Washington DC vacation pricing help

[wishesuponastar]

I used the search feature to get info for our Washington DC trip.
Can you wise Dis'ers please tell me if I my plans are saving us the most money?

Quality Inn, Alexandria $89 per night includes free breakfast and parking
Take the Metro (3 miles from hotel) use 7 day pass (edited - $35 per person for short trip non-peak hours
$4.50 metro parking per day x 2 days (the other 2 days are free weekend parking)

I also used the search to price a hotel in the downtown DC area but that came up with $186 per night at Holiday Inn, with parking and breakfast. Then I would need to purchase the Metro to get around all the sightseeing. So I think staying IN downtown DC would be more expensive than Alexandria?

Thank you for any advice

 

[shoney]

I am not a metro expert by any means! We just came back from a weekend trip to DC. We stayed at the Marriott Crystal Gateway.

If you want hotel options, I suggest you post on tripadvisor. Give exact dates/budget/# of beds. The people on there are great about getting people hotel rooms!

Also, I think the pass is $47 for the week not $32 (that one looks like it is for commuters)
http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/passes.cfm

Good Luck!

 

[wishesuponastar]

Thank you...we have our hotel already in first post.

Maybe I didn't make it clear what I was asking....
Are my plans posted above cheaper to stay in Alexandria than downtown DC?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Where is the Quality Inn in Alexandria? Does it list the neighborhood or the street?

I would be very aware when trying to book these kind of hotels. Alot of the neighborhoods are sketchy at best right around the metro area.

Try to look towards Old Town Alexandria if you want to stay out of DC proper.

 

[shoney]

Thank you...we have our hotel already in first post.

Maybe I didn't make it clear what I was asking....
Are my plans posted above cheaper to stay in Alexandria than downtown DC?

I just thought you might want to find other options since there are tons and tons of hotels in the area. You may be able to find a better deal within DC or closer to a metro stop than what you have listed.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Where is the Quality Inn in Alexandria? Does it list the neighborhood or the street?

I would be very aware when trying to book these kind of hotels. Alot of the neighborhoods are sketchy at best right around the metro area.

Try to look towards Old Town Alexandria if you want to stay out of DC proper.

Quality Inn address: 7212 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria.

I hope that's in Old Town. Thank you for checking for me loveymygoofy.

 

[clutter]

Which metro? Many metro stations' parking lots are full by 7:30/8:00 am. If that station has 'guaranteed parking' (for an extra fee for commuters), those spaces become available at 10am. You would need to plan accordingly. Remember, you get what you pay for. I agree with Tina, at that price, you might be in a sketchy neighborhood. And I agree with Shoney, have you looked at reviews on Trip Advisor? I'd also consider Arlington, Vienna or Fairfax. I'd pick Crystal City over Alexandria because you will not need to park.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Quality Inn address: 7212 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria.

I hope that's in Old Town. Thank you for checking for me loveymygoofy.

I would pass on it. That area of Richmond Hwy is not a great area at night and certainly nothing to see in the evening. Also it is a major difficulty to drive let alone park at the metro. If you do park at the metro just drive all the way to the top floor of the parking garage because it will be packed by 9am. You will also need a smarttrip card to pay for parking.

If you need something on the lower costs...look toward Springfield VA. It should be near the Springfield metro(blue line) several marriots that way and some of the suite hotels as well.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Which metro? Many metro stations' parking lots are full by 7:30/8:00 am. If that station has 'guaranteed parking' (for an extra fee for commuters), those spaces become available at 10am. You would need to plan accordingly. Remember, you get what you pay for. I agree with Tina, at that price, you might be in a sketchy neighborhood. And I agree with Shoney, have you looked at reviews on Trip Advisor? I'd also consider Arlington, Vienna or Fairfax. I'd pick Crystal City over Alexandria because you will not need to park.

Metro is Huntington station.

Lovemygoofy - thank you for the Springfield, VA recommendation. I will also look on tripadvisor shoney.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Metro is Huntington station.

Lovemygoofy - thank you for the Springfield, VA recommendation. I will also look on tripadvisor shoney.

I will also tell you that time is money when it comes to vacation and staying that far out will take you at least an hour on the metro. If you are going in the summer, you are going to be tired and hot and wore out and an hour trip on the metro is not that pleasant.

You will want to be somewhere close to places to eat within safe walking distance because I can promise that traffic in DC and the outlimits is not anything like you are used to.

When I moved to DC, I bought the Dummies Guide to DC and it is great! Really breaks down the areas and seasons and metro stops. I can't say enough good things about the book.

 

[it's kelly]

I visited DC in March and booked a room at the Marriott Residence Inn on Priceline for $70/nt. We stayed for the weekend and I did find weekend stays are cheaper then weekday stays. Breakfast was included in our stay.

 

[highwayg]

@Shoney-
How did you find the Marriott gateway? what about time to Dc, and ease of getting to metro?

 

[SamWayne]

The metro is $47 if you're looking for unlimited pass included weekends. For more details about things to do in DC, check out "100 Free (& almost free) things to do in DC" at DCJourney.com "visitor infor"

 

[shoney]

@Shoney-
How did you find the Marriott gateway? what about time to Dc, and ease of getting to metro?

I booked directly on marriott.com. The room was 109 per night (AAA discount of $20 per night) and included breakfast for 4. It is a very large convention hotel, so it was quite busy when we were there.
The metro is located right at the hotel. There is a mall door in the lobby that takes you to the metro...no walking outside.
We were in the city in 10 minutes or so. Pick up a pocket map. We found the metro very easy to use. We just put $20 on each card to start and then reloaded. We didn't use the $9 a day to make the unlimited worth it.

 

[ldo]

I have worked in DC for 25 years. If you really need to save $$, consider the Arlington, FAlls church, Ballston, Tysons Corner areas. Many have free shuttles to the Metro. As PP said, there are some not nice areas in Alex (and in DC). You can also get great hotels and free parking and free shuttle to metro at many Dulles (IAD) hotels. But, that will take you about 45-1 hour to get into DC. Crystal city hotels (DCA airport) are very convenient, as PP said about Marriott--but all DCA ariport hotels will charge for parking.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I have never worked with Priceline and I don't think I can if you have to pay up front and it is non-refundable?? Last year DH got sick right before a trip and we had to cancel. I wouldn't want that to happen again.

Lovemygoofy - I agree with you that time is important and I don't want to deal with having to find parking at the metrostation. Some of the hotels in Springfield have a free shuttle to the metro