Does anyone have any recommendations on what can be done with cameras, backpacks, etc. when one is touring the White House? They apparently don't have a check room for these items.

The only thing I can come up with is to find a nearby hotel, pretend you are a guest, and have them hold your bags for you. Are there any other work-arounds?

Not really, I think checking them at a hotel is your best bet. If you asked the same questions a few months ago i would let you store them in my office.

Have you booked your tour with your legislator? Try and book it as far in advance as you can.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what can be done with cameras, backpacks, etc. when one is touring the White House? They apparently don't have a check room for these items.

The only thing I can come up with is to find a nearby hotel, pretend you are a guest, and have them hold your bags for you. Are there any other work-arounds?

Which "should" work, I would think..but if it doesn't, THEN what do you do? Another option if time permits is the luggage storage at Union Station. Not exactly right around the corner from the White House, but just a few minutes via Metro.

there are a bunch of people over there in lafaette park. I'm certain one of them will be glad to hold your luggage while you do your tour.

If you don't have tickets, you ain't going on the tour.

the best way to get tickets is to mail 5 grand to the republican party headquarters with your request.

My local alumni group is scheduling a tour and sent out the email with a ludicrous list of "precautions"...worse than going through TSA. That list on top of the tour being at a ridiculously early hour on a Saturday made my decision to pass a very easy one.

Where are you staying? How are getting into the city? Who else is going? I would suggest a car as the easiest place to leave your stuff, a hotel esp one near the White House may or may not be able to assist you (bring your hotel elite card if you have one to improve your chances - you become a known entity to some extent)

The trunk of the car/rental car option -- if it's large enough -- is the one I would suggest too.

Where are you staying? How are getting into the city? Who else is going? I would suggest a car as the easiest place to leave your stuff, a hotel esp one near the White House may or may not be able to assist you (bring your hotel elite card if you have one to improve your chances - you become a known entity to some extent)

I'm actually asking on behalf of my brother who is visiting the city on his own. I believe he is staying in Alexandria and will be using the metro to get around.

It's been a while since I visited the area, but it seems like the JW Marriott and St. Regis are within a few blocks of the White House. Would these be the most obvious hotels to try? Also, my only other idea was to find a nearby museum that might have a coat check area, but I don't know if this is feasible.

Just grab one of the guys in all black with the ERT badge on the clothes and let them know you would like them to look after the bags you just found outside... Bags gone... no problem... :eek:

I'm actually asking on behalf of my brother who is visiting the city on his own. I believe he is staying in Alexandria and will be using the metro to get around.

It's been a while since I visited the area, but it seems like the JW Marriott and St. Regis are within a few blocks of the White House. Would these be the most obvious hotels to try? Also, my only other idea was to find a nearby museum that might have a coat check area, but I don't know if this is feasible.

The Sofitel might work too. It probably can be done pretty easily at any of them, particularly if having brunch reservations there later or having a cancel-able room reservation there.

My experience is as follows:

Generally, the busier, larger properties with more traffic are less likely to notice who is a bonafide guest there or not and bellhops more likely to accomodate luggage for a tip. Also, more upscale properties are used to more eccentric habits and less likely to create an issue than properties on the lower end of the price spectrum.

The Williard and Hay-Adams are right nearby as well.

As far as museums with a bag check, the Renwick (I think that's the name) is part of the Smithsonian and is right on the corner of 17th and Pennsylvania. They open at 10AM however, so if the tour is earlier or right around 10, he'd be out of luck.

It's been a while since I visited the area, but it seems like the JW Marriott and St. Regis are within a few blocks of the White House. Would these be the most obvious hotels to try?
I think the St.Regis is still closed for renovations, Hotel Washington, Hay Adams and Sofitel are probably the closest. The Hilton on 16th street is not very far either.