4 hour IAD layover - anything to do?
Aug 9, 1999, 10:24 pm
#1
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
4 hour IAD layover - anything to do?
I will be stuck at IAD for 3 hours 55 minutes next week during the middle of the day. Is there anything close by worth visiting, doing or seeing?
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Aug 9, 1999, 10:44 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Not really. It's a long expensive cab ride into the city and the suburbs are pretty dull.
Just plug your PC in at one of the lounges and surf the web.
Just plug your PC in at one of the lounges and surf the web.
Aug 9, 1999, 11:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,178
as Stimpy said, there's not much choice. It would take you 30-45 min. just to get out of the airport to anywhere, and then there aren't many options close, except a few shopping centers.
E-mail Matt Wald or MileKing and ask them.
E-mail Matt Wald or MileKing and ask them.
Aug 10, 1999, 12:34 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Yep. Nothing much to do. Not enough time to take the Washington Flyer to anywhere. Could go to the Marriott at the airport there and hang at the bar, but I quess you could do that right in the terminal. 
Aug 10, 1999, 7:43 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Cambridge, MA 02138
Posts: 2,103
Ride the "soon the extinct" dinosaur like "People Movers".....
Here is a link to the Airports Web Site. http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/
And all the Shops & Eateries at the Airport: http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/vendors.html
Mobile lounges offer a unique service that transport passengers between the terminal and the midfield concourses and planes parked on the jet apron 1/2 mile away. Our 19 mobile lounges are 18ft. high, 16'6" wide, 53'5" long and weigh 65,000 pounds. Our 26 Planemates are 18'5" high, 17 ft wide, 49 ft. long and weigh 57,000 pounds.
And all the Shops & Eateries at the Airport: http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/vendors.html
Aug 10, 1999, 7:58 am
#6
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
Weeeeellll....You COULD hop a short cab ride to Reston, a planned community not too far from the airport. It's got something called Reston Town Centre, a planned community commons with retail and restaurants around a large square next to a man-made lake (it is just as plastic-looking as it sounds).
About 3 years ago, they were holding the space shuttle prototype Enterprise at Dulles, and you could go look at that, but it may have been moved by now the Air & Space.
Finally, there is a mega-mall called WorldGate a few miles from the airport with shopping, movies, etc...
Or, give me more specifics and I'll make an attempt to come meet you for lunch (or maybe an after-lunch drink at the RCC!)!
About 3 years ago, they were holding the space shuttle prototype Enterprise at Dulles, and you could go look at that, but it may have been moved by now the Air & Space.
Finally, there is a mega-mall called WorldGate a few miles from the airport with shopping, movies, etc...
Or, give me more specifics and I'll make an attempt to come meet you for lunch (or maybe an after-lunch drink at the RCC!)!
Aug 10, 1999, 8:59 am
#7
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
Matt,
I tried to email you but it bounces back. Do you have a new email address for your FlyerTalk profile?
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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop
I tried to email you but it bounces back. Do you have a new email address for your FlyerTalk profile?
------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop
Aug 10, 1999, 12:10 pm
#9
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
AH! the Sam Adams Brew Pub!
I think for the NEXT D-C F-T together we should simply buy out the place and sample beers until we smile smile smile (to quote my good friend Geo1004)
What I do (and it's probably illegal...)
(IT'S NOT THAT GUYS!!!!)
I did this twice. If I can find one of those private little booths I go in with my gear, use my jacket as a pillow (it's a Brooks Bros and rarely wrinkles) set up my mini alarm clock and go off and earn some sleeping points. If I'm stuck more than 2 hours I take a "CAT NAP"
I don't snore so there' sno way I can be disturbed. A lot of peole at NYU used to do that after all ngiht party sessions: go to the little study rooms at the big Library and go in and ZZZZZZZ
If I"m doing something illegal about the little rooms, then STOP ME BEFORE I GET ARRESTED!
I think for the NEXT D-C F-T together we should simply buy out the place and sample beers until we smile smile smile (to quote my good friend Geo1004)
What I do (and it's probably illegal...)
(IT'S NOT THAT GUYS!!!!)
I did this twice. If I can find one of those private little booths I go in with my gear, use my jacket as a pillow (it's a Brooks Bros and rarely wrinkles) set up my mini alarm clock and go off and earn some sleeping points. If I'm stuck more than 2 hours I take a "CAT NAP"
I don't snore so there' sno way I can be disturbed. A lot of peole at NYU used to do that after all ngiht party sessions: go to the little study rooms at the big Library and go in and ZZZZZZZ
If I"m doing something illegal about the little rooms, then STOP ME BEFORE I GET ARRESTED!
Aug 10, 1999, 2:22 pm
#10
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,607
Aug 10, 1999, 3:02 pm
#11
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978
MA: I can personally vouch for the veracity of geo1004 and Catman's suggestion of a pitstop at Sam Adams. I've had several occasions to smilesmilesmile therein!!!
Samantha
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 08-10-1999).]
Samantha
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 08-10-1999).]
Aug 11, 1999, 7:15 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 27
The Bad News:
Dulles is amoung the most boring airport I have ever been in. And everyone is right, there is nothing to do very close by.
The Good News:
If you decide against the Sam Adams route (which deserves some consideration) Four hours is enough time to do something in DC. You just need to know what you want to do, when you get off the plane, and go do it.
The Washington flyer is about $10 each way. If it's the middle of the day, you should be able to zip to town -- it's only a half an hour(plus what ever time you need to find Washington Flyer, get a ticket, etc) It drops you downtown at the Hilton near the monuments and Smithsonian. You could spend over 90 min doing something fun you might not ever get to do otherwise. I did this in Denver last year and it was better than sitting in a lounge. The new FDR memorial is great, and there are always old favorites such as Air and Space, and American History
Have fun
Dulles is amoung the most boring airport I have ever been in. And everyone is right, there is nothing to do very close by.
The Good News:
If you decide against the Sam Adams route (which deserves some consideration) Four hours is enough time to do something in DC. You just need to know what you want to do, when you get off the plane, and go do it.
The Washington flyer is about $10 each way. If it's the middle of the day, you should be able to zip to town -- it's only a half an hour(plus what ever time you need to find Washington Flyer, get a ticket, etc) It drops you downtown at the Hilton near the monuments and Smithsonian. You could spend over 90 min doing something fun you might not ever get to do otherwise. I did this in Denver last year and it was better than sitting in a lounge. The new FDR memorial is great, and there are always old favorites such as Air and Space, and American History
Have fun