Need advice on Washington,D.C. trip
Jun 27th, 2000, 11:23 AM
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
Lets cut through all this data. If you are visiting DC, then stay in DC - Dupont Circle area, NW near the zoo or downtown along 14th or 15th streets. You need to be able to walk places, including the Mall. Forget the burbs - why ride Metro with crowds. You're coming to see DC, so see DC. That means staying in DC. Sure, there is crime, but where is there no crime. So, lets not get carried away. Get a Zagat's for DC restaurants - and do Thai, Vietnamese, French, Italian, you name it. No, it may or may not be in the 60's in November. It depends on the weather pattersn. Very rarely has it ever snowed in November - yes, we did have that one freak strom years ago. But check out the weather stats. I'd say October would be better, but November won't be bad. By the way, don't get caught up in the argument about taxes - all cities have taxes. Everyhting is "free" in DC - you alreday paid when you files your 1040, so don't get steamed about taxes. Stick to why you're coming to DC. Get some good guidebooks, make a plan and see it all. And do have fun.
Jun 27th, 2000, 01:16 PM
#44
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nicely put, Fred.
Christine, wherever did you get the idea that someone looking for an appropriate hotel shouldn't provide the pertinent details? The only people who might want to make recommendations based on insufficient information are . . . travel agents.
Christine, wherever did you get the idea that someone looking for an appropriate hotel shouldn't provide the pertinent details? The only people who might want to make recommendations based on insufficient information are . . . travel agents.
Jun 27th, 2000, 04:21 PM
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'll stay out of the rancorous debate here. I just thought I'd add a couple of comments from my own experience.
I find Crystal City very convenient and extremely safe. That's why I live here; in fact, I'm looking out my window at the Marriott Crystal Gateway right now. That's one of two Marriotts here (the other is the Crystal Marriott); they both seem equally convenient, though the Crystal Gateway may be slightly closer to the Metro. You can reach at least it, and I believe the other Marriott, without leaving the "underground" mall that leads directly to the Metro. You might also want to know that the descending order of convenience to the Metro goes: Sheraton (1/2 block outdoor walk), Days Inn (1.5 block), Howard Johnson's (about 3 block). Be warned that the Marriotts are very popular with convention groups and are often full up.
As a probably cheaper alternative to the big-name chains, I can recommend the Americana Motel (1 block outdoor walk). I stayed there one night when I forgot my apartment key and couldn't persuade the front-desk clerk to let me in to my place. Perfectly clean, nothing fancy.
One convenient-to-Metro hotel in Virginia that I would not recommend is the Ballston Hilton. Yes, it's located over the Ballston Metro stop, fairly handy to the city -- but from personal experience last fall, & friends' experiences, it's overpriced, rundown, and inattentive to customer needs.
Mary, email me if I can help you further.
I find Crystal City very convenient and extremely safe. That's why I live here; in fact, I'm looking out my window at the Marriott Crystal Gateway right now. That's one of two Marriotts here (the other is the Crystal Marriott); they both seem equally convenient, though the Crystal Gateway may be slightly closer to the Metro. You can reach at least it, and I believe the other Marriott, without leaving the "underground" mall that leads directly to the Metro. You might also want to know that the descending order of convenience to the Metro goes: Sheraton (1/2 block outdoor walk), Days Inn (1.5 block), Howard Johnson's (about 3 block). Be warned that the Marriotts are very popular with convention groups and are often full up.
As a probably cheaper alternative to the big-name chains, I can recommend the Americana Motel (1 block outdoor walk). I stayed there one night when I forgot my apartment key and couldn't persuade the front-desk clerk to let me in to my place. Perfectly clean, nothing fancy.
One convenient-to-Metro hotel in Virginia that I would not recommend is the Ballston Hilton. Yes, it's located over the Ballston Metro stop, fairly handy to the city -- but from personal experience last fall, & friends' experiences, it's overpriced, rundown, and inattentive to customer needs.
Mary, email me if I can help you further.
Jun 28th, 2000, 04:42 PM
#47
Guest
Posts: n/a
Some other hotel choices in the Va suburbs. There's an Embassy Suites right at one of the metro stops in Alexandria (King St maybe - I'm now in a car pool so I don't take the metro much anymore). Also at Pentagon City, there's several hotels including a Doubletree and Radisson. From these hotels some of the rooms would have great views of DC. Staying in the suburbs might be easier with a car. In the evening you can drive into the city or to restuarants. One of the most beautiful sights in Washington is to see the monuments at night. You also get a great view from the Iwo Jima memorial which is in Virginia. Driving in the city at night is pretty easy - especially around the mall/memorials - traffic will be fairly light. It's also an easy drive to Mount Vernon (day or night)
