Priceline Hotel: First timer needing help

[ksmom]

We are thinking of going to Washington DC this summer (June 4th is first day of vacation) & since air fare from the midwest (ICT to DCA is our plan) & is always so high, thought we'd look into priceline for a hotel. We don't need anything fancy, but clean & safe, & easy to access the metro as we will not have a car. We are wanting to go to the monuments, museums & generally all the "tourist" areas. How many days do you think we would need to accomplish DC? We are a party of 4...parents & 2 teenage daughters. Does priceline let you book several days in a row? What area(s) do you think we should go with & where should we start the bidding at?

I realize this is a lot of questions, but any help will be appreicated!

[Keoni]

Kansas Mom,

Using the airfare checker tool provided above it shows airfare

prices across three major discounters, Orbitz, Travelocity, and

Expedia. All three returned roundtrip fares between Wichita

and Reagan National at less than $250 for all the biggies (Delta,

United, American, etc...) To me, this seems to be a really good

price, so the first place to start is booking your airfare using that

checker tool at the top of this site. Check the flight times and carriers

between the discounters to pick flight departure times that agree with you.

Also, check the discounters policies on cancelling or changing

your tickets so you know what it will cost you if your plans change.

How many days do you think we would need to accomplish DC?

A good target number of days is 7 - 10 and you will fill every

day with something. So step 1 is decide how many days and book the

airfare. Once you are firm on your travel dates, someone familiar with

DC will come on-line with bidding strategies for a hotel. You should decide

on the "type" of hotel and amentities that are most important to you

such as do you want a microwave/small fridge or kitchenette and would

you rather have that than say a swimming pool. Is luxury more important

than cost, etc... We already know you want clean, safe, and near metro

so color in a few more details and the dates and a bidding strategy will be

recommended.

To help you plan your visit, start with this site Official DC Website Depending

upon how much

you plan to travel you can get an unlimited day pass on the Metro for $6.50.

Make sure you lemail your US Representative or US Senator the dates

you are coming to DC and most of them welcome visits to their Office

Building. There are also other benefits such as Congressional reserved

tours of the White House but these must be arranged quite a bit in advance

and are based upon availabilty. Click here to find your Senator... US SENATE

and other info on visiting the capitol.

Many attractions in DC are on a timed basis,

Washington Monument, Holocost Museum, White House, Bureau of Printing

and Engraving (what I mean is you show up early in the morning, they give

you a ticket for a certain time of day, and you return for the tour at that time so

for those attractions plan for only one of them per day and then fill

in the other part of the day with one of the many Smithsonians around the mall.

Arlington National Cemetary and the Women in Service Memorial is on the metro line

and is one day. Other attractions to consider are the National Archives, Library of

Congress, Supreme Court, Union Station and National Postal Museum

next door to Union Station. At the postal museum your teens will be able

to create some special postal items and mail them home to their friends so

make sure they bring some addresses with them. Of course monuments

Lincoln, Washington, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, the

Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin (Cherry Trees will have long since

bloomed during your visit but walk around them anyway) Roosevelt

memorial is also beside the Jefferson and you can rent some paddle

boats and tour the Basin. Walking the mall from end to end can easily be

two or three days for photo ops, etc...

And finally, if you plan to eat in restaurants and might consider taking

a tourmobile ride around DC (recommend this on Day 1 or 2 to get the

lay of the land), you can find great dining deals and two for one coupons

in the Northern Virginia/DC Entertainment Book found here...Entertainment Book

Consider buying two books and pay particular attention to Section

C where you find the activities section.

Good luck on your visit.

Regards, Keoni :)

[ksmom]

Thanks so much for the reply. I'm trying to narrow down everyone with their schedules, but this gives me something to start with.

[Keoni]

Ok,

Once you lock in your dates post back to the board with your desires

for lodging amentities and a bidding strategy will be recommended.

Also, as soon as you determine dates for your flights, email to your Senator for those reserved White House tickets. I think it takes 90 days in advance but you can check that out. Also, if they set you up with a tour of the capitol, you can pay a fee and have a flag flown over the building the day of your visit with an appropriate certificate to commemerate the event. Pretty special if I do say so... Regards, Keoni :)