South Padre Island tournament info

[Da Coach]

I communicated with someone in the Bradley Athletic Department today, and learned that, as of now, there will not be any fan trip to South Padre Island for the tournament on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24.

The team department personnel have already made their arrangements, all by commercial airlines, and they are staying at the Sheraton South Padre Island Hotel, the nicest hotel on the island.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=909

Anyone planning to go might consider making reservations as soon as possible, as the hotel has only 250 rooms including condominiums, and many of the teams are staying there along with some fan tours. They currently have a Best Available Rate of $139--

Sheraton South Padre Island Hotel rates

Note- if reserving, you would be best not to choose the Internet Special Rate at the top ($139 per night), because it is a non-cancellable rate. If you scroll down to the Best Available Rates (the 5th, 9th, and 10th choices) you can get the same $139/night rates (or $149/night for a deluxe higher floor room) which are all cancellable. It's unlikely these rates will come down, since the hotel is hosting the tournament. If it is not important to stay at the team hotel, there are a lot of other hotels on South Padre Island and most have significantly lower rates.

Try an internet booking site such as www.Travelocity.com .

Air fare from Peoria (PIA) is currently running around $500-$600 round trip. I wouldn't expect that to come down either, since that is the busiest travel period of the year. There are 3 airports to consider flying in to-- Brownsville is the closest (27 miles away), Harlingen (45 miles), and McAllen (75 miles). All have cheap rental cars available.

[chitownBUB]

Thanks coach, appreciate all the useful info found nowhere but on BF's!

[BUBraves06]

Thanks for the info Coach, man that's expensive. They should have the BSS members pay for the students to go to Padre.

[braves12]

There are a few of us going on Thursday and returning on Monday with golf plans when the BU games are not being played. I am sure that you can get rooms in Brownsville or Harlingen (45 -55 minutes from South Padre) for a better price. It should be fun to see the team against Iowa and hopefully Vandy.

[tornado]

Thanks for the info Coach, man that's expensive. They should have the BSS members pay for the students to go to Padre.

In your dreams!

[OrangeandBlack74]

There are a few of us going on Thursday and returning on Monday with golf plans when the BU games are not being played. I am sure that you can get rooms in Brownsville or Harlingen (45 -55 minutes from South Padre) for a better price. It should be fun to see the team against Iowa and hopefully Vandy.

Looking forward to this trip more than you can imagine!

Still anticipating others to commit.....DRU, your table in SP is waiting.

[Da Coach]

There are a few of us going on Thursday and returning on Monday with golf plans when the BU games are not being played. I am sure that you can get rooms in Brownsville or Harlingen (45 -55 minutes from South Padre) for a better price. It should be fun to see the team against Iowa and hopefully Vandy.

Why travel all that distance to stay with the octogenarians in Brownsville or Harlingen? There are hotels on South Padre Island with rooms for as low as $39 a night, and some very nice ones on the beach for as little as $59 a night. Check out any Hotel booking sefrvice like Travelocity, CheapTickets.com, or Hotels.com.

[amckillip]

It's be great if we could get organized enough as students to put on a trip even without BU, but over Thanksgiving weekend and so far away, and the expense, Just kind of rules it out fro most college kids, and with only 5000 undergrads the volume i just don't think is there. I'm trying to find a way to go but my friends and wallet are saying no.

[braves12]

I am not sure what an octogenarian is, but I don't think I want to find out. We are staying in a condo on the beach. If there are motels for $39 a night on the beach.....great. This means the students should be able to pile into a van (like the old Volkswagon vans) drive all night, stay 8 to a room ($39/8 = $5 per student x 3 nights = $15). What is the holdup? Roadtrip!

[Da Coach]

Here is a link to the Travelocity hotel search page. They have hotels starting at $49 a night (I entered 11/22-11/26). There are, however, a number of smaller independent and family owned places on the island that do not all list with the internet booking sites.

http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel/HotelSort.do?sortOrder=ascPrice&startIndex=0&sortAlpha=-1&showMap=0&hotelQKey=5993919886370116102

These list many smaller hotels not on Travelocity--

http://www.spadre.com/lodging.htm

http://www.spireviews.com/

[braves12]

Anyone know what the ticket prices are for the games at SP? Will BU sell the tickets here in advance?

[braves12]

Hey dru. What are you waiting for.....permission? : - )

[Da Coach]

Anyone know what the ticket prices are for the games at SP? Will BU sell the tickets here in advance?

I have heard that BU will have tickets to sell. If they do not have a fan tour, there should be plenty of tickets available. Also, since there is no "home team" I don't think there will be any problem getting tickets there.

[BUBraves06]

I am not sure what an octogenarian is, but I don't think I want to find out. We are staying in a condo on the beach. If there are motels for $39 a night on the beach.....great. This means the students should be able to pile into a van (like the old Volkswagon vans) drive all night, stay 8 to a room ($39/8 = $5 per student x 3 nights = $15). What is the holdup? Roadtrip!

That sounds awesome, now I only gotta find 7 more students ...

[braves12]

Let me see.....Option 1 is to go home for Turkey and dressing with all of the family or Option 2 go on a roadtrip with 7 other students to party and cheer for the Braves. It's a no-brainer. If you can't find 7 other students, than your salesmanship skills need some work. Remember - You only live once, and these student days of being free and able to go with freinds and cheer for the Braves are limited. Go for it!