Washington DC recommendations?

buckman

I am just looking now at booking a hotel (possibly an AirBnB) for somewhere only for a couple of nights in Washington. Nice area, near to the town or centre?

I am trying to gather things to do also (as well as read up here) like White house, Smithsonian etc

I was told about GeorgeTown but apart from that, I have no idea...

I am only in DC for a couple of nights, before flying up to JFK / NYC.

So also looking at flights which I think are quite regular, from JFK > D.C

Also any recommendations for Restaurants would be good to if anyone knows any?

malkie76

Downtown / central is pretty dull; I wouldn't recommend staying there unless on business. Alexandria, Georgetown or DuPont Circle are more lively. Also consider Adams Morgan or even Bethesda.

Metro will take you to the sites and The Mall in minutes.

Consider DCA for flights to NYC as it's also on the metro line (connections to IAD and BWI are more awkward).

kiki21

Have you considered a Segway tour?


It's a really good way of seeing a few of the sites in a short space of time. Last time we visited we enjoyed a 2 hour evening tour. Seeing the main attractions/monuments (White House, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Washington, WW2, Capitol etc.) illuminated and saving on the tired feet, made a nice change.


Ditto on the Metro for getting around, the buses are very good value too.


Can't help with accommodation as we stay with family near Adams Morgan which seems like a nice area, has some fantastic restaurants and is close to the zoo, which is another freebie.


A trip to Arlington Cemetery is interesting with great views over DC, National Archives has many historical documents, if you have any time out by IAD the Udvar-Hazy part of Air and Space is worth a visit. And of course, all the museums.


I guess it depends on what you like but you won't be short of things to do!

marvin

As well as all the museums and the like
There is the JFK Centre

Take that bus/train thing around take you place to place... if they still exist and have not been replaced by double deckers

Arlington Cemetery, Tomb of the unknown Soldier with its changing of the guard. Try lunch at the old post office lovely mall made out of well the old post office. White House, Capital building all pretty boring but really have to be done.

Union Station is also a good free one to visit as of course is the Pentagon

When I stayed it was outside the city at a motel very nice for me I got the suite with dining table sofa's and two king size (American king size) beds

buckman

Great thank you!!!

Is it pretty easy to get flights from JFK to DC? (for other reasons we are flying into JFK and back again from Washington)

We are looking at AirBnB which look like they have some nice empty places to rent / self catering just for the couple of days we are there, so just need a good area to stay and some things to do..

Then back up to JFK then maybe a train to Katonah? (family there)

malkie76

Delta, AA and US all fly direct to DCA from JFK.

torbrex

2 days is not enough :eek:

Natural history and science museums are a must as is a trip up the Washington Monument (free but must get tickets in advance)
White house tour is advance booked only now I think as is the Pentagon, The Capitol Building and The Mint.
The Holocaust Museum is a mind blower and usually quite busy.

I stayed in Arlington not far from the cemetry and either walked in past that or got the Metro, this is the diary I did of my trip a few years ago.

secretmachines

hey everyone, just bumping this old thread... am staying in WAS for 4 nights, before 6 nights in LAS.

any recent tips or recommendations for staying in DC? Am happy to stay out of town as long as a Metro stop is on the doorstep.

would consider a more central AirBNB, though not done one of those before

budget-wise, ideally looking at about £100/night.

converted

http://kaloramaguesthouse.com/?


I stayed here in June for 3 nights, I think it was inexpensive, the owner is an excellent host and goes out of his way to be helpful, provides beer and wine on a help yourself basis - he gave me a metro card which had a couple of dollars on it and I just had to top it up - saved a lot of hassle - the metro is a 5 minute walk, the zoo is close by and it is a very safe area, I was there by myself and felt very safe.


I did a few free walking tours - Arlington cemetery and the mall - no cost just a tip at the end

jackieblack

secretmachines wrote: »

hey everyone, just bumping this old thread... am staying in WAS for 4 nights, before 6 nights in LAS.

any recent tips or recommendations for staying in DC? Am happy to stay out of town as long as a Metro stop is on the doorstep.

would consider a more central AirBNB, though not done one of those before

budget-wise, ideally looking at about £100/night.

Staying across the river is often cheaper than staying in DC.
We stayed at the Courtyard, about 5 mind walk to Rosslyn Metro station, (there's also a Hyatt Arlington right next door to Rosslyn Metro station), only 10 minutes to Smithsonian Metro station.
Cost will vary hugely depending on your dates.

gettingtheresometime

We stayed at the Washington Plaza which was a 15 minute walk from the White House - it has an open air swimming pool which was great when we were there as it was 90 degrees plus. Didn't eat there though so can't comment on how good the restuarant is.

The White House tour was only available to US citizens - check the UK embassey in Washington web site to see if this has changed but we pre booked free tours of the Declaration of Independence & The Senate.

We flew into Dullus and got the bus transfer from arrival gate no 4 to the local metro station and went on the metro to the hotel. Instead of the $100 per person travel co wanted, it cost us a total if $40