Washington DC on a budget? Can it be done??

[highwayg]

OP here-
Wow...thanks so much for all the suggestions....I'm feeling almost as overwhelmed as I did when I starting planning my 1st Disney trip!!
Question -what is DCA?

 

[Maddies Mama]

OP here-
Wow...thanks so much for all the suggestions....I'm feeling almost as overwhelmed as I did when I starting planning my 1st Disney trip!!
Question -what is DCA?

DCA = Ronald Reagan airport

I am also feeling very overwhelmed planning for our trip to Washington DC. The problem is we only have 4 full days and we want to do way too much in that time frame. I hate having to leave anything out. It's not likely we'll go back, so this is our one shot

 

[PaulaSue]

Thanks for the thread. I have been wanting to go for a few years and I just got Dh to FINALLY pick a date for a mini vaca.

Now to find a hotel for 5 and start my list of what to see...

 

[disneymomoftwins]

Is it better to go in late March or in June, weather wise and crowd wise?

 

[lwake]

Hi:

We did Washington DC with three kids during April vacation 2010. We stayed in Foggy Bottom at Double Tree Suites for a week. It was connected to the George Washington Univ. area. It was a great hotel. We could see the Watergate out our room window. It had a small kitchen (furnished with dishware), living room area with pull out sofa, and separate bedroom with two queen sized beds. Plenty of room. I believe we paid around $145/night. We saved money by planning to eat breakfast and most dinners in our room. Eating lunch in the museums throughout DC is VERY expensive. We averaged $25 per person for a burger/sandwich, fries, and drink when we ate at the museums. Our hotel was just a block from the metro station. However, we walked and walked and walked everyday to all of the monuments. We are an active family and the love the exercise. Have you investigated tours of US Capitol/White House/Bureau of Engraving. This can be done in advance if you contact your Representative/Senator. We did all tours and loved it! Georgetown Cupcakes is a must do. Again, an easy 10 minute walk from your hotel. DC is affordable and I would recommend staying within the city lines if you can afford it. Seeing Marine 1 take off and all of the monuments at night is so worth staying there. Good Luck and have fun.

 

[Green Tea]

If you are taking kids who are tired on the metro to the zoo, go one station past the zoo/Wardly park station then walk downhill to the zoo. When you leave, walk downhill to the Wardly park station.

 

[jojo0612]

I was reading the 'rules' for these tours. I understand the not bringing food, etc. It also says no backpack or purse, so I'm confused on how I would arrange a tour only carring a drivers license! Any one who has done the tour, please give me some tips. Thanks!

 

[drnp]

Is it better to go in late March or in June, weather wise and crowd wise?

I'd go in March. It can get very hot and muggy in June. It can be uncomfortable with all the walking that one usually does.

 

[NotUrsula]

I was reading the 'rules' for these tours. I understand the not bringing food, etc. It also says no backpack or purse, so I'm confused on how I would arrange a tour only carring a drivers license! Any one who has done the tour, please give me some tips. Thanks!

For the White House, which is the only REALLY strict one, you are allowed to carry a wallet, a phone, glasses, and an umbrella; that is it. Essentially, wear something with pockets, because that is how you will have to carry them, unless you hold them in your hands. (Not all that outrageous, really; men manage with this much every day.) On the other tours you can carry a handbag, but it will be subject to search. (Note that WH tours now require advance security clearance, and the wait list to process than and get into the tour is normally about 6 months out, unless you know someone in government who can pull some strings for you. We have not been since 9/11, because we can't plan trips that far in advance.)

If you are going to the WH, staying in the District is the best option, because you can return to your room to fetch your stuff after the tour. If that isn't an option, the second-best choice is to put all your stuff into one zippered tote bag, then visit the Bell Services desk at one of the (relatively) nearby large convention hotels and check the bag while you do the tour. A generous tip will almost always make this possible, but be aware that almost every hotel in DC will reserve the right to search any bags (or automobiles) that they accept into short-term storage.

Going to the WH with a child in diapers isn't recommended, but if you absolutely have your heart set on going, the only way to manage the diaper issue is to double-diaper the child before the tour begins, because you are not allowed to carry in diapering supplies.

PS: Investing the extra $5 in a SmarTrip card for each visitor can help to save your feet. Unlike the Metro-only visitor passes or regular Metro tickets, SmarTrip cards can be used on the regular city buses in the District and the MD/VA suburbs, and on the DC Circulator buses. (However, be warned that the DC bus route maps are so obscurely drawn that you'll almost need help from a CIA cryptographer to figure out which bus goes where.) On a recent trip my family used buses extensively to supplement the Metro and save a lot of walking; our transit total for a 3.5-day trip was right at about $23/each, plus the $15 we paid up front for the 3 blank SmarTrip cards; we were staying in Pentagon City. (SmarTrip cards are good forever, so if you buy them, keep them, register them, and put them away for the next trip.)

If you plan to stay in the far 'burbs, weigh your hotel cost savings against what your Metro tickets will cost you; trips in from West Falls Church to the Smithsonian stop, for instance, will cost $4.25/pp before 9 am on a weekday.

Also, remember that food tends to be one of your two largest expenses in DC. A hotel that provides a full hot breakfast will give you an avg. food cost savings of $12/pp/day, and if you eat a big breakfast you can often manage to just skip lunch and go straight to an early dinner; also, it saves precious touring time, too. IMO, it is worth it to pay a bit more for your hotel if they feed you. In our family, we value a good hot breakfast buffet at around $50/nt.

 

[novatwinmom]

I live and work in the Virginia suburbs of DC - can I make a different suggestion?

Look into a tour bus. I know, it seems like it would cost more, but consider a few things:

Think about all the walking. Numerous people here have complained about the walking. Then remember that Metro does not serve the Jefferson or FDR memorials - they're both a LONG walk from Foggy Bottom or Smithsonian, which I think are the stops considered closest. And the only way to get to Arlington Cemetery without a car is metro. The Pentagon memorial is in Arlington, but not near the Cemetery entrance. Plus, one of their stops is Pentagon City mall - with a giant food court. Taking care of some of the "where can we eat without walking our feet off" problems. I think Union Station is a stop as well, which also has a food court. National Cathedral is a hike from the closest metro station as well. All are stops on the tour bus loop.

If you get a hop on/hop off tour bus, you'll be transported in an air conditioned bus from place to place, you can get off, see what you like, and get back on.

The one I usually bring out of town visitors on is a big double decker bus - I can't post links yet, try dctours dot us. Look for the picture of the red double decker bus.

Yes, a one day ticket is about $40 per adult, but a two day ticket is about $48 per adult. So that works out to $24 a day, less for kids, under 4 free. If you're staying at a hotel in DC or "close in", they even pick up at your hotel.

We ride the whole route once, just looking at things. Then we ride it around again, getting on and off where we want to see things.

Check the maps and see if they cover everywhere you want to go - I remember it being pretty comprehensive.

Oh, and one more thing. Washington Monument is closed currently due to the earthquake last summer. For a "view of the city" - go to the Old Post Office. Food court in basement (though a small one), great view of the city if you take the elevator to the tower. Another good - though different - view is from Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

[lisalis]

I was reading the 'rules' for these tours. I understand the not bringing food, etc. It also says no backpack or purse, so I'm confused on how I would arrange a tour only carring a drivers license! Any one who has done the tour, please give me some tips. Thanks!

This might be a good day to drive if you have a car. When we did our tour in March over spring break, we parked in the Holiday Inn parking garage ($12 on weekends & $17 during the week). We were able to walk around in the morning before the tour & put all bags in our vehicle after lunch before we headed over for our tour. FYI - there is about a half hour to forty-five minute wait in the line for the tour. Make sure the kids use the bathroom right before, because there is no bathroom for public use while on the tour. My DH ran & got the bags after the tour while the kids & I sat in one of the Smithsonian cafes resting our feet before MORE WALKING. We loved our trip, but I think we even out walked our Disney vacation!

 

[NotUrsula]

I agree, the red bus on/off tour is a fair value if you are wanting to go the places that they serve for two days' touring. (Do NOT confuse this with the Trolley tours, which are horrendously overpriced and overcrowded.)

 

[AnnePTC]

We just got back from a week at DC. We did a tour of White House and Capitol, both scheduled through our senator's office. We have a 14 month old, and so I asked about diapers and the White House ahead of time. We were allowed to bring one diaper and one wipe. I put them in a ziplock back so it could be seen what it was. For the Capitol, I could bring in a diaper bag, as well as food and sippy cup for the baby. We were also allowed to have the stroller at the Capitol. Not the easiest trip getting around with the 14 month old, but we have 2 older children as well so the trip was really for them.

 

[princesspwrhr]

We just got back this evening from a quick weekend tour. Love to hate this southern weather. Friday and Saturday were nice, mid to upper 70s with a peak at 80-81, occasional breeze and sunny. Saturday night we left to go swim at the hotel planning on coming back in the evening to see monuments in the evening. During the 45 minute metro ride (including transfers) the temperature dropped 26 degrees and the promised rain started - and still hasn't stopped! lol So to the person who asked about March or June - June weather will at least be predictable. March and April here in VA and DC area are highly unpredictable, so plan for 80s one day and 40s the next.

And the only way to get to Arlington Cemetery without a car is metro. The Pentagon memorial is in Arlington, but not near the Cemetery entrance.

I agree with the hop on hop off bus idea - but you can walk to the cemetery if you chose too. There is no metro stop there - maybe the buses, but definitely not rail. I was just there this morning. There are wide pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge, and crosswalks behind the Lincoln Memorial. It's just more walking. The parking fee is reasonable at the cemetery though. $1.75 for the first hour $3.75 for 1-2 hours, and I can't remember what it is past that.

It was VERY crowded this weekend, (Think Epcot in June - you can see things, but not well and you're not shoulder to shoulder, but definitely notice the crowd) and there is a LOT of construction going on right now that seriously impacted the flow of foot traffic making the crowds seem heavier. The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial is closed and drained with high construction fences around it, several other monuments had construction fencing around or near them. It seemed that almost everywhere we turned we were being "detoured". It could all be the same project but when you're trying to keep track of 4 kids on bikes in the crowd it was a bit daunting.

Parent tip - If your kids want ice cream coming out of the museums, skip the carts that are set up on the step and go onto the mall. There are refreshment kiosks/buildings. The ice cream, snacks and drinks are cheaper here. Still semi expensive, but you'll pay $2.35 for a bottle of water (aquafina) instead of $3.50 for a bottle of water (dasani) at the independent carts. Enough to make a difference. Plus your ice cream will probably not be melted upon purchase. As for water - there were a couple of people with coolers around the mall hawking water bottles for $1 each.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

The Iwo Jima Memorial is walking distance from the Rosslyn metro stop, and the Netherlands Carillon is quite near that plays sometimes. It is not pretty to look at, but sounds great, and you can sit on the hill and take in the sights. There are concerts on Saturdays May through September.

 

[Luvdancink]

We just booked a hotel room at the omni shorham. It's a few metro stops away from the sites, but we booked a package that includes parking for our stay as well as breakfast each day for each person in the room. This isn't continental breakfast either. This is real food as my family calls it. Something to look into. We paid a little more than I would have pricelined a room for, but including breakfast and parking seemed like such a deal to me that I couldn't resist.

 

[lovemygoofy]

We just got back this evening from a quick weekend tour. Love to hate this southern weather. Friday and Saturday were nice, mid to upper 70s with a peak at 80-81, occasional breeze and sunny. Saturday night we left to go swim at the hotel planning on coming back in the evening to see monuments in the evening. During the 45 minute metro ride (including transfers) the temperature dropped 26 degrees and the promised rain started - and still hasn't stopped! lol So to the person who asked about March or June - June weather will at least be predictable. March and April here in VA and DC area are highly unpredictable, so plan for 80s one day and 40s the next.





I agree with the hop on hop off bus idea - but you can walk to the cemetery if you chose too. There is no metro stop there - maybe the buses, but definitely not rail. I was just there this morning. There are wide pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge, and crosswalks behind the Lincoln Memorial. It's just more walking. The parking fee is reasonable at the cemetery though. $1.75 for the first hour $3.75 for 1-2 hours, and I can't remember what it is past that.

It was VERY crowded this weekend, (Think Epcot in June - you can see things, but not well and you're not shoulder to shoulder, but definitely notice the crowd) and there is a LOT of construction going on right now that seriously impacted the flow of foot traffic making the crowds seem heavier. The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial is closed and drained with high construction fences around it, several other monuments had construction fencing around or near them. It seemed that almost everywhere we turned we were being "detoured". It could all be the same project but when you're trying to keep track of 4 kids on bikes in the crowd it was a bit daunting.

Parent tip - If your kids want ice cream coming out of the museums, skip the carts that are set up on the step and go onto the mall. There are refreshment kiosks/buildings. The ice cream, snacks and drinks are cheaper here. Still semi expensive, but you'll pay $2.35 for a bottle of water (aquafina) instead of $3.50 for a bottle of water (dasani) at the independent carts. Enough to make a difference. Plus your ice cream will probably not be melted upon purchase. As for water - there were a couple of people with coolers around the mall hawking water bottles for $1 each.

Are you saying that the metro doesn't stop at Arlington Cemetary? The blue line stops right in front of the cemetary. Go out and down the stairs and across the street, through the main gates and can catch a tram tour through the cemetary.

For those that want to see the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, get off at the Pentagon stop(blue or yellow line) and come up the escalator. You will turn right and walk down the sidewalk with signs pointing you towards the memorial. It is open to the public with plenty of signs and police on hand to help point the way.

The next stop is Pentagon City Mall or walk across the street. There is lots of choices for food in the Pentagon city area and pretty reasonable. You can also go on down to Crystal city and try your hand there as well with many many choices.

 

[princesspwrhr]

Are you saying that the metro doesn't stop at Arlington Cemetary? The blue line stops right in front of the cemetary. Go out and down the stairs and across the street, through the main gates and can catch a tram tour through the cemetery

Well, that's what my travel weary fingers did type last night. We were in our van and parked- didn't see the metro stop on our way in or out (nor signs for it) and I was focused on mentioning that one _could_ walk to Arlington. I failed to double check the map before submitting or clarify that we didn't see he metro.

 

[KAPTink]

Our family of four splurged on this hotel when we took our trip. There is a metro station within a block, a cafe across the street for reasonable lunch or breakfast, and an great pool. It's gorgeous, and my kids still talk about how it was more fancy than Disney. We had a great experience there.

http://www.omnihotels.com/Home/FindAHotel/WashingtonDCShoreham/SpecialOffers/SitesoftheCity

**This deal includes breakfast for four and trolley passes

 

[bookluvingbabe]

The Tour Mobile is a good deal and their tour guides really know their stuff.

Security rules and procedures can and do change often. I'm never quite sure if it is to keep the police on their toes or if there was a new, credible terror threat that has upped things again.

Don't keep change in your pockets--you'll have to go through the metal detectors again and again. Metal belt buckles are best left at home along with shoes with any steel or metal in them.

Definitely do the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the Capitol.

The local public transit's website is wmata.com . You can calculate routes and prices there.