D.C. questions ADDED A COUPLE

[luvmyfam444]

ok - so like a DUMMY planner I am - I checked the distance of the hotel to D.C. but not the distance from the hotel to the metro station. And wouldn't you know it the hotel we have booked is 3 miles from the Metro!

SOOO - can anyone recommend some Marriotts that are closeish to a Metro (has to be Marriott - we get discount there) - somewhere - the last one I looked at was 8 miles!

I was thinking DC was easy to get around without a car - but that's only if you're already down there...

 

[NotUrsula]

If you want the Alexandria area, the best Marriott would be the Marriott Crystal City; the Crystal City station is in the basement. The Blue and Yellow lines serve that station.

The Key Bridge Marriott is in Rosslyn, technically, and just a block or so from the Rosslyn Metro Station. That station is served by the Blue and Orange lines.

What time are you arriving at BWI? From where I live there are no later flights into DCA, and I actually discovered that it was a huge money saver for me on weekdays to take the evening flight into BWI and stay near the airport. In the morning I catch one of the first MARC trains into Union Station. The trick is that you do have to transfer once again to get a Metro train from Union Station down to Arlington, but for $6 and a swipe of my Metro visitor pass I don't mind. (Be warned that the early MARC trains from BWI to Washington quickly become SRO with commuters as they pass through the MD suburbs. You don't want to be blocking seats with excess luggage -- actually, you want to keep the baggage to the bare minimum ANYTIME you are relying on public transit while travelling.)

On weekends BWI is harder to access. For that I'd take a shuttle or rent a car for a day if there were children involved.

 

[golfgal]

ok - so like a DUMMY planner I am - I checked the distance of the hotel to D.C. but not the distance from the hotel to the metro station. And wouldn't you know it the hotel we have booked is 3 miles from the Metro!

SOOO - can anyone recommend some Marriotts that are closeish to a Metro (has to be Marriott - we get discount there) - somewhere - the last one I looked at was 8 miles!

I was thinking DC was easy to get around without a car - but that's only if you're already down there...

Chances are your hotel has a free shuttle to the metro stop. DC is NOT easy to get around with a car. Use the Metro--it is SIMPLE to navigate and takes you pretty much everywhere you will want to go.

 

[Tina]

The one tip I can give you about the Spy Museum is to NOT go on the weekend. Buy your tickets for a weekday morning. They admit visitors on a timed entry, but on the weekends the crowds are just too much. Expect to plan several hours here. There is a lot to see and its fun for all ages.

Also, you asked earlier about the monument. I believe the tickets for that are also timed, but I'm not sure if you can pick your time when you order tickets. And yes, you do need to order your tickets in advance.

 

[golfgal]

The one tip I can give you about the Spy Museum is to NOT go on the weekend. Buy your tickets for a weekday morning. They admit visitors on a timed entry, but on the weekends the crowds are just too much. Expect to plan several hours here. There is a lot to see and its fun for all ages.

Also, you asked earlier about the monument. I believe the tickets for that are also timed, but I'm not sure if you can pick your time when you order tickets. And yes, you do need to order your tickets in advance.

We went to the Spy Museum and didn't like it at all. I don't think we spent even an hour there.

 

[Tina]

We went to the Spy Museum and didn't like it at all. I don't think we spent even an hour there.

Really? That's too bad. We loved it. There is so much to see.

 

[Christine]

We went to the Spy Museum and didn't like it at all. I don't think we spent even an hour there.

My kids didn't overly care for it either. It is very hit or miss I've noticed when reading postings over the years--it's a love/hate thing.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Chances are your hotel has a free shuttle to the metro stop. DC is NOT easy to get around with a car. Use the Metro--it is SIMPLE to navigate and takes you pretty much everywhere you will want to go.

None of the hotels we've contacted have shuttles -

We are trying to use the Metro - but haven't found the best way yet. I guess our hotel choices are too far out.

 

[luvmyfam444]

If you want the Alexandria area, the best Marriott would be the Marriott Crystal City; the Crystal City station is in the basement. The Blue and Yellow lines serve that station.

The Key Bridge Marriott is in Rosslyn, technically, and just a block or so from the Rosslyn Metro Station. That station is served by the Blue and Orange lines.

What time are you arriving at BWI? From where I live there are no later flights into DCA, and I actually discovered that it was a huge money saver for me on weekdays to take the evening flight into BWI and stay near the airport. In the morning I catch one of the first MARC trains into Union Station. The trick is that you do have to transfer once again to get a Metro train from Union Station down to Arlington, but for $6 and a swipe of my Metro visitor pass I don't mind. (Be warned that the early MARC trains from BWI to Washington quickly become SRO with commuters as they pass through the MD suburbs. You don't want to be blocking seats with excess luggage -- actually, you want to keep the baggage to the bare minimum ANYTIME you are relying on public transit while travelling.)

On weekends BWI is harder to access. For that I'd take a shuttle or rent a car for a day if there were children involved.

I'll check out those hotels - thanks Right now we have several hotels on our list - there's a new Springhill in Alexandria that's not opened yet (supposed to open this month). We have Res Inn in Tysons Corner & Fairfield Inn (Laurel something) & one in Potmac Mills. So I'm trying to get it all figured out. According to their sites most of them have 3+ miles to the Metro

we fly into BWI around 4:00 on a Friday -

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'll check out those hotels - thanks Right now we have several hotels on our list - there's a new Springhill in Alexandria that's not opened yet (supposed to open this month). We have Res Inn in Tysons Corner & Fairfield Inn (Laurel something) & one in Potmac Mills. So I'm trying to get it all figured out. According to their sites most of them have 3+ miles to the Metro

we fly into BWI around 4:00 on a Friday -

The hotel at Potmac Mills has no metro near it. You'll have to take the commuter train (VRE) down to the springfield metro station and then switch to that metro to get to downtown. I would really rethink this one.

Is the Laurel, Laurel, MD? That's quite a bit out from anything you are wanting to see and I'm pretty sure the metro doesn't drive that far out.

I know you are on a budget but really try to find something closer to town like in Old Town, Alexandria, Springfield, Arlington, or Pentagon City.

If you are taking a taxi or super shuttle, make sure you are getting a flat rate and not just paying for time in the car because coming in at 4pm on a Friday you can easily be in traffic for 3 hours or longer coming from BWI.

 

[luvmyfam444]

The hotel at Potmac Mills has no metro near it. You'll have to take the commuter train (VRE) down to the springfield metro station and then switch to that metro to get to downtown. I would really rethink this one.

Is the Laurel, Laurel, MD? That's quite a bit out from anything you are wanting to see and I'm pretty sure the metro doesn't drive that far out.

I know you are on a budget but really try to find something closer to town like in Old Town, Alexandria, Springfield, Arlington, or Pentagon City.

If you are taking a taxi or super shuttle, make sure you are getting a flat rate and not just paying for time in the car because coming in at 4pm on a Friday you can easily be in traffic for 3 hours or longer coming from BWI.

Thanks for the tips. Yep that Laurel one was MD.

We were picking the hotels specifically by the discounts that dh can get thru Marriott & now we are seeing that its just not practical. It looks like it'll be costing us more in the long run to save $. SOOO I think I'm gonna start searching non Marriott hotels now - I'll check out the areas you've mentioned. Though it'll be hard since I'm spoiled on Marriotts - LOL (we used to be roach motel stayers (no ,not really that bad) & then when we moved on up its hard to go back - LOL KWIM?)

So we aren't going to be going against the traffic then? I was thinking everyone may be going away from DC ? Maybe we'll just take a long supper & then head out after 7 then to keep from sitting 3 hours.

 

[golfgal]

If you want to stay in Alexandria, try the Embassy Suites across the street from the King Street Station. It might cost a little more but it includes breakfast so figure that is worth at least $40-50/day. I HIGHLY recommend staying in Alexandria for your stay (there is a lot to do there and the free trolley takes you back and forth).

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thanks for the tips. Yep that Laurel one was MD.

We were picking the hotels specifically by the discounts that dh can get thru Marriott & now we are seeing that its just not practical. It looks like it'll be costing us more in the long run to save $. SOOO I think I'm gonna start searching non Marriott hotels now - I'll check out the areas you've mentioned. Though it'll be hard since I'm spoiled on Marriotts - LOL (we used to be roach motel stayers (no ,not really that bad) & then when we moved on up its hard to go back - LOL KWIM?)

So we aren't going to be going against the traffic then? I was thinking everyone may be going away from DC ? Maybe we'll just take a long supper & then head out after 7 then to keep from sitting 3 hours.

Travelzoo is listing several deals on hotels in the area. Most of them are probably for the weekends as it is cheaper to stay during the weekends around the area. http://hotels.travelzoo.com/washington-dc-hotels/

There are thousands of marriotts in the area. It will be a matter of spending about $140+ depending on location and when you are coming to the area. You are going to pay for location just like any big vacation destination.

I guess technically you will be going against the flow of traffic but you will have to drive through the city to get to NOVA and it can take a while maybe not the 3 hours but I bet about 2 on a good Friday.

 

[luvmyfam444]

If you want to stay in Alexandria, try the Embassy Suites across the street from the King Street Station. It might cost a little more but it includes breakfast so figure that is worth at least $40-50/day. I HIGHLY recommend staying in Alexandria for your stay (there is a lot to do there and the free trolley takes you back and forth).

thanks for the suggestion. They must have some FANCY b'fast there to be worth that much $ LOL Yep, free b'fast is a perk we look for - but poptarts & muffins fo just fine for us too -

 

[bluesaturn]

Hmmm so going from BWI to Alexandria I think you would go straight down 295 (south). And then get on 495 to cross the bridge then take the exit into Alexandria. Google maps says that's an hour normally and up to an hour and 40 minutes in traffic, which sounds about right. I know that going in that direction on a Friday afternoon would actually have less traffic than going north, at least from the airport to about 495.

Laurel, MD is not close to the metro. Your closest metro would probably be a 15 minute drive away. Try the Marriots in Bethesda or Rockville (Maryland). Or the one in downtown Silver Spring looks like it might be within walking distance of the metro. Or you can see if any of the ones in Greenbelt have a free shuttle to the metro. I didn't look at prices. And none of these will be quite as convenient as being in DC.

 

[golfgal]

thanks for the suggestion. They must have some FANCY b'fast there to be worth that much $ LOL Yep, free b'fast is a perk we look for - but poptarts & muffins fo just fine for us too -

Food in DC is REALLY expensive. If you are going to have food in your room, that works. There is a Whole Foods Market in Alexandria, just a couple blocks from the Embassy Suites (they don't have Poptarts though). They do have a nice breakfast buffet.

We ate in our hotel restaurant one morning, nothing fancy at all and it was over $100 for BREAKFAST .

 

[LaraK]

There are a number of Marriotts inside the city. The Wardman Park is a beautiful property. If your husband gets employee rates, I'd highly recommend it. It's walking distance to all kinds of things (including the zoo).

 

[luvmyfam444]

So there's no hotels that discount your stay the longer you stay - huh?

 

[luvmyfam444]

There are a number of Marriotts inside the city. The Wardman Park is a beautiful property. If your husband gets employee rates, I'd highly recommend it. It's walking distance to all kinds of things (including the zoo).

Yes he gets employee rates - but they are limited -thus the problem I'm having figuring it all out

 

[luvmyfam444]

ok - here's the list now...

Bethesda
Dulles Airport
Laurel
W. Falls Church (least expensive one)

the Alexandria choice I have doesn't have all our dates available - we could stick with that one & jump hotels for 2 days if need be