Washington,DC on a budget for a fam of 6?

[Iott Family]

Our last trip to Dc was 2009 and it was not very budget friendly. We would like
to squeeze in a budget friendly trip this March/April.

Last trip we stayed at the Embassy Suites, parking was $40/day, we had to walk 4 blocks to the nearest metro, which was more $$, and by the 5th or 6th hour of sight seeing we were exhausted and still had to walk back to the metro towing 4 kids, and from the metro, back to the hotel. Not to mention the cost of feeding 6 of us lunch and dinner! Of course I had snacks to keep us fueled but we still needed to eat a square meal!

We will be driving, so we will have a vehicle so driving in from the outskirts is not an issue. We can easily park at Union Station. We did not discover this until halfway thru our last trip when we used a tourist bus to catch a few sights on a very rainy day. It sure beat walking from Lincoln Memorial to The Mall!! We have decided to do this, because we were able to jump on and off the bus at will and weren't on a "schedule". So, thats my first budget saver! I have also researched and many hotels on the outskirts offer free parking on property. That's another budget saver because $40x5days added up fast on top of the $275/night hotel rate.......

Id like to keep our trip in the $1500-$2000 range for 6 of us. That's two adults, a 17 and 15 yr old teenager, and 9 and 7 year old child.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[I married a king]

Last time we were going to Washington Dc we stayed in Largo Maryland at a Hampton inn. The hotel has an indoor pool, free hot breakfast and a free shuttle that will take and pick you up at the metro station. We just tipped the driver a few dollars. When you get back to the metro just call the hotel and they will send the driver to pick you up. Longest wait we had was maybe 5 min. The metro was on the red line and it was the very last stop. Once on the metro is was something like 20 min into the city. Hope this helps.

 

[mom2t]

We stayed at Hawthorne Suites in Alexandria. Free hot buffet breakfast and Mon.- Thurs. Dinner included with 1 entree, salad and desert. Shuttle to metro and back free and free parking. We had a suite with Lroom with sleeper sofa, small seperate kitchen, droom table for 6 bathroom and bedroom with 2 double beds. We went Easter week with cherry blossom week too and I know it was around 150 a night. Would definitely stay there again.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We stayed in Arlington last time we went. We could walk to the meto which we used the whole trip, buying the muti-day passes. We took our own breakfast foods; muffins, cereal, juice etc and ate breakfast in the room. We carried water with us and just bought a light lunch from where ever we were at lunch time. Food is the biggest expense in DC. Dinner time we ended up doing Hotel delivery almost every night. We were with another family and we had some pretty young kids and they were soooo tired after a day of touring and there were really not any good food choice without taking the metro back into town. We did pizza, wings, Chinese etc. It really worked out fine. We had our own drinks and dessert we brought with us. It really was not an expensive trip.

 

[Ladcassidy]

I recommend staying in Crystal City, which is the area around National Airport (it's also called South Arlington, Virginia). Every hotel chain is represented, restaurants are plentiful (enjoy the local scene on 23rd street), shopping is nearby, and you have easy access to downtown DC by car, taxi, metro or bus. You can even see the monuments from many hotel rooms.

 

[luvmyfam444]

what helped our budget tremendously was taking a suitcase full of food. (we flew). We stayed in 2 hotels (prices changed so we moved) and neither hotel had free b'fast.

We had b'fast in the hotel & then packed 1 meal to take with us. We carried a backpack cooler & ate one meal on the mall everyday. Then we ate out the other meal....eating out meant 5guys, hotdog stand, crystal city & ate @ the capitol one day.

I planned out the food so we did not eat the same thing everyday

 

[lisalis]

We stayed on Andrew's Airforce base since my nephew is stationed there, so I'm sure that's not an option for you; but having a suite with fridge is a huge plus. We had breakfast and packed picnic lunches for our busy sight seeing days. It not only saved money, but was fun to find a spot to take a break and have our lunch among the beautiful monuments & sights. In the evenings we ate out or ordered pizza & laid around the room to re-energize.

 

[Swimalie]

For parking, another option, especially on the weekends is to park in the Reagan Bldg. It's half way down and 1 block over from the mall. You just have to show id and they will briefly inspect your car but other than that, it's easy parking. We have lived here for 6 years and haven't taken Metro yet since we can drive to DC and park at Reagan cheaper and easier.

 

[ktrask]

My husband and I had a great trip there in July last year. I prepaid for a room at the holiday inn key bridge, and it was under $100 a night with tax included. We are priority club members (free) so we got free breakfast every morning. The hotel was great (even got upgraded to a suite since it was our wedding anniversary). Breakfast was good, it has free parking, an indoor pool, a 5 minute walk to the metro, and Arlington National Is super close by.

We had a great experience with that hotel. I can't say enough good things about it.

We paid for no tours in DC, so that was huge...every activity we did outside of food was free. You should also contact your congressman as soon as you know dates and see what tours you can get on!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Last April, I won a 2 bed condo at Wyndham National Harbor on Ebay for $550 for 1 week. Great resort, full kitchen. You can try ebay or redweek.com

 

[North of Mouse]

For parking, another option, especially on the weekends is to park in the Reagan Bldg. It's half way down and 1 block over from the mall. You just have to show id and they will briefly inspect your car but other than that, it's easy parking. We have lived here for 6 years and haven't taken Metro yet since we can drive to DC and park at Reagan cheaper and easier.

Would be anxious to know if you park in the Reagan Bldg. during the week (didn't know this was possible)??

We lived in Gaithersburg, MD for several years, took the red line metro from Shady Grove to inner city - was very painless.

Since moving though, we stay south of the city in the Prince William Travel Park (we're campers), drive to the Springfield/Franconia exit and catch the Metro there. We miss the worst of the traffic. There are also hotels in the area.

So, either way OP, to get the better rates (not have to pay to park at hotel) you would need to stay a ways out of the city, but where you can park and catch the metro. Driving, and finding a place to park in DC is a *pain* and free parking is almost nil. Quite frankly, we don't like to take our car into DC and leave it anywhere - would rather take the metro.

As for a *budget* trip, I would truly be interested to see just what you can do. I don't consider it a very *budget* friendly area, but good luck to you.

 

[chisnpeke]

We stayed in TownePlace Suites in Falls Church, Virginia. Great hotel and pretty easy driving access to D.C.

 

[chrissy92972]

In June 2011 we stayed at the Homewood Suites in Falls Church, Va. It was an easy drive from NE PA where we live, so no city driving. It is not far from the Tyson's Corner Mall which is huge and has many restaurants.

We are a family of 6. We had a 1 bedroom suite, full kitchen. Awesome free breakfast and on weeknights they have free dinner.

It has an indoor pool.

It has a free shuttle to the Dunn Loring Metro on the Orange Line. It is a few blocks down the road, not really walkable though because of traffic.

We were there a week and purchased the week long metro card. I think it was $45 a person, but unlimited rides and anytime riding. Parking was around $4 at the metro during the week, but free on weekends.

Hotel had free parking.

Chrissy

 

[Swimalie]

Would be anxious to know if you park in the Reagan Bldg. during the week (didn't know this was possible)??

I have parked there on a weekday. The only drawback is that only the partial-valet spots are open so you do have to tip as well as pay to park. On weekends, most spots are open and are self park.

 

[ErinC]

Last April, I won a 2 bed condo at Wyndham National Harbor on Ebay for $550 for 1 week. Great resort, full kitchen. You can try ebay or redweek.com

We also stayed in a 2 bedroom at the Wyndham National Harbor. I paid more than $550, I think it was more like $1200, but still felt like we got our monies worth. Loved the area. We drove to the Metro and parked each morning. The name escapes me, but it was the end of the yellow line. We would ride the metro in and did mostly free tours. I felt like that outweighed what we spent in food. We did do the monuments by night tour with DC tours and loved it. It was money well spent and the monuments were beautiful at night.

 

[North of Mouse]

I have parked there on a weekday. The only drawback is that only the partial-valet spots are open so you do have to tip as well as pay to park. On weekends, most spots are open and are self park.

Thanks

 

[Teacher03]

My husband and I had a great trip there in July last year. I prepaid for a room at the holiday inn key bridge, and it was under $100 a night with tax included. We are priority club members (free) so we got free breakfast every morning. The hotel was great (even got upgraded to a suite since it was our wedding anniversary). Breakfast was good, it has free parking, an indoor pool, a 5 minute walk to the metro, and Arlington National Is super close by.

We had a great experience with that hotel. I can't say enough good things about it.

We paid for no tours in DC, so that was huge...every activity we did outside of food was free. You should also contact your congressman as soon as you know dates and see what tours you can get on!

ITA...my DD lives in DC and we always stay at The Holiday Inn at Rosslyn. It is close enough to the Metro and a short walk across Key Bridge to Georgetown. Some rooms are nicer than others but all are very clean. You can't beat free parking.

 

[Iott Family]

In June 2011 we stayed at the Homewood Suites in Falls Church, Va. It was an easy drive from NE PA where we live, so no city driving. It is not far from the Tyson's Corner Mall which is huge and has many restaurants.

We are a family of 6. We had a 1 bedroom suite, full kitchen. Awesome free breakfast and on weeknights they have free dinner.

It has an indoor pool.

It has a free shuttle to the Dunn Loring Metro on the Orange Line. It is a few blocks down the road, not really walkable though because of traffic.

We were there a week and purchased the week long metro card. I think it was $45 a person, but unlimited rides and anytime riding. Parking was around $4 at the metro during the week, but free on weekends.

Hotel had free parking.

Chrissy

Chrissy,

Thank you! Its always nice to hear back from families of similar size! It seems the world is made for families of 4 but the whole dynamics of adding 2 more can make a big difference when vacationing! Can you find a hotel that will comfortable fit 6 to a room, or do you find a bargain hotel and get two rooms for the extra bathroom...... That sort of thing!

Again, thank you!

 

[Swimalie]

Thanks

You're welcome.

 

[chrissy92972]

Your welcome. Having the same dilemna with Disney. Have 4 children makes it really hard to go and stay on site and not spend $6000. I have tried every possible option with tickets, dining, staying in 2 value rooms or 1 value suite, in August, September, and October with non park hopping and it is still about $6000 not including flight or driving. we have not been to Disney since 2006 and I guess we will not be going anytime soon.

Chrissy