I like to plan ahead, but this time I don't get to.
November 22, 2010 10:11 AM   Subscribe

I'm making a surprise trip from the Midwest to Washington DC next week. Help me make it more inexpensive, please?

I'm in the process of booking a flight to Washington DC for next week. What is my absolute best bet for finding a discount flight? A friend recommended a cheapish hotel in College Park where I'll probably be staying.

Any other recommendations that could make this trip less financially painful would be appreciated as well.
posted by terrierhead to Travel & Transportation (13 answers total)
 
Take a look at Southwest rates- they don't fly into DC, but they do fly into BWI, which is, IMO, a good airport, and I believe there are mass transit options to get into DC from there.
posted by randomkeystrike at 10:18 AM on November 22, 2010


Can you be more specific about which airports and which days you're flying? Cincinnati and Detroit almost always have flights to either Regan or Dulles on "last minute web fare" type things (American, United, or Delta). It's also often cheaper to fly into Baltimore if you have time to take the train down.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:18 AM on November 22, 2010


Echoing others: Often it is cheaper to fly into Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), but do weigh this against the effort it takes to get back to DC. The cheapest way to do so--without a dedicated friend willing to drive up to get you--is to take the B30 bus from BWI to the Greenbelt metrorail station, and then take the metro into the city. The bus is $6 - more info on the B30
posted by CaptApollo at 10:21 AM on November 22, 2010


Response by poster: I'll have time to get there from Baltimore - am planning to fly in the night before my scheduled event and fly out the day after. CaptApollo, please send me the information on the B30 as the link isn't working. Thank you guys! I'm hunting through airline sites right now.
posted by terrierhead at 10:38 AM on November 22, 2010


also, can you fly thursday - tuesday, as friday/sunday/monday flights tend to run higher...
posted by fozzie33 at 10:39 AM on November 22, 2010


http://www.bwiairport.com/en/travel/ground-transportation

that has links to all options... check WMATA and MTA for bus service... which hotel in college park, i'd check with them to see if they have a deal with supershuttle or another service....
posted by fozzie33 at 10:41 AM on November 22, 2010


http://www.bwiairport.com/en/travel/ground-transportation/trans/wmata

b90 bus is mentioned here
posted by fozzie33 at 10:42 AM on November 22, 2010


Response by poster: I'm planning on flying out Monday 11/29 and returning Wednesday 12/1. I have to cover lodging, too, so that could erase potential savings from flying out on the weekend. I absolutely, positively, have to be in Foggy Bottom at 11:00 AM on the 30th.
posted by terrierhead at 10:42 AM on November 22, 2010


Sorry - don't know how I screwed up that link but it is the same as fozzie33's.
posted by CaptApollo at 10:50 AM on November 22, 2010


Best answer: Get yourself a Smartrip if possible. It's $5 (at any DC-area CVS), but you get discounted fares on the trains and buses; if you'll be traveling from CP to Foggy, it will probably (possibly?) be worth it. You can take the metro from CP to Foggy (green line to transfer at L'Enfant to Orange/Blue; or, if during rush hour, transfer to Red at Chinatown and then O/B at Metro Center). Hopefully, your hotel is metro-accessible.

I don't know too much about College Park, but in Foggy, there's a Trader Joe's at 25th and L - could be worth it to pick up food there rather than, say, Au Bon Pain. Everything in DC is expensive, unfortunately. If you need specific tips about Foggy / eating out for cheap in the city, let me know.
posted by quadrilaterals at 12:21 PM on November 22, 2010


Best answer: The best combination of cheap and easy to get from BWI to DC's Union Station is the MARC commuter train. It costs US$6 one way. Only runs on weekdays, much faster than the B30. You take the free shuttle bus from BWI to the Amtrak/MARC station, catch any southbound MARC train (Amtrak also stops there, they are more expensive) to Union Station, where you can catch the red line Metro or the Connector bus or WMTA buses to where you need to go.

If you stay in College Park, the B30 bus takes you to Greenbelt Metro, which is one stop on the Green line from College Park, though.

There is an HI hostel in DC that is clean and inexpensive. Also on the Metro. They fill up quickly, so make reservations now if it is an option.

Hot dog trucks are very cheap. You are probably better off getting food from a grocery store if you are really lacking in funds (you can cook at the hostel, it has a full kitchen).

Smartrip is a great idea, especially if you'll ever come back to the area (money on them never times out).
posted by QIbHom at 1:12 PM on November 22, 2010


I also recommend the MARC train and Trader Joe's!
posted by jgirl at 1:28 PM on November 22, 2010


Best answer: Not the Connector bus. The Circulator. Buck each way, goes to Foggy Bottom, takes SmarTrip. Much cheaper than Metro or city bus. It is a little tricky to find the Circulator stop at Union Station, as it is up in the parking garage. There are signs.

The Circulator routes are on google maps. I don't think that WMATA routes are yet, but you can get routing info from their website.
posted by QIbHom at 5:33 AM on November 23, 2010


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