I am helping 2 out-of-town friends look for an inexpensive hotel in DC. They would like to spend max. $100/nt. in August. Can anyone help? Thank you.

Hong.

I am helping 2 out-of-town friends look for an inexpensive hotel in DC. They would like to spend max. $100/nt. in August. Can anyone help? Thank you.

Hong.

For August stays in the DC area, I'd definitely recommend Priceline. The summer Priceline & Hotwire rates for hotels there are very good.

They should check out the hotels on the Virginia side of the Potomac, such as Rosslyn, Crystal City, Arlington, etc. Weekend rates there are typically at or below $99, and they can easily take the Metro into the District.

They should check out the hotels on the Virginia side of the Potomac, such as Rosslyn, Crystal City, Arlington, etc. Weekend rates there are typically at or below $99, and they can easily take the Metro into the District.

Good suggestion, and Priceline will land many of those hotels for well below 99/night.

Another option if this is for anything longer than a few days is to rent out a furnished apartment. (A lot of university students in the area are not there for a good part of August and would be looking to rent their places out; and a lot of younger international government employees -- with more than the typical US vacation time -- are in the same boat too.)

If you go with a suburb hotel, which I'd go with, Rosslyn & Crystal City (Arlington) have a few that run 89/night in the summer time. For some reason, the summer rates in the area aren't too bad in August. In DC, if the city's slow (when Congress is not in session), the Arlington rates are usually cheaper. Stay near a metro - a car isn't really necessary in DC if they are near the metro & almost every hotel, even in Arlington, charges for parking. I've found good rates on the weekends at the Sheraton Crystal City, Key Bridge Marriott, Rosslyn Courtyard, the Hilton Mark Center (Alexandria, but a free metro shuttle to Old Town, Alexandria), the Sheraton National (which I believe is either closing or closed & being converted to a Courtyard) - the Hyatt Arlington has even been known to run an 99/night summer weekend rate.

If your friends will just be in DC for a handful of days, I would recommend they spend the extra few $$ to stay within the District instead of dealing with VA and MD. Know that taxis charge fares based on zone, and the central zone is pretty generously sized and bounded, roughly from the North countercockwise, by U St., Florida Ave., 21st St., I-295, 4th St. SW, and New Jersey Ave. (someone correct me if I'm wrong)-- that puts Union Station, the Capitol, Smithsonian museums, the White House, Dupont Circle, and part of Adams Morgan within the same zone, and cab fare will be about $6-- that compared to $1.25 a head on the metro or bus. A number of Priceline hotels fall within that area-- stick to the "White House/Downtown" and the "Convention Center/Capitol Hill" zones of Priceline to be squarely within this central area, or bid for Dupont Circle/Woodley Park but be prepared to walk a few blocks. If you use Hotwire, choose "Downtown" then select the White House-Capitol Hill or Dupont Circle- Embassy Row areas. You likely won't find very good Hotwire/Priceline deals toward Georgetown or Foggy Bottom neighborhoods. Avoid the South of the Mall area as it may be a little hit-or-miss re. security. I hope that helps.

If they are driving to DC, I'd consider on of the two motels in Oxon Hill at 210. Take the bus or green line in every day. eat in Alexandria every day. There are also some inexpensive motels in alexandria on rt 1 south. they are close to the metro. also look into B&B's

I still think Priceline is the way to go for DC. The only exception is if you need to be near a specific address. Under $100 in August is rather difficult any other way (except maybe the Harrington, hehe). I've never resorted to staying in Virginia or Maryland, though, and I've rarely paid over $100 any time of the year. (Did pay a lot a while back during a huge convention.)

Priceline can be a tricky way to go if you're driving in, though. Parking at the hotels costs $20/night and up, adding significantly to the cost of the stay. This might be an argument for the suburbs.

For tourists, I think DC cabs are a bad option. Don't forget that you can get an unlimited daily Metro pass starting after morning rush on weekdays and all day on weekends.