Originally Posted by
nacho
If you are in a group of people, consider renting a car and stay outside DC. I did it with 3 kids back in June. Use a parking app to get cheaper rate. I parked close to Smithsonian for like $18/day. Cheapest Metro fare is $2.5 (no child discount), so renting a car gives you more freedom plus you can drive outside e.g. to outlet malls.
It really depends on what the OP is planning to do for their 5 days. If you add rental car & parking costs, that's more than what metro would cost he & his husband.
Since he has Silver status, the RI & SHS are his best options for free brekkie & maximizing point redemption, both of which are important to him.
Cheers.