I would like to come to Washington DC for Alzheimers forum 3/23-3/25/09. Its being held at the Omni Shorham an I would like to find accomidations close to Metro with smoking rooms....I would like to come in early 3/20 an make it a working vacation...thanks

The conference hotel is in Woodley Park, very near a metro station. Your first choice should be to call the hotel and ask if you can arrive early at the conference rate.

If not, Washington is a really good place to use Priceline. Your primary area on Priceline should be Dupont Circle since it includes the Woodley Park hotels and has good transportation and lots of restaurants in all price categories. It is not impossible that you could wind up in the conference hotel at an equal or lower rate.

It is too early, I think, to use Priceline for March 20, but not to call the hotel or check out Hotwire just to see what is being offered.

Does the Omni not offer smoking rooms? If you require a smoking room, then Priceline is not a good option for you.

The next-nearest hotel that might offer smoking rooms is the Marriott Wardman Park, which is very close to the Woodley Park Metro station and is within easy walking distance to the Omni hotel.

I would book something quick because that will be at the beginning of cherry blosssom time and rooms will book fast and will be expensive the longer you wait.

All Marriotts are entirely non-smoking.