RnR Half (VA Beach) on the cheap?

[getnthinr]

Hey, any WISHers have a line on how to do the RnR Half in Virginia Beach at more reasonable prices than the ~$200/night, 3-night minimum prices that I am getting quoted?!?!? Heck, I thought Disney was the only place I went that ran that high!

I had considered staying farther away from the beach, parking at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater and taking the free shuttle in, but that makes getting to the post-race concert a bit tough.

Any suggestions? Anyone looking for a roomie?

It's a fun race, but gee whiz!

 

[Kira G.]

I'm registered for the race, and actually have 3 nights booked at a beachfront hotel (for a LOT of money) - originally I was planning to bring the whole family for a beach weekend. But I am canceling the family vacation part, both because of the cost and also because my teenagers seem to think of a weekend with just the family is a kind of torture! However, I would still love to do the race if I can figure out logistics, so I'm in the same boat as you.

If I don't bring the family, the biggest issue is the 3-night minimum, since I would want to come back to my kids for Labor Day. I have been considering doing what you are talking about - staying in Norfolk or something between Norfolk & Virginia Beach, and then driving in - and would be happy to share a room with someone. If I do that, I would probably reserve a room for Saturday and Sunday night, and then check out early and drive back to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon after I cleaned up. I hadn't thought the challenges that might pose for attending the post-race festivities!

Feel free to pm me if you want to try organizing this with me. Any others interested?

 

[Creativebeth]

My family and I are going again to VA beach this year. We plan on it every year, so my dh makes reservations with several hotels for that weekend. We actually have a nice one (outside VA about 10 min) for only $80 a night, no minimum. We were lucky with that one. I think we may be giving that reservation away though.....we are staying at the Hilton Hotel and Suites for $119 a night.

It seems to go better if you plan this trip a year or so in advance.....better deals sealed up. If you wait closer to the event, the registration goes up alot! I registered last year for $55, now it is up way over that I think. Of course hotels go up too.

I hope you find something! The weekend is great! (the run, not so much...to hot and humid usually).

Beth

 

[MouseDogMom]

I waited until a couple of weeks ago to even consider this race, and the registration fees alone scared me off. At this point, it's as expensive as Disney, and I refuse to pay that much except for Disney. I really wanted to do a half sometime before my full in November, but Va Beach apparently isn't it. And now that I read what all of you are saying about hotels, wow! Glad I didn't decide to register!

Jackie

 

[getnthinr]

Thanks, everybody, for chiming in (especially Kira).

Like Beth, I registered for $50 a long time ago (at some race expo) because I have done this race in the past and early September is a really good time to hit the 13-mile mark in my Goofy training. Typically I stay outside the beach area and drive to the amphitheater, then take the free shuttle in. It's kind of a hassle --especially because, as Beth said, I tend to find the race hot and humid (though they have had a couple of fairly comfortable years) and as slow as I am, there is always a long shuttle line to return to my car after the race. Some years I have been so sick from the heat that that wait in the sun was almost unbearable, and others, it was no big deal and well worth the money I saved.

I guess I need to decide what's really important to me. If I'm doing that race just because it's convenient and has a cool medal and bands on the course, then a short stay outside of town and the shuttle ride in isn't such a big deal. If I want to "get my money's worth" and stay for the music, then it makes more sense to spring for the premium room location (because parking is a hassle at the beach).

I also know there are a LOT of hotels at Virginia Beach that aren't listed on the official hotels list, so I can keep looking for a more affordable room -- though after this weekend's search, I'm getting a little discouraged.

Let me give it some thought, Kira, and I'll PM you.

 

[FireDancer]

I am doing the RnR half and got a pretty good rate. I will preface this by saying we booked originally in December for Friday and Saturday nights which is how we got the good rate. We called back and extended the stay for Sunday night and the price went way up.

We are staying at the Budget Lodge at the Beach which is located at 300 Atlantic Ave. The first two nights we booked in December were $92 + tax per night but the extra night will run us $159.

I have no idea if the place is nice but it is on the beach and close enough to the start and finish to walk so it worked for us.

I had a discount code but it expired on the 31st. If I get another one I will post it for you.

 

[getnthinr]

What a difference a day makes! Looks like I'm going to do the Disneyland Half instead -- $99 flights thru AA, a good friend who offered to put me up, and my willingness to spend much more money on Disney than I am willing to spend at Virginia Beach (even though, as I said, it is a fun race) -- all combined to make me reconsider the California trip. And, by the way, I'll be celebrating my ACTUAL birthday there -- complete with free park entry, I assume.

So, Kira, I won't be taking you up on your offer after all -- though I'm sure I would have enjoyed getting to know you better. Hope everything works out for you!

 

[StitchAttack]

RnR VA Beach is really fun, I've probably had more fun at RnR VA than any race but the goofy, but you hit the nail on the head. It is really expensive and the fact that the race is on labor day weekend doesn't help. You are going to spend $1,000 or so on a 3 day weekend trip, you could go anywhere (including Disney) with that kind of money. Still, I can't think of too many other places where you can end a race, jump straight into the ocean to cool off, spend the rest of the day drinking beer at your hotel's beach front bar and then walk to a free rock concert that night.

I do plan on doing RnR VA beach again some day, but that would probably mean that I'd have to skip a Disney race that year. Tough decision.

 

[Kira G.]

No worries Wendy!! If Disneyland was a real option for me, I'd be there in a heartbeat without a doubt!

I just have to decide if I REALLY want to do Virginia Beach or not. Anyone else out there looking for a roommate?

 

[Hockeychic]

Hey, we are again considering this race but hotel prices are crazy....anyone know any cheap in the area that are safe?

FireDancer, I checked out your hotel but it is now at $159 per night and since I am paying in Canadian $$ is it a lot more.

Any ideas?

 

[Ash&Wes07]

I live in the VaBeach area, and honestly, most of the hotels at the Oceanfront aren't nice, and those that are are expensive, even without RnR weekend.

If you can find a hotel in the Greenbriar section of Chesapeake, you may be able to get a good deal. It isn't on the ocean and it is in a mall/shopping kinda area, but the hotels are nice. We had to live at the Staybridge Suites while we waited for our house to close and it was very clean and nice. It's about a 20-25 minute drive into VaBeach.
You'd just have to get to the area super-duper early to get into the race on time.

It's kind of a catch-22. Stay close and not have the travel hassle, but pay a lot of money, or stay further away and deal with the travel headaches.

We'll be over at the oceanfront area this weekend. I will try and write down a few hotels and see if those are any cheaper.

 

[Hockeychic]

Great thank you for the info!!!!

 

[getnthinr]

The cheapest place I found, Kim, was the Sundial Inn -- less than a mile from the start/finish and $124 plus tax a night. It's a small family owned place and not at all plush but it was clean (if older) when I stayed there the last time I did the race.

Other years I have stayed outside town (in Chesapeake) and taken the free race shuttle bus in from the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. The RnR web site says: "This shuttle service will be for both runners and spectators and will run from 4:30 AM to 6 AM." That pretty much negates the whole idea of a beach vacation though.

Good luck -- I feel your pain!

 

[Hockeychic]

Thanks for the info Wendy. Prices are really good.

 

[mkymsehi]

For those of you who know Roger (Weasle) over on DR, check with him. He's organizing a band of rowdies getting together at this race. He's got the logistics, so send him a note over there.

 

[lenshanem]

I considered this race, too until I started looking around at rates...

 

[FireDancer]

Just bumping this up since the event is coming up. I'll be there.

 

[monte]

I did the race last year and stayed at the Super 8 and paid less than $200. per night (split 4 ways). It wasn't the greatest but was across the street from beach.

 

[K80K]

I am doing this race this year. We ended up finding a Hampton Inn that wasn't finished yet. When we made the reservations we got a decent deal, but the prices went up a lot since then.