Anyone from Arlington, VA or Washington DC here?

[SandraVB79]

OK, I made reservations for the hotel, it's on N or S Glebe Rd in Arlington, VA, near the Pentagon.

I was excited at first, now I'm getting scared. What for a neighbourhood is it? Will I need a gun/ pepper spray? Is it a place where you can catch public transportation, or is it just off a freeway, where you can't go anywhere if you don't have a car?

Please, assure me we can walk to a bus/ metro stop! Oh, and btw, we are not scared to walk a little, at San Francisco last year, we had to walk 7 blocks to get from the hotel to the bus stop, so that's OK. As long as we don't have to illegally cross a freeway, we'll be fine

 

[BuckNaked]

OK, I made reservations for the hotel, it's on N or S Glebe Rd in Arlington, VA, near the Pentagon.

If it's on Glebe Road and near the Pentagon, it's probably right off I-395, and the only one I can think of right off the top of my head right there is an EconoLodge right at the Glebe Road exit. Not a terrible area, there are neighborhoods right there. I can't think of places to eat that are within easy walking distance.

Just about anywhere in Arlington & Alexandria is within easy walking distance to either a Metro stop or a Metro bus stop.

If you could tell me the name of the hotel, I could give you more info. We used to take Glebe Road to go our children's school, so I'll be happy to pass on anything I can. Feel free to PM me, if you like.

 

[Christine]

I go by that area every day and used to work there. The Econolodge that BuckNaked referred to is no longer an EconoLodge, it is now the Pentagon Inn. Even a few years ago it was fairly seedy (we had some workers stay there) Right across the street is a Best Western. It is not an area where you will get killed, but it is not great either. It is largely immigrant populated there and is not a subway station within walking distance, although I'm confident that Metrobus would stop there. Please give us the name of your hotel.

 

[DancingBear]

I work in Bethesda, MD, which is very close to the northern part of the the Beltway, right on Metro's Red Line, which will take you right to the Zoo and to downtown DC. Check out the rates at Residence Inn, American Inn of Bethesda, and the Holiday Inn here.

I grew up near Springfield, VA, which is at the intersection of I-95 and the Beltway. It's at the end of Metro's Blue Line. Many hotels there (which presumably have shuttles to the Metro stop), safe suburban location, lots of restaurants. Blue Line goes to Arlington Cemetery and eventually to the Smithsonian station downtown, or you can transfer at the Pentagon to the Yellow Line to get right into the heart of tourist territory in DC (probably get off at National Archives/Navy Memorial station).

 

[ohiominnie]

We stayed near Crystal City in ARLINGTON, VA in April. We were at the Hampton Inn on Jefferson-Davis Highway and it was perfect. Crystal City was a short walk and they had lots of restaurants. The Metro was also a short walk and I never felt unsafe (ok, the one time I did but we were walking back to the hotel as a huge storm was coming in.....horrible wind, lightning starting, etc) And the Hampton Inn had a great breakfast every morning to get us started.

Compared to the Pentagon Metro stop the Crystal City stop was two stops farther away from everything, but it was not a big deal. We still got everywhere quickly and efficiently.

Just last night the kids were saying they wanted to bag our annual ski trip (again) so we could go back to DC! They LOVED it!!!!

ETA: I had said Crystal City was in Alexandria. It's in Alrington!

 

[SandraVB79]

Our hotel is the Comfort Inn Pentagon. We don't need any luxury, just clean sheets and towels. I mean, it's always nice to have luxury, but I'm already glad if it's clean

We will probably eat somewhere in Washington, after a day of visiting. I guess there must be some waterfront restaurants, right? We are not looking for any fancy dining experiences. To say it in WDW-terms: we don't need a V&A, but would like a Coral Reef or Kona Cafe, lol! (TG for Disney to compare with!)
That is what we did last year in San Francisco: visit all day, spend the evening eating at Pier 37, 39, whatever pier it was and then took the tram back to the other part of the city where our hotel was (many homeless people in the streets)
I live in Brussels, I'm used to immigrants... they don't scare me as such, as long as they are not known to kill tourists.

Is it necessary to change hotels? In that case I'll have to cancel current reservation and make a new one. We are quite budget conscient. Three weeks in the US is expensive (Disney/LA/DFW/middle-of-nowhere-TX/DC) and both my mom and I had already quite some vacations this year (DL, DLP and WDW!!! ), so we want to do it the budget-way-without-being-really-cheap.

I should have come to the DIS first before making the reservations. This will teach me!

 

[grlpwrd]

You might want to check the reviews at tripadvisor.com, too. Of course, you need to consider that some folks may not be objective for whatever reason, but read the reviews - most are not good. You may want to reconsider. edit: Some reviews also are older.

My family and I always stay at the Renaissance Inn which is right across the street from the Pentagon and next to the mall with a Metro station. They are somewhat pricey, but they feed us and we get a suite.

GL!

 

[Christine]

Our hotel is the Comfort Inn Pentagon. We don't need any luxury, just clean sheets and towels. I mean, it's always nice to have luxury, but I'm already glad if it's clean

We will probably eat somewhere in Washington, after a day of visiting. I guess there must be some waterfront restaurants, right? We are not looking for any fancy dining experiences. To say it in WDW-terms: we don't need a V&A, but would like a Coral Reef or Kona Cafe, lol! (TG for Disney to compare with!)
That is what we did last year in San Francisco: visit all day, spend the evening eating at Pier 37, 39, whatever pier it was and then took the tram back to the other part of the city where our hotel was (many homeless people in the streets)
I live in Brussels, I'm used to immigrants... they don't scare me as such, as long as they are not known to kill tourists.

Is it necessary to change hotels? In that case I'll have to cancel current reservation and make a new one. We are quite budget conscient. Three weeks in the US is expensive (Disney/LA/DFW/middle-of-nowhere-TX/DC) and both my mom and I had already quite some vacations this year (DL, DLP and WDW!!! ), so we want to do it the budget-way-without-being-really-cheap.

I should have come to the DIS first before making the reservations. This will teach me!

I think of know which Comfort Inn you are talking about and it is in the same area as the old EconoLodge and the Best Western I wrote about above. Not 100% sure though. All I can tell you is that on that part of Glebe Road you are not even close to a Metro--it is definitely a few miles. You can "hope" that your hotel has a shuttle. It is also not within walking distance of any restaurants.

I would seriously consider rebooking in either the Crystal City area or Pentagon City area that the other posters above mentioned, although I can tell you that they will be more expensive, but I think worth it.

I was just in Crystal City this past Friday and it is become so much nicer than when I worked there 4 years ago. They have added some wonderful restaurants there.

 

[sk8belle]

You might want to check Travelzoo. They were advertising a great deal at one of the nicer hotels downtown - $99/night. I don't know how that fits in your budget, but tet me see if I can find the email....

Here's the ad: $99 -- Boutique Washington D.C. Hotel, 65% OFF
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=110248824
Source: Hotel Rouge - A Kimpton Hotel


It's located downtown on Embassy Row, so you know it'll be safe and in a decent area. I'm trying to think where this Comfort Inn is, but can't place it. Unless it is the one by 395 that someone else mentioned.

What dates are you in town? Because Restaurant Week is Aug. 14 - 20, so alot of the really nice restaurants (on the level with Kona or Coral Reef )are offering three-course lunches and dinners on a prix fixe basis. The lunches all cost $20.06, and the dinners are $30.06.

 

[SandraVB79]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm going to check with my mom tonight, and then rebook. We'll be in DC from September 8-12, but are already leaving for the US on August 23 (27 more days... I think) DC will be our last stop

 

[DancingBear]

American Inn of Bethesda (Bethesda, MD) is showing rates on Expedia averaging $126/night for a room with two doubles for your dates. It's not the newest hotel, but it's clean and in an excellent location, blocks from many restaurants (Mexican, Greek, Indian, American diner, you name it) and walking distance to two Metro stops (Bethesda and Naval Medical Center, both on the Red Line).

I also see Days Inn Connecticut Avenue in DC ($99), two blocks from a (Red Line) Metro stop. Also lots of restaurants in that area, in an urban but safe and busy area.

 

[caitycaity]

I would seriously consider rebooking in either the Crystal City area or Pentagon City area that the other posters above mentioned, although I can tell you that they will be more expensive, but I think worth it.

i agree with this.

i also agree with dancingbear about bethesda - i would stay there over staying in virginia any day, but then again, i am a marylander.

 

[Christine]

i agree with this.

i also agree with dancingbear about bethesda - i would stay there over staying in virginia any day, but then again, i am a marylander.

No argument from a Virginian here!! I actually stayed in Bethesda for a conference (didn't want to deal with the Virginia to Bethesda traffic for 3 days) and I really enjoyed Bethesda. The only real "drawback" if there is one is that it is a bit longer of a subway trip from Bethesda into the heart of D.C. versus staying around Pentagon City where it is a really short ride. But no big deal. Bethesda is very nice.

 

[caitycaity]

christine - i am impressed. most of my virginian friends act like coming over to maryland is the worst thing they can think of.

 

[BuckNaked]

christine - i am impressed. most of my virginian friends act like coming over to maryland is the worst thing they can think of.

No, driving into DC is the worst thing I can think of...going into MD is a piece of cake.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I would check out Travelzoo as well. We got the Sheraton at Crystal City for 79.00/, except the 1st night was 149.00. It was an o.k. place, no big problems at all. It was clean and the people were friendly. It was across the street from the Crystal City Metro station. I think the location was excellent. I saw on Travelzoo there was a Hylton around that area for a good price.

 

[SandraVB79]

Thank you all for the helpful tips!! Booking the Washington-part of our trip was the hardest one, since 1. I have never been there (except for a layover at Dulles) and 2. there are too many states involved, lol!

The hotel at Disneyland was booked in 2 minutes, the search for one at DC took me two days (and it isn't even a good one). I think that I' going to tell my mom tonight I'm changing it to the Hampton Inn at CrystalCity. As long as we don't need a car, and it's clean and I won't get shot/killed, it's fine for me

Lucky me there's the DIS!!!!

 

[rascalmom]

I just got back from a 2 week stay in D.C. I stressed over hotels too - I wanted something in a nice, safe area without spending a fortune for such an extended stay.

I ended up studying the "betterbidding" and "biddingfortravel" . com websites to get Priceline hints. I bid on a 4 Star in the downtown area & got the Grand Hyatt for $89 a night for 4 nights. I figured I could be okay most anywhere for 4 nights, but I was quite pleased & ended up using Priceline's "extend your stay" option and added on an additional 4 nights.

We spent the first 4 nights at the Hilton Garden Inn - nice hotel and close to the White House. It was pricier - $169 for a King Suite with a twin sized sofa bed in the separate living area. Hope this gives you an idea of DC area pricing. We had originally thought of staying in Alexandria or Crystal City, but we were very glad that we ended up being so convenient to all of the sites.

Grand Hyatt was a great location - you enter the Metro down an escalator from their lobby and that put you at the Metro Center hub with access to multiple Metro lines. The hotel had a quick, inexpensive breakfast place & a good sports bar/burger spot for a quick meal after touring. Their concierge was so very helpful! Beautiful hotel, comfy beds - the type of place I would be willing to go back to even when not trying to "save".

We toured the whole area pretty well while there - I would be comfortable with any of the 4-Star Priceline downtown hotels for location, etc. Let me know if I can help in with any other tips. I did a trip report last week, if you're interested you can search my posts.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thank you all for the helpful tips!! Booking the Washington-part of our trip was the hardest one, since 1. I have never been there (except for a layover at Dulles) and 2. there are too many states involved, lol!

Isn't it funny how easy it is to go to WDW and other places that you know well, but some place like Washington DC is hard if you're not used to the area. I was so confused when we went to NYC since we'd never been with our family--I just wanted to bag it and go to Orlando where I could plan a trip with my eyes closed. Have a great trip--there's so much to see and do here!

 

[sk8belle]

I think that I' going to tell my mom tonight I'm changing it to the Hampton Inn at CrystalCity. As long as we don't need a car, and it's clean and I won't get shot/killed, it's fine for me

Lucky me there's the DIS!!!!

OK, that one I know for certain is in a nice area. It's across the street from the Metro, there are a row of restaurants on 23rd St. just around the corner, Kabob Palace is a great Afghani restaurant if you want to try something new (some of it is REALLY spicy), and Pentagon City Mall is not all that far away either. So that covers all your criteria. :