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Tips on Accommodations
Using a Local Reservations Service
If you suffer from information overload and would rather someone else do the research and bargaining, you can always turn to one of the following reputable -- and free! -- local reservations services:
Capitol Reservations (tel. 800/VISIT-DC [800/847-4832] or 202/452-1270; www.visitdc.com) will find you a hotel that meets your specific requirements and is within your price range. The 24-year-old service works with about 100 area hotels that have been screened for cleanliness, safe locations, and other desirability factors; you can check rates and book online.
Washington D.C. Accommodations (tel. 800/503-3330 or 202/289-2220; www.dcaccommodations.com) has been in business for 23 years and, in addition to finding lodgings, can advise you about transportation and general tourist information and even work out itineraries.
Bed & Breakfast Accommodations, Ltd. (tel. 877/893-3233 or 413/582-9888; www.bedandbreakfastdc.com), in business since 1978, works with more than 30 homes, inns, guesthouses, and unhosted furnished apartments to find visitors lodging. Bookings accepted with American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.
Staying Green in D.C.
Anyone can take steps to minimize the impact they have on the environment while traveling, regardless of where they stay. But if eco-conscious travel is your goal, and you're looking for lodgings that reflect that, you have a number of options in D.C. Here are just a few:
The Four Seasons, whose pool features a saltwater system, rather than the typical packaged chlorine chemical system, and whose dry cleaning process now uses environmentally safe products.
The Willard InterContinental, which is in the process of switching to a 100% wind-powered electrical system and to an in-house water-conservation system. The hotel has also acquired and is working to revitalize Pershing Park, a green space just across the street from the hotel, in downtown D.C.
Hotel Madera, which provides guests with free parking if they're driving a hybrid car, places recycling bins in all rooms, and stocks bathrooms with eco-friendly Aveda products. The hotel also offers overnight packages that include a selection of organic wines, chocolates, and toiletries.
All Marriott properties, in D.C. and elsewhere, now have fluorescent lighting instead of standard light bulbs.
When All Else Fails
If your luck and time are running out and you still haven't found a place to stay, these ideas are worth a try:
Call one of the free reservations services, including the Bed & Breakfast Accommodations service. Talk to someone "on location," who can work with you to find a place.
Check out the Vacation Rental by Owner website, www.vrbo.com, and enter "Washington" as your city, to read about furnished apartments for rent around the city.
Consider house swapping. Try HomeLink International (Homelink.org), the largest and oldest home-swapping organization, founded in 1953, with more than 13,000 listings worldwide ($90 for a yearly membership). www.homexchangevacation.com and InterVac.com are also reliable.
Call the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation's local number, tel. 202/789-7000, and ask the tourist rep for the names and numbers of any new or about-to-open hotels. If the rep isn't sure, ask her to check with the marketing director. Up-and-coming hotels may have available rooms, for the simple reason that few people know about them.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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