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We planned to stop in Washington D.C. for a day on our 15 day unlimited Amtrak pass, as we go through to Orlando, Florida. Now, it seems in doubt that we will stop in Washington.
Does anyone know the reason for the closure, and if it is a permanent thing. Our stop in Washington DC was for Feb. 18, 2013. Are there other interesting things to tour or do in the city, besides the regular high rate tours advertised.
If anyone knows a really good no frills hotel, clean but no frills, that is reasonable in cost, it would be good to know about. I would like a hotel near Union station in Washington DC.
Thanks a lot for your consideration.
Brian
Btw, "White House" (two words).
Define what a cheap hotel is. If you are looking for something in the $100/night range, you might consider staying in Arlington, VA instead. It is not unusual to pay $200-$400/night on weeknights in D.C. (less on weekends).
My guess is that there were so many requests from US Members of Congress that were going unfilled. MEmbers complained, so the noncitizen tours were canceled to free up spots.
In any case, you would not have been able to just roll up and join a tour. You would have had to give your embassy, weeks in advance, a list of dates and times (plural) that would work for you and they would put you in a tour on one of those slots--if they could.
The Australian Embassy has ideas for alternative things to do
Thanks for all the people who replied. I feel some what put off, as we in Canada provide a wonderful guided tour of our parliament buildings and many Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities take part. You don't need to be cleared through your embassy. You just frankly show up.
As for reasonable accommodation, I thought that $100 per night including taxes was reasonable. It all depends on your income. If you are making $100,000 per annum, reasonable will be perhaps $200 a night. But if you are on a small pension of $18,000 per year, then $200 is out of the question and even $100 is tought.
I wouldn't cancel the trip. I just would not stop over in Washington, perhaps. I can just keep going to Florida, or stop in Chicago instead.
But reading all your suggestions, I have come to the conclusion that there is lots more to see in Washington than the White house. As one person said, it is a short tour anyway.
I think perhaps that is a matter of security as the state department has cancelled the whitehouse tours. There are no tours for American citizens either. The state dept. doesn't seem to answer to anybody. At least, that's what this humble Canadian thinks.
Take care,
Brian
But you can't exactly visit xBuckingham Palace on a whim, now can you?
You need to think based on the market for lodging where you are going. For example, $100 per night is "reasonable" in say, xDallas, but $100 is scraping the bottom of the barrel in xNYC, so it's not "reasonable."
DC is a high cost lodging market. $100 doesn't get you very far.
As for Wash DC, there is so much to see and do. In fact, the WhiteHouse at night is gorgeous, as is the mall from Lincoln Memorial, to the Washington Monument, as well so many Smithsonian museums you need a week to see them all. And they are Free to all who come.
Just Union Station alone is a a museum, taking the train to DC and enjoying a drink or meal there is lovely, you can walk from there to the Congress, or the Mall, or both, and the Smithsonian museums plaza area. The tour of the WH is also very limited, and can vary each day depending on the WH Agenda and Events, which are many.
Pretty much, yeah. You just gotta buy tickets.
I was able to get Carlyle Suites on Du Pont Circle for USD104 a night on three of the seven nights when I stayed there 18 months ago. You could check it out. I found it very good and only about 5-10 min walk from the metro station.
Edited by: markfawkner
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Whitehouse tours
I have been informed by the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. that the free Whitehouse tours are no longer being done. Upon further inquiry, I found out that the U.S. state dept.cancelled the tours. Previous to this, the Canadian Embassy would have checked on my passport, etc. and given me permission to be on one of these tours.We planned to stop in Washington D.C. for a day on our 15 day unlimited Amtrak pass, as we go through to Orlando, Florida. Now, it seems in doubt that we will stop in Washington.
Does anyone know the reason for the closure, and if it is a permanent thing. Our stop in Washington DC was for Feb. 18, 2013. Are there other interesting things to tour or do in the city, besides the regular high rate tours advertised.
If anyone knows a really good no frills hotel, clean but no frills, that is reasonable in cost, it would be good to know about. I would like a hotel near Union station in Washington DC.
Thanks a lot for your consideration.
Brian
1
Does anyone know the reason for the closure, and if it is a permanent thing.
Embassies choose whether they provide tours or not. They likely decided it wasn't worth the hassle.Btw, "White House" (two words).
If anyone knows a really good no frills hotel, clean but no frills, that is reasonable in cost, it would be good to know about. I would like a hotel near Union station in Washington DC.
What is "reasonable," in numbers?
2
With a question this specific, you might want to also post on the Trip Advisor Washington DC forum. You'll also find extensive lists of things to do in Washington DC on TA. What to do will really depend on your interests. You might enjoy visiting the Smithsonian. It's free.3
There is plenty to see, I loved Washington DC! The are a lot of great museums and you can visit the Capitol, the monuments and take a day trip to Mount Vernon.4
Washington DC has the most things to do and see of any city I have ever been in. Monuments, museums, public buildings, Arlington cemetery - you don't need an expensive tour, just get to the Mall and walk along it.5
Why would you cancel a D.C. trip just because of not being able to go inside the White House? There are tons of things to do in D.C. Go visit the Supreme Court, wander around the various free Smithsonian museums, see the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington monument, get a pot of tea at Teaism, eat or shop around Dupont Circle, the list goes on and on. No need to join a tour, just take public transit and walk to get around.Define what a cheap hotel is. If you are looking for something in the $100/night range, you might consider staying in Arlington, VA instead. It is not unusual to pay $200-$400/night on weeknights in D.C. (less on weekends).
6
No need to worry about the reasons or whether it's permanent. You can assume you can't go during your visit. Most Americans don't get in, either (sort of a lottery, even with the help of one's Congressional representative). Even if you still could get a tour with your embassy's help it would not have been a sure thing (and the tours are brief). I liked the tour of the Capitol. Tons of other things to do. The one real question one could answer would be about lodging, but you just say "resonable" in terms of cost. That's obviously a subjective term. What's reasonable to you? Give a dollar number and people can help. Are you wlling to stay outside DC, such as in Arlington, and take the Metro in?7
From the Canadian Embassy web site, dated April 2012.The White House is not accepting any tour requests from embassies at this time. We update this site daily and will post new information about tour availability.
My guess is that there were so many requests from US Members of Congress that were going unfilled. MEmbers complained, so the noncitizen tours were canceled to free up spots.
In any case, you would not have been able to just roll up and join a tour. You would have had to give your embassy, weeks in advance, a list of dates and times (plural) that would work for you and they would put you in a tour on one of those slots--if they could.
The Australian Embassy has ideas for alternative things to do
9
Hi There,Thanks for all the people who replied. I feel some what put off, as we in Canada provide a wonderful guided tour of our parliament buildings and many Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities take part. You don't need to be cleared through your embassy. You just frankly show up.
As for reasonable accommodation, I thought that $100 per night including taxes was reasonable. It all depends on your income. If you are making $100,000 per annum, reasonable will be perhaps $200 a night. But if you are on a small pension of $18,000 per year, then $200 is out of the question and even $100 is tought.
I wouldn't cancel the trip. I just would not stop over in Washington, perhaps. I can just keep going to Florida, or stop in Chicago instead.
But reading all your suggestions, I have come to the conclusion that there is lots more to see in Washington than the White house. As one person said, it is a short tour anyway.
I think perhaps that is a matter of security as the state department has cancelled the whitehouse tours. There are no tours for American citizens either. The state dept. doesn't seem to answer to anybody. At least, that's what this humble Canadian thinks.
Take care,
Brian
10
I feel some what put off, as we in Canada provide a wonderful guided tour of our parliament buildings and many Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities take part. You don't need to be cleared through your embassy. You just frankly show up.
You are welcome to show up to see the Capitol (our "parliament"). Tours are offered daily (aside from a couple holidays).But you can't exactly visit xBuckingham Palace on a whim, now can you?
I thought that $100 per night including taxes was reasonable. It all depends on your income. If you are making $100,000 per annum, reasonable will be perhaps $200 a night. But if you are on a small pension of $18,000 per year, then $200 is out of the question and even $100 is tought.
This is not how you should think of "reasonable" when discussing lodging costs.You need to think based on the market for lodging where you are going. For example, $100 per night is "reasonable" in say, xDallas, but $100 is scraping the bottom of the barrel in xNYC, so it's not "reasonable."
DC is a high cost lodging market. $100 doesn't get you very far.
There are no tours for American citizens either.
There is nothing on the website about this. We can still schedule tours through our representation.
11
Even for an American, you need to first request a visit through your local Congressman, then be submitted to a FBI Background Check. Its is no cakewalk for an American either.As for Wash DC, there is so much to see and do. In fact, the WhiteHouse at night is gorgeous, as is the mall from Lincoln Memorial, to the Washington Monument, as well so many Smithsonian museums you need a week to see them all. And they are Free to all who come.
Just Union Station alone is a a museum, taking the train to DC and enjoying a drink or meal there is lovely, you can walk from there to the Congress, or the Mall, or both, and the Smithsonian museums plaza area. The tour of the WH is also very limited, and can vary each day depending on the WH Agenda and Events, which are many.
12
But you can't exactly visit Buckingham Palace on a whimPretty much, yeah. You just gotta buy tickets.
I was able to get Carlyle Suites on Du Pont Circle for USD104 a night on three of the seven nights when I stayed there 18 months ago. You could check it out. I found it very good and only about 5-10 min walk from the metro station.
Edited by: markfawkner
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