Looking at a short trip in mid may to DC, mainly to visit the Smithsonian Air and Space museum, Natural History Museum, and just site see some of the monuments and such. Hotel prices in downtown near the museums are insane. Where is the easiest place to get a (relatively) reasonably priced hotel and be able to easily get to the museums and mall area via uber or mass transit without getting mugged? Would love to be under $300/night, but mainly just not interested in paying $500+ per night.

Also, how hard is it to get to downtown DC from the Baltimore airport? Is there a metrorail line or bus service that is easy to use and relatively safe?

Stay in Crystal City or Rosslyn across the River in Virginia and the hotel options will be plentiful and cheaper and you will be an easy Metro ride (subway) from the museums and downtown DC.

There are trains from BWI to Union Station. You can then transfer to the Metro to get to your hotel. MARC trains are cheaper. Amtrak trains are nicer and faster.

I've been staying at the Hilton Key as of late for all of my work trips. Great location, 2 blocks from the Roslyn metro and walkable/short uber to Georgetown restaurants/bars across the bridge. Brand new hotel (less than a year old I believe). I've gotten upgraded to the 1 bedroom suite overlooking the Potomac with views of the Washington monument and Capitol building off in the distance 2/3 last stays I've been there.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcarthh-hilton-arlington-rosslyn-the-key/

Jock 07 said:

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I've been staying at the Hilton Key as of late for all of my work trips. Great location, 2 blocks from the Roslyn metro and walkable/short uber to Georgetown restaurants/bars across the bridge. Brand new hotel (less than a year old I believe). I've gotten upgraded to the 1 bedroom suite overlooking the Potomac with views of the Washington monument and Capitol building off in the distance 2/3 last stays I've been there.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcarthh-hilton-arlington-rosslyn-the-key/

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Thanks for location info. Looks like a great place. Unfortunately, they want $495/night in mid may.

Not sure of your specific dates but I'd suggest the below. They should all be right around/under $300 a night.

- Hamilton Hilton
- Hotel Zena
- Eaton DC
- Viceroy DC

Check price of Westin Crystal City/Reagan Airport. Right at that metro stop

TXAggie2011 said:

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Check price of Westin Crystal City/Reagan Airport. Right at that metro stop

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Good call, that is $250/ night

Thanks!

I've only visited once to see all the monuments and museums and stayed at the Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall. It felt safe enough for me, my wife and daughter and was a short walk to the National Mall. Uber pickup and dropoff was also very quick and convenient. It wasn't luxurious but was a convenient location to the things we wanted to see/do. I don't remember the price, but I'm pretty cheap when it comes to hotels, so I'm sure it was significantly less than $500/night.

There are also many other hotel properties in the same area if you prefer Hilton or Marriott.

No help on hotels since I have family in the area. One tip, do the museums during the day and book a nighttime monument tour with one of the trolley/tour bus companies. No crowds at the monuments at night but safer with a driver plus they add some color commentary.

Bunk Moreland said:

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I'd also recommend the Holocaust museum. Should be required for every public school kid to have to go there.

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Yep. Really well done museum and obviously addresses a very important topic. The pile of shoes always gets me.

Agree that the Holocaust museum is definitely one to visit. I had heard about the shoes, but, unfortunately, that part of the exhibit was being refurbished so the shoes weren't there when I visited.

The Air and Space Museum was also undergoing a large project, so nearly half of it was closed, but the part that was open was fantastic.

OP - I'm sure know this but reach out to your Senator and Congressman if you want to tour the White House or Capitol Building. Our trip was planned kind of last minute, so we were initially placed on waitlists. However, a couple days before our trip, Ted Cruz' office reached out to us with White House tour tickets. They also had us go to his office in the Senate building and one of his interns gave us a private tour of the Capitol Building. The WH tour was a complete let down, but the Capitol Building tour was one of the highlights of our trip.

Stay near DuPont circle. If you want to really get your steps in, you can walk to the mall from your hotel (maybe 20 mins one way?) Or just take the subway from Dupont station to Smithsonian. Hotels are great and affordable. Plus you're close to embassy/think tank row. Tons of great eating options on 17th and 18th streets as well.

TexAg2001 said:

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Agree that the Holocaust museum is definitely one to visit. I had heard about the shoes, but, unfortunately, that part of the exhibit was being refurbished so the shoes weren't there when I visited.

The Air and Space Museum was also undergoing a large project, so nearly half of it was closed, but the part that was open was fantastic.

OP - I'm sure know this but reach out to your Senator and Congressman if you want to tour the White House or Capitol Building. Our trip was planned kind of last minute, so we were initially placed on waitlists. However, a couple days before our trip, Ted Cruz' office reached out to us with White House tour tickets. They also had us go to his office in the Senate building and one of his interns gave us a private tour of the Capitol Building. The WH tour was a complete let down, but the Capitol Building tour was one of the highlights of our trip.

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Yeah, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum still has some exhibits under construction until July and a few not until fall, but the main ones we would be interested in are open.

In my opinion, flying into Regan is the way to go, but you can access the DC metro from BWI via the MARC train to Union Station, as mentioned above or via MTA 201 bus to Shady Grove (end of the red line). Either option is equal parts inexpensive and logistically cumbersome. Staying in MD can also be a good option for saving a few bucks. Bethesda is a nice neighborhood, for example, but you'll have a 30-40 minute train ride to the Mall.

There are a few hotels south of the Mall, near L'enfant that are usually cheaper, but the area is pretty limited as far as restaurants and what not. There are also a few non-chain hotels that are cheap and nice. An example is "Eldon Luxury Suites" on L Street.

Have fun!

We decided to fly into Reagan. The cost difference to go to BWI would have been eaten up by the time and cost to get down to DC via the Metro, etc. We ended up booking the Embassy Suites Old Town Alexandria for a little more than I wanted to spend, but the room setup, free breakfast, location etc. checked the boxes we needed. It is right by a Blue Line Metro stop and the Amtrak station (we are headed to Virginia Beach to visit family after DC). Also is right on King Street which I understand has a lot of bars and restaurants a short walk/uber down towards the Potomac. Also lucked into having some family that is good friends with a docent out at the Udvar Hazy Smithsonian facility out at Dulles, so we are hoping to get the E ticket tour out there if we can link up schedules with him.

Great choice going w/ Alexandria and yes lots of restaurant/bars to pick from, and yea don't miss the Dulles Air & Space, great museum.

txags92 said:

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We decided to fly into Reagan. The cost difference to go to BWI would have been eaten up by the time and cost to get down to DC via the Metro, etc. We ended up booking the Embassy Suites Old Town Alexandria for a little more than I wanted to spend, but the room setup, free breakfast, location etc. checked the boxes we needed. It is right by a Blue Line Metro stop and the Amtrak station (we are headed to Virginia Beach to visit family after DC). Also is right on King Street which I understand has a lot of bars and restaurants a short walk/uber down towards the Potomac. Also lucked into having some family that is good friends with a docent out at the Udvar Hazy Smithsonian facility out at Dulles, so we are hoping to get the E ticket tour out there if we can link up schedules with him.

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This was going to be my suggestion as well; there are several great hotels in the area right next to the King Street Metro. My wife and I stayed at the Hilton Old Town several years ago and loved it. There are also a ton of great shops and restaurants in Old Town Alexandria. Landini Brothers is a great longtime Italian restaurant a couple of blocks from the river, and Thai Signature was one of the best meals that we had on the entire trip. There is also a free trolley route which makes getting around super easy.

If you are looking for easy lunch options during the day which are relatively easy to access from the National Mall, the area around Pentagon City has a ton of dining options (albeit many of them chains) and is easy to get to via Metro. Do be warned that the Pentagon City Mall food court is a popular spot for student groups.

I also was going to reccomend staying in Alexandria and taking the blue line. It will get you to most monuments and has a stop at the Arlington Cemetery. We got off there, saw the changing of the guards then walked across the bridge to the monuments. If you are going to the holocaust museum in spring and summer you do need to get tickets in advance. The Smithsonian zoo is pretty neat and its free.


Edit. Not supposed to be a joking face.

We stayed at Citizen M last year. It's a European style hotel with very small rooms, buts new and modern and a great location right next to a subway station and much cheaper than other options near the mall.

Hilton key Roslyn. Great new hotel in great location

GAP76 said:

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Hilton key Roslyn. Great new hotel in great location

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Wasn't available for our dates.

Good call on staying in Old Town. You'll be able to refresh at the hotel and walk to evening activities after being in DC all day. If the weather is nice try Barca on the pier, just make reservations. It's not historic by any stretch, but the food is incredible and it's a neat place to eat out over the water.