A favor from DC residents

[mishon]

Amidst my busiest week of the month, I just received a letter informing me that I was admitted to the DC Bar. Great news, but there is a slight inconvenience: I am required to appear in person to be administered my oath of admission on Monday, October 6 at 10 AM (there is also a November date which I likely cannot make). In the event I am unable to attend my assigned court ceremony, no alternate arrangement can be made until I file an affidavit with the Director of Admissions, explaining why could not make it.

I am a "little" stressed at the moment. I have never been to DC or the surrounding areas. I checked Southwest for fairs and there are only two flights leaving from Tampa on Sunday (I can't leave Monday because the ceremony is at 10 AM). I am departing on Tuesday after 5 PM (I will be taking a Basic DC Bar CLE from 9 to 3:30 that day).

The ceremony will be held at the District of Columbia Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, while the CLE is at International Trade Center and Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Atrium Ballroom.

DC residents, please help me. Where do I fly to? Do I rent a car? Where do I lodge that is conveniently close to both locations? I would appreciate any help I could get either through this thread or through PM.

Thanks in advance,

Michael.

 

[JetBlast]

If you fly into BWI (my place of work) I'd be more than happy to meet you at the airport and get you to your departing flight on Tuesday (I'll actually be in DC all day Sunday for work).

If you don't mind public transit Metro is probably the way to go to avoid rental car costs, the Metro has a bus to BWI that will get you directly on the train. PM me if you would like.

 

[garmentmerchant]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

If you fly into BWI (my place of work) I'd be more than happy to meet you at the airport and get you to the rental cars, public transit, etc.

If you don't mind public transit Metro is probably the way to go to avoid rental car costs, the Metro has a bus to BWI that will get you directly on the train. PM me if you would like.

+1 im pretty sure hotel and airfairs may be a bit cheaper around bwi then around dulles or reagan national

 

[satorstyle]

BWI is a great airport. I prefer it much more then Reagan National. Also when you get situated look up Zip Car it's a great alternative to rent because you only use for the time you need it the locations are right on the street in regular parking spaces. They are convenient to the Metro and when your done you just park them and walk away, they are located in DC and downtown Baltimore though. Hotels are not necessarily cheap in DC may need to know your price range.

 

[maxnharry]

You will need to work the prices to determine what fits you best, but if it were me I would fly to Reagan and either stay in DC or near the airport (Crystal City). You can then metro from there to your court date on Monday, do some sightseeing and then metro to your class and then from your class back to the airport. Driving to DC for the first time, parking and the distance from BWI to DC won't make that my second choice.

 

[samblau]

I just made reservations to stay in Baltimore (North) for a wedding in October and got a 3.5 star hotel on Priceline (Crowne Plaza) for $66 a night if you want to use that a guide. I would imagine DC proper is more $.

 

[sweisman]

http://www.wmata.com/

Above is the D.C. metro website. It will be your easiest bet for getting around where you need to go. Good luck.

 

[navysuede]

Options....Just a note..Reagon Airport is about 25 minutes from your destination on Indiana Ave.
and Dulles is about 40 to 50 minutes away.From downtown Court district to 1300 Penn.
Ave. is only 9 to 10 blocks.Plenty of taxi's and metro and no need for rent a car.BWI would
be atleast an hour with hardly any traffic and if they have any traffic it's going to be a long time.
Best of luck

 

[Joffrey]

Reagan is a ton simpler than using BWI or Dulles. BWI isn't too bad if you don't mind cabbing it to and from DC and I think flights are cheaper there. Reagan is better for proximity to DC and rail access.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Fly into Reagan National if the cost is not prohibitive. I recommend staying at the Courtyard by Marriott at 900 F Street, NW. It is very close to Metro Center and Gallery Place metrorail stations, which gives you access to all five metrorail lines. It is also walking distance to the Moultrie Courthouse and the International Trade Center.

 

[bryce330]

AirTran has a nonstop Tampa-BWI flight at 11:30 Sunday the 5th, returning nonstop at 7:51 PM Tuesday the 7th, for $219 total. Flying into DCA (Reagan) those same dates would cost $350+.

 

[mishon]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It seems like BWI is the best option to fly into on Southwest as I can still get $99 tickets both ways. I looked at the Marriott and other adjacent hotels and the prices are too high because of such short notice. Will keep looking.

 

[mishon]

Originally Posted by bryce330

AirTran has a nonstop Tampa-BWI flight at 11:30 Sunday the 5th, returning nonstop at 7:51 PM Tuesday the 7th, for $219 total. Flying into DCA (Reagan) those same dates would cost $350+.
That's the exact flight I am looking at.

 

[mishon]

Gents, what are some good places to shop on Monday?

 

[JetBlast]

You might want to consider visiting Pentagon City Mall located just outside of DC (in Arlington actually). It has its own Metro stop.