DC budget hotel??

[NotUrsula]

Which is the best metro stop to get off in DC for the tourist attractions?

That depends on which attraction you are visiting at the time. For the Smithsonian museums on the South side of the Mall, Smithsonian is usually the closest, but for those on the North side of the Mall, it would depend on which one. (I'm trying to do this from memory, not the map, so don't hold me to these next ones, LOL.) Federal Triangle is closest to American History, while Archives is closest to Natural History, the Archives and the Spy Museum. For the Capitol, Capitol Hill, for Nat'l Geographic, probably Metro Center. For Chinatown, Gallery Place/Chinatown. WMATA has an attractions overlay map on their website that shows major attractions in juxtaposition to the Metrol Map.

The monuments are not really close to a Metro station. The two closest are Smithsonian (for the Wash. Monument), and Arlington Cemetery (for Lincoln and Veterans), but either way you are facing a hike. (Also, from the cemetery you have to cross several VERY busy roads to get to the monuments area).

Another good possible hotel for you might be the Hampton Suites in Crystal City; the rooms are HUGE and have a good kitchen, breakfast is included, and last I checked, parking is <$15/nt. It is about a 4-block walk to the Crystal City metro.

Honestly, your best bet to save money at that time of year is on food. Since you are driving, it would be a good idea to freeze dinners ahead of time and bring them with you for dinner in your room. Lunch at the food trucks is probably your best bet in the attractions areas, or in the various federal building food courts, such as at the Reagan Bldg. Brown-bagging while touring can be a problem sometimes, as many attractions do not allow you to carry in food.

 

[irishsharon]

Living Social website has some good deals for D.C right now

 

[lukenick1]

How about a DCA airport hotel? Those seem nice, have free parking/breakfast and shuttles to metro. Would that be convenient? Maybe even find one with decent restaurants nearby for dinner.

 

[Eureka]

Which is the best metro stop to get off in DC for the tourist attractions?

When we do museums and monuments, if we don't drive in, we get off at Archives/Navy Memorial (on the green line), which is a short walk to the Mall with the Smithsonians. From there, you can do a kind of wandering walk around the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln, Jefferson and FDR Memorials. The WWII Memorial is not really near any Metro that I can tell. Be prepared for a good walk...if you do a loop from the Mall down toward Jefferson Mem and around the Tidal Pool, you'll be logging some miles. And that area is crazy busy when the cherry blossoms are out. If you have nice weather (preferably spring or fall when it's not hot), it's a really nice day out.

 

[lukenick1]

Is it ok to drive in or easier to use metro??

 

[Eureka]

Is it ok to drive in or easier to use metro??

Metro is easier if you don't know the city and won't cost quite as much. Parking near the monuments is practically non-existent. There is some parking on the Mall near the museums but you have to get there before 10am to get a spot. And actually, this past year they have been doing construction on the Mall and lots of the spots have been blocked off. We usually park in a garage near 7th street/ Chinatown because it's near one of my DH's offices (he's a gov't contractor) and we know how to get around from there. But it can be a walk to the museums, pricey, and fills up when there are events at the Verizon Center.

 

[NotUrsula]

How about a DCA airport hotel? Those seem nice, have free parking/breakfast and shuttles to metro. Would that be convenient? Maybe even find one with decent restaurants nearby for dinner.

Most of the hotels billed as Reagan/Nat'l (DCA) airport hotels are in Crystal City, across the highway from the airport. It is quite close in, and the Metro ride to the majority of attractions is under 20 minutes. No Metro pass surcharges for this area; it is in the central zone.

 

[PlutoPony]

Is it ok to drive in or easier to use metro??

Would not recommend driving in during the week, parking can be difficult to find and rush hour traffic is challenging at best. And the week of Cherry Blossom is even more difficult than usual with an excess of busses in town bringing groups / group tours in..... It's a mess driving around downtown that week!

 

[momof1princess]

OP, i don't know much about washington DC, but this hotel gets great reviews, and the price isn't bad at all for what you get (free parking, free breakfast, free wi-fi).

maybe someone who knows the area can determine whether or not it's close to the metro.

http://www.priceline.com/hotel/hote...0a364a050a20130126030442fd6020230199&plf=PCLN

 

[wishesuponastar]

OP - last August we stayed at Comfort Inn in Springfield. I think our rates were $99 one night, $109 for two nights. They had a shuttle to the metro and it was about a 20 minute ride into DC. I read on this thread that Alexandria is closer than Springfield but I wonder by how many minutes closer on the metro. I loved the Comfort Inn, free breakfast and parking and it was near a Mall that had Target which was convenient since we forgot a few things. The Mall was under renovation though so it was closed except for the Target.

Plus we found restaurants in the area easily with our GPS. Fridays, 5 guys, Pizza. We tended to eat dinner about 8pm so after we toured DC. We had a great time.

Have a fun trip!

 

[lukenick1]

OP, i don't know much about washington DC, but this hotel gets great reviews, and the price isn't bad at all for what you get (free parking, free breakfast, free wi-fi).

maybe someone who knows the area can determine whether or not it's close to the metro.

http://www.priceline.com/hotel/hote...0a364a050a20130126030442fd6020230199&plf=PCLN

your link didn't bring up a hotel.....

 

[faith]

Don't forget to check your local bookstore for a 2013 DC guide book.
when we planned our trip, I purchased one small enough for my purse, and it had a great, removable metro guide/map.
Our hotel had a special promotion.
Free breakfast(always have that)' but added free parking.
Over $200@ night but not by much.
Food was expensive, so buffet breakfast helped start the teenage grandkids, really all of us, off to a good day. ( Embassy Suites) Alexandria, Old Town, metro across the street.

 

[lukenick1]

We finally settled on a hotel. We chose the Holiday Inn Express Alexandria Fort Belvior. Free breakfast, free parking, free shuttle to metro and the price was right.

 

[momof1princess]

your link didn't bring up a hotel.....

sorry! i checked it when i posted it and it worked! i'd tell you the name if i could remember it, but my memory sucks. congrats on choosing your hotel!