Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

How to arrange White House tour for a couple of 2 different nationalities?

How to arrange White House tour for a couple of 2 different nationalities?

Old Jan 13th, 2013, 05:06 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How to arrange White House tour for a couple of 2 different nationalities?

Hi This is my 3rd trip to DC and my husband's 2nd. We are going in May 2013 and we would like to tour the White House if possible. I know that you have to normally arrange this through your embassy. However, I'm British and my husband's French, so we would both have to arrange this through our respective embassies. Is there any way to ensure we can tour the White House at the same time? Or is this basically impossible? Does anybody here know a mixed-nationality group that has managed to arrange this, ever? I realise this question is quite obscure...Any help will be gratefully received though
bdsbeautyblog is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2013, 05:36 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The White House tours are not open to foreign nationals anymore.

It's actually quite difficult for Americans to get the tour now.
explanation is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2013, 07:09 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,670
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
>>The White House tours are not open to foreign nationals anymore.
obxgirl is online now  
Old Jan 13th, 2013, 09:27 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You will each need to contact your embassy in Washington DC for assistance.

Information on touring the White House is at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events
maxima is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2013, 05:36 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for all your assistance

It turns out that the first reply was correct - we have checked the French Embassy website and the British Embassy website, and both say that White House tours are not currently open to foreign nationals due to unprecedentedly high demand within the US at present.

Disappointing but at least we now know! We will be trying to tour the Pentagon instead as this looks like it could be easier to achieve
bdsbeautyblog is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2013, 08:27 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ah, too bad! If it's any consolation, the tour is very brief these days and shows little of grandeur. It's a cool feeling to be inside the WH, but a bit underwhelming otherwise. I hope you're not too disappointed! Enjoy your trip.
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2013, 12:34 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Pentagon tour isn't all that great, so if you time is limited, you might want to skip it. The tour is basically walking through a huge office building, which is exactly what the Pentagon is. If you want to see the 9-11 Memorial at the Pentagon, it is open to the public 24/7, so you could go there anytime.

Also, while the White House tour website refers non-citizens to the embassies of their respective countries to request White House tour tickets, I am unaware of ANY embassy that still does this. In fact, I don't think ANY have done this for the past 4-5 years. (I don't know why the WH website doesn't just remove that statement.)
longhorn55 is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2013, 02:31 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,609
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Rather than the Pentagon you might try for the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the State Dept:

http://www.state.gov/m/drr/

I found the tour a bit heavy on the patriotism, but quite interesting.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2013, 02:35 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Library of Congress is is beautiful building and they have free timed tours, though you can walk through without a tour as well. The building is not in the Congress. It is next door to the Supreme Court . The Supreme Court has a tour as well. Check both websites for more information, and see if either would interest you.
maxima is offline  
Old Jan 20th, 2013, 01:44 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your other suggestions The Library of Congress is already on our list, and we will consider Pentagon vs. Diplomatic Reception Rooms
bdsbeautyblog is offline  
Old Jan 20th, 2013, 05:29 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pre 9/11 was the last time I went on a White House tour. It involved a long wait and you were in and out within 20 minutes. No narration was provided except for "Welcome to the Red room".
The Library of Congress is beautiful, I am glad that is on your list. It was the first building to have electricity in DC, so take a look at the light fixtures in addition to the amazing mosaics, sculptures and paintings....
deladeb is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
montereybob
United States
4
Sep 13th, 2009 09:37 AM
travelerpeg
United States
5
Mar 1st, 2009 05:18 PM
gapper
United States
9
Sep 13th, 2006 06:41 PM
travelnut1065
United States
6
Sep 29th, 2003 06:27 PM
dcp
United States
11
Nov 24th, 2002 10:21 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -