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Lincoln
atrium of Natural History museum
“Still Life with Swan and Game before a Country Es
RITA’S interior
I travel to Washington, DC a couple of times a year for very short stays (1-2 nights). I used to stay at a HI hostel, but now that I'm travelling with a hubby and a 3 year old, it's not an option. So I'm trying to find affordable hotels in the area. Doesn't have to be close to the Mall; doesn't have to be fancy. But it does have to be safe, clean, and affordable. Also, to get the best rates, do you book directly or through a booking site online (which one)?
Many hotels near DCA have good rates. Also, in general, hotels further outside than downtown, but near a Metro station, for example Bethesda, Silver Spring, which don't charge for parking, are good ideas.
I sometimes use websites like hotels.com to locate hotels, but I always reserve rooms through the hotels' own websites. One reason is that I am a member of a lot of chains' frequent flyer clubs, but also I sometimes find that the hotel also offers a deal on its website that isn't on the consolidator websites.
Since my mother-in-law lives in Alexandria, we seldom stay in hotels there, but I will note that in Alexandria, the area to the east of the King Street station has been gentrified (even a large Whole Foods with a ton of prepared foods, for heavens' sakes); there are at least 7 hotels in the immediate area. The station is on the Blue and Yellow lines as I recall (both go downtown by different routes). This area is about a quarter mile west of the edge of Old Town, so an easy walk during the day, and a short taxi ride in the evening when the neenerpooter is too tired to walk back (or you're too tired to carry him/her)...
I can't speak to the prices, but there is a range of hotels there...do you know how to use mapping software to locate hotels near an area?
Bill
You might take a look at the Red Roof Inn near Chinatown, they found it clean, safe and affordable and fairly close to everything.
That holiday inn looks nice, thanks! (At first I thought HI stood for Hostelling International, lol).
@mccalpin thanks for the tips! Whole Foods in the area is actually a big plus for us (gotta feed the kid all that healthy organic stuff, ya know).
The info on the Whole Foods near the King Street station is
Whole Foods Market
1700 Duke St
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.706.0891
Fax: 703.838.2908
If it works for you, here is the Yahoo Maps link for the store, with 10 or so surrounding hotels...
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=38.804246&lon=-77.059624&zoom=16&tt=hotel&tp=1&ioride=us&q1=1700%20duke%20street%2C%20alexandria%2C%20va&gid1=12702748
Bill
Thanks, Bill! You're a great help.
The best map of the National Mall area, by far, is the free one provided by the US Parks Service. I picked one up at the Lincoln Memorial bookshop (inside the hall to the right). It has a lot of information and shows all the main points and the statues.
Every time I see the wall, I get teary-eyed.
To see all those names affects me deeply,
I had no family that died in vietnam, for my brothers were too young by one year (the oldest).
When you go to Gettysburg, you feel the loss with all the monuments, but at the wall you weep. There are some lost Americans who visit and say insensitive things, my daughter could not believe her ears!
Please visit with regard to others, I was not the only weeping there.
In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 - there were several massive benefit concerts held to help raise money for the victims of those events. The UNITED WE STAND concert was held in Washington DC, at RFK Statdium. This all day rock concert was a truely amazing even to work.
Artists included: Backstreet Boys, *Nsync, James Brown, PINK, Bette Midler, Maria Carey, Sean Puffy (P. Diddy) Combs, Michael Jackson and Aerosmith, just to name a few. more photos from backstage at the concert are available here:
http://public.fotki.com/seth0919/united_we_stand_concert/
The best way to visit all the National Mall area is taking a trolley. For a price of $16 dollars you will be taken to the area, you'll have the chance to get off the trolley and visit every monument.
Washington, like most cities has a large population of homeless people. I saw quite a few sleeping on park benches and pushing around shopping carts through out my journeys. I don't suggest giving them any money only because stopping and opening your wallet or purse may make you an easy target. If you have some spare change in your pocket and you feel like it go right ahead.
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