Info on hotel in DC

[DMRick]

Hi, Our family (10 0f us) are going to DC the end of August. Couldn't pass up the Ding rate of $25 each way, and we have a friend who works for the Smithsoneon, who offered to do a tour for us. We will be flying into BWI. I'm looking for a reasonable hotel, perhaps one with a shuttle from the airport, and near the train into DC (does the train go to the same place as the metro?). Or perhaps a hotel closer to DC, within close distance to the Metro parking lot. We have driven right into DC, but were told, since 9/11, parking is scarce. Looking for any and all info. Thanks in advance!

 

[caitycaity]

I'm looking for a reasonable hotel, perhaps one with a shuttle from the airport, and near the train into DC (does the train go to the same place as the metro?).

don't stay near the airport. getting into dc everyday will be a major pain.

the train from bwi (it's at the airport) to downtown dc will take you to union station and you can catch the metro from there.

i would recommend you find a hotel in dc or somewhere in the suburbs near a metro. bwi is pretty far away from dc.

 

[DMRick]

Thanks..and that's why I posted here...hoping to get some hotel suggestions. Renting a car is no biggy, but not knowing the area near DC, I'm hoping someone will have some hotel names. We haven't flown into BWI before, but the savings pushed us to it! I know it's 38 miles away, so it looks like it would be smarter to stay closer.
Doris

don't stay near the airport. getting into dc everyday will be a major pain.

the train from bwi (it's at the airport) to downtown dc will take you to union station and you can catch the metro from there.

i would recommend you find a hotel in dc or somewhere in the suburbs near a metro. bwi is pretty far away from dc.

 

[caitycaity]

the airfare you got was phenomenal!

in terms of specific hotels, i know several people here have stayed at the loews l'enfant plaza and been happy. i personally have never stayed there, but i have walked through it before and it looks nice enough.

my personal favorite is the river inn. http://www.theriverinn.com

other than that, the neighborhoods outside of the city (if you wanted to save some money) that i would suggest are the friendship heights area (dc/md border), bethesda, md, and rosslyn, va.

 

[mouseclick1]

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year. Like Loews L'Enfant Plaza, it is connected to a Metro station. You can get to the Metro from the hotel without having to walk outside. It was within walking distance to the White House, Ford's Theater and the Spy Museum. We actually walked back from the mall to our hotel, though it was a really loooong walk and we were dragging by the time we got back!

 

[coach4448]

You may also want to consider the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Great location near
the Metro and only a few blocks from the National Zoo.

 

[RadioFanatic]

we stayed at the Hyatt Regency near the Capital last October - got it on Priceline for $55 a night - we loved it!

 

[DMRick]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Anyone know if there is parking (free or otherwise) at these hotels? I'm also waiting to hear back from Cherry Hill Campground. It's a long shot that a few rentals would be available, but I figured I would ask.

 

[Jeafl]

Last year we stayed at 3 different hotels in DC, and all three were great.

We stayed at the Radisson on P Street which had HUGE rooms, and was a very short walk to the metro (about 1.5 blocks). The pool was just ok, but it was convenient to many shops and restaurants.

The Courtyard by Marriott Northwest was also very nice, and also had a great location within a short walk to the metro.

Loews L'Enfant Plaza was right on top of a metro station, and a small mall as well. This place was very nice and had a great pool, but your dining options were a little more limited. If you didn't want to eat in the hotel you had to either get on the metro or drive somewhere, with the exception of a couple of very expensive seafood restaurants. You are pretty much across the street from the Smithsonian, and about a 10 minute walk to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Holocaust Muserum here so the location was really good.


I would recommend any of the hotels really. We saw pretty much everything there is to see in DC that week, and never had a problem with walking or the metro.

If you have any specific questions, just PM me.

 

[DMRick]

Hi..this is no longer a Lowe's, and they said they couldn't give me the new name

 

[DMRick]

bump

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Anyone know if there is parking (free or otherwise) at these hotels? I'm also waiting to hear back from Cherry Hill Campground. It's a long shot that a few rentals would be available, but I figured I would ask.

You won't find free parking anywhere! Even if you are staying at the hotel (I got a great rate at the Grand Hyatt for about $70 p/n during Cherry Blossom festival with Priceline) plan to spend about $20-25 p/d parking fee.

My DH just parked the car, and left it the entire time we were there. Since we never moved it, he haggled with the parking garage manager and they knocked off $20 (or one day) off the price.

The campground is pretty far from the metro. You would have to get a ride to the metro stations and then use the metro.

 

[DMRick]

We've been at the campground before. I thought it was pretty close. They also have a free shuttle to the metro, but if I remember right, we drove to the metro and paid $1 for parking and took it into DC. I'll be calling them back tomorrow, since they didn't get back to me, to see if they have a cabin available, and I'll be sure to ask. It has been a while, so maybe that wasn't the campground that was close to the metro.

Editted to add, the website says the metro (there is a bus) is 2 miles. It's a city bus, so I'm sure the price is reasonable. Appears the campground doesn't run a free shuttle. The grayline (tours also comes to the campground). I hope we can get a place there..so much easier! And no cost for parking at the campground, so it's more savings. We camp, so we would be comfortable in a campground setting.

 

[Cindy B]

I remember we had a conference in DC. One set of conference participants wound up in that campground. This family stated that they felt "out of touch" with others since they were so far. Yes, on the map it wasn't that far, but in realm of the goings on and the things to do in the city it was far. I hope that makes sense.

At the grand hyatt, I was able to go down one escalator (no bus, tram, transfer or going out of the hotel) and be on the metro to the various events at the conference. This other family had to plan to make the transfer, bus, shuttle or whatever it was. I seem to remember they had to take a Metro to the stop where the bus was transferring.

This family said they were saving money "on paper" by camping, but the timing and such was such a hassle.

Remember there is longish line for the monuments for everyone to go through security. For normal people walking there is about a 1/2 hour to an hour wait for security. (At least this is what it was our last trip last year) So to not only plan the transfer stuff but then to go to security, its a whole lot of hassle.

Its much easier to be in town. It truly is. I bid on Convention Center and got the Grand Hyatt.

 

[DMRick]

We aren't going to a conference, and the entire family will be together wherever we stay, so I don't think any of us will be out of touch LOL! I appreciate your concern, but we plan on getting into DC early in the morning, wherever we stay, and the timing should be fine, since the metro comes often. Once we get to whatever we are doing for the day, we'll have securtiy to deal with in any case, and it won't take long to get into DC. One full day will be our private tour, and we'll be driving direct to employee parking for that (some of our security will be taken care of in advanace) and we expect the quick drive to the metro (if we get cabins) and a quick ride on the metro won't bother us. We can drive the 2 miles over (we'll need to for parking, and take the metro in. Won't take much more time than the walking you did.
In any case, I haven't heard from the campground, which is what we all prefer, so I am also looking into hotels. Weather wise, we want the ability to last minute cancel, so I prob won't be bidding for our three rooms.
I'm actually looking for opinions on hotels, as far as how nice they are, but if we decide to stay at the campground (if they have cabins available), we'll be very happy there...we've never had a bad vacation yet. Our family is very easy going, and sitting around at night ending the day with a campfire, is a perfect vacation for us.
As far as saving money on paper..we won't be in any case. The cabins are within $10 of the Radison. We are just hoping we can stay there..it's an awesome campground.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I just went to DC in May. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Capitol, which is a 5 minute walk from the Air and Space and a 2-3 minute walk from the Metro. I got a terrific rate of $120 a night, when it normally goes for over $200. It was a last minute trip, so I only booked about 3 weeks out. Also, it was a Thurs-Mon trip, and the weekend rates were cheaper. I highly recommend it. The location was perfect for us. We didn't have a car, so I don't know about parking costs. If you're flying in, not sure why you need a car at all?? We used Supershuttle to get from BWI, but only because we weren't familiar with BWI. Next time we will definitely take the train (MARC) from BWI to Union Station and the Metro from there as someone mentioned. We were Metro champs by the end of the trip. Any questions, let me know. It's all pretty fresh in my mind still. It was a great trip!

 

[PlutoPony]

If you're planning to drive to a metro station, the method for paying for parking at the stations has changed in the last year. The metro parking lots will no longer accept cash to park there, you MUST us a SmarTrip card in payment. Metro Parking . They can be ordered in advance of your trip I believe.... Also, some metro parking lots fill up with commuters every day and may not have many empty parking places for "tourists". Add to that normal morning rush hour traffic and staying w/i walking distance of a metro stop might be much easier. Sorry I can't help you with specific hotels however...
Have a good trip wherever you stay!

 

[Renysmom]

You can look at any of the Marriott Chains or Holiday Inn chain hotels in Vienna, Springfield, Chantilly or Centreville VA.. Almost all offer complimentary shuttle service to a metro station and you can park the car at the hotel, use the shuttle, which allows you to avoid traffic hassles (and they are everywhere) and use the metro to travel around.. Many of our business travelers do this when they decide to stay in DC for the weekend. Just call and ask or check their websites. Often, but not always rates are lower..

Also, know that DC in August is oppresively hot and humid.. Bring very light colored clothing that is extremely light weight, plenty of sunscreen and be prepared to sweat, even a short walk from one museum to another is very uncomfortable. Security is tight everywhere and most museums have short lines to get in as your completely inspected before entry.. Also, contact your senators office to obtain special tours by his/her staff of the Capital.

If you stay near the Dulles Airport area, the new extension to the Air and Space museum is now open, no charge except parking and everyone is talking about how great it is.

Enjoy

 

[DMRick]

Thank you, this is perfect info. I had asked a friend who flys into BWI about ways to get into DC, and they said there wasn't any from this airport. I then asked at a couple of the hotels I called, and they too said there wasn't a way in from BWI. It's good to know there is. If we don't get the cabins, then the train would be perfect...and we can cancel the rental cars. Can you tell me more about the supershuttle? I dont' understand what it is. There will be 10 of us, would that be better? Do you know the price? Does both the shuttle and the train go right to the metro?

I did get a pm from someone who said we had to be very careful where we pick, since a lot of DC is not safe for walking at night. Did you feel uncomfortable at all? On our last two trips, one was a tour from the dad of the person offering this years tour (he worked at the White House) and the other was from the campground.

Yes, I'm expecting very hot weather, but we hope to be inside a lot. That week was suggested to us, because the DC kids are back in school, and ours are not, so the crowds would be a tad lighter. Again, it's why we had hoped to have cabins at the campground. We can gather at night around the campground pool and a campfire (we had them last week in 90 degree weather, so I imagine we would in August too LOL). If we are in a hotel, we would break up to go to our rooms, and not have a place to visit into the late night (kids can go to bed while we visit outside). Since she didn't call me back, I'm sure I'll be spending more time with hotels tomorrow, once I call them back.
Air and Space Museum is high on everyones list..does the metro or train go there? Also, do I remember right that their is a Holocaust Museum. And since my son in law's dad is listed on the Vietnam Memorial, (and we've invited his mom to join us), some time will be spent there.

Thanks all, for the great suggestions and ideas, as well as answers to transportation issues. At least if we do stay in a hotel, we know we can get there from BWI.

If you're flying in, not sure why you need a car at all?? We used Supershuttle to get from BWI, but only because we weren't familiar with BWI. Next time we will definitely take the train (MARC) from BWI to Union Station and the Metro from there as someone mentioned. We were Metro champs by the end of the trip. Any questions, let me know. It's all pretty fresh in my mind still. It was a great trip!

 

[DMRick]

I got a terrific rate of $120 a night, when it normally goes for over $200. It was a last minute trip, so I only booked about 3 weeks out. Also, it was a Thurs-Mon trip, and the weekend rates were cheaper. I highly recommend it.

Thanks..I see this is just $99 a night for us, so it's now high up on the list! Did you like the neighborhood? Did you use the pool? I think it said rooftop. Is it a good gathering place for the evening?
I looked up the super shuttle, and I'm going to call them tomorrow for a quote for teh 10 of us. Thanks for that info too. It sounds like they take you right to your hotel.