Book by: ASAP
Travel by: Jan 20, 2009
The deal
As many as 2 million people are expected to attend Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2009 — and the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest public parties in history. Washington, D.C.–area hotels are already nearing capacity, so if you're thinking of heading to the capital for the occasion, you'll have to act fast — and consider staying outside of town to nab whatever deals are left. We've found several chic and affordable hotels from $135/night on Inauguration Day, plus a handful of deals to help get you to D.C. in the last days of George W. Bush's presidency, too.
Less than an hour's drive from Washington D.C., the Days Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel is a comfortable and affordable choice for budget-minded travelers heading to the capital for the big day. Stay here and you're just steps from the picturesque waterfront, where you can climb aboard the Civil War ship USS Constellation and also find diverse dining options and excellent shopping. Room rates at Inauguration time start at $135/night.
Just northwest of Washington, D.C., in the trendy suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, the newly-renovated Doubletree Hotel Bethesda is just five short blocks to the subway into D.C. Its reasonably priced accommodations will get you to the Inauguration from $299/night and allow you to unwind after the festivities in a spacious, newly renovated guestroom with on-demand movies and free internet access. Amenities also include an on-site restaurant, wine bar, sushi bar, and state-of-the-art fitness center.
For deluxe accommodations right in D.C., try the chic European-style Georgetown Inn, where 96 stately guestrooms and suites offer spectacular city views. Visit the upscale shops and restaurants along the nearby Georgetown Waterfront, or jump on the metro at Foggy Bottom for a quick ride to the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, and other top D.C. attractions. Rates for rooms from Saturday January 17th to Wednesday January 21st start at $429/night; a four-night minimum stay and full advance payment is required.
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Presidential journey
Just minutes away from the Washington, D.C. capital, Hotel Monaco Alexandria offers four-star accommodation in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, the Colonial seaport that was George Washington’s hometown. Luxurious amenities include a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, in-room spa services along with free airport shuttle service, newspaper delivery and wireless internet. Book one of the hotel’s 241 spacious guestrooms and suites during Inauguration week with rates from $442/night.
If you plan to fly to the capital, book one of the low round-trip fares currently available on U.S. Airways. Starting from just $165 round-trip, you can fly from New York and other U.S. cities and avoid having to drive, bus, or train into the city. A 21-day advance purchase is required and travel is valid through February 11.
More D.C. deals:
Barack Obama's Inauguration may be historic, but D.C. is alot cheaper to visit now. So if you want to beat the crowds, say goodbye to the current White House occupants, and simply experience all the capital has to offer without Inauguration Day price tags, we recommend these affordable capital-city vacations.
Book this luxury Capitol Hill vacation, and you're just steps away from major attractions and monuments like the White House, the Vietnam Memorial and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Starting at $707, this deluxe package includes flight and four nights’ accommodation at the fashionable Hotel George, a luxury boutique hotel with spacious modern guestrooms and amenities that include a 24-hour fitness center, steamrooms, and a classic French bistro onsite.
Looking for a last-minute D.C. getaway? Check out Travelocity's affordable hotel and flight packages. Starting from just $230, you can head to the capital as soon as this weekend with your choice of hotels and round-trip airfare included. For $290, you’ll get flight and accommodation at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Woodley Park, an Art Deco landmark just a few minutes away from D.C.’s main tourist center. For a deluxe stay just one block from Dupont Circle and Embassy Row, try a contemporary weekend getaway at the Hotel Palomar, where package rates start at just $366.
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Taxes and fees are additional; air-and-hotel package rates are based on double occupancy.
The catch
D.C. winters are cold. Bring a coat (with a flag lapel pin)!
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