Got a questions for those familiar with the BWI area.

Some friends are having a big convention over Memorial Day weekend but, due to a certain hotel backing out on a signed contract (they're working on that aspect, too), they have to rebook the whole thing. Not good, given the holiday weekend and large number of rooms (30 or so, some of them doubles) they need.

Most of the people are coming into BWI airport, on very tight budgets (think 'poor starving college students'), and without cars. The original hotel had an airport shuttle. They're busily calling other hotels with shuttles as well.

What I was wondering was, are there any hotels that are close to the airport without shuttles, but reachable via public transportation? Is there even public transportation that goes to the airport? I guess there's the train there. They don't want to have people riding around on a bus for hours, obviously, but is there something maybe on a bus route nearby? Or other creative options that wouldn't show up on a casual search of the BWI immediate area?

the light rail runs from bwi to close to the PA border.

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/...6LightRail.pdf

hotline and I think priceline both show hotels on a map. if you overlay the two, you should be able to find something close to lightrail. seems prices for that weekend are very high. not surprised. baltimore does not have an excess of hotel space.

I do not know what you consider inexpensive, but if you do a search on orbitz for hotels at bwi, there seem to be over a dozen under $120.

don't know what you use for basis, but under $120 in dc/balt area in summer is getting down there.

Howard County Transit has a bus route from Columbia to BWI. It maked stops at the rail stations as well as at Arundel Mills Mall where there are several hotel options. Buses run about every 45 minutes I think.

If you're looking at a close airport location, the Hampton Inn-BWI is quite nice. Everything's a little expensive in that hotel district though.

My friend always stays at the Hilton Garden Inn-BWI when he's in town. It's a nice and well kept property.

Tazi suggested the Arundel Mills (Hanover) area and that has a Holiday Inn and a Hampton Inn and Suites. Also right next to some great shopping and activities (Medieval Times, Dave and Busters, etc).

I don't think there is a Holiday Inn?? There is the Hampton Inn & Suites, Springhill Suites and a Resident Inn, though.

You're right, I was thinking of the Holiday Inn on Elkridge Landing and I just got confused in my typing.

Thanks for the advice, I actually found Google Maps pretty good for tracking down hotels. I was able to do a search for the light rail stations and then search around there for hotels.

They did eventually find a place with enough rooms. I forget which hotel it ended up being, something within a few miles of BWI. So it worked out mostly.