<p>We may take a quick long weekend trip to DC before son heads back to school, and are not planning to rent a car. We would like to finally get out to the Dulles Air and Space, and since our hotel is near the Mall, it would require a car to get out there. Since there are zipcars in DC, we were wondering if maybe that would be an option for a day trip to Dulles, as we would be able to use the Metro to get from the airport to the hotel, and would be walking distance from other attractions we’re interested in, like the Museum of American History, which was closed on our last visit. It would be an inexpensive trip for us, as we’ve got unused travel funds that are due to expire, and we’re getting the hotel on Marriott points. The Smithsonian is free, so we’re only looking at meals and metro fare. Renting a car for four days would be pricey, especially since it will sit in the garage at 30 bucks a day for most of the visit, so we were wondering if doing the zipcar would be an option. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>Zipcars require a membership. Here are the costs: [Rates</a> & Plans, car sharing instead of car rental and owning a car – Zipcar](<a href=“http://www.zipcar.com/dc/check-rates]Rates”>http://www.zipcar.com/dc/check-rates)
What about getting a daily rental through the Marriott concierge</p>
<p>Zip cars are wonderful. I used them for awhile here in DC before I bought a car.</p>
<p>We’re staying at a Residence Inn, not a fancy Marriott. I don’t know if they have a concierge. But that’s a great idea. I’ll give them a call.</p>
<p>If the hotel cannot arrange it, I think Enterprise used to advertise that they come to you.</p>
<p>There are Zipcars all over DC. </p>
<p>But if you don’t use Zipcar regularly, the cost of membership may not be worth it. There are places in DC itself (not just the airport) where you can rent a car from Enterprise or another company. The only limitation is that the hours when these offices are open are more limited than those at the airport, and you would have to pick up and return the car during those times. But still, why rent a car for four days if you only need it for one?</p>
<p>Exactly. We didn’t rent a car when we visited DC before because we would only need it for Dulles. But, we never did get to Dulles. I just want to know what my options are if we do have a chance to go to Dulles. It’s possible we’ll have enough to do for the stay and forego Dulles yet again, but I would like to know my options for a car in case there is a possibility to make it out there. There will be three of us, so I don’t know if a shuttle service would be cost prohibitive or not.</p>
<p>Assuming that you’re staying at the Residence Inn near the Capitol (on E Street SW), you would be within walking distance of an Enterprise Rent-a-Car on D Street SW.</p>
<p>You can check it out on the Enterprise web site.</p>
<p>If that one doesn’t have any cars on the day you want one, you could try the Enterprise office in Woodley Park – a nice neighborhood that you can easily get to on the Metro. There’s also one in Georgetown, but it’s a pain in the backside to get to Georgetown because the Metro doesn’t go there.</p>
<p>We rented a Hertz car when in DC, Thursday through Monday & it was under $50 for the entire stay (tolls & the EZpass were an extra $12.50)! We stayed near Dulles & our Residence Inn offered free parking. Have never done zipcar yet, but have heard some rave about it. You do have to figure out how & if that would work for you–it includes insurance & gas but there is a limit on mileage & you have to take it back to where you rented it from.</p>
<p>Thanks, Marian! That is the one we’re staying at. I’ll give them a call and see what their procedures are. I’ll look for Hertz, too, as I finally joined the Hertz Gold Club, since I use them a lot when taking care of my mom. I don’t know why I kept thinking I’d have to go to the airport to get a rental car. Thanks for knocking some sense into this dense head!</p>
<p>Many rental car companies will now come to your hotel if it is arranged at the time you make your rental, so it is indeed a good thing to check out. We have sometimes returned rental cars to hotels but so far have not yet been picked up by one. Mostly, we rent & return at our airport, but I know others who get picked up & dropped off by rental companies. Have been pleasantly surprised by reasonable rental rates recently.</p>