nelsonian

There will be 6 of us, 4 adults, and two children staying at the Best Western Georgetown from 31 Dec 16, flying out 11am or so Wednesday 4th January 16.

Is the metro the best way for us to see the sights, Smithsonian museums, zoo, memorials etc. Or would Uber be a better option, 6 passengers may be too many. How does the metro work? Is there a weekly pass that is more economical.

All tips appreciated. Also other suggestions for things to do.

Dukey1

Having lived in the area, the Metro, when running without problems, can be very useful.

Here's a link to the website:

http://www.wmata.com/

The "problem" may be with your hotel's location since there are no Metro (rail) stops in Georgetown; the nearest ones are Foggy Bottom or across the river in Rosslyn.

HOWEVER, of the Best Western you are speaking of is the one on New Hampshire Ave just a couple of blocks from Washington Circle, then you are golden since the Foggy Bottom stop is nearby.

november_moon

I've always found the Metro to be very convenient for getting around. I use Uber and taxis too, but with 6 people, it would be more challenging.

From your hotel, Foggy Bottom Metro station is the closest - its just on the other side of Washington Circle. Both the Orange and Blue lines serve this station and they also serve a couple stations on and near the National Mall, so you can easily access the Smithsonian Museums and monuments on the Mall. The zoo is also easily accessible by Metro - Woodley Park-Zoo station is on the Red line, so you would transfer at Metro Center station or if going from your hotel, walk over to the Farragut North station, which is a few blocks away - not as close as the Foggy Bottom station, but not too bad.

Using the Metro is pretty easy. Its a distance-based system, so you put money on a card and then as you ride, the correct amount is subtracted from your balance. The card is called the SmarTrip card, which you can buy at vending machines in the stations. Very easy. You can also get weekly and daily passes, but I think you'd have to ride a lot to make it worth it.

nelsonian

Thanks to you both, I have had a quick look at the web-site. Looks like each of us needs a card, and we just top it up when needed. Maybe put $ 20 on the card for a start?

I have also been reading about the Circulator bus, is that an option anywhere?

DebitNM

Check out: "Via", a new car service. I used it in NYC last month and loved it.

http://time.com/money/4433799/uber-c...ashington-d-c/

kja

DC's Metro is normally exceedingly easy to use and I, personally, would recommend it over taxis or Uber whenever possible. Here's the web-site, which includes good trip-planning tools.
http://wmata.com/index.cfm?forcedesktop=1

NOTE, however, that the DC area metro is undergoing major renovations to improve safety, and work will be continuing into the time you will be there. It doesn't look the the lines you would be most likely to use would be necessarily be affected; when they are, it usually means less frequent trains, rather than no trains. Some sections of track might be shut down, though, with buses serving to connect open stations. It doesn't look like the sections you would be most likely to use would be shut while you are here. You can find the info at this link (or just search the wmatasite for "SafeTrack"). Please be advised to check as you get nearer to your visit, as the schedule has been shifting (taking longer than anticipated).
http://www.wmata.com/rail/safetrack.cfm

kja

Yes, the Circulator can be a good option:
http://www.dccirculator.com

LOTS of other things to do -- I trust you have a good guidebook?

And, forgive me for asking, but are you fully committed to staying in Georgetown? I'm not much of a fan.... Unless you are here for events normally associated with college life, the areas around Dupont Circle and Chinatown / Gallery Place might be worth considering.

nelsonian

kja, not necessarily committed to Georgetown area, but the Best Western has free breakfast and we can get two rooms for a reasonable price.

kja

Hard to argue with that!

Dukey1

BELIEVE ME, that "area" your hotel is located is NOT Georgetown. They'd love for you to THINK it is but anybody who lives IN Georgetown will tell you it does not extend east of Rock Creek Parkway.

Calling that location your hotel is in "Georgetown" is a marketing gimmick.

Ackislander

Have to agree with Dukey, though you are actually likely to be better off than if you were in "real" Georgetown because your hotel is in a somewhat more central location.

I have to say that of all the cities I used to visit for work. Washington was hands-down the most convenient to get around because of the Metro.

Nelsonian, I know you love to squeeze a nickel until Monticello collapses, but sometimes you need to think about whether the money you save on breakfast might better be spent on more convenient locations. I'm smiling while I write this, by the way, so I hope you take it in the spirit meant.

NewbE

I agree, it's not Georgetown, and that's a good thing. I think that location is fine. If you were closer to the Mall--in Penn Quarter, for example--you could just walk there, and that's what I would do, but if you can't find anything else that suits the budget, you're good where you are.

There are so many nice bakeries in DC, it would be a shame, though, to eat breakfast at the BW *every* day...

NewbE

Sorry, meant to add, you're right across the street from one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, Rasika

Macross

Circulator is great but watch the hours. When there is just my husband and I we cab it at night. I have found rates very good there.

nelsonian

I agree Newbe, don't think we will do breakfast there every day but does give us the option. I also agree it is a cheap hotel but it's reviews are reasonable.
However if you think I should be looking at something closer to the Mall could you give me some suggestions.

Christina

It's kind of funny that the hotel about right next door (the Renaissance) calls itself in Dupont Circle, and another nearby just says "washington" (the Ritz Carlton). The nearby Marriott also claims it is in Georgetown, what a joke. If anything, they should say "Best Western GWU" or Foggy Bottom might make more sense because at least that is the name of a nearby metro stop (it's not really in Foggy Bottom, either).

The location is fine, people at the Ritz aren't bothered, even if it can be a bit daunting getting around Washington Circle to get to that metro stop.

It used to be that you got a 10 pct bonus if you put $20 on a Smartrip card--I don't think you do any more, so there isn't any advantage except convenience for that, you can always add a bit more if you need it. I'd just try to plan that you don't have a whole lot extra on the card than you need, because I don't think the excess is refundable by machine (but I'm not sure as I've never tried to get a refund).

nelsonian

Okay good to know, I had read it wasn't far from the Foggy Bottom Metro.

NewbE

It's an easy walk to Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop.

I'm not all that familiar with hotels in DC, as we usually stay with friends. But they live not far from the Convention Center and there is a ton of hotels within a stone's throw that are walkable to the National Mall. There's an Embassy Suites that I recall, and a Residence Inn, and someone we know recently stayed at the Harrington, which I see gets some demerits on TA but he was happy with the rate.

Seamus

That BW is fairly close to Dupont Circle, too, so that's another close metro station.

Hampton Inns also offer breakfast. The one on H Street between 17th and 18th NW is the newest one in town, in a restored historic building. The one near the Convention Center at 6th and I Street is close to the Gallery Place metro. The Navy Yard location is not the best for your visit.
Metro is indeed your best bet for getting around.

P_M

SIDEBAR:

Nelsonian, I thought of you when I heard about the 7.8 quake that hit NZ. Please let us know that your family and your property are OK.