The Residence Inn is a fine location. Lots of food option (and shopping) but not much else.

I guess I am less of a fan of the Metro bus from BWI, espcially for a crew your size. It's going to add time and significant inconvenience to get to Pentagon City. Lots of luggage and hassling and waiting for buses and subways. You will also be pained to discover that your hotel is 5 minutes from Washington National airport.

I assume you are flying into BWI because it is significantly cheaper. Once you place a value on the inconvenience, hassle, and additional cost, would it be cheaper to fly into Washington National?

MikeT, you are correct. It will probably be a pain having to travel down from BWI, but I was a rookie to the area when I booked them, and it was all I could get with my free miles. I'm sure that I'd do it differently next time. Not happy to hear that it's a mere 5 min to Reagan. Oh well. . .

I recommend that you change from the Green Line to the Yello at the Mt Vernon stop. That way you'll be at the yellow line's originating station, so have the best shot at getting seats together for all of you, and continue down to Pentagon City.

Thanks rb_travelerxATyahoo for the green/yellow tip. As I said, this is all new to us and anything we can learn ahead of time will help.

that's the tip o' the day. great advice, rb.

My pleasure. And similarly, catch the B30 bus up near the Southwest concourse instead of near the international pier, as that's where they pick up first.

Get to the baggage level at SW, and outside the doors you will see a sidewalk, two traffic lanes, another sidewalk or "pedestrian pier", then another driving lane. On the pedestrian pier, look to your left for the bus shelter. That's the B30 bus pickup.

If you choose the other stop, walk on baggage level towards concourse F ("International") and watch signs for "Light Rail". When you see the last few exit doors to your left before the end of the terminal, you'll see bus shelters on the pedestrian island; again the B30 (and others).

An extension of my tip: "Try to board buses and trains as close to their origin as possible."

Thanks again for all the detailed help. It sounds like you've done this a time or two. Should save us a lot of time.