small town Wisconsin going to D.C.
 

I'll be going to D.C. in March. I hear a lot about crime and would like to know if the area I am staying in is safe. 500 H St. NW. I will be taking cabs for most of my outings, going to National Mall and Georgtown Shopping Center. Is this area I'm staying ok? Any suggestions for a female traveling on her own to stay safe?

Hi, Salli,

I live and work in DC--I work only two blocks from your hotel, at 7th and I Streets NW--and we find it very safe, just use your good judgment as you would in any city after dark. Stay in busy, well-lit places and you'll be fine. You'll be right at the end of Chinatown, which is a fun, hip, and happy area every night of the week. Great eats abound: check out Chinatown Express on 6th St., almost at the corner of H for fabulous homemade noodles and dumplings (they call them "steamed pork bun" when you order). Walk over to 7th Street for more good restaurants of all types and shopping. The Gallery Place Metro Stop is at the corner of 7th and H. In addition to Georgetown Park, check out Union Station, only five blocks East of where you are staying. It has great shopping too, a huge food court, and fabulous architecture. Your hotel location is very good for sightseeing. If the weather is good, you might just walk to the Capitol or the National Mall. Cabs are pretty cheap and plentiful in that area, too, if you need them. Hope you have a wonderful trip to our beautiful city!

Hi Salli,

I used to work in D.C., very close to where you're staying. The neighborhood you're staying in is quite safe (the NW section of the city is the nicest and quite upscale). As the previous poster says, just use good judgment especially at night. (Try to stay in well-lit areas, take cabs to avoid walking too far at night by yourself.)
There are many great restaurants and tourist attractions near where you are. Have a fantastic time!

Stay in well-lit areas. Stay off the mall at night though. The metro is safe at night. I would stick with metro to get around, it is very user friendly, is cheaper and faster than a cab.

Depending where you are and what you are trying to get to during your stay, it might be better walking. Metro can be a huge waste of time during non rush hour periods.

Example: I work in Chinatown and can walk just about six blocks straight down the street and be on the mall. If you didn't know any better, you might possibly get on the Chinatown Metro and sit waiting for a train for 8-15 minutes when you you could walk it in the same or less amount of time and see more of the city.

It all depends on where/what you are trying to get to.

Check Metro:
www.wmata.com