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04-09-2008 at 2:41 PM
daves_sweetpea
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XP: DC travel help

I'm cross posting this on the travel board...

My mom and I would like to do a very cheap trip to DC in the first week of June with my 19yo sister and 8yo niece. We were going to fly on Skybus to Richmond and stay at the hotel on the Quantico Marine base (sister's bf is stationed there). Skybus is a no go now, so our next cheapest option is to fly into Baltimore. We'd sort of like a hotel outside of the actual "city" b/c of cost. So...

Is it feasable to stay in Baltimore and go into DC every night? Most travel guides I've seen don't have many hotel reviews for Baltimore.

My other idea is to stay in the Arlington area, but are we nuts to try to take the 4 of us and our luggage on the train from BWI?

Any hotels you'd recommend in Baltimore or VA? We're going to be there for 3 nights over the weekend, I'd like to spend no more than $450 with tax on our hotel, preferably under $400.

Thanks!
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04-09-2008 at 2:45 PM
swrbcarpediem
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A few years ago I stayed somewhere near Baltimore and it offered a shuttle to the metro. It was not a big deal to get into DC each day of the trip on the metro.

Sometimes airfares at Reagan (on the metro) are lower than BWI...rare, but it happens.





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04-09-2008 at 2:46 PM
Becky19
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Hi- Baltimore is a bit far for nightly trips to DC. I think it is 45 minutes one way. Are you planning on having a car?

Do you definitely have to fly into BWI? I know sometimes it is cheaper but sometimes IAD (Dulles, in Northern Va) and DCA (in Arlington) are not much more $$$ and are a LOT more convenient. Have you compared flights using those airports?

The MARC train (train from BWI) has always taken me a long time.

Arlington is close to DC and it would be feasible to go into DC every night.



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04-09-2008 at 2:48 PM
kastle
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I would argue it'd be miserable staying in Bmore & going into DC everyday on vacation. 

You can also stay in Silver Spring, MD.  It's close to DC & not as far from BWI as Maryland.  I had the room block for my wedding at the Crowne Plaza in SS & it's very nice.  Our rate was 129/night I think, but I don't know what it is now.
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04-09-2008 at 2:49 PM
kastle
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yeah, that should be "as Arlington'  not maryland
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04-09-2008 at 3:07 PM
suecadence
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I think it will be difficult to travel from Baltimore to DC everyday.  If you don't have a car, your only option for transportation is the MARC train (a commuter train).  The DC metro does not go all the way to Baltimore.  I'm not sure how much it would cost to take MARC from where you would stay to DC, but it is $6.00 a trip from BWI airport to Union Station in DC.  The costs will add up quickly if there are three of you. 

As others have mentioned, it can be a long trip (45 minutes).

I would suggest you look at hotels in Silver Spring, MD, Arlington or Alexandria, VA that are walking distance to metro.
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04-09-2008 at 3:31 PM
mzovoce
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 The VRE is amazingly simple, and so easy, you can pick that up in Alexandria which is one stop down on the metro from the airport. (I recently did this, but the other way) Also if the bf is stationed at Quantico he can have a car and I am assuming he does, so you can drive to Springfield and take the metro if you are concerned about driving into the city. I will warn you though the metro will get spotty late at night, so if you are planning on partying you may want to drive. Also depending on where you are flying from DCA can be less expensive, especially if you can catch a commuter flight. We're flying for $200 each round trip next month and I think that's a steal!
 
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04-09-2008 at 3:47 PM
BridetobeEm
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I would not stay in Balto.  It's way too far to travel to and from DC every day imo.  I've never taken the train from BWI to DC, but I can assure you that traveling on a train w/luggage is not a biggie at all.  And you probably won't have much if you're only coming for a few days. 

I think a hotel in Arlington is ideal. There are several in the Crystal City area and that's a very short metro ride into the city.
 
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04-09-2008 at 3:48 PM
smacb
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I'd recommend flying into one of the Virginia airports (Reagan especially)  while you might get a slightly cheaper flight to Baltimore, you'll lose the savings on train tickets or cab fare into D.C.
  There are a ton of hotels near Reagan (Crystal City, Pentagon City Area)  Most of them are cheaper then DC hotels and are right by the metro. You can get cheaper hotels if you stay down by Quantico, but again, you'll have to either rent a car or pay a ton in cab fares if you want to go into DC every night.
I think you're in Dayton.  I'm an Ohio State grad, for cheaper flights try flying out of Columbus instead of Dayton or Cincy
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04-09-2008 at 3:52 PM
babygirlpriest
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I might explore some other options:

Fly into Regan - often cheaper and you're right on the metro. VERY easy.

Rent a car - Fly into BWI and rent a car for the day. You can drop it at Regan, IAD or at a rental place near your hotel.

BWI shuttle - there used to be a shuttle running from BWI to the nearest metro stop. Don't know if its still running.

If you're planning on using the Metro there are tons of hotel options for under $400 total that won't be sketchy. The only down side is you'll have to stay further out from the city - meaning longer metro ride in.
 
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04-09-2008 at 6:43 PM
crazyDCbride
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You should try Priceline - we've had excellent luck with it lately... got a 4 star hotel in downtown chicago for $75/night (including Priceline fees, etc)!  (Sofitel)  A nice "airport" hotel suite place outside of Pittsburg for $50/night, Buckhead in Atlanta for $80/night...

If you choose Crystal City in their "name your own price" thing - chances are you'll wind up *very* close to a metro stop.  White House-Downtown area would also be good.
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04-10-2008 at 10:54 AM
daves_sweetpea
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Thanks everyone.  Now I realize that Baltimore is not a good idea!  I was last in DC in 2001 for work (Dupont Circle at the Hilton- obviously that won't work for a cheap trip!)  Given all the problems with AA and the other airlines maybe DH and I will just go in the fall.
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