Advice for stay by Catholic University of America

my mom%26#39;s heading to Washington on Sept 22nd to visit a friend who%26#39;s staying in a carehome by the Catholic University of America.

Her flight doesn%26#39;t arrive until 9:30pm, so it%26#39;ll be too late to visit her friend that day. Where%26#39;s an affordable/safe place to stay for the night? Possible to find anything for $60 or less? by the airport or close to the university is fine, but not sure how safe the city is to travel at night. ie. are the cabbies trustworthy or will they take her for a ride?

Wondering if it may be better for her to stay by the airport and travel the next morning. Just worried about my mom since she%26#39;s 64 and very trusting and naive about things AND travelling by herself (yes, sounds like i%26#39;m the parent, eh).

Are cabs expensive? If so, is transit easy, convenient and efficient to where she wants to get to? I highly doubt she%26#39;ll be checking out many attractions as she%26#39;s just there solely to visit and be a companion.

thanks in advance for any help!

Advice for stay by Catholic University of America

As well, are there any affordable accomodation recommendations by the University someone can recommend? It doesn%26#39;t have to be a hotel.

Advice for stay by Catholic University of America

There isn%26#39;t really much in the way of hotels in the Catholic University area. The Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University is near but not walking distance--you would need to take Metro. Average rates start at $125/night. Another option--look at Bed and Breakfasts. To get more info on them, click on ';hotels';. Once there, you will see a tab for ';Bed and Breakfasts';. Otherwise, consider staying in a hotel that is near a Metro station. $60/night won%26#39;t get you anything decent in DC. You could consider trying to bid for a room using one of the discount websites. Check out--betterbidding.com for more info. Also, check out websites such as Expedia, Travelzoo, and quikbook to see if there any deals. And please note that any hotel you find that is in the District and is incredibly cheap should raise a red flag.

The first problem is the $60 budget. There is simply nothing in the DC area for that price. At least not a place that I would recommend for your mother!

The Gallaudet College area is not in the best part of town. Although it would be a relatively easy Metro commute to Catholic University, it%26#39;s not a good choice of neighborhoods for someone you describe as ';trusting and naive';.

Any way of increasing that budget? There are decent properties at decent prices available that weekend per expedia.com but none are in that $60 range. Phoenix Park Hotel near Union Station is $99 as is Jury%26#39;s Hotel near Dupont Circle. Your mother could catch the Metro there to Catholic U from either of these places without having to transfer.

Here%26#39;s the URL for a reputable B%26amp;B booking agency which has a toll-free number you could call for assistance:

http://www.bedandbreakfastdc.com

May I also suggest that you call the carehome and ask for lodging suggestions... oftentimes, such facilities have arrangements with local establishments whereby family/visitors of patients get a discounted rate.

$60 is, frankly, unrealistic. But the Churchill is available for $99/night via quikbook.com. It%26#39;s on Connecticut Ave., in a nice, safe neighbhorhood -- Dupont Circle -- which is not deserted at night and offers a variety of shops %26amp; restaurants where she (and you) should feel comfortable with her being alone. And the staff there is, according to friends who have stayed there, personable and friendly. The Metro stop is within walking distance, provided her mobility isn%26#39;t limited... but if walking isn%26#39;t easy for her, cabs are always cruising by there so a doorman can hail one for her quickly.

The St. Gregory is also available for $99/night. It%26#39;s a better hotel, but its immediate environs are more office-y and so, not as inviting. So, I%26#39;d book my own mother into the Churchill rather than either the St. Gregory or an airport hotel.