I'm going to Washington DC on a budget and need help!?

Question

I'm going with a group of college students and we're on a tight budget. We're there for 4 days the first week of August and want to do as much as possible without having to sell a kidney. We'd like info on what sights to see what what to skip. Also, suggestions on what's good to eat there and not a lot of money. I'll love you forever if you can help!!

Answer 1

Here's a suggestion on eating cheap in DC (if it is a small group, like say a few people): go to restaurant.com, and buy meal certificates in advance (if you sign up for their emails, they send out discount codes all the time, for 50-60% off, or google 'restaurant.com discount codes' to find the most current). I live in the area and use them allll the time, dine at great restaurants, and save soo much money it's ridiculous. (basically, how it works is you buy a $25 certificate for, say, $4, and you get $25 off your meal check...how much depends on the restaurant, if you go to the site you can see all the restaurants available). Another thing I like about DC (in terms of cheap eats!) is that there is an abundance of Ethiopian restaurants, which are often really affordable, and delicious. There are several on 18th St. in Adams Morgan. You can split a huge platter between multiple people, and it is really yummy and cheap. Those would be my best food suggestions.

For sighsteeing, you are in luck because you could definitely spend 4 days seeing stuff that is absolutely free! The museums are free...the monuments are free...that's a ton of stuff right there. One thing I love to do in the summer is to go take a walk through the Smithsonian Gardens...and it would also be cool to go see the monuments at night when they are all lit up and take a walk around the tidal basin. My favorite is the FDR memorial - it is very nicely done, and I love all the waterfalls...very peaceful.
If you are going to be here on a Sunday, go to Eastern Market (there's a metro stop named after it, easy to find) - it is a big street market, there's tons of cool handcrafted stuff there, along with music, food vendors, etc...you can often find great bargains if you like to shop. (or even if you don't, it's just as fun to look!).

There are also lots of galleries around Dupont Circle, so if you like art, that would be something to do...there's a relatively new one called Meat Market that is supposed to be interesting. You said you'd be here the first week of August...so if you are here on the first friday, you are in luck! all the galleries in Dupont have openings and it's really fun, just walk around to all the galleries and look around...and free wine and snacks! can't beat it.

Have an awesome trip!! You can definitely have fun on a dime in this city if you plan it right!

Answer 2

Did you know that washington DC has hostels? Including one run by Hosteling international! This is a huge way to save money - you can stay in the hostel for $24 a night instead of spending a lot of money on hotels.

If you really want a hotel rather than a hostel you could stay at the Hotel Harrington. It is walking distance to all the great stuff - so you don't even have to pay to use metro if you're willing to walk! You can get a room for 4 or 5, and they accomodate groups! This will run more than the hostel, but if you get 4 or 6 in a room, not much more! (You don't say how many you are)

There are lots of places to find cheap food. Someone suggested going to a grocery - good idea! There is a Safeway at Waterside Mall (on the Green Line) and one in adams morgan. I'm more familiar with groceries in Virginia alas, but the hostel can help. If an oriental grocery would be cool there are several in Chinatown.

For buying your meal, there are a number of food courts with a great variety, in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center (across Constitution Ave from the American History Museum -at Federal Triange metro,) and in Union Station (near the Capitol at Union Station metro). You can find a cheap meal there. Also check out the ethnic restaurants (and clubs!) in Adams Morgan (Columbia and 18th street. Take Metro to Woodley Park Zoo - go over the bridge just down the street, and continue till the road becomes Columbia and you intersect 18th. Then walk down 18th street until you find something great!) Or go to chinatown. Eat First is a great inexpensive chinese place in that neighborhood and there are many other inexpensive places to eat! Also the Washingtonian Magazine has a Cheap Eats guide every year, I am putting that link in. And last but not least go to U Street (clubs here, too) and eat at a dirt cheap washington institution, Ben's Chili Bowl.

Attractions, as someone pointed out, are largely free - the government buildings, the Smithsonian, the Zoo, the Arboretum, the Botanic Gardens, Library of Congress, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Many memorials, the Holocaust Museum. You can easily spend four days sighsteeing without paying to get into anything. Go to the Kennedy Center at 6 PM for a free concert every day! Tour it while you are there.

Last but not least, don't pay for expensive tours. Check out our podcast and take our tours. You put them on your iPod or other mp3 player and away you go!!!!!

Answer 3

I live in the DC area and go to Georgetown, one thing that is great is that the transportation system here is great you can get to just about anywhere in the DC metro area via the "Metro" subway and bus system and I would not suggest car rental as parking anywhere in the DC area comes at a premium.

Another thing is that most museums and the "mall" which is where all the landmarks are, is absolutely free including the Smithsonian Museum and easily accessible by the Metro. In the "mall" area there is a cool little battery powered car that has a GPS navigation and self directed tour which is pretty cool..not sure how much that costs but you can get four in the car.

For other attractions check out this link http://dcpages.com/Top_Sites/

To save money on the eats I would try to get a room that has a small kitchen if possible. One thing I do is go to the Harris Teeter grocery store, there all over. on the weekends; on Fridays they have a bucket of chicken for $3.99 eight pieces and on Sundays they have a whole baked chicken for $3.99, can't go wrong there and it is cooked! You will need to sign up for the grocery card, takes two minutes, and you can find the bargins.

Answer 4

DC is great fun, but in August, very hot so dress lightly.
You are in luck because many of the museums here are free admission, as are the monuments. And most are close together. I am sure that if you got started early enough that you'd be able to see and do several things in one day!
If you get tired of walking or want to see something on the other side of town, we have a underground metro system here and tickets are very cheap and you can take those all over town and even into parts of Virginia and Maryland.
Also, not sure how many are in your party, but many places give group rates and/or discounts with a head up so call around and/or cheap them out online.
Visit: www.washington.org or for night life: www.dcnights.com (I actually think I am in some of the pics on dcnights.com...hehe)
Have a great trip.

Answer 5

First of all congratulations on you're trip to D.C. Sight seeing there is super because literally everything is within walking distance. The majority of everything is free like museums gardens etc. So really the most expensive is food and another place to go is Georgetown district that you're gonna need a cab. Oh yea if your walking along the what is called the MALL but its the center of everything and someone with a van asks you to show you everything do it its not a scam, they know so much. Don't miss the changing of the guards at the cemetery. Good Luck

Answer 6

Smithsonian Museums. They're all free and great fun. That can take up 3 days. Walk the Mall from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. Eat a big breakfast before you start. Food is expensive around this area.

Answer 7

Get to know the subway and bus system. It is your best friend for getting around.

All them museums are free so no problem there.

Definetly see all the monuments at night when they are lit up, that is something you dont want to miss.

Look for the out of the way places to eat. The cafeteria at the union station (big train station about two blocks from the capitol) is great and cheap.

Washington DC is actually a very cheap city to visit as long as you avoid taxis and fancy sit-down restaraunts.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I always go with the sights, before I eat. You can eat anytime, while your at home, but while your away, take advantage of what you can't get while your at home. Good Luck, and have fun.

Answer 10

metro is the way to move
most national exhibits have a fee
call you congressman now.
see what they can do for you to waive the fees on visits to the national treasures.