Stork nesting Program in Landstuhl?

Anyone else have been through the stork nesting program in Germany? I'm a dependent spouse and located in a VERY remote base--Lajes AB--and am going to Landstuhl for my final 8 weeks. I am worried about what to expect, what to do, and I am going to be alone during this so it will be hard. I have about 10 more weeks till they ship me out, and am wondering about public transportation, shopping (nursing clothes/maternity), and finally able to see some modern civilization.

If anyone has any information pertaining to life in general at Ramstein/Landstuhl, it would be very helpful!

Okay, now that I am here without any help, I am going to give it. Anyone who is having to nest overseas in Landstuhl due to being at a remote military duty station, I have some information for you.

ALWAYS reserve in advance your hotel before even getting orders cut. Three women cannot stay at the hotel because of lack of proper preparation from the referral offices at Turkey and Lajes AB. So, just book in advance on your own the dates you are expected to be there with a broader window than what they will say on your orders. Once you get the specific dates, you can then modify the dates you will be there. Better than them waiting two weeks before flying during the holiday seasons and finding out they have no room and will have to stay off base at a 100 euro hotel you pay up front and out of pocket for.

You can get cash advance for your travel expenses which will NOT come out of your military pay, but will be a loan off your travel voucher. Should you spend under the amount given, then the payment comes out of military pay over a period of time and not all at once. If over, then you get reimbursed the remainder.

If military on medical orders, you will be able to file travel vouchers as you go, since you will be gaining per diem and the limit on the GTC is set, so it will have to be paid off to carry the amount of lodging fees and transportation fees.

Taxis are about 15 euro from the exit only gate to Ramstein KMCC (the BX mall) one way. So, it gets pretty expensive if you don't have the cash up front. They have buses that run from Landstuhl to Ramstein and will be non-POV buses. They don't follow the exact times on the schedule which is why I suggest to always show up 20 minutes early--even in the snow/rain. The stops are located right at the exits of nice, cozy buildings.

Eating: They only have two stores that deliver to Landstuhl lodging. A chinese place and a Turkish version of a pizzarea. Within shorter walking distance on base, the dining facility is available along with a Burger King, Anthony's Pizza and Subway located inside the hospital. The shoppette is hellishly expensive so I only get forced to buy milk from there. The only commissaries are located on Ramstein and Vogelweh. You can get groceries/snacks from there for a lot better of price. There's another restaurant with a little bit of walking outdoors called Bruno's. It's a sit down Italian restaurant that you pay for each refill...I suggest bringing your own water bottle. There are plenty of restaurants in downtown Landstuhl and McD's is here too. The only Popeye's is located in Vogelweh.

Shopping: If you need anything here that you couldn't haul, the BX does offer baby items, but they are still on the pricey side. There's a Toys R Us locate just off base of Vogelweh and has a Babies R Us section inside. Also, there's the ramstein bookoo site that is expansive with strollers, carseats, cribs, play n gos, bottles, even cloth diapers.

Set up an APO box: I had to wait to set up one so wasn't able to ship anything till I got here and my hubby was able to ship our carseat, some blankets, baby clothes, diapers and what not here. It's free APO to APO. Just don't use any of the USPS shipping boxes. You can use the carseat box--like we did, and pack everything in with it. I am also using a shoe box with cardboard paper to ship back home all the souvenirs I have gotten so far.

Entertainment: There are bars, brothels and strip clubs here, but I HIGHLY doubt that is as appealing to you fellow pregger folk. It's amusing to see that they have those here, but that's about it. They do have wonderful restaurants and microbreweries, castles EVERYWHERE, and a bunch of world war related tours. So, if you are still able, you could go on a small tour here and there not too far away from the hospital. There's a gagillion museums here as well. Don't sell yourself short of the experiences here. There's some prenatal classes as well as post partum classes available, but none are open right now since it's the holiday season. There's also an indoor swimming pool and you can even call in a masseuse to give you a good rub down--just make sure they know you are pregnant so they can get the right table. The movie theater here actually is open every day of the WEEK!! It's located on base at the KMCC and I heard there are some off base but I don't really care. I was just happy there's one at all.

Thank you so much for all the information on Stork nesting in Landstuhl. I will be going there in the spring (from Incirlik, Turkey) and have been uneasy about what to expect. How was your medical care there? Doctors, nurses, facility? Thanks again!

Made a mistake look below!

I'm currently stock nesting from incirlik, turkey and so far everything is going ok. The people here are nice and they have a lot of option here.i would suggest that you get your hotel reservation done with ramstein inn in landstuhl because it is right next to the hotel. They have shuttle that runs seven days a week, between the hours of 8-8 during the week I think. I have been here since 29 of December due date is 6 feb. right now my hubby and kids are here now until the baby is born and until I can go home. When checking into the hotel, be prepared to pay the first 10 to 15 days of your stay then they will take it out every 10 to 15 days after that. If you don't have to the fund to pay up front look into the advance payment. I know for turkey we get that option because it happen all of a sudden that everyone was going Germany starting January. I don't know about lajes fields, but look into it. They have fisher house that provides run to the commissary on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Is there anything else you would like to know?

How long did you have to wait after the baby was home before you could go back to your base? My hubby and I are PCSing to Lajes in a few weeks & I'll be about 25 weeks along when we get there. I'm trying to decide if I should try to stay in Terceira, come back to the States, or storknest in Landstuhl. I'll be working for my current company remotely when we PCS, so I have to consider my maternity leave in my plan. Do they have internet capabilities in the rooms in Landstuhl? Also, what made you decide not to deliver in Terceira? Thanks in advance for your help!!! It's SO hard to find good information about this topic!!!

That should say after the baby was born...not home. Sorry about that!

Thank you very much for the info! That is very helpful!

Im also curious as to how long after having the baby is it that you get all the paperwork and get to go back to your base? We were stationed at Lajes when I had my second daughter and I opted to just have her there on the Island. Other than the fact that the hospitals there are from the 1950's, they dont like it if you make any noise when you are delivering, they didnt let me husband be in the delivery room, and the beds are horrible, it wasnt bad. My daughter and I came out unscathed so I just chalked it up to an experience that I never wanted to have again and left it at that. We are currently stationed at Incirlik and I am pregnant with our 3rd child. Im not due til june but im sure i will have to leave here to storknest before they get the new contract signed for the hospital. We will be PCSing in Aug and I have no idea how i can make this a smooth transtion if i have to be stuck in germany for over 2 months to get the paperwork back. It took forever to get my daughters paperwork when we were at lajes. i had to talk to the commanders wife to even have anyone help me get her passport.....ugh! i just dont want it to take too long and have my family go to our new base without me and the baby! also we dont want to have to extend either.....any info on the passport and birth cert would help me out alot! thanks so much!