NWR: Traveling to DC

Beth082485

Hi Girls!My DH and I are planning to take a weekend getaway to DC in October... We would like to stay someplace relatively close to DC, but would like to keep the cost down as far as hotels ($120 a night and under). Question is, are there any suburbs of DC where there are metro stations that will take you to downtown? Thanks!

razdazzle_22377334

My mom comes to DC a lot and gets great rates on hotels in DC from priceline.com.  You should try to stay in DC some neighborhoods are dupont, downtown - metro center, foggy bottom, or woodley park.If you stay in the suburbs I would recommend Bethesda, MD or Arlington, VA or anywhere on the Red Line.

scoetto

Orange line is good too. There is a Courtyard Marriott across from the Dunn Loring metro station. You can walk to and from the hotel (it's really not that far). Our clients and OOT coworkers stay there all the time.

nooniesinlove

I definitely recommend anywhere in Arlington off of the orange line.  Ten minutes on the metro, and you're in downtown DC.  Some hotels can be pricey, but I think there's a reasonable Holiday Inn that's a five minute walk from the Ballston metro stop.Go to priceline.com and name your own price for the hotel that you really want.  My FI and I are going to a wedding this month in Rochester, and we got a $139 room in a beautiful lodge for $70.  If you do some good research into how Priceline categorizes its hotels and the listed prices, you can get a really good deal on exactly the hotel you want.  I live right off of the Courthouse metro stop, and I know that there's a lot of hotels in the area that I'm sure you could get killer deals on.

nooniesinlove

There's metro access for Fairfax, Arlington, Crystal City, and Alexandria (all of which are in Virginia), as well as for Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Springs, and other Maryland suburbs.  I really can't speak to any place other than Arlington, although the general wisdom is to try to stay out of Maryland (not that *I* have anything against Maryland; I work there!).This site might help you: http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm

HelenaHandbasket

I'm not sure about hotel rates, but I live in Alexandria, VA and it's a great place to stay. A few different metro stations, and also fun places to visit. Old Town Alexandria is great, lots of good restaurants and places to walk around. Good luck

rechance

You may want to consider staying in a hotel near the Greenbelt or College Park Green line stations.  They are never as mobbed as some of the Northern VA stations.  Less than 1/2 mile from the Greenbelt subway station, there is a Marriott hotel (a little pricey) but a mile from the station is a Residence Inn and Courtyard Marriott that are much more affordable.

rechance

"although the general wisdom is to try to stay out of Maryland"I am curious about this comment and I would like *Noonie* to please clarify.

razdazzle_22377334

Just out of curiosity I went on priceline and checked rates, without naming the price, and the Omni Shoreham in Woodley Park (in DC near the National Zoo) was around $135 - I just tried a random weekend in October.  It was a better rate than some hotels in MD or VA even.As long as you are by a metro, you will be fine almost anywhere, but you should definitely look into DC options as well. 

nooniesinlove

rechance, I didn't mean anything mean by it other than what I said.  I've been here a little over a month, and most people that I talk to warn me about different parts of Maryland -- including people who live in Maryland -- so I thought it *was* the general wisdom.  I always assumed that they meant that some parts are dangerous, but I also know that some parts of DC and VA are kind of sketchy too, so I guess I shouldn't have said what I said.Like I said though, I work in Maryland and like it, and it's not bad in that area.  I've also gone to one restaurant in Rockville, and it seemed safe enough.  I was just passing on what I had been told by lots of DC-area residents.  The OP should just be careful wherever she's looking because while the DC metro area is a relatively safe one (IMO), there ARE some less-than-savory areas accessible by metro in the district and the two states.Since I'm rather a DC newb, you are more than welcome to correct me!  I would love to hear some interesting places to visit in Maryland; my FI and I love exploring, and if you say there's an interesting restaurant somewhere, we'll probably make it there!  Plus, no one really seems to be giving me any positive feedback about places to go in that state, so I would love someone with a passion for the area to point me in the right direction!

razdazzle_22377334

noonies - I don't think people say to stay out of MD because it is dangerous.  I live in Bethesda, MD and it may be one of the safest and nicest communities in the area.  There is a snobbery to being in the DC area.  I have lived here for 9 years and always jokingly say that I will never go to VA.  Mostly because I always get lost when driving there.  Not because it is really bad or dangerous.  I think people who live in MD and VA have an "our state is better" attitude.  Also, while there may be some unsafe areas in MD and DC, there are definitely unsafe areas in VA.  Just like any state will have.  ____________________For the traveler coming here, just make sure you are in the NW area of DC or by a metro if you are in VA or MD.  Post again when you have your hotel and we can give you restaurant and site-seeing recs!