Hello,

Any suggestions for a cheap accommodation close to subway stations in Washington DC area or close-by. Four students are travelling on a very tight budget.
Thanks..

We just spent a weekend in D.C. and used the Spring Hill Suites in Arundel Mills near the airport. It's very nice, clean, has a free full breakfast, and is across the street from a giant mall. They have a free shuttle to the the train station and it's quick and cheap to go r/t D.C. Union Station is convenient and very nice -- lots of restaurants and shops. Take one of the on-off bus tours around D.C. or just walk.

You might want to consider staying in a hostel... http://www.hosteltimes.com/En/Hostel...y.asp?City=120

You can find the Metro (that's the subway) map for DC on line - it is run by WMATA - just search for that acronym. I'd look for suburban locations along the red line to the north of DC, or to the west of DC in Arlington or Alexandria, VA to save money. You could also try the area around University of Maryland, in College Park - along the green line, I think. One other alternative is to stay near BWI, as an earlier poster suggested, and take Maryland's MARC trains into DC. They'll take you to Union Station which is just north of The Capitol, and very convenient.

You don't say when you will be here but the MARC trains don't run on the weekend unless things have changed. You would have to take Amtrak.

Try searching on www.kayak.com. You can also try these hotels near Foggy Bottom Metro. Melrose Hotel and River Inn. Sometimes these are really cheap. Also look at staying in Alexandria which is the King Street Station. There are a lot of hotels in that area. You can also try the Washington Plaza hotel which is in DC at about 14th and Mass.

Maybe renting a small condo?

http://www.vrbo.com

I agree probably your best bet would be to look in Virginia, just west of the city (say, Rosslyn)-- near a Metro station on the blue/orange lines. Another option, in downtown DC, would be Hotel Harrington.

To save money you might look for a place where all four of you could share a room (maybe an Embassy Suites, or Hotel Harrington).