where to stay in Washington DC

I myself prefer to stay in Arlington. The hotels are cheaper, and if you find one within walking distance of the metro you can leave the rental car (if you have one) and not have to worry about parking in DC. I think the Comfort Inn around Iwo Jimo memorial is a good location.

#1 is right. It's impossible to park in DC if you're a visitor. Stay in Arlington, park the car at the hotel, and use the Metro for sight-seeing. The hotels advertise the fact that they're only a block or two away from a Metro station.

If you don't know where you’re going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll

Willard Hotel is a nice place to stay. It's a couple blocks from the White House.

What is your price range? For how many days? You mention parking overnight-- you mean for one night?? How long would you stay in DC? Are you on your way to somewhere else and just stopping overnight in DC and maybe sightseeing for a few hours? If you stay in Arlington, you will still probably have to pay for parking, just less than most places in DC. If you are not within walking distance of a Metro station you will have to pay to park near the station (private parking near the station; a few stations in outlying areas have their own pay parking). Bethesda also has a fair number of hotels, and an easy shot into DC by Metro. Arlington is probably you closest location outside of DC. Make sure you are near a Metro station. If you can afford to stay someplace right in DC and pay their parking fees, that is more convenient still. The posting about the Willard is a joke-- it is very pricey (also very historic and very nice).

p.s. if you are staying in DC and have parking at a hotel, you do not need to find other parking. You can use the Metro, taxis and walk. On-street parking in Arlington also tough. Need to watch the signs wherever you park onthe street, since you may be fine at one time and then could be towed away after a certain time.

The Willard Hotel is no joke. It's a very nice place to stay. The OP didn't give a budget constraint, so I'm figuring there isn't one. I've stayed at the Willard twice, and it's my #1 choice in Washington.

Updated cheap(er) DC hotel, transportation, and culture list, as of November 2006. See also the Washington Post's readexpress.com for information.

*TRANSPORTATION

-FROM NEW YORK: The "Chinatown busses" run around $25 one way or $40 round trip with a travel time of about four hours. The price is certainly right and I had no problems. However, recent safety crackdowns have identified mechanical and driver problems. Greyhound and Peter Pan have cut prices to meet the Chinatown competition. http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/
Great American Bus Line 1866-625-3340, www.greatamericanbusline.com has complimentary drink

-FROM RONALD REAGAN DC NATIONAL AIRPORT (DCA): Metro Rail station next to airport. Metro Rail starts at 5 a.m. weekdays, and closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday, and at 3 am on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday the first train starts at 7 am

-FROM DULLES AIRPORT (IAD): Metro Bus 5A goes from the airport to Rosslyn Metro and L'Enfant Plaza, where connections can be made to Metro Rail. The $3.00 ticket, paid in exact change on the bus, is a true bargain. Schedules are on web at www.wmata.com and via automated voice at 202-637-7000. The Dulles arrival and departure is from curb 2E. Super Shuttle, a shared van, is located on the lower level and is cheaper than a taxi.

-FROM BALTIMORE AIRPORT (BWI):
Cheapest: BWI non-stop bus B30 from lower level of BWI concourse E to Metro's Greenbelt station. Cost 2.00. When you depart from Greenbelt pick up a transfer and pay only 1.15 for the bus. Runs 6:10 am to 10:00 PM, departures every 40 minutes. Info: www.iflybwi.com. Supershuttle is available.

Good weekday only: MARC trains with free shuttle bus from BWI Airport Rail Station. www.mtamaryland.com<BR><BR></strong>Convenient, cheaper than taxi for several traveling together: Take SUPER SHUTTLE, which is a shared minibus. Just report to their office in the lower level of the airport when you arrive. This is much better than multiple changes between bus and train, and cheaper than a cab. Number is 1-800-BLUEVAN www.supershuttle.com Available at both BWI and Dulles.

TO GEORGETOWN: Two shuttle services connect Georgetown to Rosslyn, Foggy Bottom, up Wisconsin Avenue and Dupont Circle Metro stations. Cost is $1.50 or 65 cents with Metro transfer. Service is 7:00 am-midnight (to 2:00 am Friday and Saturday). Since Georgetown is not on Metro this is a major and cheap benefit that makes use of hotels and motels in Virginia more convenient.

TO UNION STATION: The connector bus from Georgetown.

DC TAXI CHARGES: Fares are based on a zone system, not meters. A zone map is provided in the cab, but since the cross streets are not indicated it is not much use. A $1.00 fuel cost surcharge will be added to your fare. Yes, it is a system that rips off the stranger in the DC gates.

HOTELS, FROM THE BOTTOM UP (ask about student, auto club, or retired discounts)

-ALLEN-LEE, 2224 F Street, NW; (800) 462-0186, (202) 331-1224, fax (202) 296-3518. This cheap older hotel, popular with the low-budget crowd and travel books, reopened in April 2006 after renovation. Single rate $69 w/o private bath, $99 with bath, double $89 w/o bath, $119 w/bath. The location is excellent, but the old building and some clients are both a bit on the shabby side. How determined are you to save money?

-WASHINGTON YOUTH HOSTEL, 1009 11th St, NW (202) 737-2333 From $27/night, continental breakfast included.

-HOTEL HARRINGTON, 11TH & E St, NW, Washington, DC 1-800-424-8532 "Washington's Tourist Hotel" has a splendid location in downtown DC, restaurant and bar in building, popular with budget visitors. $99 pus tax for one or two people with one bed, $109 plus tax for up to four people in room with two beds. $10.00 per 24 hours for parking, 10% discount with AAA, AARP

-HIGHLANDER MOTEL, 3336 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 1-800-786-4301, or 703-524-4300, www.highlandermotel.com. $74.95 plus tax for 1 or 2 guests, w/o discount. Near Virginia Square Metro station, near clubs and restaurants. Coffee and donuts for breakfast at the office. No parking charge at this basic motel.

-THE INN AT ROSSLYN (formerly MOTEL FIFTY), 1601 Arlington, Blvd, Arlington, VA 1-800-504-4888, 703 524 3400, $114.99-124.99 for one or two beds. Modest walk to Rosslyn Metro and Georgetown Shuttle. Pastry, juice, coffee for breakfast in the motel office. No charge for parking at this basic motel.

-QUALITY INN IWO JIMA, 1501 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA.
1-800-228-5151 A comfortable chain motel, with numerous promotional rates +/-$119-149. Use any group discounts available. Near Rosslyn Metro and Georgetown Shuttle. No parking charge.

JURYS WASHINGTON HOTEL, New Hampshire and Du Pont Circle, Washington, DC (202) 483-6000, (800) 423-6953 www.jurysdoyle.com. Ideal location, stay here when someone else is paying, "Our prices change all the time, higher when there is demand, lower in off times, check the site" $99-245 per night. That $99 special rate is hard to beat, well worth a toll free call.
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CULTURAL INFORMATION

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY: The museum closed in 2006 until the summer of 2008, when Dorothy's ruby slippers and other cultural treasures will be available in a more open and less maze-like presentation. Some of the artifacts are on temporary display in other museums.

CORCORAN ART GALLERY: Not many places charge for admission in Washington, but this is one that does. However, admission to the permanent collection is free on weekdays. The usual $8.00 entrance free is waived Thursday after 5:00 for "pay as you wish." CLOSED on Monday and Tuesday. www.corcoran.org<BR><BR>THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION: The "suggested contribution" of $7.50 per adult is waived on Wednesday. CLOSED on Monday. On web at www.phillipscollection.org<BR><BR>THE SPY MUSEUM: 800 F Street, NW www.spymuseum.org This is the newest show in town, and there is a charge to visit: adults $15, children $8, under 5 free. There are many small rooms and hallways with exhibits so groups become separated very quickly. Before you go in agree on where you will meet after the visit. I visited it with three other people and we all became separated. This attraction is very popular with school groups, and you should buy tickets in advance or risk wait of 2-3 hours for entrance.

TOUR OF THE J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI BUILDING: This popular free tour is now cancelled and will not be available until the visitor area is renovated in "spring 2007".

TOUR OF THE PENTAGON: Only for groups now. (703) 697-1776

TOUR OF US CAPITOL: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Mon-Sat, free timed tickets available at 8:15 on day of tour at west front of Capitol. The US Capitol Historical Society offers walking tours of the exterior for $10.00 on Monday, starting at Union Station Metro . (202) 543-8919, ex. 17.

NEWSEUM: The Museum of News is under construction at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue and is expected to reopen on September 17, 2007. The largest collection of Berlin Wall sections in the US can still be seen at the Newseum's Freedom Park in Arlington, Virginia, but are being readied for the move.

US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MUSEUM 1849 C Street www.doi.gov/interiormuseum This organization claims to run more museums than any other outfit in the world. The DC headquarters has changing selections from their work with parks, public lands, topography, mine safety, and Indian affairs. An Indian craft shop is across the hall and has legitimate Indian jewelry for sale. www.indiancraftshop.com<BR><BR>US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM: The displays have changed little since the museum opened in 1993. They continue to give Adolph Hitler an unauthorized posthumous promotion to Corporal, when his actual status was the lower rank of Private First Class or Lance Corporal.

AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM UDVAR-HAZY CENTER NEAR DULLES AIRPORT: This museum, with the Concorde, the Enola Gay of Hiroshima fame, and scores of others in a large hanger-like building, opened in December 2003, and is mostly complete. Although there is no charge to visit the museum, there is a $12.00 parking charge or a $7.00 charge for the shuttle bus that goes from the Air and Space Museum on the Mall. There have been complaints from people who found out that they would have to wait two hours for entrance only after they paid the parking fee. However, parking is free after 4:00 PM. The center is about five miles from the Dulles terminal and the bus costs 50 cents. The only food available is from a Subway sandwich shop.

CRYPTOLOGIC MUSEUM: This is the National Security Agency's presentation, located between DC and Baltimore, just off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway at Route 32 and just outside Fort Meade. The museum exit is posted for northbound BW Parkway traffic, but not southbound. Actual spy gems such as the Zimmerman telegram, ENIGMA machine, Verona transcripts, and information about the USS Pueblo and the USS Liberty are available. Open 9-4 daily, closed Sunday and federal holidays, open 1st and 3rd Saturdays. www,nsa..gov/museum

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MUSEUM: History of the various drug forms and public reaction over the years. Displays of means used to smuggle drugs and the confiscated loot, much in very bad taste. Open Tues-Fri from 10-4, some tours by retired DEA agents, who have great war stories. Phone (202) 307-3463 usdoj.gov/dea/deamuseum 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Metro stop is Pentagon City.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN: On the National Mall. Web site: www.americanindian.si.edu . Admission to one of DC's newest museums is presently by timed entry, except when it is not crowded, which seems to be the case with increasing frequency. This is not a museum in the traditional sense of a coordinated and chronological presentation based on history, anthropology, and archeology. The focus is on tribal creation stories and present conditions, told by present members of the individual tribes, but with some separate sections by the curators. At some points it is more like a trade show in which each exhibit has a separate booth that is not connected to the other exhibits, as opposed to a united presentation which traces themes that apply to the entire western hemisphere. The exhibits are supposed to change every three years, so it is still a work in progress.

RENWICK GALLERY : 17th and Pennsylvania Ave (across from White House) has "George Catlin's Indian Gallery" in the same space where it was shown in the 19th century. Also on exhibit are massive landscapes by Thomas Moran. These views of the Yellowstone area contributed to the establishment of the world's first national park.

DEEP THROAT WATERGATE GARAGE AND KENNEDY CORNER: Parking space 32D at 1401 Wilson Blvd, off N. Nash Street, in Arlington, Virginia, across the street from the Hyatt Hotel and a church located above a gas station (Our lady of Chevron), is where Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward met senior FBI officer Mark Felt. I personally marked the spot with a temporary marker and barrier tape. Representative Kennedy smashed his car into a hydraulic security barrier at 1st and C, just a block north of the Hawk and Dove and Bullfeathers watering holes. Reporting the many scandals and continuing associated with DC Mayor for Life Marion Barry would clutter the post and require constant updates.

CAPITOL STEPS: This is a political comedy review, with music, unlike real politics which feature lots of dancing, but not much singing. Site: www.capitolsteps.com If you are burnt out on museums and tired of walking this is a good change for an evening. Location is Ronald Reagan International Trade Center on Pennsylvania Avenue.

KENNEDY CENTER MILLENNIUM STAGE: hosts free musical events at 6:00 PM daily. Free Show Shuttle from Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro station. Web: kennedy-center.org/millenium

If you are on more of a budget (like me), the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington was very good last yr, although some recent TripAdvisor posts haven't liked it as much... It's at the courthouse stop, very convenient into DC.

Staying in Arlington would be my suggestion too.

My fiance and I booked the Hyatt in Rosslyn for our families over 4th of July and it was incredibly convenient. I think it was about $90/night for a double on a holiday weekend. Two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro, parking was $8/day, and another pro for staying in Arlington not previously mentioned: all of Arlington's metro stops are on the Orange line, which is the same line the musuems on the Mall are located on (stop: Smithsonian).

Rosslyn is also a quick cab ride (about $10) to Georgetown, so you could easily check into your hotel and then go into the city for dinner, without dealing with the ridiculous traffic and confusing street layout of DC. If the weather is nice, you could even walk over the Key bridge into Georgetown during the day and early evening (at night, be safe and get a cab). We do this a lot and there are always others walking from Rosslyn as well - it takes about 20 minutes from the Hyatt to the intersection of M St and Wisconsin (Georgetown's main drag).

Check out www.wmata.com for information on the Metro and bus lines in DC.