Planning a trip to New York City and D.C.

[kayT]

Hi, fellow pinchers! I need your assistance.

DH and I are planning a road trip to NYC and D.C. in a few weeks. I am wondering if any of you have advice to offer on getting the best hotel deals, best/most economical ways to get around while there, etc. Any other tips would also be most appreciated as this will be both of our first times going to these places as tourists.

TIA!!! :)

[frazzledspice]

There's another thread active right now, but friends of ours stayed at the Radio City Apartments on W. 49th Street in NYC. They could see Rockefeller Plaza and the Today Show from their window....

http://www.radiocityapts.com/

They had a suite with kitchenette where they could cook simple meals for $190 a night. The hotel was older but charming, and the "suite" slept four.

I lived on Long Island, NY for many years, and when we visit we stay with relatives, but I have considered doing a "theatre weekend" and staying here overnight next time. (If we go in on the LIRR, we probably spend about $15 each on off peak fares, more if we travel during peak times...)

I was really impressed when we visited our friends at this hotel, and they liked it, too. It's in a great location.

[LifeIsGreat]

When we took the kids to D.C., we rented bikes from Bike the Sites - just go to www.bikethesites.com for more info. It is a little walk from each of the monuments so if you are limited on time, you might want to consider renting the bikes so you can get to each site faster. Have fun!

[liyashopaholic]

We have been to Washington DC a couple of times. I would definitely go in the fall vs. summer. Since it is your first time going, I would do the tourmobile or DC at night tour. The DC at night It costs $20.00 and you get to see all of the monuments. The tourmobile lets you get on and off anywhere at your own schedule. We started in the morning and spent one whole day doing the monuments. It also takes you to Arlington, which is a must see. Another fun attraction was the bureau of engraving and printing. Itis only open from 9-5 M-F, and the last tour is at 3:30 or so. They teach you how all of our paper money is made. It was very interesting, and took an hour or so. It is a fun trip, and the entertainment is inexpensive, since the smithsonian and the monuments are free. Food is outrageous though, as are hotels during the week. PM me if you have any other DC questions.

[medsed]

We have been to both cities many, many times. The subway in both places is safe and cheap and very easy to use.
Washington can easily be done on foot once you are at the Mall area. We especially enjoyed the International Spy Museum this summer. We also visited Ford's Theater and the House where Lincoln Died. These are around the corner from one another and only a couple of blocks from The national gallery of art. Some things people forget about are the postal museum, the botanical gardens, the FBI tour if they still have it, and the lesser Smithsinian Museums like the Freer and Sackler. Also, the National Portrait Gallery is very interesting. It is housed in the old patent building (Lincoln's second inaugural ball was held there) and the architecture and interior design are among the most beautiful in all of DC.
The last time we went to NYC it was spur of the moment and we ended up staying in NJ near the Newark airport. It was very very reasonable, free huge breakfast. Then we drove in found a lot with a good daily rate and parked and walked and took subways. We figured we saved about 100 a night on a room and we paid around 22 a day to park, where as many of the hotels in manhattan had no parking or charged from 30 and up with no in and out available. Check into it all carefully.
Hope this helps some!

[LydiaT]

Don not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to Phillips in DC! It has a buffet for $22.99. Expensive but worth every penny if you like seafood. I used to live outside of DC and went regularly.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=792497

and whatver you do...skip the National Aquarium. I don't remember if it is free. I could set up a better place in my living room.