Could anyone tell me the best places in Washington to meet young people when alone on holiday?

How about at the HI/AYH hostel in DC? ( http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/ )?? Or at one of the college campuses? Foggy Bottom stop is in the midst of GWU. Maybe coffee shops, internet cafes?

I see I just answered your "$50 NYC Hotel" question ... how young a person are you? What's your interests? How about checking out bulletin boards at various colleges for what kinds of concerts, lectures, special programs are taking place? The Hostel might have reduced or free tickets to various events.

I take by the expression "on holiday" that you may be from Europe. Welcome! How long will you be visiting us, and what's your probably itinerary? Hope you thoroughly enjoy your holiday!

A place that I always spend a little time at when I'm Washington DC is SOHO Tea & Coffee. It's a very comfortable place where you'll find people just hanging out, talking, reading, etc. and there is a computer that you can rent for a while to check your e-mail, etc.

Here's a website:

http://www.dcmenus.com/sohoteaandcoffee_gtown.html

For a reasonably-priced and hearty meal with the world's largest selection of beers, cross the street and walk up a few doors to the Brickskeller:

http://www.thebrickskeller.com/

Have a great time in Washington. It's a wonderful city.

i usually stay in hostels when i travel alone for this very reason. I stayed at the HI hostel in DC before while waiting for my apt to be ready, and i must warn you that it accepts homeless vouchers. i personally was very uncomfortable sharing a room with a woman who slept with her shopping trolley in her bed and didn't shower.
The hostel is great at taking people on tours - we didn't have to wait in line at the White House or the Capitol but unfortunately no one gets those tours anymore. I's sure the hostel offers some others, though.

There are also walking tours in DC - I went on a ghost tour - very interesting! You can also take neighborhood tours on Saturday mornings - check any guide book for details.

Thanks for replying so quickly. My question about Washington was on behalf of my brother who is staying at someones house for a week (they work long hours) and is a bit worried about going out alone in case he strays to the wrong areas. (I'm 30)I was in New York at christmas and loved it but found the hotels to be a lot more expensive than England so thought i would ask just to see if i had not been looking in the right places for the cheaper hotels.

YOu don't say where your brother is staying, so there might be places more convenient than around Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan, but I like Tryst coffeehouse myself (Soho is good, also). Also, the Cosi coffee house on Connecticut and R has a large outdoor terrace which is good, and lots of younger people browse in the Kramerbooks and Afterwords bookstore, and they have a small bar and dining area also, with late night entertainment. A lot of people seem to hang out in Borders down on L St, also, and in Dupont Circle park when the weather is nice. Of course, there are always lots of people down on the Mall in nice weather, but I think these others might be better. They don't really have internet cafes much in DC, at least none I know of (Kramerbooks has one monitor, at least). There are plenty of bars in various places, of course, in Adams Morgan, Arlington, etc. I like the Delux coffee shop on Wisconsin Avenue in Cleveland Park a lot -- they have an openair terrace and a good bar, also. There are always lots of people walking around Georgetown, and that's a young crowd in many places due to the school, I guess.

I happen to like the bar at the Tabard Inn. It's a small counter but a great place for conversation.

Thanks again for all these great idea's. My brother will be staying in Fairfax and going out mainly during the day.