GETTING TO DC ... BY AIR
Three airports serve the DC/Baltimore area:
- Baltimore-Washington International Airport (code BWI) (http://www.bwiairport.com/) is by far the most convenient for Close Quarters, as it is only about 12 miles from the hotel. From BWI you can reach the hotel the following ways:
- Shuttle: The blue SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) is the easiest way to get to the hotel. It offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between the BWI and the hotel costs $27 for the first passenger and $11 for each additional passenger in the same party and could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
Reservations aren't required to get from the airport to the hotel, though you can make them if you want. Go to the lower level to claim your luggage and follow signs to the SuperShuttle desk located between bag claims 6 and 7. The ticket counter is open between 6:00 AM and 2:00 AM. During other times call 1-888-826-2700 to arrange service.
To get from the hotel to the airport, you must make a reservation, preferably at least 24 hours in advance, either on the SuperShuttle website or by calling 1-800-BLUE VAN (1-800-258-3826) or (202)296-6662.
- Bus: The BWI Express/B30 bus (
http://www.wmata.com/timetables/view.cfm?line=165) runs between BWI and the Greenbelt station of the DC Metro system every 40 minutes. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes and the fare is $3.00 each way.
To get to the bus, claim your luggage and go to the lower level of the International Pier. Follow the signs that say "Public Transit." The B30 will pick you up outside at the bus shelter.
The hotel shuttle can pick you up from the Greenbelt Metro station. If you would like to have the hotel shuttle pick you up, please call the hotel in advance to let them know. Then they can reserve the use of the shuttle for you. If you wait until you get to the Metro station to call the hotel, it is possible that the shuttle might be booked for other uses and unable to pick you up.
- Cab: A cab from the airport will cost about ___?? and take about 20-30 minutes, possibly longer during rush hour.
- Rental car: You can rent a car and drive. This should take about the same amount of time as a cab. See the driving section for directions, parking information, etc.
You can get more information about ground transportation options from BWI at http://www.bwiairport.com/ground_transportation/.
- Shuttle: The blue SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) is the easiest way to get to the hotel. It offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between the BWI and the hotel costs $27 for the first passenger and $11 for each additional passenger in the same party and could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (code DCA, often referred to simply as "National") (http://www.metwashairports.com/national/) is about 30 miles from the hotel.
From the airport you can reach the hotel in the following ways:- Shuttle: The SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between the airport and the hotel costs $46 for the first passenger and $9 for each additional passenger in the same party and could take anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
Reservations are not required to get from the airport to the hotel, though you can make them if you want. Claim your luggage, then go to the outside curb of the airport and look for the SuperShuttle representative. After hours, call 1-800-258-3826 and press 1 for dispatch or 2 for reservations, which will transfer you to dispatch.
For service from the hotel to the airport, you must make a reservation, preferably at least 24 hours in advance, on the SuperShuttle website or by calling 1-800-BLUE VAN (1-800-258-3826) or (202)296-6662.
- Metro: There is a DC Metro system station at the airport, easily accessible from the main terminal. The Yellow and Blue lines stop at this station. To get to the hotel, you will have to change from the Yellow to the Green line. The fare during normal hours is $3.85, and the trip should take about 50 minutes.
Take a Yellow line train toward Mount Vernon Square/Convention Center. At the L'Enfant Plaza Station (approximately 4 stops), get off and change to the Green line toward Greenbelt. Get off at the Greenbelt station (the last station on the line; approximately 12 stops).
The hotel shuttle can pick you up from the Greenbelt Metro station. If you would like to have the hotel shuttle pick you up, please call the hotel in advance to let them know. Then they can reserve the use of the shuttle for you. If you wait until you get to the Metro station to call the hotel, it is possible that the shuttle might be booked for other uses and unable to pick you up.
- Cab: A cab from the airport will cost about __ and take from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic and time of day.
- Rental car: You can rent a car and drive. This should take about the same amount of time as a cab. See the driving section for directions, parking information, etc.
You can get more information about ground transportation options from National Airport at http://www.metwashairports.com/national/ground.htm.
- Shuttle: The SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between the airport and the hotel costs $46 for the first passenger and $9 for each additional passenger in the same party and could take anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
- Dulles International Airport (code IAD) (http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/) is approximately 50 miles from the hotel. From Dulles you can reach the hotel in the following ways:
- Shuttle: The SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between Dulles and the hotel costs $70 for the first passenger and $9 for each additional passenger in the same party could take anywhere from 50 minutes to two hours, depending on time of day (traffic is quite bad for this trip during evening rush hour) and whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
Reservations aren't necessary to get from the airport to the hotel, though you can make them if you want. Claim your luggage and go down the ramps located near either of the escalators, towards Ground Transportation/Shared Ride Vans. SuperShuttle ticket counters are located on the lower level, just before exiting the building. Go to the outside curb of the airport and contact the SuperShuttle representative. After hours, call 1-800-258-3826 and press 1 for dispatch or 2 for reservations, which will transfer you to dispatch.
For service from the hotel to the airport, you must make a reservation, preferably at least 24 hours in advance, on the SuperShuttle website or by calling 1-800-BLUE VAN (1-800-258-3826) or (202)296-6662.
- Bus and Metro:
The Washington Flyer Coach Service (http://www.washfly.com) runs between Dulles Airport and the West Falls Church station of the DC Metro system every half hour. Travel time is 20 minutes, and the fare is $8 each way. Tickets to get from the airport to the Metro can be purchased at the airport; tickets to get from the Metro to the airport can be purchased on the coach.
The West Falls Church Metro station is on the Orange line. To get to the hotel, you will have to change to the Green line. Take the Orange Line toward New Carrollton. At the L'Enfant Plaza station (approximately 13 stops), get off and switch to the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Get off at the Greenbelt station (approximately 12 stops). The fare during normal hours is $3.90, and the trip should take about an hour.
The hotel shuttle can pick you up from the Greenbelt Metro station. If you would like to have the hotel shuttle pick you up, please call the hotel in advance to let them know. Then they can reserve the use of the shuttle for you. If you wait until you get to the Metro station to call the hotel, it is possible that the shuttle might be booked for other uses and unable to pick you up.
- Cab: Washington Flyer Taxicabs (which take all major credit cards) operate out of Dulles. A cab from the airport will cost about __ and take about 45 minutes, probably up to twice that during evening rush hour.
- Rental car: You can rent a car and drive. This should take about the same amount of time as a cab. See the driving section for directions, parking information, etc.
You can get more information about ground transportation options from Dulles at http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/ground.htm.
- Shuttle: The SuperShuttle (http://www.supershuttle.com) offers door-to-door service to and from the airport. Shuttles operate on a shared ride-on-demand basis. Service between Dulles and the hotel costs $70 for the first passenger and $9 for each additional passenger in the same party could take anywhere from 50 minutes to two hours, depending on time of day (traffic is quite bad for this trip during evening rush hour) and whether there are other passengers in the van being dropped off first.
BY TRAIN
Amtrak trains (http://www.amtrak.com) on the Northeast Corridor line (from New York and Boston) run regularly from all locations, particularly the northeast corridor (Washington to Boston), to and from Union Station, the primary train station for Washington DC. Union Station has its own DC Metro station on the Red line.
To get to the hotel, you will have to change to the Green line. Take the Red Line toward Shady Grove. At the Gallery Place-Chinatown station (2 stops), get off and switch to the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Get off at the Greenbelt station (approximately 12 stops). The fare during normal hours is $2.90, and the trip should take about 25 minutes.
The hotel shuttle can pick you up from the Greenbelt Metro station. If you would like to have the hotel shuttle pick you up, please call the hotel in advance to let them know. Then they can reserve the use of the shuttle for you. If you wait until you get to the Metro station to call the hotel, it is possible that the shuttle might be booked for other uses and unable to pick you up.
BY BUS
Greyhound buses (http://www.greyhound.com/) arrive in DC approximately three blocks from Union Station; some buses stop at Union Station. For those that don't, you must take a westbound D4 bus (http://www.wmata.com/timetables/view.cfm?line=80) from the bus terminal to Union Station, which runs approximately every 25 minutes.
Union Station has its own DC Metro station on the Red line. To get to the hotel, you will have to change to the Green line. Take the Red Line toward Shady Grove. At the Gallery Place-Chinatown station (2 stops), get off and switch to the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Get off at the Greenbelt station (approximately 12 stops). The fare during normal hours is $2.90, and the trip should take about 25 minutes.
The hotel shuttle can pick you up from the Greenbelt Metro station. If you would like to have the hotel shuttle pick you up, please call the hotel in advance to let them know. Then they can reserve the use of the shuttle for you. If you wait until you get to the Metro station to call the hotel, it is possible that the shuttle might be booked for other uses and unable to pick you up.
BY CAR
The hotel is located between Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, in Laurel, MD. The Washington DC Beltway (495) encircles DC and hooks into I-95 to the northeast and southwest; the Baltimore Beltway (695) does the same for Baltimore). Keep in mind that the traffic in these areas, especially during rush hour, can be horrendous. If at all possible, avoid morning and evening rush-hours, particularly if you are going to be driving on either Beltway.
To get to the hotel from I-95 south (i.e., coming from the north), take Exit 33 - MD 198 East, and turn right at the first traffic light onto Van Dusen Road. Go about half a mile, then turn left on Cherry Lane. Go a little less than a mile and turn right onto Laurel Place (if you hit Baltimore Ave. you've gone just a bit too far).
To get to the hotel from the Washington DC Beltway (495), part of which is also I-95 north (i.e., from the south), take Exit 25 - U.S. 1 off the Beltway to Baltimore Ave/Laurel/College Park and go toward Laurel; i.e., take Baltimore Ave. north (right). Go about 6 miles on Baltimore Ave. Turn left at Mulberry Street, then make an immediate right onto Laurel Place.
If you are coming from the airports:
- BWI (airport code: BWI): Directions and map
- National (airport code: DCA): Directions and map
- Dulles (airport code: IAD): Directions and map
You can also find driving directions to and from the airports on the airport websites (Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI).
You can find directions to and from the hotel on the relevant section of the hotel website (http://www.comfortsuiteslaurellakes.com/directions.html).
Other sources for directions include: Google maps (http://maps.google.com/), Yahoo maps (http://www.maps.yahoo.com), and Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com). (Google and Yahoo are better for airport directions, because they let you use the airport codes as starting and ending points).
BY METRO
The Metro is the DC subway system. It's relatively new and exceptionally clean - there are no vendors in the stations, and no eating or drinking is permitted on the trains. It is generally quite accessible, with (relatively) good elevator service. (See the official Metro website (http://www.wmata.com/) for more information). It is useful for getting around the DC, but unfortunately, the only one of the Washington area's three airports with direct Metro access is Reagan National Airport. There is also a Metro stop at Union Station, the city's main train station.
The Metro system uses fare cards, which you can purchase at the fare card vending machines in the stations. The machines marked "Farecards" take only cash and dispense only farecards; the machines marked "Passes/Farecards" take credit cards and cash and dispense passes (like one-day passes and weekly passes) as well. You need your fare card in order to exit the station at the end of your trip, so hold onto it.
The Metro has five "lines," designated by color. The official Metro website has an interactive map of the Metro system (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm), which you can use to figure out fares and times of travel.
The Comfort Suites Laurel Lakes is about 4 miles (10 minutes or so, depending on traffic) from the Greenbelt station, which is the last stop on the Green line. The hotel has a free shuttle that will take you to, or pick you up from, the Greenbelt station. However, there is only a single shuttle, and its availability for this purpose depends on whether it is already being used for something else. If you want to be certain of being picked up at the Metro station, please be sure to call the hotel at least a few days, preferably a week, in advance to let them know, so they can make sure the shuttle is available for you.
Alternatively, you can call a cab to take you from the Metro station to the hotel. (The number for one local taxi service that is frequently used by the hotel is (301) 776-2300.) This is a short trip and should not cost more than $10, but check with the taxi company to make sure.