Economical hotel for cherry blossom visit
 

Hi all,
This year, we are planning to visit DC for cherry blossom weekend (apr 11-13), with 5 yr old son.Looking for economical decent hotel (priority preference : very close to metro station and free breakfast). Last time, we stayed at Holiday Inn in crystal city (with your advise). it was good (but parking fee, no free breakfast), but I checked the rates, and its $140-150 now. this being a ecomonical trip, we are looking something below 100.
Ready to spent ~30 min to travel to MALL/museums. Any advise is most appreciated. Mostly we will do cherry walk, visit national history museum & a iMax movie at A&S museum.
I was checking on Hampton Inn, springfield ~ $90.
THanks in advance for help/tips.

I realize that the parade is on Saturday April 12, but I want to make sure that you understand that the Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 29- April 13 and for the past 10 years the peak dates have ranged from March 17 to April 9. You might want to consider visiting the previous weekend if possible.

Thank you Anonymous for the tip.
We can travel the previous weekend.
But, thought to enjoy the parade. Will it be too crowed (and costly??) on Apr 12? If so, we can prepone.I hope weather will support us to walk
Thanks again.

Also, the Smithsonian American History Museum is closed for renovations, though the Natural History Museum is open and they have an IMAX theater. Some 5-year-olds do great in IMAX shows but others are overwhelmed, it depends on the kids and the topic.

Any inputs on hotels? (as mentioned in my original post). Thanks in advance.
For iMAX, we are looking for "earth/cosmos" show or Dynasaurs:)

I never book a specific hotel in DC, I just take whatever Priceline gives me; I'll bid on the Georgetown, White House, and Downtown zones. As a way of economizing, I prefer this to staying at a chain motel in a suburb. If I'm worried about getting a place via Priceline, I'll book something cancelable, but I've never had to use it.

As far as i know, with priceline, its non-refundable/non-cancel booking. THats the reason, I usually avoid it, and book directly through hotel. Correct me if I am wrong.

A couple of years ago we stayed at the Quality Inn Iwo Jima. It was a decent place at a reasonable price, but we weren't there during the Cherry Blossom festival. There is no free breakfast, but has free parking if you have a car.

The walk to the Roslynn metro station isn't far.

Thanks mlm59. I checked the rates, it shows $150 for Apr 11-13 weekend. SLightly on higher side than my budget. But have good reviews and closeby to metro. I will keep this on my list, till I find any other budgeted hotel.

I doubt you are going to find anything in your price range with what you want. The closer to a Metro, the more expensive. The Quality Inn Iwo Jima (which is now a Best Western) is probably the best deal.

My only other suggestion would to try the Days Inn-Arlington on Columbia Pike. It's not near a Metro, but there is frequent bus service.

We used priceline when we went for cherry blossom festival in 2006.We bid convention center area and won The Grand Hyatt for $88.
No breakfast or free parking,but the location for the metro is great.

Marriott Courtyard in Arlington/Crystal City has rates for $99/night. Nonrefundable. No breakfast, but close to metro.

If you have a connection for any of the companies/universities that are members, the Club Quarters is a nice hotel, near the Metro and not inconvenient to the cherry blossoms. It's near NY Ave.

Thank you so much for your inputs. I came across Holiday Inn, Rosslyn for $99 , free parking. No Breakfast, but their site says, its a block away from metro station and is very walkable. I checked on metro planner, and observed that, there is a metro at midnight 11.30pm also.
any inputs on this hote/location safety to walk from metro to hotel at say, 10pm.
Also, I am planning to visit baltimore (inner harbour and aquarium) on 13th. Check out on 13th morning and drive to baltimore, park the rented car in garage, stroll around for 4 -5 hrs and drive back home (~6 hrs drive).

I'll be there the same time, spent all day yesterday trying to find a reasonable rate when I came across this web-site - otel.com. They had the Red Roof Inn for $120/night, on the RRI web-site it was $259.00. I booked at the Omni for $164, their web-site showed $360 for the same room.

Just thought I'd share my discovery.

By co-incidence, I had just read about this web-site in the March Traveller magazine, but they highlighted it for European hotels.

Thanks owlwomen for sharing.Thats why I like this site/blog. Always get somenew information.
I will checkout here. Thanks again.
happy DC visit:)

Thank you all of you for tips/advise.
i did finalised and boooked courtyard marriot, next to dunn loring metro station for apr 11- 13. Got it for $99 / night including parkign+breakfast.
saw over internet that,its close to metro station and walkable , safe in night...thanks all again.
now lookign for apr 11th for cherry photos :))

The projected peak dates are out:

"Rob DeFeo, Chief Horticulturist for the National Park Service, announces his prediction for the peak bloom dates of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin to be March 27 through April 3, 2008."


I'm very sad, that is the weekend we were supposed to go. :(

SO we are going to miss the peak..not a good start :((
Hope we will have some flowers on 12th ...

I'm sorry bond007!! For all you know though, it could pour rain that whole weekend, and be perfect for your weekend! :)

Thanks for the Hopes.I mean it.I thought, the parade day will be the peak. Looking forward to see at least some nice flower show ;)

The Quincy on L Street, between 18th and 19th.

"I thought, the parade day will be the peak. "

You were warned in the very first reply to your post that (1) the parade is on the next-to-last day of the 2-week festival and (2) peak for the past 10 years has fallen 3 to 26 days before that date.

sorry, completely missed on this one, in my struggle to get reasonable hotel with reasonable price. one (may be stupid) Q: what will be the cherry scenario on 12th apr, i mean a week later than peak?

We were there for the parade last year but there were no cherry blossoms left, although the weather was very comfortable. We are headed up the weekend of Mrch 28-31 this year to really catch the cherry blossoms. Went with the Sofitel Lafayette--which looks good, but ouch!--there parking fees are so high.

Still looking for some good restaurants downtown which won't break the bank--we are booked at Ebbits on Saturday--any other suggestions--especially one which takes resos on Friday.

The blossom scenario a week after the peak depends mostly on the weather during that week. If there is a hard rain or a strong wind, you can expect that the blossoms will be dramatically reduced.

The cherry blossoms are beautiful, but if the peak weekend correponds with good weather, it is a madhouse.

I am really hoping that weather will co-operate - both on parade day and the previous week..
We will be there on 11th-13th. Hope to see the blossoms..just checked weather for that weekends ( i know its too early, but can't wait ;), its 72F with sun..can't ask for better ....
all the best to all of us

Have fun we went in 2006 and had a great time.This was fun
http://www.sakuramatsuri.org

PRICELINE SUCKS...read my recent experience on them. I told them I would spread the word if they would not correct my problem, and they could care less....so now I am spreading the message....do not use these guys!!!

Hi,
I am watching DC weather, and it looks that, its raining / wind there...can I expect some cherry blossom peak during this weekend (12-13)? How is weather there in this week - feel like?
Thanks in advance.

I think the Cherry Blossoms will be over by this weekend. I was there yesterday and while there were still blooms, they were a bit beyond peak. Dull and colorless.

Didn't they peak a couple of weeks ago. I think you mean will any blossoms be left. Does not sound likely for many.

With the rain the last two days, it is doubtful there will be much left by this weekend. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, though.

Thanks for your inputs, though not very encouraging :((,,,I should have planned for the last weekend..
hope to see some on 12th , if not, hope to enjoy the parade, at least.
keeping my fingers crossed, not to have any major wind/rain.

Was anyone there peak weekend (3/28-3/30)? That was the weekend we were supposed to go, and I saw Thursday and Friday would have been miserable rain, but Saturday (my birthday) would have been sunny.

I will be there on coming saturday.
as of today, forecast is for 70% rain with not bad temperatures...
Keeping my fingers crossed - not to rain whole day,,we want to enjoy the parade and cherry blossoms - if any left ;)

BTW, just now came to know about "great falls park" in McLean (30 min from DC). Thinking to visit, say for an hour or two, on Sunday morning (after hotel checkout and breakfast). From there, drive down to baltimore , say at 11 am, stroll around inner harbour (if possible, take submarine) and start driving back to sweet home, by 5pm (6 hr drive).
Pls comment on this action packed sunday (I know, its too much in a day, but as some of you advised, I will be able to add baltimore in my list :)
Is visit to great falls worth of taking out 2 hrs from baltimore?
Thanks in advance.