Washington DC Visit

[LittleDog]

We plan on going to Washington in October for about 9 days and plan on going to the Smithsonian among other museums. My brother who lives in Maryland told me that we should try to find lodgings in Washington instead of the suburbs. Of course that means it would be more expensive. Our friends who are going with us is retired Air Force and mentioned to me that we may be able to stay in one of the DOD places. In any case they wanted me to post on this board about whether anyone here might have recommendations of where we can stay in Washington if the DOD facilities are not available. Of course, the closer we are to the Smithsonian would be the best option.

Hope we get some feedback. Thanx

John

[wendyquat]

Www.kimptonhotels.com have several locations for their boutique hotels in and around DC. their Hotel George is nice and very near the metro. You will find many choices!

[njbchbum]

maybe this will help?

Smithsonian Institution Hotels: Find Hotel Deals near Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC (http://www.expedia.com/Smithsonian-Institution-Hotels.0-l6068571-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)

[784caroline]

October will be high season in the metro DC area...Congress will be in session. You re much better trying to get a nice place in the surrounding areas and you can get some decent rates on Priceline. Just make certain you get a place that is near a Metro line stop....such as Pentagon City or Rossylyn Va. If you stay in DC you will pay big time taxes and moreso daily parking fees

[gmcneill]

I've stayed at the Embassy Suites- Alexandria 3 times (for 11 days) in last three years.
1. It is VERY convenient to two metro lines (across a parking lot and one street).

2. Both of those metro lines stop at Reagan National, a 10-15 minute, low cost ride away, thus greatly reducing hassles and expenses of getting from airport to lodging and back

3. Excellent free hot breakfasts.

4. The hotel is located on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, which is a destination of its own and is worthy of spending some time in exploration.

5. A Whole Foods grocery store is located 1.5 blocks away.

[njbchbum]

old town alexandria is awesome!!!! :)

[senior citizen]

We plan on going to Washington in October for about 9 days and plan on going to the Smithsonian among other museums. My brother who lives in Maryland told me that we should try to find lodgings in Washington instead of the suburbs. Of course that means it would be more expensive. Our friends who are going with us is retired Air Force and mentioned to me that we may be able to stay in one of the DOD places. In any case they wanted me to post on this board about whether anyone here might have recommendations of where we can stay in Washington if the DOD facilities are not available. Of course, the closer we are to the Smithsonian would be the best option.

Hope we get some feedback. Thanx

John

We stayed at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel......google the address.
We took a cab straight from the airport to the L'Enfant.
The metro runs beneath it........which came in very handy.
Read below:

Oasis overlooking Washington, DC’s monuments

Walk to the Mall

Just 2 blocks from the Smithsonian museums and the National Mall, this Washington hotel is situated atop the L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop, with access to 4 Metro lines, and an underground shopping center.
Swim under stars

Highlights at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel include an outdoor heated rooftop pool, fitness center, seafood restaurant, and wireless Internet access throughout the property

ALSO.........we spent about four days in D.C. with our high school aged son while our daughter was an exchange student in Spain......then we flew to Florida..........primarily, my husband wanted him to experience the Smithsonian and this was a perfect location..............also to the Library of Congress and other places......plus other museums.

One day we took a TOUR BUS which took us to all the local sights plus the Kennedy Center for lunch.....then off to Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia.......worth the trip.........then to some War monuments and of course Arlington National Cemetery..........glad we didn't drive to all of those places...........the bus tour was great. Very efficient.

Only bad thing was that during our trip, the White House was closed for repairs. This was a number of years ago.........but the hotel was wonderful.

Have fun.

[Sable99]

I lived in Virginia and worked in Washington for 26 years. Parking in DC is a nightmare! So, take the Metro! My recommendation would be to stay in a hotel in Virginia near a metro line. If the hotel is on a bus line, you would have to change to a train before you can cross the Potomac River. I always check out hotels on tripadvisor.com before I take a trip. A hotel in old town Alexandria or near the Reagan National would be a good idea.

[travelguy]

have a great time; washington dc is a terrific place, no interesting and energizing. you must make time to go to the US Holocaust Museum. Allow at least 4 hours. It is a necessary and important experience.

[LittleDog]

Thanx for the input. Keep it coming. :BigApplause:

John

[buggyone]

Do not know cost, but one of the closest hotels to the Smithsonian museums is the Holiday Inn Capitol Hill. It is almost right outside the back (non-Mall side) entrance to The Air and Space Museum and is centrally located as far as the length of the Mall. Also in a great location, but I am sure much pricier, are the JW Marriott and The Willard hotels. BTW, you do know that the Smithsonian is not one, but several museums. Each will appeal to a different interest. Also, if not too hot and you are physically fit, I recommend walking from a central downtown hotel rather than driving. Metro is fairly easy to use and any hotel within walking distance of a metro station would also work, but be careful of the areas, choose safe rather than cheap. What you save in a distant hotel will probably end up costing as much by the time you either pay to park or to take Metro everyday.

[TexaninVA]

Lived in DC suburbs in VA for many years ... the advice to get a hotel in VA (not MD or DC) near a Metro stop is the way to go. Look at the Metro map and get a sense of what would work best. Ballston is a very nice place and centrally located.

You can book a room and then, if you know how to do it, book another room on Priceline the day before by fiddling with the location parameters ..not your lowball price. If you do it correctly, you can get a room at 50% plus discounts. My 35 year old son is a whiz at this technique so I know it works.

[cinepuxon]

Be sure not to miss the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Spectacular and not crowded like downtown. There is a free shuttle that runs from the terminal to the museum. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | National Air and Space Museum (http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/). Parking at the museum is abt $12 tho...

[CFrance]

Why not rent an apartment you can all stay in? We do this all the time. ****.com, airbnb.com and flipkey.com are all well-known and trustworthy sites for finding private apartments or rooms.

We rented a penthouse 2 br apartment in Times Square for less than the cost of two hotel rooms for four nights for a wedding in September.

[buggyone]

Be sure not to miss the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. Spectacular and not crowded like downtown. There is a free shuttle that runs from the terminal to the museum. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | National Air and Space Museum (http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/). Parking at the museum is abt $12 tho...

I second that! It is amazing museum all dedicated to flight.

[LittleDog]

I second that! It is amazing museum all dedicated to flight.

Have been to the Smithsonian a few times in the past but not recently.

John

[l2ridehd]

There are two "Air and Space Museums". The one downtown on the mall with all the other Smithsonian museums and the new one out by Dulles airport about 30 miles West. They are both worth seeing.

I still live in the Northern VA area and most recommendations for places to stay are spot on. I like the Embassy Suites in Alexandria recommendation and would add the Key Bridge Marriott in Roslynn to the list.

Make sure any hotel you chose is very close to the metro. Arrange for a car service, taxi or rental car for a day to go to the Dulles Air and Space Museum.

Also this area has a plethora of great restaurants with every type of ethnic food. So enjoy some of those while here as well. This is not a low cost area to dine out so be prepared to spend. A good dinner in this area will be $50 a person plus any drinks.

Try this link for good dining in the area

The 100 Very Best Restaurants 2013 | Food & Drink | Washingtonian (http://www.washingtonian.com/packages/food-drink/the-100-very-best-restaurants-2013/)

[elevatorman]

You might want to contact the Florida Embassy in Washington. ABOUT US (http://floridaembassy.com/)