[paulg]

My team normally stay at the host hotel for the Summer NABC but budgetary constraints, and the recent dive in the value of sterling, means that some of them are wondering if there is more affordable accommodation in the vicinity.

Any locals or other knowledgeables have suggestions on other places to stay in July?

Thanks

Paul

[keylime]

Paul,

Within the D.C. metro area, normally, you'll need to head some distance away to get a lower hotel rate. I strongly recommend staying NW, W, S, and SW of the hotel site (with the exception of the Silver Spring area in spots).

The cheapest I've seen so far, using Falls Church (where I live - it's Orange Line for me, with a change at Metro Center) that is Metro accessible is at the end of the Blue Line in Springfield. On average, it's starting at 80/night and up.

Using Bethesda as a reference, so far it's been 133 and up along the Red Line.

If you're into the hostel thing, try http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/ or http://www.hostels.com/us.dc.html

Since the event is on the Red Line, if you can get accommodation in Bethesda, Dupont Circle, Farragut Square, or Rockville, you're dancing.

In terms of flights, normally Baltimore-Washington Airport is the cheapest; Dulles is a bit of a hike but does A LOT of the international flights, and Reagan is the closest in. For me, I try really hard to get into Reagan due to the Metro being right there. If you choose BWI, take the 30 bus into Greenbelt Metro and then ride the rails. Dulles? Use the 5A bus into the Metro (I want to say West Falls Church or Rosslyn) and head in.

Maybe I should rent out my small apartment and make some cash....food for thought.

[keylime]

Washington Metro website (public transit): Washington Metro website

[Apollo81]

If you can stay on the red line NW of the city, that would be the most convenient option. The host hotel is on the red line (Woodley Park stop) NW of the city center.

edit:
I just tried looking for condos & B&B's on hotels.com, maybe check out the "Kalorama Guest House" it is very close to the playing site and advertises a $109/night rate. I don't know anything about it other than that.

[keylime]

Appendix: Unless the WBL/NVBA got a lowered parking rate, per their website:

ParkingOn-site parking, fee: 17 USD hourly, 31.36 USD daily
Valet parking, fee: 36.96 USD daily

Per Metro users: If you want to visit the Zoo (you're basically there practically if you stay onsite!), consider doing what many locals do. Ride a stop up the line to Cleveland Park, and head downhill to the Zoo.

[xcurt]

keylime, on Jan 16 2009, 10:33 AM, said:

Appendix: Unless the WBL/NVBA got a lowered parking rate, per their website:

ParkingOn-site parking, fee: 17 USD hourly, 31.36 USD daily
Valet parking, fee: 36.96 USD daily

Per Metro users: If you want to visit the Zoo (you're basically there practically if you stay onsite!), consider doing what many locals do. Ride a stop up the line to Cleveland Park, and head downhill to the Zoo.

You can park in the streets northeast of the zoo, about 18th and Harvard, at least on weekends. That's about a 2 mile walk from the site, but it's up-hill. But generally the area around the zoo is packed in the summer and on-street parking west of the zoo (where the site is) is extremely tight.

Another option would be to stay near another metro stop like Bethesda, and take the red line down to the site. But metro doesn't run all night so you might easily miss the last train, so discount your savings on lodging by the cost of the cab home at night.

Edit -- for airports, you probably can't fly direct from LHR into WAS. It's a small urban airport with short runways. The cab from IAD is around $50 US -- I haven't taken it in a while. You can also take a bus to one of the metro stops on the orange line. I don't have the price for all that handy but with the meto fare it will run you about $10 per person to the stop near the hotel.

[Echognome]

xcurt, on Jan 19 2009, 09:13 PM, said:

Edit -- for airports, you probably can't fly direct from LHR into WAS.  It's a small urban airport with short runways.  The cab from IAD is around $50 US -- I haven't taken it in a while.  You can also take a bus to one of the metro stops on the orange line.  I don't have the price for all that handy but with the meto fare it will run you about $10 per person to the stop near the hotel.

Or take the 5A bus. Will cost you all of $3.10 to get from Dulles Airport to Rosslyn Station (Orange Line) or L'Enfant Plaza (Orange, Blue, Yellow, and Green lines). Unfortunately, it can't drop you off on the red line, but neither can taking a bus to West Falls Church either. A good way to travel is to take the bus to either Rosslyn or L'Enfant Plaza and then take a taxi to your hotel from there.

For details, see:

http://www.wmata.com...ables/dc/5a.pdf

For nightlife, there is a lot to do around Dupont Circle and Adam's Morgan.

Dupont Circle

Try a few of the more than 1,000 beers available at the Brickskeller:

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Brickskeller

For a sports bar, there is Lucky Bar. I wouldn't say it's anything special, but will have a few big screen tv's for you if a game is on.

http://www.luckybardc.com/

And a nightclub, there is 18th Street Lounge:

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/public/venue...rentVenueId=968

Adam's Morgan

Madam's Organ - "Where the beautiful people go to get ugly." Live bands in a multi story bar.

http://www.madamsorgan.com/

Mind you, I haven't lived in D.C. for over 10 years, so I will leave it to the current locals to tell you what is still hip and what is not. These are just a few that sprang to mind.

[keylime]

If desired, I can gather some information about the excellent night life in D.C. - I know I'll be partaking in it.

[keylime]

Washington Post site about Going Out:

Washington Post's Going Out Guide

To echo Echo, Dupont, Adams Morgan, and the U Street corridor are definitely happening spaces. Ask me in private if you want some good dance clubs; since my weight loss, I have had the joy of being able to go into them.

The Brickskeller was recommended to by Echo, and the beer is outstanding.

With regards to doing the tourist thing, if you want to do it on the cheap, the museums are world-class. I like especially the National Portrait Gallery (for personal reasons, when you come into town I'll show and explain why to you - there's literally a piece of me in that building!), the redone American History Museum, and the Phillips Collection near Dupont Circle is an interesting change of pace.

For the train travellers, Union Station houses the MARC/VRE/Amtrak lines. It's on the Glenmont side of the Red Line, so you'll need to head west to get to the site.