Activities on Christmas Day

Other than visiting Mount Vernon, do we have any other options for Christmas Day in Washington D.C. ? What about dining options? Are we going to end up at Denny%26#39;s? I am assuming that if our hotel has a fine dining establishment it will be open? Maybe that is assuming too much...Any ideas?

Thanks!

Activities on Christmas Day

There are some bars and restaurants that are open Christmas day for those of us who want to escape family. I would call ahead to be sure, but there are options. I would agree with your assumption that the hotel restaurant will be open.

I think you will find that most museums are closed. But, a lot of the monuments can be enjoyed without the gift shop being open. A walking tour of the Mall may just be the thing to work off some of the huge meal. Driving around the monuments at night is also a favorite of mine so that is an option as well.

Activities on Christmas Day

As Christmas gets closer, restaurants that are open on that day tend to advertise in the local papers re: their Christmas offerings. Many offer brunches, for example. So if you post this again closer to Christmas, you will get more info.

Bumped up several posts from last year on the same subject..

As stated before all of the government sponsored activities on the mall are closed on Christmas (Museums, Galleries, etc.). That is usually the only day that they get a chance to close all year.

-Their are a lot of restaurants opened on Christmas, especially in downtown. They also have specials that they give like a 4 course meal for a certain price. Check out some restaurants you would enjoy and call them and ask. It won%26#39;t be crowded at all downtown so you can still walk up to the monuments and look at it. You will not have to end up at Denny%26#39;s. And yes if your hotel has a restaurant they are usually opened on Christmas and if not go to another nice hotel and eat there.

I don%26#39;t know for sure, but I think that Arlington Cemetary usually does something on Christmas (check their website to make sure) You can still go up to the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial any walk up no entrance type things.

advice on living

Hilton or Westin

After reading some of the reviews on the Westin Grand, Westin Embassy Circle, Capital Hilton and the Hilton Embassy Row, I cannot decide which hotel is the nicest. Doesn%26#39;t seem like one is better then the other. Does anyone have any input? We are only there 2 nights and our purpose in visiting DC is to look at colleges in the area. I am trying to stick with one of the above 4 hotels so I can use my points. Thanks

Hilton or Westin

Well--they%26#39;re all 3-diamond properties. The Westin Grand is on the edge of Georgetown. IMO, this would be a good place to stay if you are looking at both GU and GWU--although it is closer to GWU. Otherwise, all the hotels are near Metro stations so getting around will be easy.

Hilton or Westin

Westin would be better. There are a lot of universities and colleges in the area and the majority of them are metro accessible/metro bus or a short cab ride from your hotel. Not that the Hilton isn%26#39;t good and not near the metro it just isn%26#39;t what it used to be.

-Georgetown University isn%26#39;t metro accessible but there is a Shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes at the Dupont Circle Metro Station on Q Street exit. At the corner of 20th and Mass. Avenue, that will take you directly to the main campus. They used to ask for Student/Staff ID but they haven%26#39;t in about 1 year visitors are more than welcomed to get on these shuttles. Good convenient and no stops. This stop is a block or so away from the hotel. You could see a lot of the side streets of Georgetown and Dupont Circle as well, nice ride.

-George Washington University is right on the Foggy Bottom Metro Station so that would be good.

-American university is on the Tenleytown/American Univ. Metro station.

-Univ. Of Maryland College Park is on the Green Line and then get off at College Park-UMD station

-George Mason Univ is on the orange line in Fairfax, couple of stops for them look at the map for the closer one.

They%26#39;re all about equal, but I agree that the Capital Hilton would be the first one to get ruled out. It%26#39;s a good location for visiting the sites, but if you plan to spend more time at the colleges, you%26#39;re probably better off at one of the other properties. If the points are equal, I%26#39;d probably go with the Westin Embassy Row, but if you can spend less points at one of the other properties, I think you%26#39;ll do fine at any of them.

If you visit American Univ, you will need to take a shuttle from Tenleytown to the main campus. But I don%26#39;t think you need a student ID (at least you didn%26#39;t last time I used it a few years ago).

At the Univ of Maryland, you will also have to take a shuttle to the campus. For the shuttle from the metro to campus you definitely don%26#39;t need student ID. (I know that for sure because I went to grad school there when I first moved to the DC area!)

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

Hi Everyone -

I%26#39;m spending 2 weeks in Gaithersbiug doing an internship in the Fall. I%26#39;m looking for a place to stay that is not an expensive hotel which is all I could find online.

Can you please suggest something reasonably close and not too expensive? It%26#39;s my first time there so I don%26#39;t know the local area. Thanks very much!

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

Well most hotels in that area are approx. $75-$100.00 p/night. I don%26#39;t know your budget but that is a good deal for a room but for 2 weeks you are going to spend $2,000 at least.

-Oakwood Corpoarte Apartments rent on a montly basis. You would have to stay at least 31 days (301) 527-2866. This could work if you found someone who wanted to take over the lease, otherwise you would have to pay for the 31 days. It is a fully furnished apartment in Gaithersburg. This could actually run you cheaper than a hotel only problem you would be paying for the apartment and you wouldn%26#39;t be staying there, unless you decided to stay a little longer.

Some hotels that are nice and comfortable, just check their websites for rates and availability:

-Towne Place Suites by Marriott

-Springhill Suites

-Summerfield Suites

-Extended Stay America

-Courtyard (2 locations) there is a new one as well on the lakeside in a nice area of Gaithersburg.

Hope this helps.

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

The $2,000 would include the taxes and fees and that is at the high-end of the price. $1,000 could get you a nice hotel room in one of the listed hotels I submitted.

Hi:

I think you%26#39;ll do best with one of the long-term stay hotels suggested by MrsMaryland, but you may also want to try www.craigslist.org or www.washingtoncitypaper.com and look for a sublet - maybe you%26#39;ll get lucky. Good luck!

Also try Studio Plus. Good for extended stays and business travelers.

Surrounding Cities to Gaithersburg:

Germantown

Rockville

Qunice Orchard

Olney

Probably won%26#39;t find much in these areas either, just about the same as Gaithersburg. Rockville may be a second option.

If you choose the hotel route--rather than booking online, I%26#39;d call the individual property (not the national toll-free reservations number). For an extended stay, you should be able to negotiate a better rate than what you%26#39;ll find online.

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

My husband and I would like to go to DC for July 4th next year. We would like to walk to the momuments to sight see and walk to the fireworks. Which hotel would be a better base for our trip?

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

In terms of being near a Metro station and closer to the major attractions--the Courtyard Convention Center.

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

I also just came across the Renissance Hotel near the convention center. The rate there is $98.00 and the rate at the Courtyard is $134.00. How would the reniassance be in terms of the metro and the major attractions?

The Renaissance at 9th and K Sts., NW is about 3 blocks away from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station while the Courtyard is one block away--so it%26#39;s up to you.

For the price difference, I say go with the Rennaissance. It%26#39;ll be a long walk to the National Mall, but not too bad if you don%26#39;t mind a long walk, fine for the fireworks, and it%26#39;s not too far from the metro or the DC Circulator bus.

And the Renaissance is a higher class of hotel as well.

Generally speaking, yes, Renaissances tend to be 4-diamond properties. However, the one at 9th and K (for some reason) is a 3-diamond property as is the Courtyard by Marriott-Embassy Row.

eye liner

only one day

Hello,

I will be coming to town in a few weeks for business, and only have one day off- a Monday-

What would you say would be the must see(s) to do in a day....?

I have never been here before

Thanks for any info

-s

only one day

With only one day and you%26#39;ve never been here before, here%26#39;s what I suggest---Take a walk along the Mall and see the monuments and memorials. Walk by the White House and the Capitol. If museums interest you, check out the Smithsonian%26#39;s website --- www.si.edu -- to see which ones interest you most. Then perhaps, spend some time visiting one of your choosing.

only one day

Thanks for the info,

I just found out that I will be staying at the Grand Hyatt- from the map it looks like it%26#39;s close to everything....

What is good to see in that area?

-s

I would spend the morning doing some type of tour, either Tourmobile or Old Town Trolleys or similar. This will provide the most ';bang for the buck'; in terms of making use of your limited time. You%26#39;ll see a lot of sites in a couple of hours, and get a sense of where things are if you want to go back in the afternoon and see one or two particular things.

The Grand Hyatt isn%26#39;t particularly close to any of the major tourist sites. Having said that, it isn%26#39;t particulary far either! :)

You can walk from there to the White House and you%26#39;ll be a lot closer to it then you will on the Tourmobile or other tours.

I think you can do a combination of both ideas.

I like the idea of picking one or 2 Smithsonians (depending upon how fast you can go through museums) to do during the day and then doing a late afternoon/evening tourmobile of the monuments at night. You can get to these by foot, cab or metro.

Since the museums close early and the monuments are open 24/7, doing the Smithsonian stuff during the day and taking something like the Grayline Washington After Dark tour which will take you to all the memorial and let you out, and then do a drive-by of the other stuff, this will help you get the most out of your day.

Tourmobile stops at 4:30.

Grayline%26#39;s Washington After Dark tour starts at 7:45 so you can take a break, have a nice dinner and then take the tour.

www.etix.com/travel/servlet/onlineSale鈥?/a>

Sometimes hotel concierge%26#39;s have discount or free passes for you for different tour companies. It never hurts to ask.

How does quilt wizard work

IAD to White House?

My wife is flying into Ronald Reagan and I am thinking about flying into IAD because it is 50 bucks cheaper. Do you think this is a good idea? We are staying at The Madison and I am wondering about the price of transportation to there. Any suggestions?

IAD to White House?

It all depends on how you want to get from Dulles to DC. The cheapest way is $3/round trip. It involves taking a Metrobus--the 5A route. This bus only runs once an hour, is often late and crowded. The Washington Post referred to it as ';The Dreaded Dulles Link';. The second cheapest way involves taking the Washington Flyer bus (www.washfly.com) ($9/one-way) to the West Falls Church Metro station, then taking Metro to DC. The Metro fare varies depending on whether you%26#39;re traveling during rush hour or not (for fare info--www.wmata.com). Next would be a shuttle like the Super Shuttle, hiring a limo service or taking a taxi. If you want to take a taxi, then, IMO, it won%26#39;t be worth the $50 savings to fly into IAD. In that case, I would fly into National. So it%26#39;s up to you--if you prefer the cheaper transportation options, you will save money but have a long ride into the District.

IAD to White House?

Hi Scarface:

I don%26#39;t think $50 is worth the hassle of Dulles even if you take the $3 transportation route into the city. I%26#39;ve always found Dulles to be a difficult airport - you have to arrive earlier because it%26#39;s quite large and most flights (if not all) require a shuttle bus to the gate. IMO, Reagan National is much easier to navigate and it%26#39;s much more convenient to the city (easy metro ride).

Thank you both for the responses. Looks like I might as well pay the extra 50 $ for the convienence factor itself.

best places to eat in chinatown?

any recommendations on places in chinatown for dinner...that are reasonable and have a good atmosphere?

thanks!

ww

best places to eat in chinatown?

Tony Cheng%26#39;s Mongolian BBQ is fairly reasonable and a fun atmosphere--picking out your ingredients yourself is a nice change of pace from ordering off the typical Chinese menu.

best places to eat in chinatown?

If you%26#39;re willing to go non-Chinese (and to be honest, there aren%26#39;t that many Chinese restaurants in Chinatown anymore!), I would recommend Matchbox. They%26#39;re mostly a pizza restaurant, but they have a few other things as well:

http://www.matchboxdc.com/

Do you want Chinese food or just good food with a nice atmopshere? And by good atmosphere, do you mean packed with people/good people watching or do you mean mellow and loungey?

Many of the Chinese restaurants have been pushed out of Chinatown (for better or worse...), but I recommend Full Kee for the food, not the atmosphere, if you want Chinese (509 H St., NW).

Otherwise, I agree with the other poster%26#39;s rec of Matchbox. I also like Jaleo and Zaytinya for the food and atmosphere (usually on the loud and crowded side). I also liked Rasika - a new, upscale Indian place (still loud, but more mellow than Jaleo and Zaytinya), but it%26#39;s a little pricier.

Also, if you like American food, I haven%26#39;t been to it yet, but the new Clyde%26#39;s would probably be a good bet for reasonable prices and good atmosphere.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

Tony Cheng%26#39;s is split into two dining venues - the main floor is the Mongolian all-you-can eat skillet feast. The second floor is the traditional Chinese restaurant. Both are great.

For good food, try Eat First. The atmosphere is clean but not too exciting. I also like the cheesily-named Wok n%26#39;Roll - they have Chinese and sushi, bubble tea, and a trendier atmosphere than some of the other Chinatown places. For a traditional Chinese-American restaurant with good standard fare, Tai Shan is good. They are enjoying some renewed popularity because they have the same name as the baby panda. ;) For some non-Chinese tasty food in a nice and fun atmosphere, try Kanlaya, a relatively new Thai restaurant on 6th street just below H. It%26#39;s true, most of the restaurants in Chinatown aren%26#39;t Chinese anymore.

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

My boyfriend and I will be spending a weekend 08/25-08/28 in Washington, DC and was wondering if there are any outdoor events or concerts taking place during that time. I am looking for some fun things to do during the day other than sightseeing. Also any ideas of what to do in the evenings will be appreciated. Thank you.

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

Hi:

Your best bet for up to date info is:

www.washingtonpost.com then click on City Guide and you can find all kinds of events.

To give you a few ideas:

Friday night - Jazz in the Garden (free) - National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and Ice Skating Rink - 700 Constitution Ave. NW from 5 - 8:30 pm

If you%26#39;re here early around lunch time Fri or Mon, there%26#39;s Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza (free) - 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC from 12-1:30 pm

There are plenty of indoor music events as well.

I see you%26#39;re from California - DC United is playing the LA Galaxy at 7:30 pm on Saturday 8/26.

Ford%26#39;s Theater is having an open house 8/26 from 10 am - 3 pm. You can get a tour backstage, etc. (free) - 511 10th St. NW

There%26#39;s a poetry festival at Carter Barron Amphitheater on 8/27 from 1:00 pm (free) - 4850 Colorado Ave. NW

Depending on what kind of music you like, there are lots of options for live music indoors (Black Cat, HR-57, etc.)

Another idea for during the day is Easter Market on the weekend mornings. www.easternmarket.net. Fun place.

Have fun!

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

Hi:

Your best bet for up to date info is:

www.washingtonpost.com then click on City Guide and you can find all kinds of events.

To give you a few ideas:

Friday night - Jazz in the Garden (free) - National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and Ice Skating Rink - 700 Constitution Ave. NW from 5 - 8:30 pm

If you%26#39;re here early around lunch time Fri or Mon, there%26#39;s Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza (free) - 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC from 12-1:30 pm

There are plenty of indoor music events as well.

I see you%26#39;re from California - DC United is playing the LA Galaxy at 7:30 pm on Saturday 8/26.

Ford%26#39;s Theater is having an open house 8/26 from 10 am - 3 pm. You can get a tour backstage, etc. (free) - 511 10th St. NW

There%26#39;s a poetry festival at Carter Barron Amphitheater on 8/27 from 1:00 pm (free) - 4850 Colorado Ave. NW

Depending on what kind of music you like, there are lots of options for live music indoors (Black Cat, HR-57, etc.)

Another idea for during the day is Easter Market on the weekend mornings. www.easternmarket.net. Fun place.

Have fun!

Parking near White House this Friday morning

We have tour tickets for the White House this Friday for 8:30 am. We have to report in at 8:15 with only car keys and wallets allowed into the White House. Where can we park nearby and stash our cameras and backpacks? I had originally thought of taking the Metro into D.C., but we want our cameras with us and they are no longer allowed inside.

We are making this a day-trip from the Philadelphia area. I know we will have to leave our house VERY early in the morning. The 3 teens that I%26#39;m taking are thrilled about that. Ha.

Parking near White House this Friday morning

There are several parking garages close to the White House. Since you%26#39;re arriving early, there%26#39;s a good chance you%26#39;ll get a daily parking spot in one of them and likely for an early bird price. Not sure what the prices are like these days, but probably around $15. Keep in mind that some lots are for monthly parkers only.

Here are some places to look for lots:

www.ecolonial.com/parking/locationsearch.aspx

http://151.200.174.54/FindRegion.aspx?RegionID=1

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Parking near White House this Friday morning

Thanks, mopsydog, for your advice. I contacted ecolonial and they do have daily parking available for $15.00 all day, can%26#39;t beat that.

We%26#39;re set for our visit now. Thanks.

After Christmas trip - best area to stay??

Family of 5 - dh, myself, 18yo, 17yo and 11yo. So we need either 2 rooms or a 1br suite

We will be driving in - so parking is an issue.

Places we plan to see: of course the out door monuments; Smithsonian; and Spy Museum. Also might go skating.

Cost is a consideration to an extent, but will pay more to be comfortable. Also, don%26#39;t mind staying out from DC and taking the Metro in but would prefer an area with character and close by things to do.

After Christmas trip - best area to stay??

For an area with character and close to Metro and DC---Old Town Alexandria. Some hotels in that area that have suites in addition to regular rooms--Hampton Inn Old Town King Street Metro; Hilton Alexandria Old Town; Holiday Inn Hotel %26amp; Suites-Historic District Alexandria; Holiday Inn Select Old Town; Radisson Hotel Old Town Alexandria; Morrison House; Residence Inn by Marriott-Old Town; Embassy Suites Alexandria-Old Town; Sheraton Suites Alexandria. I suggest you read the reviews of these places that are posted here under ';Hotels';. It will help you come to an informed decision. BTW--all these hotels are 3-diamond properties and all offer parking for a fee.

eye liner

connecting database

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

I%26#39;ve done my own research, but does anyone have any personal recommendations (or hates) for restaurants or food places in this area? Any type, any level.

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

Montmartre is an excellent French restaurant near Eastern Market. It%26#39;s on 7th Street, less than a block north of Pennsylvania Ave. The menu changes seasonally, but I was always able to find something wonderful there. If it%26#39;s in season, try the carrot soup.

For a less expensive lunch, try Bread %26amp; Chocolate on the corner of Penn. Ave. and 7th. Also, Eastern Market lunch counter has some good choices. I hear the crab cakes are wonderful, but be advised that this really isn%26#39;t a sit down type of restaurant.

Sonoma, on Pennsylvania Ave. about 2 blocks down from the Library of Congress, is also very good and has an excellent selection of wines by the glass and by the bottle.

Most of the other restaurants that line Penn. Ave. heading south and east from the Capitol serve edible food, but nothing fabulous. The Greek place always served reliable food, but the service was terrible. Most of the bars along that street also serve food, but it%26#39;s typically bar fare (burgers, sandwiches, etc.)

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

I second the recommendation for Montmartre--it%26#39;s one of my favorite places on Capitol Hill.

Another possibility--there is a tiny Salvadorean place across from the Eastern Market. I can%26#39;t remember the name and I%26#39;ve never actually eaten there, but the family that owns it also runs one of the stalls in the market. I%26#39;ve always liked the burritos and empanadas that I got from their stall, so I%26#39;ve been wanting to try their restaurant for some time. I did walk by and check out their hours though, and they%26#39;re not open very late. Barely open for dinner at all, really. More a lunch/breakfast place.

I had fairly good Indian food a few years ago at a place called White Tiger. That might be a possibility.

I would NOT recommend Two Quail or Cafe Berlin if you are over that way.

I agree with Montmartre and Sonoma. Both good choices.

visit the white house

Hi everybody,

I%26#39;m from holland and will be in dc in october. I would really like to visit the white house. Do you know if it%26#39;s possible and how? thanks.

visit the white house

Hi,

I don%26#39;t know for sure if it is possible for you to see the White House, but you can probably look into it fairly easily.

For U.S. citizens, there is a process for requesting a White House tour through your Congressperson, but that wouldn%26#39;t be a option for you. What you should do is try to contact the Netherlands embassy here in DC and see if they can help you get a tour.

Another issue is that most people need to request their tours 6 months or so in advance to get in. Obviously you have less time than that, but still, check with your embassy and see if there are any openings.

I know that non-US citizens have posted on here before about trying to get a tour--but I%26#39;m not sure if anyone succeeded!

visit the white house

They usually want 6 months in advance but call (202) 456-7041 for the most updated information on tours of the white house.

I%26#39;ve checked with the embassy and they said that it%26#39;s impossible for non americains to visit the white house. Thank you for your suggestions.

Bye bye

Our family is hosting 2 students from France this summer who also wanted to see the White House. We contacted our senator%26#39;s office and gave that office the security information that was needed. We gave our family%26#39;s social security numbers and birthdates. The French students gave their passport number and birthdates. We are all going soon. Hope this helps.

It seems you have to be with Americans (or residents from a congressional district). That%26#39;s unfortunate. Makes some friends while your here and they can book it for you next time :-)

Tickets for Capitol

If I get up early to get tickets for the Capitol, will they give me more than one (one for my wife and child, too)? Or will all 3 of us have to go?

Also, does anyone know if this applies for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, too?

Thanks.

Bob Meyer

Tickets for Capitol

Bob:

Have you tried to get the tickets through your Congressman and/or Senator yet? It%26#39;s worth a shot even on short notice. If you are unable to obtain tickets, it%26#39;s my understanding that your whole party needs to be there to get tickets for the Capitol. One ticket is distributed per person.

BEP states on their website (www.bep.treas.gov) that an individual may obtain up to 4 tickets.

Have a fun trip!

Tickets for Capitol

Thanks for the advice. It was right on target. I called my Congressman%26#39;s office and they arranged a private tour of the Capitol in a few days.

Glad it worked out. Have fun!

Which Kimpton Hotel??

My husband and I decided to plan a trip to DC over Labor Day Weekend. We have always enjoyed staying at boutique hotels and came across Kimpton Hotels. We are in our 30%26#39;s, want to be close to restaurants, bars, shopping but not afraid to hop on the metro to get to places. Any recommendations on which Kimpton to stay at? Greatly appreciate any advise or recommendations!

Which Kimpton Hotel??

Well, I don%26#39;t know too much about the hotel itself, but the Hotel Monaco is in a really good location. You%26#39;ll be right across the street from a metro station and in a nice neighborhood with lots of trendy restaurants.

Which Kimpton Hotel??

I agree with the Hotel Monaco for location. It would be my first choice, but it could be on the pricey side. Second choice would be Rouge or Topaz. Both are well-located, close to Dupont metro and not too far from Adams Morgan for nightlife. I%26#39;ve also heard good things about the hotels (check the reviews). Fourth choice would be Helix. Palomar just opened, but it%26#39;s pricey and sounds like their still working out some kinks. Have a nice weekend!

I%26#39;d go with any of Mopsydog%26#39;s top three - although you might find the 7th Street corridor too urban and congested on the weekends, with all the traffic and especially if something is going on at the MCI/Verizon Arena. Dupont Circle is much more pedestrian-friendly. (I%26#39;m a big Kimpton fan myself - see if they have any promotions or special rates that weekend).

where to find listing of shows

Hello,

I was wondering if there was a place online to check for listings of any shows/concerts going on in the downtown area while I am in town?

tks

-s

where to find listing of shows

Look at www.washingtonpost.com, then click on City Guide. You can also look at www.washingtoncitypaper.com.

where to find listing of shows

Or visit www.culturaltourismdc.org!

I%26#39;m not sure if the Kennedy Center is listed in either of those links, but they have a free show every night at 6pm on their Millenium Stage. The performance schedule is updated regularly to show who will be performing each night:

kennedy-center.org/programs/…schedule.html

Other performances are listed on their regular calendar by date here:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/

The DC area also has a TON of community theaters that put on fantastic performances for great prices. Here is a link to the ones in Virginia:

celebratingva.com/downloads/Performing_Arts_…

write my name in arabic

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

I%26#39;m treating my younger sister to a weekend at the Hay Adams

Dec/9 and was trying to think of something memorable to wow her (I%26#39;ll hit my brothers up for the $$!) and thought of a limo pulling up in front to whisk us around the city at night- any idea of how much $$$ this might be??? And a reputable company? I did something similar in NYC through the hotel%26#39;s concierge and realized later how way overpriced it was compared to booking it myself. Thanks!

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

I have no first-hand experience with this outfit, but it was recommended to me by a local businesswoman:

http://www.righthandsun.com/tours.htm

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

Also try www.restonlimo.com. One of the local experts took their wine tour and reported that she enjoyed it (even if you don%26#39;t plan to do the wine tour...)

Even though you%26#39;re not looking for a romantic trip - take a look at the ';10 Tips for a Romantic Interlude'; tipsheet. If you mention it when you book they%26#39;ll give you 10% off.

Have fun!

A fun thing to do in DC is to go to High Tea at the Willard (14th %26amp; F Streets). They run it every day from 2-5.

They also have events at the hotel, so be sure to call and ask for an event brochure. I do not believe it is available on line. I have tickets to an event in October where the Washington National Opera is performing a wedding scene from an Opera in the Willard Room that is based on an event at the hotel. They have a lot of fun/interesting events booked to the end of the year. Especially in December with all of the holiday stuff going on around town. It should be positively beautiful.

It%26#39;s a great hotel to tour and to dine at, especially the tea.

eye liner

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

HI,

We%26#39;re flying on Frontier Airlines L.A. - Denver - Washginton Dc in October. I would appreciate your feedback on this airline.

Good experience or not so good?

Thanks!

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

Haven%26#39;t heard anything either way. I assume you are using them so you can fly into National. I would go for it just for the fact that you are minutes from downtown via cab, taxi or metro.

That is worth a ton in an area where traffic is terrible.

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

We%26#39;re also flying Frontier in October (Phoenix-Denver-DC).

I had some concerns as well, but I know a few people who have flown with them in the past and they were happy...so I decided to go ahead and book it.

I%26#39;ve flown them before and will again next month on my way to Arizona. The planes were clean and each seatback had it%26#39;s own small TV screen with a good selection of TV and movies. At their hub in Dever all of their gates are in one small area, so there%26#39;s no running from one end of the airport to another for a connection (though not a concern for you anyway if you%26#39;re originting there). All of my flight segments were on time and they didn%26#39;t lie to me about anything, which is extremely rare in that industry. Not great food options at that part of the airport, so you might pick something up elsewhere. I don%26#39;t recall if they offered any food on the plane. Given my experience, I%26#39;d say they%26#39;re head and shoulders above the legacy carriers.

I have flown Frontier several times. I was real nervous the first time because I didn%26#39;t know anything about them. But they were great. I honestly believe it was one of the smoothest flights I ever had. Everytime I have flown them, they are always on time, never lost anything, and the flight attendants are always very friendly.

I%26#39;ve not flown them but have read recent airline rankings that rate Frontier highly, just a notch or two below leaders JetBlue and Southwest. You should be fine.

Thank you for your advice everyone!

I have booked the trip on Frontier.

Found a great price! $259 for L.A. - Denver - DCA round trip! Can%26#39;t beat that!

I%26#39;m looking foward to their personal T.V.s Anything to make the time pass quickly. I%26#39;%26#39;m not fond of flying!

Thanks again.

Westin Arlington Gateway for $89/night!

I just saw this offer on TravelZoo: rate is for weekends through December [no September weekends other than Labor Day], but you must book by Friday, August 18

鈥ravelzoo.com/washington-dc-hotels/253261

Westin Arlington Gateway for $89/night!

Just rushed to check. It%26#39;s already gone.

Special Offer from The Westin Arlington Gateway:

$89 -- New D.C.-Area Westin at 40% OFF

We%26#39;re sorry, this special has either sold out due to huge demand or may no longer be available at the originally advertised price, terms and conditions.

DC Hotel map

I am interested in finding a map of the capital hill/mall area that would show where hotels and metro stations are located. Does anyone have suggestions? We made a flying trip through DC a few years ago and lucked out with one of those coupon books you pick up at a gas station, found a hotel 1 block from the white house for less than $100, but can%26#39;t remember the name of it! It was very old, but nice and clean, there was an Irish pub under it.

Anyway, would like to be able to see where everything is located for a PLANNED trip of several days this April.

Thanks for your help

T

DC Hotel map

These ';interactive'; maps are such fun to play with; you can select what you want them to feature: metro lines, hotels, attractions, other transportation, etc.

http://map.mapnetwork.com/destination/dc/

The downtown map is what will appear when you open the page, but you can also bring up maps for the entire District and the metro-area by clicking onto the too-faint-to-catch-your-eye bars at the bottom

DC Hotel map

Also try Google Maps and type in Washington DC hotels and it will pinpoint each hotel on the map. You can look by areas. Also find the Metro stops (perhaps on the same display with the hotels). Then it will list the hotels at the side.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

My family of 5 is planning a trip to DC this month. We are scheduled to arrive at Dulles Aiport at 4:00pm. What suggestions do you have on transportation from the airport to the hotel? Approximatly how long will it take to get from Dulles to the hotel? It was our hope to do a night tour of the monuments on the OTT after we checked in. Do you think this is possible or should we plan it on another night. Thank you very much for the much needed information.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

4:00 p.m. on which day of the week? If it is a weekday and you want to use public transportation, you will be in the middle of rush hour and Metro fares are higher at that time. On the weekend, it%26#39;s a different story. Well, anyway, here are your options:

Cheapest option--take the 5A Metrobus from Dulles to DC. It is $3/one way (exact change only in bills and/or coins). It only runs once an hour, is unreliable and often crowded. In fact, the Washington Post refers to this route as ';The Dreaded Dulles Link';. (for more info--www.wmata.com)

Second cheapest option--Take the Washington Flyer Bus from Dulles to the West Falls Church Metro station. This bus leaves Dulles at 15 and 45 past the hour and costs $9/one way, although there are discounts if you buy 3 or more round-trip tickets. It is a coach-style bus and goes non-stop to West Falls Church. (for more info--www.washfly.com). Once at West Falls Church, you would take Metro into the District.

Next up in cost--the Super Shuttle (www.supershuttle.com/htm/cities/dca.htm). No reservations are required. It is a van that also takes other passengers so it may well be a good while until it gets around to dropping you off at your hotel.

And more expensive--Arrange for a limo. Some companies to consider-- Dulles Limousine (www.dulleslimousine.com); Burkilimo (www.burkilimo.com); Boston Coach (http://www.bostoncoach.com/index.jsp)

Also--There is a taxi stand at Dulles. Since there are 5 of you and if you want a taxi, see if a mini-van cab is available. There is a dispatcher on site who can assist you.

As far as the ';monuments by moonlight'; tour--I would suggest that you schedule it for another night. IMO, this is best just in case your flight is delayed for some reason.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

Thank you suefee for the many different options you have given me to choose from. My family will be arriving on a Monday night so I expect traffic to be pretty bad. It is good to know of all the available options.

One more question.... My family is not as concerned about about the money it will take to travel but the time. What is the absolute fastest way from Dulles to the Hilton for a family of 5 at 4pm in the afternoon on a weekday. Thanks

Sam, please, please, please come back and post a review of the Capital Hilton and maybe some pictures. I%26#39;m staying there in October this year. Thank you.

Take one of the grey Washington Flyer cabs on the lower level. They%26#39;re equipped to take credit cards as well. You%26#39;ll be going against traffic, although you might hit counterflow commuters as you come into Arlington. And there%26#39;s no telling what traffic in downtown DC will be, since you%26#39;ll be arriving downtown right at the peak of the evening rush hour, so I%26#39;d figure on arriving around 6 pm.

If you want to take a tour that same night, talk to the concierge as soon as you arrive - he might be able to arrange something for you. OTT might even have someone pick you up at the Hilton if there are enough of you and there%26#39;s still time.

Just go to the Metro Trip Planner page (wmata.com/tripplanner_d/tripplanner_form_sol鈥?/a>) and it will plan your transportation for you. We were told that our only choices from BWI to our hotel near the Mall would be a shuttle bus or taxi, at a cost of $60-80. But with the Trip Planner we took a bus and the Metro for a total cost for both of us seniors of $2.20. And about the same amount of time. You can enter different arrival times to cover when you will get your luggage and be ready to leave the airport, so you can see ahead of time how often the buses run, etc. Then you have sufficient information to decide which option is best for you.

Don%26#39;t forget to use the Circulator after you arrive. It%26#39;s a big money and foot saver! Look online for their routes and once you get on, take a brochure with a detailed map. Brochures are hard to find elsewhere so most tourists we met earlier this month were unaware of its existence. Fares are $1 (half for seniors) and you can get off and reboard free for two hours (three with some drivers). Get a transfer when you first board (they usually automatically offer you one). They come every 5 minutes or so, and start at 7 in the morning I think. Here%26#39;s the link to more info: www.wmata.com/metrobus/dc_circulator.cfm

tech help and advice