Balcony view from US Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Military retiree travel, TRICARE. Frugal.  If there's a cheaper way to do something and it's safe and does'nt detract from my ultimate goal, I don’t see a reason to pay more to achieve that goal whether it be a purchase, entertainment, lodging, whatever.  I’m not a person of means and I’m self-employed.  That means I must be innovative and get the best bang for my buck without sacrificing quality.  OK, this entry is aimed primarily at my retired military brothers-and-sisters-in arms but others may find the subject interesting as well or know a military retiree who has really not considered this benefit.  Being a retired jetbutt, I gotta put a plug in for my fellow military retirees about free Space A travel.  A great website for Space A travel, especially to find out what is going and where, is at Pepper D’s website.  You may have to sign in to the website and become a member first to get to the all-important flight schedule page but you'll be glad you did and joining is free.  Review of the flight schedule page shows flights leaving Baltimore Washington International (BWI) almost daily with lots of seats available, for example.  The “T” beside the number means “tentative” available seats.  There is also a USO at that airport.  The Ramstein passenger terminal (the typical port of departure for Europe) also has a USO.  When I was active duty, I never flew Space A as there was the strong possibility that waiting for a hop simply ate up too much leave time.  As a retiree at Class VI, you’re on the bottom of the list for a seat but they do come up eventually.  A single traveler has a much better chance as there may only be one seat available and couples or families who wish to travel together will forego the seat which means you get it.  Space A travel can be uncomfortable so take some lightweight comfortable travel gear with you.  I managed to get a hop to Munich from Pittsburgh on a tanker which was cold at head level and hot at foot level so dress accordingly.  The staff at the military passenger terminal are very knowledgeable and helpful so just ask about flying conditions.  I hopped back from Ramstein (which almost always has less seats available due to being a hub for active duty members to return to CONUS) on a C-17 going to Dover AFB, Delaware, which was a much more comfortable flight although I sat facing a helicopter a mere few feet away on the way back.  Sometimes the C-17 is an angel flight bringing back bodies from battle zones.  I have no experience on that kind of flight (one must consider odor) but it is my understanding such flights are humbling and it is an education to see the respect the deceased get for their final trip to the US.  There is no rule that you must accept a seat on any particular flight so something to keep in mind.  Another hint, periodically check with the Air Reserve unit in your area to see if they have anything going to the place you may want to travel to.  I checked Pittsburgh on a whim and got a flight straight into Munich.  They had fifty tentative seats and only seven of us retirees showed up.   We got VIP flight crew treatment when we arrived in Germany to include transportation to the main airport and expedited customs clearance.  There is a link at the Pepper D site to Space A.net.   Use that link to sign up on-line for flights.  These Space A sites are extremely informative and it pays to spend a few hours researching them.  Remember Space A works on a category tiered basis so sign up early to get seniority for potential flights.  The sign-up is good for sixty days so my strategy is to sign up about fifty days before my anticipated travel.  Make absolutely sure you print out the email confirming your sign-up.  You will be asked to produce it when you report for roll call at the flight desk.  Getting back to the US from Ramstein is a bit frustrating and you have to do your lodging reservation at Billeting (conveniently located across from the Passenger Terminal and in a state of the art mall) each day.  A room for a retired SNCO is $39/night and the room is better than some of the nicer hotels I’ve stayed at here in the US.  I don’t know how much longer Congress will allow Space A flying so use that privilege while you still have it.  A round-trip ticket from Pittsburgh to Munich, for example, presently costs from $900 to $1500 depending on season.  Like commercial airlines, it is best to travel on Space A during shoulder seasons.  For Space A, this means travel between late September to mid-December and from January to late May.  Your chances of getting a hop quickly are best during those times (except during Oktoberfest).  I caveat this to remind that sometimes you just can’t get out of Germany in a timely manner so factor a return flight possibility via civil air into your budget if you can't hop down to Italy or Greece or over to England or Spain and leave from there.  Very important, due to the Status of Forces Agreement, you do not have commissary/exchange privileges so all food you buy other than meals at base restaurants must be purchased on the German economy.  For health concerns, your TRICARE works overseas without much problem.  You get your care at the local hospital and they bill TRICARE or bill you for you to get reimbursed by TRICARE.  Read up on the latest and greatest TRICARE stuff at the sites listed above and check with TRICARE as well.  European healthcare is much cheaper than US healthcare.  Do make it a point to talk with your fellow Cat VI travelers.  Some are very experienced in all the nuances of Space A travel and can save you lots of money and frustration as well as being interesting and entertaining fellow travelers.  I haven't met anyone while traveling Space A who wasn't willing to share or help out.  Who knows, might find friends for life.  Oh, and if you do go to Germany, consider a stay at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria. Picture of the rustic cabin I rented at Edelweiss' campground is below ($55/night).  Tent sites are $16/night.  Lots of tours out of there and, especially if it's your first time in Germany, you can escape back to the US culture at the end of the day.  It's for military only but you can sponsor guests so take your good friend(s) there with you.  Mind you, they can't fly Space A but you could meet them at the airport in Munich and then train to Garmisch (about a one and a half hour ride).

Rental Rustic Cabin at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort