First Time to DC
 

My husband and are are going to DC over Memorial Day weekend. It will be our first time. We are driving so will have a car. Got a great deal on the Marriott Suites near Dulles airport. Since we will have our car, is this a good place to stay? Would rather not pay $20+ for parking downtown. Any suggestions? Also, what are the must-dos while there? Will be there Sat - Wed. Thanks!

Dulles is not a great location for visiting DC. It's a long drive. You could, I guess, drive to the East Falls Church Metro station and park your car there and take Metro into the city.

This will work on the weekend, but not on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the lot will fill fast with commuters.

Staying by the Dulles airport, IMO, is just too far out. It's about a 30 min drive into DC without any traffic. Plus, parking in DC is a huge pain! I would try to stay near a metro station. I would look into the hotels around Rosslyn, Crystal City and maybe even Bethesda. You'll still have to pay for parking but certainly not DC rates.

As for must-do's, go to www.si.edu and pick out some museums. I love the National Gallery and Natural History Museums. On my next trip to DC, I'll be visiting the Musuem of the American Indian. Do you like to shop? Then definitely visit Georgetown and the Eastern market. I'd also consider a visit to Old Town Alexandria (about 1 mile walk from the King St metro).

I agree with MikeT. You'll essentially be commuting into the city. There's nothing really around Dulles, Reston Town Center is nice but if you're going to DC for the first time I should think you'd really want to explore.

If you're trying to save money, try a hotel in Arlington. You'll be right on the metro with only a few stops to DC and parking costs will probably be cheaper. I don't have any recs but if you do a search on this board you'll probably find something.

As far as must-do's, obviously the monuments. Kcapuani gave you some good advice too. Exploring the Dupont Circle and Adams-Morgan neighborhoods would be high on my list. You should probably see Georgetown and maybe a stop in Old Town Alexandria.

This is not a great idea - since you're almost 30 miles from anything you want to see.

If you don;t want to pay the hotel prices/parking for central DC you should look for something nearby in Virginia that's on/near the Metro line.

If you do a search below you'll find a lot of options.

I had a chance a few years ago for a "great deal" on Embassy Suites near IAD, but one writer here stated preference to being poked in the eye than staying out there to visit DC.

You can get hotels w/ no parking charge near Rosslyn Metro stop. Also look at Courthouse. Even Van Dorn area.

DO use the Metro. Don't purchase tickets with "just enough" credit on them for one trip, or one round trip ... you'll be spending too much time at the ticket vending machines ... with 5 days I would purchase maybe $15 fare cards for each person, $10 minimum, as you'll probably use them. Remember that you keep your ticket, swiping it both entering and exiting the Metro system, so it works kind of like pre-paid phone cards.

Also take a look at Old Town Alexandria. We have some big chain hotels and some charming B & B type places. From the King Street metro, it is an easy ride into DC right across the river, but Old Town itself is a lovely place to stroll, shop, dine, etc. as well with charming colonial houses, cute shops, etc.

Here's a link: http://www.funside.com/

Note that some of the hotels listed are in the suburbs, not in Old Town proper. Hilton, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, etc. are right in Old Town, among others.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I cancelled the room booked at Dulles and have resigned myself to the fact that I will have to pay a little more for a room. So, here's the choices I've come up with so far - Hotel Lombardy, St. Gregory, Washington Mariott (downtown - they have a memorial day special), Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, The River Inn and Washington Suites Georgetown. I know that's a long list, but if anyone has suggestions I'd be happy to hear them!! THanks so much :)

I used to work at the Washington Marriott - it's a basic Marriott hotel with a good location. You can walk to Georgetown (about 7 blocks) and to the Dupont Circle area (4-5 blocks). There is a metro station at Dupont Circle, and also at Foggy Bottom which is about 5 blocks away.

I've never stayed at the St Gregory but it looks like a nice boutique hotel. It is 2 blocks from the Marriott and closer to Dupont Circle.

Personally, I would not stay in Georgetown because there is no metro station nearby.

I've stayed at the River Inn - a quiet, residential location about two and a half blocks from the Foggy Bottom metro station. I stayed in a one bedroom suite which was large and had a kitchenette (very handy). The staff was pleasant and professional.

I believe the Washington Suites is on the edge of Georgetown and is two blocks away from a metro station. I haven't stayed there, so can't personally vouch for it.

We stayed at the Rosslyn Holiday Inn and found it fine - nothing fancy but clean and a great location. It's maybe a half block from the metro station and only a 10 minute ride or so into the mall area. They have free parking, which is pretty rare in DC, and an indoor pool if that matters. The other thing was that if you joined their priority club you got a free breakfast which was great. I'd stay there again.

Hi tdmort,

That's kind of a tough weekend in DC with all the veterans around. The hotels are packed with Rolling Thunder motorcycle groups. I'd book something fairly quickly.

Yep, it could be a hassle to come in from Dulles airport everyday. The parking lots fill up at the Metro (subway/light rail) garages and so you'd have no place to park to get on the convenient train.

Of the places you list I think the Marriott would be best. Most of those you list are in the area of GW University/Foggy Bottom/WestEnd. It's walkable to the Mall/Museums if you don't mind a bit of a hike and there are Metro stations within a few blocks
in a couple of directions. The Metro line also will drop you in the center of all of the Smithsonian museums if you don't want to walk far.

River Inn, Lombardy and Washington Suites serve the University quite a bit but depending on when they were last freshened up I don't know if I'd chance them. I don't know St.Gregory at all but that doesn't mean anything.

If people here say the Holiday Inn Keybridge is clean then that alternative might be okay with a close Metro stop and you can walk across the bridge to Georgetown in the evenings which is fun.

You can also walk there from the Marriott from the other direction.

Tell me more about what you like to do and I'll tell you where to go.

On Memorial Day the President usually goes to Arlington Cemetary and I've taken guests there for that. It is also pretty cool to see the motorcycles come rolling across the Memorial Bridge.

dsquared - thanks for the post. Was the River Inn within walking distance of the metro? What about food/shopping - was it nearby?

Phew...glad you canceled your hotel near Dulles. I live near Dulles and it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to work in DC on Tuesday -- and I left at 6:15 a.m.!

I stayed at the St Gregory about 1.5 yrs ago for a special evening around the town. The room was very nice - large, and had a kitchenette which would be great if you're there for a few nights. The hotel has a restaurant on the main floor and another restaurant, David Greggory, is right across the street. Dinner there is just okay, but I do enjoy a drink and appetizers. Galielo, a much acclaimed Italian restaurant, is a short 1.5 block walk away.

St Gregory is convenient to the metro which means you're convenient to all sites and restaurants.

Yes, the River Inn was an easy walk to the metro station. Trying to remember about restaurants; we mostly ate dinner/lunch in other areas of the city. There were restaurants in the area (mostly appealing to GWU students, I think) though, and there was a grocery store at the Watergate (another easy walk). Their website is www.theriverinn.com

Sorry I don't know anything about the other hotels you're considering.

Tdmort:

Are you talking about the Marriott at Metro Center? if so, that would be in an excellent location for getting around on public transport and within walking distance of various sites.

You say they have a good rate for Mem Day..does it include parking?

The HI in Rosslyn would be within easy walking distance of the Metro as well.

The RiverInn is within walking distance of some sections of Georgetown (as is anything in Rosslyn) and near Kincaid's (seafood) restaurant which some people really like.

I would also suggest the St. Gregory. It's a great location (although I am partial to it, since I live in the neighborhood!). On Memorial Day weekend, the metro will be a mess. If you are up for walking a good bit, you will be able to walk to many sites from this hotel and (hopefully) avoid the metro as much as possible. Also, with the zone cab system, you and your husband can take an $8 cab ride to almost anywhere downtown (I don't know how much cab rides would cost from Rosslyn).

As for the car, depending on where you are coming from, you might be able to park out at a metro station in VA or MD(and leave your car out there for the weekend); take the metro out and pick it up when you are ready to leave or if you want to drive to any particular sites. This could be a hassle, but if the cost of parking is a real problem, it is one solution.

Chelsea:
"On Memorial Day weekend, the metro will be a mess." Can you elaborate? Some places worse/better than others?

Thank you.