I would like some honest opinion on the hop on and off tour buses for 4th of July week. I know where each one goes to. What I need to know is if taking these hop on and off buses is more of hassle or is it pleasureable. I am concern about traffic and wait time for these buses on the week of the 4th of July. I have taken these tour buses before in Boston and NYC and I think is more of a hassle than anything. The traffic and wait time was horrible. I was hoping DC would be different.
So please tell if I should take a tour bus or transport myself by feet and metro.
Looking forward to my wonderful trip...
Thanks

I would re-post this w/ Wash DC in your title.

you don't mention DC in your heading and even in the body you don't mention it until the last sentence. It took me a while to figure out what you were asking . . . . .

Thank you, Janis.

travelnutties,

I suggest you pass on the tour bus. It will be a similar experience to you busses in Boston and NYC - probably worse since DC will be mobbed the week of your visit.

I think a matter of personal style and preference - some people swear by the tour busses, I avoid them at all costs.

My family just used the Old Town Trolley a few days ago. It was very good for getting around to areas away from the mall and enabled me to get to areas of the city I hadn't seen before. We did have one bad wait because of full trolleys (not traffic-was a Sunday though), but on the whole the experience was very positive. That said, I would be very hesitant to do it during the week of the 4th because I would expect a lot of waiting and lost time.