<p>Be careful, Coreur, before jumping to conclusions. The hotel for this trip is a freebie, thanks to my Marriott Rewards VISA and oodles of Marriott points! I’ve been charging D’s college tuition, room and board on this card, and it’s time to reap the benefits.</p>
<p>Also, did you know that if you charge more than $25000 on your Marriott VISA, you receive coupons for reduced rates?</p>
<p>There are also some great deals on DC hotels available. I am staying there for 2 weeks in various hotels–have one room for $109, one for $119, one for $129 and one for $209. It will be a hassle to switch from hotel to hotel but with the Metro it should be manageable. The rates were pretty amazing and in my mind worth the hassle factor, especially since our last 3 nights will be at the 4.5 star Willard hotel for $209 + taxes and fees. All except the 1st night, we will be in each hotel for several nights.</p>
<p>Oh yea, when we wanted cheap food in DC, we went to the food court at Union Station. It was about the most inexpensive way for us to feed our kids & ourselves–we were a party of 8–4 adults & 4 kids. They had everything from McDonalds to Sbarros-type to sushi and many other options to choose among, all within a 10-15 minute walk from our hotel, the Phoenix Park.</p>
<p>I’ll second the recommendation for Ethiopian restaurants in DC. We lived in suburban MD (just outside of DC) for three years and I loved going to the ethnic restaurants in the area. Other than the Ethiopian restaurants–we liked two Peruvian restaurants. One was El Chalan, which is in DC. The other was Mi Peru, which is in an MD suburb–Gaithersburg. Both were inexpensive and had great ceviche. There are also quite a few Vietnamese restaurants in that area. One of the best, IMO, is Taste of Saigon. It isn’t cheap, but it’s not hugely expensive. The food is a nice combination of Vietnamese with a French influence. I still remember the muscles. Taste of Saigon is in Rockville, MD and there is another one in VA (I think in or near the Tyson’s Corner mall).</p>
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<p>Yikes! I meant mussels. Man, I think I’m getting senile.</p>
<p>If you’re in or around Old Town in Alexandria you would do fine at any of these on King St.</p>
<p>Hard Times Cafe
Bertucci’s (pretty good pizza)
Fish Market (not as cheap as the other two but mighty tasty food nonetheless)</p>
<p>^^^ Those are some of my fav Old Town eats. Wasn’t too crazy about Ernie’s Crab House which we tried recently. It’s restaurant week this week in both DC and Annapolis, MD.</p>
<p>I think the food at Ben’s Chili Bowl is overrated. It’s history may be more significant.
Try Lauriol Plaza in Dupont Circle. Bill Clinton had been known to dine there. Go early, lines are long everyday.</p>
<p>[Lauriol</a> Plaza Restaurant – the Best Mexican Food in Washington DC!](<a href=“http://www.lauriolplaza.com/]Lauriol”>http://www.lauriolplaza.com/)</p>
<p>Sorry, but the only people who think Lauriol Plaza is the Best Mexican Food in DC work for Lauriol Plaza.</p>
<p>Try this website for good cheap eats recommendations in the area:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.gmu.edu/jbc/Tyler/tyler_cowen.htm[/url]”>http://www.gmu.edu/jbc/Tyler/tyler_cowen.htm</a></p>