WOULD LIKE SOME IDEAS ON WHERE IS BEST TO STAY AROUND WASHINGTON DC. THAT IS EASY TO ACCESS PUBLIC TRANPORT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT ABLE TO GET TO PLACES SUCH AS SMITHSONIAN,AND SUCH.

Your question is pretty broad because you don't say what type of accomodation or price range you might be interested in. However, lodging in the vicinity of the Whitehouse, like the JW Marriott is convenient to the Capital Mall but very expensive. I have stayed several times at the Sheraton which is in NW (a decent area) and right next to a Metro station. You can find several more eclectic lodgings in the area around Dupont Circle which has a metro station. There are several motor inn type properties in the Rosslyn area near Arlington Cemetary that have good metro access. You can also stay out in Maryland or Virginia on a Metro line at like a Marriott Suites. Your idea of lodging near a metro line is right on. That is by far the most convenient way to go. Metro is speedy and safe.

Your question is pretty broad because you don't say what type of accomodation or price range you might be interested in. However, lodging in the vicinity of the Whitehouse, like the JW Marriott is convenient to the Capital Mall but very expensive. I have stayed several times at the Sheraton which is in NW (a decent area) and right next to a Metro station. You can find several more eclectic lodgings in the area around Dupont Circle which has a metro station. There are several motor inn type properties in the Rosslyn area near Arlington Cemetary that have good metro access. You can also stay out in Maryland or Virginia on a Metro line at like a Marriott Suites. Your idea of lodging near a metro line is right on. That is by far the most convenient way to go. Metro is speedy and safe.

Sorry I didn't post a price range on the hotels in this area because I wasn't sure of the area and what price range I could expect to pay. But with some of your suggestion I will start in these areas. thanks

I have found that the most reasonable and SAFE accomodations are in the Scott Circle area. There is a Holiday Inn and a couple of other chain hotels which are not fancy but very nice. The metro stops are a bit of a walk no matter where you stay, and your destination stop will be a bit of a walk as well. The taxis in DC are extremely reasonable (they charge by Zone, not by mileage) and the drivers are wonderful! If you visit the museums of the Smithsonian, remember that there are miles and miles of exhibits in each building! If you walk to the metro and then from the metro to the sites, and through the buildings - that's a lot of walking. It's quite a walk from one building to the next! There's a trolly - you can buy an all day ticket, which goes from site to site on a frequent basis, or ride for a while to rest!

Have visited D.C. a number of times. Best place that I stayed at was in Arlington, VA at the Marriott (I've stayed there twice!). Reasonable rates and an excellent location-Metro station was only two blocks away. Hotel is easily accessible if you are driving to D.C.-less than 1/4 mile off expressway. You don't need to stay right in the city near the main attractions-the Metro has stations near the sites and many hotels in the city are not necessarily in the best parts of town. Denise

It's been a few years, but try the Hotel Washington. Smack in downtown, across the street from the White House. April's Southern Living Magazine advertises $99 a night July/August. 1-800-424-9540. Rooms are small but great location to everything!

I hotel that I would recommend for both location and quality is the Capitol Hilton (where I got married). It is about a block from the White House; one block from the Metro (although you could walk to the Mall and the Museums from the Hotel). This a very safe area (in what is basically Washington's financial/business district). Many good restaurants nearby as well as the Improv. A taxi to Georgetown should even cost less than $10. See "zone" comment in a previous message.

You don't really have a problem. Your choices are unlimited. You can stay in the Maryland suburbs or the Virginia suburbs and take the metrorail line to downtown Washington. You my money, I would select the Maryland suburbs (Rockvile or that area). There are many reasonable hotels in the Rockville corridor and the Shady Grove metro is a short ride to downtown Washington. Rockville is in the Montgomery County area of Maryland. Bethesda, Maryland is nearby. This is a nice area. Many of the large chains have hotels in this area. Good luck and enjoy your visit.


Josh Roberts -)

We've stayed in several places in and around DC, but the best one was at duPont Circle. You'll be near several museums (National Geographic and the Phillips Collection, among others). Metro is very convenient. It is similar to the Paris Metro in that you buy your ticket in advance from a machine, slip in into a slot at the turnstile. If you've paid for a round trip, then reove the ticket and hold on to it for thr return. Otherwise, buy a new one when you decide to go back to your hotel. There is a wall chart listing the fares to the various stations. Change machines are available. No graffiti on the walls because the platforms are several feet away from the. Stations are TV monitored and safe.

I have visited and sent many of my clients to Washington D.C. I would highly recommend the Howard Johnson Premier Hotel. It is located across the street from the Watergate Hotel in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. You can walk 2 blocks to the Foggy Bottom Metro Station or to Georgetown.

When I haven't stayed with friends in the D.C. area, I have stayed in Arlington, VA -- Crystal City area near the Pentagon. There
are numerous hotels in that area to choose from. They are all convenient to the metro station & some even have a van that may
take you the few blocks to the station. This area is also convenient to National Airport, only a short cab ride away. There is
alot of shopping & good restaurants in that area & I have had now problems with safety when I have stayed in that area. I have stayed
at the DoubleTree with a very nice room that overlooked D.C. & the monuments -- execllent view especially at night. The restaurant
at the hotel was good, but I didn't care too much for the service at the hotel. I have also stayed at the Embassy Suites, which I
really enjoyed, but doesn't have the view of D.C. Once you take the Metro into D.C. -- the Smithonian stop -- you can by an all-day
ticket to use the trams run by the Parks. I have used it numerous times. It takes you to & around Arlington Cemetary as well as to
all the monuments & mall areas. You can get on & off at any stop as many times as you want to or just stay on it to get view of
the sites when you need a little time to sit & rest. I will use these trams again. One hint here though from experience -- If you
want to use the tram to see the Jefferson Memorial, do that first thing in the morning, & don't linger. By the afternoon, the trams that
stop at the Jefferson are full & very few people get off there so there are not alot of seats for available for people getting on, &
when the tram is full it continues on the journey & you stand & wait for the next tram , & the next tram, & the next tram, until
there is finally a set for you & you family. This does not appear to be a problem at any other tram stop, except maybe for the
last tram of the day. The Jefferson Memorial is kindof out of the way, so there is really no other place to go except by tram. If
you are on the Mall or another monument there are always other monuments & buildings to walk to, not so at the Jefferson Memorial,
but you don't won't to miss the Jeffer

When I haven't stayed with friends in the D.C. area, I have stayed in Arlington, VA -- Crystal City area near the Pentagon. There
are numerous hotels in that area to choose from. They are all convenient to the metro station & some even have a van that may
take you the few blocks to the station. This area is also convenient to National Airport, only a short cab ride away. There is
alot of shopping & good restaurants in that area & I have had now problems with safety when I have stayed in that area. I have stayed
at the DoubleTree with a very nice room that overlooked D.C. & the monuments -- execllent view especially at night. The restaurant
at the hotel was good, but I didn't care too much for the service at the hotel. I have also stayed at the Embassy Suites, which I
really enjoyed, but doesn't have the view of D.C. Once you take the Metro into D.C. -- the Smithonian stop -- you can by an all-day
ticket to use the trams run by the Parks. I have used it numerous times. It takes you to & around Arlington Cemetary as well as to
all the monuments & mall areas. You can get on & off at any stop as many times as you want to or just stay on it to get view of
the sites when you need a little time to sit & rest. I will use these trams again. One hint here though from experience -- If you
want to use the tram to see the Jefferson Memorial, do that first thing in the morning, & don't linger. By the afternoon, the trams that
stop at the Jefferson are full & very few people get off there so there are not alot of seats for available for people getting on, &
when the tram is full it continues on the journey & you stand & wait for the next tram , & the next tram, & the next tram, until
there is finally a set for you & you family. This does not appear to be a problem at any other tram stop, except maybe for the
last tram of the day. The Jefferson Memorial is kindof out of the way, so there is really no other place to go except by tram. If
you are on the Mall or another monument there are always other monuments & buildings to walk to, not so at the Jefferson Memorial,
but you don't won't to miss the Jeffer

When I haven't stayed with friends in the D.C. area, I have stayed in Arlington, VA -- Crystal City area near the Pentagon. There
are numerous hotels in that area to choose from. They are all convenient to the metro station & some even have a van that may
take you the few blocks to the station. This area is also convenient to National Airport, only a short cab ride away. There is
alot of shopping & good restaurants in that area & I have had now problems with safety when I have stayed in that area. I have stayed
at the DoubleTree with a very nice room that overlooked D.C. & the monuments -- execllent view especially at night. The restaurant
at the hotel was good, but I didn't care too much for the service at the hotel. I have also stayed at the Embassy Suites, which I
really enjoyed, but doesn't have the view of D.C. Once you take the Metro into D.C. -- the Smithonian stop -- you can by an all-day
ticket to use the trams run by the Parks. I have used it numerous times. It takes you to & around Arlington Cemetary as well as to
all the monuments & mall areas. You can get on & off at any stop as many times as you want to or just stay on it to get view of
the sites when you need a little time to sit & rest. I will use these trams again. One hint here though from experience -- If you
want to use the tram to see the Jefferson Memorial, do that first thing in the morning, & don't linger. By the afternoon, the trams that
stop at the Jefferson are full & very few people get off there so there are not alot of seats for available for people getting on, &
when the tram is full it continues on the journey & you stand & wait for the next tram , & the next tram, & the next tram, until
there is finally a set for you & you family. This does not appear to be a problem at any other tram stop, except maybe for the
last tram of the day. The Jefferson Memorial is kindof out of the way, so there is really no other place to go except by tram. If
you are on the Mall or another monument there are always other monuments & buildings to walk to, not so at the Jefferson Memorial,
but you don't won't to miss the Jeffer