Washington DC area hotel....***Updated 10/18 with picture!!!

[pittsburghmom]

Looking for a nice yet budget place to stay one night (possibly June 25-26) in the Washington DC area for one night. Near the metro would be nice. My 4 siblings and I want to drive down for a quick one night stay to recreate a picture of the 5 of us in front of the white house that was taken over 30 years ago!

 

[PlutoPony]

What a great picture! I'm not sure if you will be able to get that close to the fence in that spot. Due to all the recent fence jumpers, the Secret Service is in the process of trying out different options to keep people from attempting to go over the fence. I know they're trying different things on the Lafayette Park side of the WH but not sure about the other side (where your picture was taken). So just be aware of the possibility that you will need Plan B....but then again, you may be just fine.

As for hotel, I'd post this on the Trip Advisor forums.... they are very good about that kind of thing over there. On the top right corner of the District of Columbia forum there's a link for "Top Questions about the District of Columbia, before asking a question about hotels". If you follow the suggestions there you will get several excellent suggestions by people who really know the area. Also, you may want to ask about the fence situation on Trip Advisor, there are people there who go by there every day (describe it as the side not facing Lafayette Square).

Hope you get a good picture!!

 

[VillainFavs]

It's been a few years, but we stayed at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn @ Key Bridge just across the way in Arlington. It was very, very reasonably priced (at least a few years ago!), just about a block from a Metro station. It had FREE parking which is a huge plus. When you're looking at hotel prices be sure to factor that in. Many hotels will have a lower price but then charge $30 or $40 a night to park there. At the time they even had a free breakfast buffet which was really good.

* Just looked on the website and with a AAA rate, you can get it for about $130 a night.

 

[afan]

We liked the Radisson I think its marked as crystal city. Its right by Reagan airport. Was convient to the metro.

 

[pittsburghmom]

What a great picture! I'm not sure if you will be able to get that close to the fence in that spot. Due to all the recent fence jumpers, the Secret Service is in the process of trying out different options to keep people from attempting to go over the fence. I know they're trying different things on the Lafayette Park side of the WH but not sure about the other side (where your picture was taken). So just be aware of the possibility that you will need Plan B....but then again, you may be just fine.

As for hotel, I'd post this on the Trip Advisor forums.... they are very good about that kind of thing over there. On the top right corner of the District of Columbia forum there's a link for "Top Questions about the District of Columbia, before asking a question about hotels". If you follow the suggestions there you will get several excellent suggestions by people who really know the area. Also, you may want to ask about the fence situation on Trip Advisor, there are people there who go by there every day (describe it as the side not facing Lafayette Square).

Hope you get a good picture!!

Thank you! Good to know about the possible fence issue! I really hope we can do this trip... it would be so much fun!

 

[pittsburghmom]

It's been a few years, but we stayed at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn @ Key Bridge just across the way in Arlington. It was very, very reasonably priced (at least a few years ago!), just about a block from a Metro station. It had FREE parking which is a huge plus. When you're looking at hotel prices be sure to factor that in. Many hotels will have a lower price but then charge $30 or $40 a night to park there. At the time they even had a free breakfast buffet which was really good.

* Just looked on the website and with a AAA rate, you can get it for about $130 a night.

Thanks for the tip! After searching around, this is definitely one of our top contenders. It has just about everything we are looking for: easy access to the metro, free parking, free breakfast....sounds like a great deal to me!

 

[SirDuff]

Thank you! Good to know about the possible fence issue! I really hope we can do this trip... it would be so much fun!

I feel like you cannot quite do it. However, I can walk by this weekend and check it out and get back to you.

 

[pittsburghmom]

I feel like you cannot quite do it. However, I can walk by this weekend and check it out and get back to you.

That's a bummer. I guess we will have to take what we can get. Do they have viewing access completely blocked at the front of the white house or can you no longer sit or stand along the fence? Thank you for the offer to scope it out!! If you are able to, that would be awesome!

 

[SirDuff]

That's a bummer. I guess we will have to take what we can get. Do they have viewing access completely blocked at the front of the white house or can you no longer sit or stand along the fence? Thank you for the offer to scope it out!! If you are able to, that would be awesome!

That's what I don't remember. The area is so crowded that I usually avoid the road right by the fence when walking (and, I'm not really paying attention to the fencing). I'm in that area often, so I'll take a detour soon and report back.

 

[katyjeka]

Can't help with the hotel but wanted to add, super cute picture!! I love the idea, make sure you post the updated picture.

 

[Judique]

Looking for a nice yet budget place to stay one night (possibly June 25-26) in the Washington DC area for one night. Near the metro would be nice. My 4 siblings and I want to drive down for a quick one night stay to recreate a picture of the 5 of us in front of the white house that was taken over 30 years ago!

View attachment 171527

Good luck with the picture! I think you can get it. I think that view is the Portico on the South Lawn looking towards the Ellipse where they put the National Xmas tree - not quite as busy an area as looking in from Pennsylvania Ave. The Pennsylvania Ave side is closer to the White House than the side facing the Ellipse so most people go there.

 

[sparkyboy]

We recently stayed at the Marriott at Rosslyn Key Bridge and it was a short walk (maybe 3 blocks to Metro). Very convenient.

 

[bgirldeb]

We like the Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavillion. The hotel is in the mall/ right on the metro so you don't even have to go outside.

Also, Embassy Suites has a good breakfast, so that figures into the cost/savings, and also free parking.

 

[SirDuff]

Okay, I'm not sure if there was something different this weekend (because of Memorial Day), but you should be able to get the picture (though you might have to be patient to get a clear shot). I took some pictures that I can load later (though maybe I should keep them "hostage" until you promise to post an updated picture

Getting to the fence did involve going through an (open) gate that had a sign saying "No entry. Restriced Area". What I'm not sure about is whether these gates are always open (despite the sign on them) or only open this weekend or only open at specific times (weekends, when Obama isn't home, something else). I took pictures of the set-up. I did try to ask a Secret Service person, but couldn't get her attention (she was just walking by, not standing guard).

 

[damskipi13]

I recently stayed in Crystal City and was able to get a beautiful room at the 4* Renaissance Arlington Capital View for less than $100 using a Priceline deal. I highly recommend using Priceline or Hotwire for situations like this. As long as you pick the right area, Metro access will be easy and you can get a great room for cheap. For instance, pretty much anything in Crystal City or Pentagon City has easy Metro access, but not all of Arlington does.

 

[pittsburghmom]

Okay, I'm not sure if there was something different this weekend (because of Memorial Day), but you should be able to get the picture (though you might have to be patient to get a clear shot). I took some pictures that I can load later (though maybe I should keep them "hostage" until you promise to post an updated picture

Getting to the fence did involve going through an (open) gate that had a sign saying "No entry. Restriced Area". What I'm not sure about is whether these gates are always open (despite the sign on them) or only open this weekend or only open at specific times (weekends, when Obama isn't home, something else). I took pictures of the set-up. I did try to ask a Secret Service person, but couldn't get her attention (she was just walking by, not standing guard).

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to scope things out! We are tentatively planning on the weekend of June 25th, but are still waiting to hear back from the oldest brother for confirmation of his availability. Maybe we will have to hold a cut out picture of his head or something to get the photo lol

 

[Ladcassidy]

The Crystal City/ National Airport area has every major hotel chain in every price range. Discounted rates pop up regularly. Easy metro access to "tourist DC," and plenty to do right near the hotels, too. I live in the area and always steer my visitors that direction.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Just want to let you know that if you're planning a trip to DC and using the Metro system to get around, significant and very disruptive track work will begin in June and will be ongoing throughout the next year.

Although you might not be affected by this because the work will be staggered at different locations, it's possible you will. Metro has provided a schedule of station closures and lines where trains will single track. You might want to take a look at the schedule and if it will impact you have a Plan B ready. Here's a link https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/metro-closures/

 

[SirDuff]

Here are the pictures.

Okay, apparently I'm too stupid to add my pictures. I thought we could now drag-and-drop, but when I try (even just one picture) it tells me that the file is too big. Help?

ETA - I ran by this morning (as I said, I am often the area, just not usually on that street) and the gates were open again (and much less crowded - it was about 8am).

 

[ziravan]

Crystal City Marriott was reasonably priced and has underground access to City Shops underground mall at Crystal City Metro.

Underground direct access to the Metro was convenient.

Plus, if any of your siblings are flying it's I believe 2 quick stops from Reagan (1 or 2).