Tris

Hi, We live in the UK and are making our first trip to the US. We are visiting DC and have read Potomac Mills is good for shopping. Could anyone please tell us how to get there using public transport. Thankyou.

uhoh_busted

I don't believe there is public transportation to there -- it is waaaaaaay out in the Virginia suburbs, along Rt 95. Not to worry though, there have been non-stop sales at the retail stores here all year long. Right on Connecticut Avenue, (between the White House and DuPont Circle) there is a Filene's Basement store that sells lots of stuff at discount prices (which is what Potomac Mills is...a discount shopping haven). There must be some BestBuy branches close to public transportation I'm thinking Rockville, MD...but you will be experiencing suburban shopping blight at it's most USA-ness. Walking around it tough in the 'burbs because we are so attached to our cars.

E

Potomac Mills isn't as waaay out there as it used to be, in the sense that the suburbs have crept up and beyond it. It will be a trek, though, involving both Metro and bus. I haven't done it in years, so I hope someone else can give you the details, or you can try to find the Metro web site (which has been given on this board before).
There are a LOT of shops in and around PM--a LOT--but it really does sprawl, and the shops are outlets and discount-type places, for the most part. Nothing wrong with that, just be prepared!

rb_travelerxATyahoo

A page at Potomac Mills own website

http://www.potomacmills.com/bus.html

gives info on the Omni Ride "Prince William-Metro Direct" Bus
that runs WEEKDAYS only between the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station and Potomac Mills.

Also they list ATW Transportation (call 703.551.1050) at

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/atwtra...20Schedule.htm

for a company that runs weekends too, but must have 5 or more passengers.

Binthair

You have Ikea in the UK I trust. Potomac Mills is not Harrod's. Would suggest Tyson's Corner, White Flint, or one of the other shopping centers in D.C. easily accessable by METRORAIL.

nicki

Other posters are right. Potomac Mills consists of discount outlet stores. It is not a usual destination for tourists. If you want to go to a really nice shopping mall that is easily accessible by subway, go to Pentagon City, in close-in Arlington. Take the Metro yellow line right to the shopping mall. Here is a list of the stores there: http://washington.dc.retailguide.com/data/m101301.htm (By the way, Tyson's Corner is not accessible by subway.)

obxgirl

Nicki, I agree it's not a typical destination for international tourists but sad to say that a couple of years ago it was the No. 1 tourist destination in Virginia. Yikes.

bluestructure

Potomac Mills isnt all that, lot of outlets and such. Try Tysons corner or Pentagon City mall for DC area.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

I'm not a "shopper", but I know there's another outlet - I think the name is "Arundel Mills", in MD between DC & Baltimore ... and there is bus service to it.

Would that be a good alternative for "Tris" ?

E

Tris, please come back and tell us what you're shopping for, what made you consider going to Potomac Mills, etc.!

Tris

A big thankyou to everyone for your help. We have decided to stick to the malls within DC. In answer to E's question we are looking for things like Levi's which are very expensive over here, about £50 ($75)a pair.

jaydreb5

LOL! You can find jeans for less than $75 just about anywhere in DC. There are plenty of places in Georgetown for shopping if you don't want to go to a mall (there's also an indoor mall in Georgetown). If you want a real mall, I would suggest Pentagon City, which is easily accessible from Metro.

bardo

Agree with above poster. Bring an extra suitcase: you can get Levi's from discount many dept. stores for $25 (or less).

E

Great, Tris, you've spared yourself a journey to Potomac Mills! Much as I loved Ikea when I lived in DC, I wouldn't wish it on a tourist.
Have you tried searching "Levi's" on the web? You might be able to compile a list of stores in/near DC that carry them. Good luck!

E

http://www.us.levi.com/fal03a/levi/s...=1061480326212
This is a store finder...

BarbaraF

Tris, if you are staying in downtown DC, go to Hechts department store at 12th and F and you can get men's Levi jeans at about $35 I think, on sale,maybe around $28. Hechts is a "regular" departement store -- not upscale, not discount. There are no true "malls" downtown (except Georgetown Park, which is in Georgetown and also not as diverse a selection of stores). Pentagon City mall is a very nice and large shopping mall accessible on the metro in Virginia and Mazza Gallerie is a smaller shopping area in Chevy Chase, accessible on the metro in Maryland/DC.

Doh

I would second the Filene's basement recommendation (doesn't have a great selection, but the stuff is cheap), and there are actually two downtown. The one on Connecticut Ave. is easy to find, and then there is one inside the "Shops at National Place" which a small indoor mall at (I believe) 13th and F st.

Hechts should have a better selection (and there is another Hechts right next to the Mazza Galerie) (if you want, you can look at the Washington Post while you're here, since Hechts runs full page ads with 10-15% off coupons in there frequently).

Tris

Thanyou everybody for all your help. We really appreciate it. We will probably try Pentagon City and Mazza Gallerie. By the sounds of it we should be able to find what we are looking for just about anywhere in DC a lot cheaper than here in rip off Britain.

E

Why ARE Levi's so pricy in Europe?? Mystery of life.

Tris

Levi's are expensive because there are too many idiots who are willing to pay sky high prices. If people stopped paying these prices they would soon drop the price. The same can be said for lots of things in Europe. One of our big supermarkets Asda (who are owned by Walmart) tried to sell cheap Levi's but Levi's took them to court and stopped them.