Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

Any opinions on which hotels are best for the DC Regional.

What we would like:
Easy parking -- we have a trailer and three or four vans ( No bus )
Driving distance -- we will be driving to the event.
We would not mind using the Metro to get to the event each day, but obviously must drive the truck / trailer in the first day and saturday.

Thanks for the advice

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

If you can't find a reasonable rate/place in the city, try Maryland or Virginia. Specifically, Arlington, VA is convenient to the city both via highway and metro (Orange Line). Springfield, VA may offer slightly lower rates and the Yellow line will take you directly to the Convention Center, yet I hear that the traffic on 395 is horrific some mornings since 66-E is entirely HOV-2 (so leave early).

As for specific hotels .... well, I live here so I've never actually looked for hotels in the area.

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

There is a comfort inn off exit 163 in VA. It's around 30 min from the city (no traffic), plenty of parking, and the rates are reasonable. You might want to think about putting the trailer somewhere for the weekend and spending the nights in a downtown hotel. PM me if you need anything (our build site is less than a mile from the comfort inn)

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

I am looking at the Holiday Inn near Andrews AFB. Large metro station very close for the team. Just don't know about the drive in with the trailer --- traffic in the morning. Is there a place to park trailers at the event?

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

You will need to contact the event organizers for official info. http://www.dc-first.org/dc-regional
I know there is a large open lot at H and 9th-about 3 blocks away.
Parking, like hotels, will be expensive.
But I would look at the group rates at some of the large hotels in the area to compare. (Embassey Suites, Grand Hyatt, etc)

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

In previous years, we've arrived at the Convention Center around ~6:30-7:00, unloaded everything onto the loading dock with the other teams, and parked the trailer within a block of the Convention Center. Parking has been $20/day historically.

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

Thanks Jesse. That sounds like what we were planning to do. The Holiday Inn is looking very good to us. Free parking and 25 min metro ride to The Convention Center.

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

In 2010 we stayed at the Fairfield Inn, about a 10-15 min drive away from the convention center.
2305 New York Avenue NE
Washington, DC
(202) 266-3000
They gave us a very fair price and worked with us well. I wouldn't go too far out after dark, but there were a couple fast food restaurants within walking distance.

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

I do believe my team is staying in Washinton DC, but I am unsure of were. (this is our first time to the DC regional) If you want, you could talk to my team's mentors and maybe we (your team and my team) could find a good place to stay in DC.

Our team email is goteam2016@comcast.net

Re: Best DC Regional Hotel ???
 

My team went to the DC regional in 09 and 10.

We stayed at a different hotel each year, but both were in the city, within walking distance of the Convention Center.

In 09 we stayed at the Four Points Sheraton, and in 10 we stayed at the Holiday Inn.

I found both to work very well for our team (about 35 people went each year). Typically, the rooms we stayed in had 2 beds, and we had 4 students in each. Each morning our team would meet in the lobby and then walk a few blocks (not sure of the exact distance) to the convention center.

However, since we aren't local to DC (from Connecticut), we took a train to DC the day before the regional, and one of our mentors followed us down by car with our tools and parts, and then just dropped those off at the Convention Center. That way, we didn't have to carry anything back and forth. After the regional was over, the truck came back and picked up our tools and drove back with us.