<p>So, daughter is graduating from GW this weekend. I had made a hotel reservation close by a year ago, but then my sister who lives in the area invited us to stay with her. Now she has decided to leave town (something I said made her mad) and we have nowhere to stay. We will be driving down from SW PA; I am thinking of staying in the Gaithersburg or Silver Spring areas and taking the Metro, any advice on which may be a better trip into the city? I would consider driving in if I could figure out where to park, as husband has an injured ankle and walking is not easy. I’ll take any suggestions - I ned to get a plan today! Thanks.</p>
<p>There are hotels on 24th st. near GW. I have stayed at the Park Hyatt. They have valet parking. I have stayed more recently at Kimpton near Dupont Circle, not as close to GW but still close, also valet parking. There are a few other hotels right near the Park Hyatt as well. Google the Park Hyatt and you will see a few on the map. </p>
<p>Also if price is an issue try priceline for a lower priced alternative (and the other computer sites like expedia etc.)</p>
<p>Good luck and enjoy the graduation.</p>
<p>Thanks. I will look them up. So far I found a decent rate at the Key Bridge Marriott, and think we may use cabs some to save his ankle. This is not what I needed to be doing this morning! My crazy family strikes again.</p>
<p>You should be able to find a room in Gaithersburg or Rockville at a reasonable price and take the Metro from Shady Grove. You will have to drive to the Metro. Even without an injured ankle, the Shady Grove station is too far from civilization to walk.</p>
<p>It looks like there is a lot of parking at Shady Grove, do you know if it fills up on weekday mornings though? Any thoughts on realistic travel time into DC from there at 9:30 AM on a Friday?</p>
<p>There is a Marriott at the Whit Fint Metro, a Hilton at the Twinbrook Metro, and several hotels at or near the Bethesda Metro, all on the Red Line with no need to find parking. The closest hotel to the Shady Grove station is a Comfort Inn, but it isn’t easy walking distance. You would need to drive and park.</p>
<p>I’d allow an hour and a half for Shady Grove to GW, and then I’d stop at Starbucks for a coffee if I got there too early.</p>
<p>Your sister could still leave town, but why can’t you stay at her house. Tell her you’ll clean up before you leave.</p>
<p>We love the Residence Inn in Bethesda. On weekends, you can park FREE in the municipal garage around the corner.</p>
<p>The Red Line is screwed up today, which leads to revised advice: stay as close to GW as you can afford. You do not want to suddenly find out that you have to drive into GW from Gaithersburg on graduation morning.</p>
<p>I agree with happymomof1 - about an hour and 1/2 to GW from Shady Grove. The parking lot there does often fill up by 9-9:30, although there might be more open spaces on a Friday. If you stay at a hotel out that way, they might offer a shuttle to the metro station.</p>
<p>I’d go with the Key Bridge Marriott. It’s a nice hotel, and the view is gorgeous if you’re on the river side. You’ll be dependent on cabs (with your husband’s ankle, the walk to Rosslyn won’t be doable), but they shouldn’t be all that much more than Metro fare from Shady Grove for the two of you.</p>
<p>I remembered a couple of other places that I have stayed at in the area. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City. They have some type of either valet or self park, and it is near the metro. Even driving into the city is not too far. I also stayed at the Georgetown suites, which was recommended by a cc parent a few years back. Both the Crystal City Hyatt and Georgetown suites had breakfast included at the time. Also if you have AAA, look to see if any of the hotels you are looking at have a discount. I usually reserve on line and look for the AAA rate.</p>
<p>mamabear, we’re staying at the Key Bridge Marriott, but I agree with quotia that with your DH’s bad ankle, you’ll want to take a cab from there. The Metro is walkable, but involves stairs to a pedestrian walkway which wouldn’t work for your DH. Fortunately, it’s not far from GW. If I were you. I’d prefer being closer to the festivities.</p>
<p>Sorry you’re having to deal with this added stress.</p>
<p>I recently stayed at the Springhill Suites in Gaithersburg - nice place. The Shady Grove Metro station was less than 10 minutes away by car (the hotel does not offer a shuttle - other area hotels may). There are at least two lots. The first one was full when I arrived before 9 AM, though many spaces were reserved for people parking after 9:30 AM. I drove around for a while before realizing there was another lot. There’s also a large garage. You mention 9:30 AM - is that when you want to be in DC, or when you’d want to leave Shady Grove? 9:30 is when reduced fares kick in, so there was a crowd of people waiting at Shady Grove at that hour. </p>
<p>The nice thing about Shady Grove is that, as the first stop, you can be sure of getting a seat. Is your husband in a cast or using a cane? People in the DC area are good about offering their seats to people in need.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Frazzled is how I feel right now. I think we will stay closer and use cabs more, being there all weekend it would be nice to be able to go back to the hotel easily mid-day. Husband is seeing doctor today, he may end up wearing a boot.</p>
<p>(Sister decided to leave town because something I said to her yesterday offended her. We had included her in all the graduation plans, receptions, dinner, etc, except one lunch on Saturday, so it was obvious to her we really didn’t want to include her at all. I was one of the last siblings she got along with. Sigh.)</p>
<p>The other reason to stay closer & not rely totally on public transportation is that trains and buses run much less frequently on the weekend. DS, the graduate, could take a bus from where he lives off-campus to Sun’s ceremony, but, with buses running only every half-hour, he may end up taking a cab himself.</p>
<p>@mammabear…must be something about siblings living the DC area, which is why we now stay at the Residence Inn when we head to DC to visit family!</p>
<p>Embassy Suites
4300 Military Road Northwest
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 362-9300
Friendship Heights metro stop redline</p>
<p>This is in NW DC (literrally borders Montgomery County MD) and very safe. The redline metro stop is located underneath the hotel. You can get from the metro to the hotel without going outside. I would suggest that you stay in DC also. A taxi would be a short ride from Friendship Heights. The metro has been undergoing construction and it’s unreliable. The trains will be overcrowded and the schedule is irregular. You could take a taxi to GWU and the metro back to the hotel. </p>
<p>The hotel also has an incredible breakfast buffet that could cut out $15 to $20 per person. It’ not the cereal and muffin breakfast buffet. The shopping and restaurants in the area is also top notch. (Bloomingdales, Nordstrom Rack, Cheesecake Factory, The price may be higher but it’s convenient and safe. You may be able to find a discount since it’s usually used by business travelers. </p>
<p>The suites are nice and clean. I found a special rate on the internet.</p>
<p>[Chevy</a> Chase MD & Washington DC Metro Hotels | Embassy Suites Hotel at the Chevy Chase Pavilion](<a href=“http://www.embassysuitesdcmetro.com/]Chevy”>http://www.embassysuitesdcmetro.com/)</p>
<p>[Chevy</a> Chase Shopping | Embassy Suites Hotel at Chevy Chase - Shopping | Gallery Place Hotels](<a href=“http://www.embassysuitesdcmetro.com/washington-dc-shopping.php]Chevy”>http://www.embassysuitesdcmetro.com/washington-dc-shopping.php)</p>
<p>Good Luck and Congratulations!</p>
<p>Weekend travel has been very iffy for Metro for about the last two years. Don’t have a specific hotel in mind but you might want to stay as close to GWU as possible. I believe the Mall will not be used for the graduation this year due to construction - think I saw this published in the GWU Hatchet.</p>
<p>MB–I’m in DC Friday for my D’s graduation from Georgetown (MBA) and we’re staying at the Sofitel Hotel. It’s closer to GW than Georgtown. </p>
<p>Address is: 806 15th Street. (15th and H). Made my reservations just three weeks ago–so there might be availability. I’ve stayed there before when visiting my D and it’s a nice hotel.</p>
<p>^^ Per the Hatchet this week: The graduation is on the Mall, but near the Washington Monument rather than the usual spot near the Capitol.</p>