Medical Study in Washington DC - WWYD?

[SEA333]

Don't rent a car unless you used to crazy city driving. Parking in the city can run $20 per day and parking at metro is not free.

The doubletree in Bethesda is near metro why not stay there an extra day or two and then ask the family if you can stay the rest of the time with them .

There is metro in Springfield but honestly you won't find a hotel within walking distance. During the week your uncle could drop you at the pentagon city metro and pick you up in the evening at Springfield metro

Springfield is a big place. If you give me a street I can be more helpful - lived there for a long time and still live nearby
Once you are in DC there are a ton of free things to do. Check travelzoo and goldstar for discounts
Depending on time if year a Nats came can be fun and cheap

There are a ton of places to shop and eat in Bethesda for your time there. NIH is on the bus line and metro is close. You can get into the city pretty quickly from there

You should have a great trip!

I wonder if there might be hotels *somewhere* along that line? We don't necessarily have to stay in Springfield if we can get there easily from a stop or two away. They live near 495 and 95/395? I don't know the area at all, so I'm just looking at google maps. South of 495, west of 95

 

[SEA333]

I wonder if there might be hotels *somewhere* along that line? We don't necessarily have to stay in Springfield if we can get there easily from a stop or two away. They live near 495 and 95/395? I don't know the area at all, so I'm just looking at google maps. South of 495, west of 95

Sorry....now that I look at the map again, it looks like most of springfield meets that criteria! Lol

Rolling road and old keene mill road sound better?

 

[Dayton Flyer]

Even with DH's corporate discount, I am still looking at $65/day for a standard cat rental.

I've got one you can have for much less than $65/day that I would consider the "Deluxe" model. He comes when you call him and only costs about a dollar a day to feed. Scratching posts optional but recommended.

 

[SEA333]

I've got one you can have for much less than $65/day that I would consider the "Deluxe" model. He comes when you call him and only costs about a dollar a day to feed. Scratching posts optional but recommended.

Haha...I have a free one, too. But he is a fuel loving, extra large capacity, supersized model that pretty much only starts up at night and early morning to loudly request more fuel. We don't have to worry about a scratcher....apparently the underneath fabric of our boxspring works perfectly!

 

[danygirl]

Metro goes to doc from Springfield

Bethesda has good metro access and lots of shops theatre and restaurants

Stay a few days in the double tree then stay with the relatives

Believe me, unless you drive la or ny or Chicago you don't want go drive DC. Parking is high and traffic is unique here

I would move to the uncles for the last day or so. If you stay with him earlier he can drop you at pentagon city metro on his way in and meet you back there after or pick you up in the eve at Springfield metro

Hotels are not near the metro in Springfield

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

How much sightseeing are you planning to do vs how much time do you plan to spend with your uncle? Are there specific things you want to do? If you don't want to sightsee to much, I think Old Town Alexandria is perfect. If you do want to go to the Smithsonian/Monuments a couple days, I'd stay closer to downtown. I don't know, I guess you could still do monuments during the day and go back to Alexandria for dinner and stuff, the monuments are just so pretty at night.

 

[distherapy]

Ditto Old Town Alexandria. So much to see and do right there. You can access the metro very easily.

 

[danygirl]

Your uncle lives right near my brother. This is not really near the metro. Houses in that area are large enough that he should have room for you if he only has one child.

I would stay in Bethesda and go in and out of the city from there - you will be very close. www.metroopensdoors.com can help you plan your travels.

Then spend a day or two with the family, and ask them to pick you up in Bethesda. non rush hour this is less than a thirty minutes drive, and pretty direct - just circle the beltway. The doubletree is very near metro and the rates are right around $100 per night.

When you ride metro, buy a plastic fare card the first day, it saves you $1 per trip and pays for itself. The metro is not cheap but it is convenient and usually cleaner than the subway in most other cities. There are big maps in each station and the station master can help you as well. There are big maps inside each rail car, and honestly the folks in the DC metro area are pretty friendly and helpful. DH once went an hour out of his way to help someone who spoke no English find their embassy. Just make sure you stay to the right if you are standing on the escalator!

Right now travelzoo and goldstar have deals on a number of tours and tour buses at good prices.

 

[SEA333]

Metro goes to doc from Springfield

Bethesda has good metro access and lots of shops theatre and restaurants

Stay a few days in the double tree then stay with the relatives

Believe me, unless you drive la or ny or Chicago you don't want go drive DC. Parking is high and traffic is unique here

I would move to the uncles for the last day or so. If you stay with him earlier he can drop you at pentagon city metro on his way in and meet you back there after or pick you up in the eve at Springfield metro

Hotels are not near the metro in Springfield

We live 15 miles west of Chicago, so I hear you on big city traffic! Its a nightmare at best. Luckily I drive further west for work so its not so bad, but DH drives north past Ohare airport, so its pretty much crazy traffic no matter what time of day/night. Although I did realize that I have turned into an aggressive chicago driver when I went down to Nashville for business...I was thrilled that everyone kept moving out of my way on the freeway until I realized that it was *me* driving like a crazy chicago person. I had to remember to slow it down a little!! Lol and the worse thing is...I've only lived in Illinois for 4 years...I come from Michigan! City driving teaches you really fast how to protect yourself! But I still hate driving in the city, so the Metro sounds great to me.

 

[bridgie04]

Travelzoo has the Days Inn on Connecticut Avenue for $100 a night. Great location directly across from a metro on the Red Line, and easy to get to NIH/Bethesda, and all the tourist sites downtown. I live in the neighborhood. There is grocery, starbucks, restaurants, etc. all in the very immediate vicinity.