I need Washington D.C. help.
#1
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I need Washington D.C. help.
Hey guys. I'm headed to Washington D.C. in the Spring. I get insane deals with Marriott because a family member works there, but all of the close (to the Mall) hotels are blocked for employees then. My choices are:
Residence Inn Potomac Mills Woodbridge in Woodbridge, VA (21 miles from city)
or
Fairfield Inn & Suites Germantown Gaithersburg in Germantown, MD (23 miles from city)
Which would be better?
Also, would you recommend renting a car, or is the metro system a good way to go? We'll just be doing all the typical D.C. tourist sites.
Thanks.
Residence Inn Potomac Mills Woodbridge in Woodbridge, VA (21 miles from city)
or
Fairfield Inn & Suites Germantown Gaithersburg in Germantown, MD (23 miles from city)
Which would be better?
Also, would you recommend renting a car, or is the metro system a good way to go? We'll just be doing all the typical D.C. tourist sites.
Thanks.
#2
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I went last May.
I would recommend a hotel as close to the Metro as you can get.
We rented a car, but only because we flew into Baltimore since it was a lot cheaper. We used the car to drive to the metro station. It would have been pretty much worthless had we been walking distance to it.
And fair warning: start walking now if you're not already. Build up some muscle and endurance. There's a LOT of ground to cover and it's all worth it!
I was done by about 3 or 4pm everyday - COMPLETELY exhausted
I would recommend a hotel as close to the Metro as you can get.

We rented a car, but only because we flew into Baltimore since it was a lot cheaper. We used the car to drive to the metro station. It would have been pretty much worthless had we been walking distance to it.
And fair warning: start walking now if you're not already. Build up some muscle and endurance. There's a LOT of ground to cover and it's all worth it!

I was done by about 3 or 4pm everyday - COMPLETELY exhausted

#4
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Frankly, I wouldn't stay at either of those places, no matter how good a deal you get. It is worth the money to stay at place that is within walking distance to the Metro. I recommend Crystal City.
#6
Yup, Germantown is still a decent drive to the last Metro station on the red line. I don't know about Woodbridge.
If your objective is to do the touristy thing downtown, spend more and stay closer.
If your objective is to do the touristy thing downtown, spend more and stay closer.
#7
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Originally Posted by JustinS
Yup, Germantown is still a decent drive to the last Metro station on the red line. I don't know about Woodbridge.
If your objective is to do the touristy thing downtown, spend more and stay closer.
If your objective is to do the touristy thing downtown, spend more and stay closer.
Woodbridge is even worse. Woodbridge to Franconia/Springfield is a longer distance than Germantown to Shady Grove. Like I said, either one (particularly if planning on making the trek on Friday or any weekday) just isn't worth the aggravation.
#9
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Good advice here, do not stay at either if you want to go downtown. Find something closer and near metro. Woodbridge is out of the question, Germantown is only a little better.
20+ miles out of DC is too far unless you want to travel in at 11:00am and be back at the hotel before 2:30pm
Or travel in at 6:00am and be back at the hotel around 8:30pm or later. Traffic here is a killer.
20+ miles out of DC is too far unless you want to travel in at 11:00am and be back at the hotel before 2:30pm

#10
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Originally Posted by Green Jello
Good to know. I thought those would be too far outside the city.
Jello - if you can get deals at Marriotts, there are 2 nice Marriotts in the Crystal City area of Arlington. Right adjacent to the Metro too. Crystal City to the Mall is a 5-minute Metro ride.
#11
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I agree with everyone else who has indicated that you are staying waaaaaaaay outside of D.C. However, if you've got your heart set on doing this on the cheap, you ought to call the hotels to see if they have shuttles to the Metro, and, if so, how often and how early and late they run.
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Another vote for: DON'T STAY AT EITHER ONE OF THOSE PLACES!
Sheesh - those are wayyyyyy out in the boonies. Get on priceline or hotwire, I'm sure you can find a decent deal at a hotel in the District. Otherwise, stay in Arlington: Rosslyn is closest to DC and you can walk into Georgetown, Crystal City is ok but rather drab, Clarendon, Courthouse, and Ballston are also on the metro line.
Sheesh - those are wayyyyyy out in the boonies. Get on priceline or hotwire, I'm sure you can find a decent deal at a hotel in the District. Otherwise, stay in Arlington: Rosslyn is closest to DC and you can walk into Georgetown, Crystal City is ok but rather drab, Clarendon, Courthouse, and Ballston are also on the metro line.
#13
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Originally Posted by Red Dog
Jello - if you can get deals at Marriotts, there are 2 nice Marriotts in the Crystal City area of Arlington. Right adjacent to the Metro too. Crystal City to the Mall is a 5-minute Metro ride.
So, what are the best deals close to the Mall, or Metro station?
#15
DVD Talk God
Originally Posted by Green Jello
So, what are the best deals close to the Mall, or Metro station?
I wouldn't know - I never stay in hotels since I live here.

Like I said, search the Crystal City area. I think that is your best bet, particularly if you are flying into Reagan National. Courthouse/Clarendon/Ballston (where I live) were mentioned but there really aren't many hotels in this corridor. Rosslyn was mentioned - you have to be careful with Rosslyn - there are some real sketchy parts that are considered part of Rosslyn (and not that close of a walk to the Metro) - for example, the south side of Arlington Blvd/Rt.50.
You can also try Maryland: Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Silver Spring but I am not as familiar with what hotels are there.
#17
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Originally Posted by Green Jello
Also, what is the best airport to fly in to if you are renting a car?
Like I said, if you stay in Crystal City, you won't need a car at all. Crystal City is right next to Reagan National. Reagan National also has its own Metro stop.
#18
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Originally Posted by RoyalTea
if i catch you standing on the left side of the metro escalators, I'll kick your ass.
And if you wear an FBI or CIA hat, that goes double.
#19
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Have you tried to Priceline a room? My wife (who does all our travel arrangements) invariably gets great deals that way.
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Originally Posted by Red Dog
Originally Posted by RoyalTea
if i catch you standing on the left side of the metro escalators, I'll kick your ass.
And if you wear an FBI or CIA hat, that goes double.
if i catch you standing on the left side of the metro escalators, I'll kick your ass.
And if you wear an FBI or CIA hat, that goes double.

It was a lot cheaper for us to fly into Baltimore, but it's about an hour and a half drive if I remember correctly.
Reagan would definitely be the EASIEST.
I think my rate on the Extended Stay in Springfield was pretty darn cheap. If I remember right it was around $60 a night. That's with a kitchen too.
#23
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Originally Posted by mosquitobite
I think my rate on the Extended Stay in Springfield was pretty darn cheap. If I remember right it was around $60 a night. That's with a kitchen too.
http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/m...sp?HotelID=858
It's $90 a night and appears to be about the same distance and the two Marriots I asked about. The price is fine, but is it really closer?
#25
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Originally Posted by Green Jello
Is Regan fairly new then? I haven't been to the city in 17 years.
