A 4 nighter to Washington DC

[mickeymousedabomb]

So I would like to take my girls to DC from July 25th and leaving on the 29th. I would like to stay outside the DC area where there is easy acess to the subway and/or buses. I do not want to have to drive around DC to see all the sites. I am looking for a simple motel/hotel with pool with a great price and not many amenities, we're easy to please. Hopefully you all have some great options for me! Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

[lwhan4]

Last July my family stayed at a Holiday Inn in Alexandria. The train was just across the
parking lot. We loved the easy access to the train. We would stay there again. Not fancy but clean and adequate.

Holiday Inn
ALEXANDRIA SW-EISENHOWER AVE

[magicalmom]

Look into Bethesda, Rockville, and Gaithersburg, MD - on the Red Line. Much of Rockville is walkable to metro (train) if you are staying on or near MD route 355 (AKA Wisconsin Ave. Rockville Pike, Hungerford Dr., or Frederick Rd.) The stations in through there are White Flint, Twinbrook, and Rockville.There used to be a Doubletree just across from Twinbrook, I think it's a Marriott now.

You might also find something in the Shady Grove area: the complex off Sam Eig Hwy, near I-370 is called RIO, and includes a Marriott, and I think some less expensive franchises, also. You'd need a shuttle to get to Shady Grove, but it's not far. A lot of hotels have shuttles to Metro. Worth asking.(This is also a very nice area for chain restaurants like Red Lobster, Joe's Crab Shack, Macaroni Grill, Bugaboo Creek, etc.)

Likewise in Northern VA, look into the Courthouse/Clarendon/Ballston areas of Arlington, or Eisenhower Rd/King St. areas of Alexandria. There used to be a Comfort Inn very close to Clarendon.

I believe there are a couple of hotel chains near the Falls Church stations, and also at the end of the Orange Line in Vienna, VA.

You might also find something on the northern extension of the Green Line, which is College Park, MD. University of Maryland is here.

Check the Metro website - they have area maps for each station.

I'm not much help in specifics, but that's because we live here, so never use hotels.

Looking forward to having you visit!

[Mendelson]

Google maps has some great features now....I'd go in there and type in "Hotels near Shady Grove Metro," and it will populate with a number of options. In fact, when I do this I see a Comfort Inn and Red Roof, both of which are typically cheap, and usually have pools.

Couple metro notes - it's not cheap. Parking is $4.75 and rush hour fares from the burbs can be as high as $9.20 roundtrip. So three people will set you back easily over $30 per day, making driving into the city and parking at a centrally located garage seem more economical.

In addition, the lots can get full at the further out stations - I'd suggest you wait until after rush hour for A. comfort and being able to sit together and B. lower fares. Downside is you might not get a parking spot.

If you take the train back out to the hotel anytime between 4:30 and 7 there is a good chance you'll be standing the entire ride. One tip tourists never get: Position yourself at the far end of the station so you can get on the very first car, which is always the emptiest.

And lastly, when on the escalators (PLEASE!), stand on the right, walk on the left.

Have fun!

[CPT Trips]

I seem to recall that you can't just pay cash for the metro fare . . . that you need a smartcard. I could be wrong (it won't be the first time) can a local pop back back with info on that?

[Mendelson]

Good point...if you are parking at the metro you'll need a SmarTrip card to get out of the parking lot. The cost of the card itself is $5.

If you are just paying to ride the trains, cash and the paper farecards are fine.