Hotels for MS 150

[Sally]

So where are people staying? I would appreciate any recommendations. This is my first MS 150 and Doug isn't going to ride, so I am going solo.

[tombiowami]

We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Havelock. Every place I checked in New Bern was already booked though I did not dig deep. Last year there were some shuttles that went back and forth, but I did not have any problem finding parking close by the event. I would recommend going ahead and getting a place. My Hamp Inn was a hundred a night, last year I tried to do the cheapo motor tel and it was pretty crappy and not that much cheaper, would have def spent the extra twenty five a night to have a nice place after riding that far.

T

[Pugslyyy]

Right now we are planning on camping again. It's nice to be right in the middle of things, and we set up our tent right behind the Cyclepaths taj mahal so it worked out pretty well.

I was offered a hotel room in New Bern but it would have required driving (or cycling) - I would have taken a room if I could have got one within walking distance. Guess I need to raise more money this year to move up in the priority list!

[JayC]

Most of the hotels are ghetto within riding distance. You might want to try the Holiday Inn Express. Thats where I stayed last year.

[Erica]

hey theres a lot to be said about a hotel that you can ride your bike to the event from AND get offered freshly rolled blunts by nice gentlemen hanging out on he street corners. LOL

[RickF]

The hotel rooms in New Bern are pretty much all taken by folks who raised more than $1000 the previous year. I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Havelock my first year. It is about 25 miles from Union Point Park, but it is pretty nice and has free breakfast. Last year and this year, though, I had the right of first refusal for a room in New Bern. I am in the Sheraton next to the Convention Center.

[BetsyW]

This year we are planning on camping. Last year was our first year and we ended up lucking into a hotel room right next to where the ride started about a month or so before the ride. We had reserved a room in Havelock, but I just kept checking on the New Bern hotels and ended up getting a room. I don't figure my luck will be as good twice in a row and we just bought a new tent, so we are just going to camp to ensure we are in the middle of things.

[carlosq]

hey, for all you guys that are setting up tents, do they provide places to shower?

[skiffrun]

hey, for all you guys that are setting up tents, do they provide places to shower?yes

[Pugslyyy]

hey, for all you guys that are setting up tents, do they provide places to shower?

They bring in a shower truck, which is a bunch of showers built into a tractor trailer rig. Individual stalls, just like the showers in any locker room you've ever been in. No shortage of hot water or water pressure.

[Sally]

Rooms are hard to find. I got a reservation at Comfort Inn in Havelock; everyplace else I called is sold out. On the map, it looks like Havelock isn't very far.

[Pugslyyy]

Anything that requires driving is a pain, because parking will be tough close to the event. Look for something in walking/riding distance or with a shuttle. Also allows you to take advantage of all the free food / beer / music on Saturday night!

[Erica]

free beer?

[Pugslyyy]

yes, from carolina brewing company same as every year!

[gaines_weaver]

Actually, only the Comfort Suites and the Sheraton are booked up by the MS Society to dole out to their top fundraisers, plus necessary support staff for the Tour. All the rest of the hotels in New Bern, as well as the many B&Bs are open season. Though they are all booked up for this year, I would recommend going ahead and trying to book one for 2009 now. Some may not let you book so early, but I'd try once a month or so until you get one. That can be your back-stop in the event you don't raise enough money to score a Comfort Suites or Sheraton spot next year. You can always cancel your back-up later.

Also, keep an eye on the Cyclepath listserv because often team members who find out they cannot go post offers to transfer reservations, rather than just cancelling the reservation.

[Pugslyyy]

Actually, only the Comfort Suites and the Sheraton are booked up by the MS Society to dole out to their top fundraisers, plus necessary support staff for the Tour. All the rest of the hotels in New Bern, as well as the many B&Bs are open season.I don't think that is correct. There was a choice of 5 hotels this year. Since I only raised a little over $1000 I was offered the one on the other side of the (un crossable) bridge and so turned it down - the best hotels had already been taken by folks that raised more than I did.

Dear Jewelry Boomerang Club Member,



Thank you for your fantastic fundraising for the 2007 MS150 Bike Tour! Together you raised $1.44 Million and you've earned first choice of rooms in New Bern for Bike MS 2008.



Congratulations on reaching the Jewelry Boomerang Club level by raising $1,000 or more. Among the many perks of being a "JB" is having the first chance to reserve a New Bern hotel room for the Bike MS 2008 event, which will be September 12-14th.



To reserve a New Bern Hotel room please complete the following questions and reply with this email or send your responses to phoebe.coggins@nct.nmss.org. Please reply by November 30, 2007. Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis.



_____ No thank you, I will make my own accommodations.



_____ Yes, please assist me with my 2008 reservations, see details below.



Hotel Choice: Please list your choices in order of 1st 2nd or 3rd choice

_____ Bridge Pointe $96

_____ Comfort Suites $99-119 depending on view (only 9 king rooms left)

_____ Hampton Inn $107

_____ Holiday Inn Express $110

_____ Sheraton rooms start at $114 (only 28 king rooms left)



Room Type

_____ Double

_____ King



_____ Smoking

_____ Nonsmoking



Length of Stay

_____ Friday Night , Sept 12th

_____ Saturday Night , Sept 13th

_____ Both Nights, Sept 12th and 13th



Name __________________________________



Daytime Phone __________________________________



Once your information has been received and processed, hotel contact information and a confirmation number will be emailed to you. When you receive your confirmation number, you will need to contact the hotel and confirm your reservation with your personal credit card. You must confirm the reservation before December 14th, 2007. Any room reservations not confirmed by then will be released for general booking on January 1. If you have any questions, please call Phoebe at the MS Chapter office at 919-834-0678. Rooms will be assigned first come first served, based on availability. The hotels will make every effort to accommodate your request regarding smoking or non-smoking rooms, but can not guarantee your preference. Thank you.

[gaines_weaver]

Thanks, Pug, for the additional information. I didn't know the Chapter's tentacles (I say that in humnor, not because I'm bothered) had extended so far. However, I do think there are still some other hotels in New Bern other than those 5 you listed. For more choices, anyone can google "hotels new ben nc" and get a list of about 10. Just eliminate those 5.

[BetsyW]

Last year when we scored the great room at the last minute it was a King room on the waterfront at the Comfort Suites. so, I would say keep trying and you might get lucky at the last minute.