Last mintute trip!!! Pls help!!!
 

Hubby made the reservation last night to go to Washington DC (plane lands in Balitmore) and he and his daughter is leaving in 5 days!!!!!!!

I mean in FIVE days!! We dont know ANYTHING about DC!!! He wants to see Smithisian and walk by White House and visit the Lincoln Mountement, etc...you know touristy stuff.

He told me to post this:

He want a nice clean 3-4 star hotel in safe area that is within walking distance of these places meationed above. He doesn't plan to rent a car. It will only be 4 days.
Which hotels fit this?

2) the plane will lands in Balitmore at 7:30 PM. Is there a train, shuttle or what that can take you to hotel in DC? It is going to be dark and I want the best possible safe trip from airport to hotel.

I'll come back with more questions if I think of any. THANKS so much for your help!

What do you men by walking distance? Sights in DC are pretty spread out - but most are easily reachable by the subway system - so a car is unnecessary. But there's no hotel from which you can walk to everything - unless you mean waslking miles. (We usually stay near Dupont Circle unless we can get a great deal at one of the better places - Mandarin Oriental etc).

How many are going - all 3 of you? What is your hotel budget? Will it be all weekdays or weekends or both (prices vary a lot).

Yes, it will be dark by the time they get to DC even if the plane lands on time. Assuming you mean BMI you need to go to the website (http://www.bwiairport.com/) and check for ground transportation options. What's best depends on what hotel they stay in - which depends on budget. They may be able to get a shuttle directly to hotel - but may need to change to local transit.

Thanks for your reply. No, I am not going. Someone gotta watch other kids at home. Hubby is taking a daughter to go for a surprise trip this coming Thursday March 30th. They will come home next Monday the 3rd.

We know NOTHING about DC.

Hubby want to go to Smithsonian on Saturday. He would like to see the White house and capital (walk by). He also want to see the the tall needle like mountment and Lincoln place. (See, I dont know what's called...I never been there).

I feel really overwhelmed because he just decided less than 24 hours ago that he wanted to do it and that didn't give me enough time to research and book a hotel, etc for him and still have to get my daughter warm winter clothes for the trip since we live in AZ!!!

I hope you all will help me save much time planning quickly. Thank you!

Lori,

I had similar ?'s about arriving in Baltimore a few weeks ago, there is some detailed info in threads 7 and 34 in the Washington DC subsection. I don't know how to paste the thread so you can link on it, sorry! 7:30 PM may be late to be doing a lot of public transportation, a taxi right to the hotel is probably the best option. It will cost around $50, maybe more.

Make sure the hotel knows it's going to be a late check-in!

Also it is Cherry Blossom festival time, so reasonably priced 3-4* hotels are going to be tough to come by. The one I stayed in last week is more a 2 star (Capitol Hill Suites).

Also note that the Smithsonian is comprised of 19 museums, most right in the mall area, but some located in different places. I suggest reading the forums, or Fodors online, and buying a guidebook to help narrow down which museums they want to see. How old is his daughter?

Look at historictours.com for info on citywide trolley tours that will stop at the monuments. We especially enjoyed the Monuments by Moonlight tour at night.

It will be really pretty. I hope they have a good time!

Ok...Just trying to find info on hotels near National Mall. I think this is where Smithinsian is located at.

Can anyone recommend hotel near or between Smithisian and Washington Mountment, etc. Just want them to be able to walk/subway to lots of places without wasting too much valuable time.

Daughter is 10 and very much into history, etc. This will be her huge early birthday surprise and without her 4 other siblings vieying for daddy's attention. She doesnt know and I made hubby promised that he will not tell her till the morning of flight when I drop them off at airport curb and see the priceless moment on her face! Too bad I cant go...gonna babysit 4 others! LOL

"We know NOTHING about DC."

You can start by reading the section on DC right here on fodors.com

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...hington_dc@167

For downtown hotels, here's a list:
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...brief&pg=7

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...r100&fid=1


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...r100&fid=1

or just click on traveler 100's screenname and her posts and the answers come right up. They will love DC. Wonderful city!

It's all right here. On fodors home page, click in orange horizontal bar on "Destinations". Select DC. Then go to section on "What to do in 3-5 days".

Lori, the Smithsonian is actually a number of buildings and the National Zoo. The best known Smithsonian museums are the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, and the Natural History Museum. All three are on the Mall. And all are free! Go to http://www.si.edu/ and click on "visitor information."

The metro (subway) is clean, safe, and easy to use. Use it. Here's the map:

http://www.stationmasters.com/System...ystem_map.html

Look for a hotel that's close to a metro stop - here's a list:

http://www.stationmasters.com/Lodging/lodging.html

I hope they have a great time and that you get to go one of these days!

You should get a good map - Streetwise or a DK pocket foldout map. If you can get to a bookstore and get one now...it will make your planning much easier.

That's a very busy weekend. Hope he is comfortable paying $250 and up for a room. Look at the Jury's Hotels and the St. Gregory.

You should check out this site -
http://www.washington.org
It has a lot of hotel listings and tourist info. I haven't booked anything through them, but it would give you an idea of what's available.

Check www.hotels.com, it will give you a listing of hotels, availability, location, distance to sites, rates, amenities and more. I have used it countless times as a great reference guide, and the prices are usually very good.

Hope they have a great time.