Originally Posted by
boeingdvr
Traffic in Miami is a nightmare. It's not uncommon to take 30 minutes from hotel to training center - it's only a few miles away.
Yes a hotel is provided, single occupancy. Expect about 60-70 nights depending on where you fall in your class for checkrides such.
I've been here (the Holiday Inn) for a solid two months now. I now, unconsciously, call it "home". Even my wife (who is at our real home), says to me, "When do you get home...?"
And YES, traffic here makes LA look like a Sunday drive through the country-side. The Walmart down the street must be the busiest Walmart in the world! I went there at 11:30pm, and I still waited 20 minutes to checkout.
The accommodations are quite a good deal. Be sure to submit your Hotel Points card so that you get the days on your account.
At the Holiday Inn: all rooms include a mini-fridge (for beer, of course), free laundry at the Staybridge (if you get a room in the Holiday Inn, ask the front desk at the Staybridge for a key card - tell them that you are with Atlas), free internet, and a Crew Room (2nd floor next to the elevator) which has 767 & 747 paper tigers and a huge balcony, free hot breakfast (you will get so sick of scrambled eggs and bacon!) every morning, a basketball court, swimming pool, party gazebo, gas grill, and happy hour / free dinner every Mon-Wed 1730-1930 at the Staybridge.
The StayBridge includes a kitchenette (with full size fridge), and mini-living room.
The two hotels are next to each other and share the swimming pool, gazebo, basketball court.
The Latin American food down here is amazing and very decently priced. Don't be shocked to see a liquor store in many of the cafe's. Plenty of food near the hotel and across from the training center.
If you visit the Boeing Store (down the street from the Training Center), leave your credit card at the hotel. So much stuff you'll want to buy, but it is expensive!
P.S. this is the first time I have been back to the forum since I started training in April. Training is extremely fast paced and no time to do anything else. Atlas has ditched the fire hose and deep-sixed us to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. A lot of info to learn!!