First time visiing Washigton D.C.

there's absolutely no way you should rent a car in DC or any other major US city except LA.

Parking is outrageously expensive. Driving can be hell for people not used to big cities. And the only real way to get to know a city and its people/places is to take public transit like the locals. Renting a car in a city like DC is so wasteful and just....sadly suburban.

Quote from tangerinemixer : there's absolutely no way you should rent a car in DC or any other major US city except LA. Parking is outrageously expensive. Driving can be hell for people not used to big cities. And the only real way to get to know a city and its people/places is to take public transit like the locals. Renting a car in a city like DC is so wasteful and just....sadly suburban.

I wouldn't recommend renting a car IN DC...but what if OP lives within driving distance?
I guess it also depends when he's planning to go there. We went there on a weekend. Drove down from Philadelphia and found an excellent spot near the national mall where you can park for free on the weekends. (I mentioned that above).
There was also always parking wherever we went... probably because it was the weekend. Obviously if the OP is coming in on a weekday then I definitely would not recommend using a car or leaving it at the hotel.

And since we had a ton of things to see, it was just way more convenient to drive from one place to another, because taking/waiting for public transit from Arlington to DC to Georgetown would not have been convenient.
I guess it depends from scenario to scenario. We had just spent 3 days in NYC before that...and had enough of sitting around in the subway and the "polite" New Yorkers.

Oh and I'm from a small town where a taxi-driver from New York would be arrested within 5 minutes if he drove like that. But, i did just fine in NYC, and I did just fine in DC. No tickets, just a few pissed off taxi drivers.

That's another advantage of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn that I remembered. Free parking.

Quote from the.J129 : Oh my God..the changing of the guards has got to be one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.

Yeah it is pretty awesome. I used to live right next to the cemetary. We'd always walk around in the cemetary..I know it sounds weird but its peaceful, its pretty, and theres hardly any people...we'd sometimes stop at the changing of the guard if we were there around the right time. I think they change every 30 min?

You used to also be able to go up in the bell tower...the tall structure by iwo jima. Im not sure if they allow that anymore. The last year or two I lived in rosslyn it was never open. If it is open when you stop by OP id check that out. Its a nice view from up there.

Quote from billythebulldog : Yeah it is pretty awesome. I used to live right next to the cemetary. We'd always walk around in the cemetary..I know it sounds weird but its peaceful, its pretty, and theres hardly any people...we'd sometimes stop at the changing of the guard if we were there around the right time. I think they change every 30 min?.

Yup it's every 30 minutes...after the change as everyone was leaving, people begain talking and it got kinda' loud, and the sentinel turned around and in a booming voice told us to keep silent... He looked like he was going to open fire!


That dedication is amazing...Live for 2 years in barracks under the tomb. Never drink alcohol for the rest of their lives. Can never swear.
That's Insane.

Definitely try and fly into Reagan and not Dullus. Dullus is terrible. I have never not been delayed going through dullus

Quote from w3kn : Fly into Reagan National and take Metro wherever you want to go. You won't really need a car if you plan on staying in the city most of your trip. Stay outside the city at a hotel near a Metro station. The Smithsonian museums are free. Spend some time visiting those. The National Zoo is also free, but isn't that great IMO. The International Spy, Crime and Punishment, and Newseum musems are good but charge admission. Georgetown is good for nightlife but you will need to either take cabs or buses as the subway does not go near there. Adams Morgan is a good nightlife spot as well. Go to Ben's Chili Bowl off the U Street-Cardoza Metro station on the Green line. I'll try to think of more ideas.

Quote from the.J129 : Create a Priority Club account here. [priorityclub.com]Then using this link [ichotelsgroup.com], find and book this hotel. [holidayinn.com] Use that "Friends and Family" link. Don't book it directly through the hotel website. You should be able to get a standard room for around $70 a night. (That's what I got when I stayed there a month ago) This hotel is 10 minutes away from the National Mall and other major DC attractions. I'm assuming/hoping you have a car? In DC, it may be difficult finding parking spots, but if you're arriving on a weekend, there's a really swell parking lot right opposite the Capitol, about 5 minutes away from the Smithsonian museums. Technically, we're not allowed to park there, but multiple cops told me that it's okay to park there on a weekend. And parking on a Sunday is free anyway. Places to see. You can check out the Arlington Cemetery which is about 10 minutes away from the hotel. Also check out the Iwo Jima Memorial (especially at night) which is also 5 minutes away. In DC - The Smithsonian museums! Especially the Air and Space museum. The Natural History museum is right opposite it. This entire area is filled with museums. Further on, you'll find the Washington Monument and further ahead the Lincoln Memorial. If you're into zoos, then the Smithsonian zoo is not too far, and entry is free. As mentioned, I also didn't find it all that great, but I got there late and most of the enclosements had shut down. There's also the Spy museum if you're into that. A fun thing to see is the Exorcist steps. If you like checking out churches, then do visit the National Cathedral. If you want to see the Capitol and the White house, you will need special passes. These passes are available through your Members of Congress. Find their website and somewhere there you'll see a place to apply for passes. In my case it took them over 45 days to get me the passes, so I'd recommend applying atleast 2 months in advance. Right there is also the Library of Congress..also amazing. There's a nice restaurant called "Peacock Cafe" [peacockcafe.com], but it's next to impossible to find parking there. But parking lots are relatively cheap. I saw many that had 24 hrs parking for $6-7. If you're into Sushi, then I'd highly recommend Sushiko in DC. [sushikorestaurants.com] As W3kn mentioned, you have got to check out Ben's Chili Bowl. [benschilibowl.com] Taking the metro is actually a good idea...but it depends from person to person. I was fed up of metros after 3 days in NYC, and I liked having my car. Here's a nice list that I referred to when I was in DC. [usnews.com] Cheers.

Good information, however, I do not find any "Friends & Family" link on the IHG website.

Quote from Discount_Dude : Good information, however, I do not find any "Friends & Family" link on the IHG website.

Yeah unfortunately, that link has expired...so it just redirects to the home page.


Use this new link [ichotelsgroup.com]...


Cheers.

Be aware that some cheap hotels may require you to get around town by taxi, bus or Metro. So, be sure to note the location of the hotel when you make your reservation. Hotel rates in Washington, DC fluctuate with the seasons and tend to be the cheapest on the weekends during the summer. Keep in mind that during holidays and popular events, rates may be higher than other times of the year.

Allen Lee Hotel - 2224 F Street NW, Washington, DC (202) 331-1224 or (800) 682-0186 Located near the Foggy Bottom Metro stop. You can walk to museums, restaurants, monuments, and other popular attractions.

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast - 2005 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC (202) 588-1180. Near Dupont Circle, Embassy Row and Adams Morgan

Bloomingdale Inn - 2417 First Street, NW, Washington, DC. (202) 319-0801 This 9-room Victorian townhouse is within walking distance of Washington Hospital Center and Children's Hospital in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Braxton Hotel - 1440 Rhode Island Avenue NW Washington, DC (800) 350-5759
Convenient budget hotel, located just 6 Blocks from the National Mall, 5 blocks from the DC Convention Center and convenient to restaurants and nightclubs.

Capitol Hill Suites - 200 C Street SE, Washington, DC (202)543-6000
All suite accommodations in Capitol Hill, convenient to all of Washington, DC attractions.

Comfort Inn Downtown DC / Convention Center - 1201 13th Street, NW , Washington, DC. (202) 682-5300. The 100-room hotel is conveniently located at the corner of 13th Street and M Street, within walking distance of the Washington Convention Center and the Verizon Center.

Comfort Inn & Suites Near Union Station - 1600 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC, (202) 832-3200. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city, offering easy access to many museums, historical landmarks and popular attractions.

Embassy Inn - 1627 16th Street NW, Washington, DC (202) 234-7800
Located 10 blocks north of the White House and 4.5 blocks east of Dupont Circle. Economy rate includes continental breakfast.

Georgetown Suites Harbour - 1000 29TH St NW, Washington, DC (866) 615-9330
All suites hotel on the Washington harbor about a mile from the National Mall.

Hotel Harrington - 436 11th Street, N.W. Washington, DC (800) 424-8532
Moderately priced hotel with 245 guest rooms, including 26 extra large family rooms, conveniently located just ½ a block from Pennsylvania Avenue, between the Capitol and the White House.

Jury’s Normandy Inn - 2118 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC (202) 483-1350
Cozy inn located near Dupont Circle in the heart of the embassy district, near the Metro.

Red Roof Inn Washington - 500 H Street NW Washington, DC (800) RED-ROOF
Hotel is near the Verizon Center.

Windsor Park Hotel - 2116 Kalorama Rd NW, Washington, DC (800) 247-3064
Small European-style hotel convenient to Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, and Georgetown.

Quote from the.J129 : Yeah unfortunately, that link has expired...so it just redirects to the home page. Use this new link [ichotelsgroup.com]... Cheers.

I am also planning a trip to DC the first week of April. The link appears to be redirecting to the homepage again without the "friends and family" option. Do you have another link? Trying to do DC with my three boys on their spring break on the super cheap....... free parking, great hotel rate right near the city is just what I need. Thanks for your time and help!!!

Quote from jeckertm : I am also planning a trip to DC the first week of April. The link appears to be redirecting to the homepage again without the "friends and family" option. Do you have another link? Trying to do DC with my three boys on their spring break on the super cheap....... free parking, great hotel rate right near the city is just what I need. Thanks for your time and help!!!

Here.
This one should work.


http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/g...-_-EM10625

Quote from jeckertm : I am also planning a trip to DC the first week of April. The link appears to be redirecting to the homepage again without the "friends and family" option. Do you have another link? Trying to do DC with my three boys on their spring break on the super cheap....... free parking, great hotel rate right near the city is just what I need. Thanks for your time and help!!!

You may have some competition. The cherry blossoms in DC are expected to peak the 1st week of April.

Quote from the.J129 : Here. This one should work. http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/g...-_-EM10625

d

Thank you so much. Didn't get the great rate that you did, but got a better deal than I could get anywhere else. Thanks again!

Quote from w3kn : You may have some competition. The cherry blossoms in DC are expected to peak the 1st week of April.

Was hoping I'd hit the Cherry Blossoms!!!!! Hadn't checked on when they'd peak, but knew I'd be close.

Quote from jeckertm : d Thank you so much. Didn't get the great rate that you did, but got a better deal than I could get anywhere else. Thanks again! Was hoping I'd hit the Cherry Blossoms!!!!! Hadn't checked on when they'd peak, but knew I'd be close.

Tonight they were saying the peak will be around April 5. So you might be in luck.