frijen

I am traveling to DC (first-timers) with an elderly woman who has walking limitations. Are Metro stations wheelchair accessible, and do most hotels have a shuttle or trolley service to area attractions?

It seems that renting a car is not the best option for DC, so I would appreciate any insight.

I am in the process of researching hotel properties, but are having a difficult time narrowing down the best location; accessibility will play a major roll in the booking process.

Thanks, in advance, for your recommendations.

Ruff

I can't speak to the usefulness of this resource, but you might want to check this out: http://www.disabilityguide.org/. Metro stations are accessible except when the elevators are out of order. Their Web site is usually pretty up to date: http://www.wmata.com. And they have an accessibility link. No, most hotels don't have shuttle service to attractions, but a number of tourists recommend the tourmobile or Old Town Trolley. You'll have to google them to see if they are accessible.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Few hotels IN DC will have shuttles fo any type. Ones in the "burbs" will at best usually offer only service to a Metro station.

However, many of the bus tour companies will pick up at various hotels then drop your off at the end of the day. Check the websites of the various trolley/tour companies.

Check the WMATA website for outages for elevators.

Check
http://www.stationmasters.com/
for maps of the subway stops, which also show where the elevators are, and even the direction of the exits. Notice exits is plural - at some stations taking the correct exit can make a big difference on how close you are to your destination when you "surface" from the Metro.

kayd

Though Metro and all public facilities are handicapped-accessible, that doesn't mean it is easy for someone with mobility limitations (but not using a wheelchair) to get around, as rb noted above about Metro elevator locations.

Usually what we do is just take taxis from point to point--it isn't too difficult for the ablebodied partner to hail one on the street, and cabs are lined up at the doors of all downtown hotels. Select a centrally located hotel (any one that has the price/amenities you are looking for) and you should be fine.

If you need wheelchair transport, I second Ruff re disabilityguide.

Seamus

DC Metro stations have escalators and/or elevators. When the elevator is out of commission they announce it (message board at the station, or check with the agent to confirm) and provide an alternative - usually going to the next stop with a functional elevator and riding a provided shuttle bus back to the station you wanted. You should be able to manage with a companion in a wheelchair.
Hotels rarely offer shuttles outside a narrow radius (if that) unless it is to a Metro station.
Getting from the metro station to the actual attraction may be more challenging; I'd second the suggestion to use taxis, which are fairly cheap inside the district

nytraveler

If you're staying downtown - for several people you might find cabs to be not much more expesnive - if at all - than the Metro, and are the most conveninet way to limit walking.

Cicerone

You should definitely consider the hop-on-hop-off tour mobile which goes to most major sights including over to Arlington National Cemetery. (Take a look at www.tourmobile.com and www.tourmobile.com/tour/heritage.html.)Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids and are good all day. If the elderly member of the group does not want to walk the sight, I think she may find a seating area near by most of the stops, or near the sight entrance where she could wait for the others to do the tour. You could also bring a wheelchair on the tour bus and use that once you get to a sight (all the buses have wheelchair storage). This tour mobile would be better, IMO, than trying to take the Metro to sights and then trying to walk to and from the Metro to the sight. The Metro does not go a lot of places, like Arlington, and does not go at all close to a lot of sights, like the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. It is not possible to walk from the Metro to these memorials, IMO. Also, a lot of Washington is really best seen above ground.

You might want to pick a hotel along Pennsylvania Ave near the White House area. The means you could take a short walk to the Mall, the White House, the National Archives, National Theatre, the museums on the east side of the Mall and there are Metro stops not too far. Hotels to consider would be the Willard (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com), the JW Marriott, the Hotel Washington (http://www.hotelwashington.com). Right accross from the White House and loaded with charm is the Hay-Adams (hayadams.com). There is also a Sofitel, Hilton Garden Inn and the Marriott at Metro Center a little further out of this area. The Dupont Circle area would be another recco as public transport is easy from there and there are many good restaurants in that neighborhood.