this type in 1989 to Korea.
@@CliffWagner Are these passenger type of aircrafts warmer (have heat) vs. cargo jump seat ones?
@@proudasiangirl576 All military aircrafts are very cold inside. FYI!
@@seewingyeerealestatecoach OK, thanks! It's been over 35 years ago when I took these. Couldn't remember.