Vickie

My husband and I are planning a one week trip to DC. Should we stay in DC or Alexandra or someplace else?? Do we need a car or is public transportation good? Thanks Vickie

kam

The Metro is great except for access to Georgetown. Taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap. You don't give us a budget suggestion--there are so many options for hotels in DC. In general you want to be in the NW section of the district, in Georgetown or Alexandria is also good. There's a Marriott at Key Bridge in Arlington which is easy access to the Metro and a walk across the bridge to Georgetown.(it's the best part of DC for shopping and dining in little restaurants) If your budget is less, I would suggest looking at the area called "Foggy Bottom" or near DuPont Circle--near to George Washington Univ. It's a little less pricey. There's not a whole lot "downtown" except for the wonderful old Hay- Adams very pricey and across the park from the White House or the grand old Willard on Pennsylvania Ave. My first choice if money was not a problem would be the Four Seasons on PA Ave, just at the very beginning of Georgetown. Also, wonderful (but pricey) restaurants are 1789 near Georgetown University, and I Ricchi on 19th street, near Connecticut. Let me know if you need more budget minded suggestions.

Neal Sanders

For a week's stay in Washington, you might want to rent a car for perhaps two days. This would give you access to sites such as Manassas National Battlefield, Skyline Drive, and the plantation houses east of Richmond. Mount Vernon can be accessed either by the Tourmobile or by car; it is roughly 12 miles south of the city. Apart from that, Washington has an excellent public transit system that reaches all of the principal tourist sites. Kam's suggestions above are all quite good; I would add looking for hotels in Crystal City, Virginia, the office district immediately adjacent to National Airport. It, too, is on Metro and just a few stops away from the Mall. Probably the two most centrally located hotels for tourists are the L'enfant Plaza and JW Marriott (14th Street). Both, however, are at the upper end of anyone's price spectrum. Old Town Alexandria offers a range of accommodations, from the Holiday Inn Select on King Street, just across the street from Alexandria's City Hall Plaza, where the Market is held on Saturday mornings (possibly the most colorful sight in all of Washington); to the Embassy Suites across from King Street Metro, to budget lodgings like the EconoLonge on Washington Street. Restaurants? Georgetown for certain (walk the streets and look at the menus), Adams-Morgan (ditto), and selected restaurants in downtown DC such as Les Halles, El Jaleo, and Coco Loco.

Bob Brown

My wife and I have stayed three times at the Courtyard by Marriott in Rosslyn. It just over Key Bridge from Georgetown and close to a metro station.

The motel is secure with underground parking.
The metro takes you close to many major museums and monuments.

When we have flown into DCA, we rented a car so we could visit destinations other than those in the mall area.. Parking in the areas around the monuments, museums, and the capitol building is expensive to say the least.

You will enjoy having a car for Mt. Vernon and places like the Washington Cathedral.

I may be getting too old, but I am finding that
8 hours in one day of museum and monument hopping is wearing.

There was a running battle on earlier posts about why people take tours. Well, one reason to take a tour in DC is to have transportation without having to constantly walk, or to find a place to park, which is not easy.

sdj

Message: My family stayed 11 days in Alexandria at
the Holiday Inn. There is metro station just across
the parking lot from the hotel. The metro is safe
way to see D.C. We traveled the metro from 8:00 am till 8:00 pm. We went everywhere including the zoo (the trip to the zoo was a long walk). Finding places to eat and shop are easy as well. The Holiday
Inn is located at the Eisenhower station. Have a great trip.