Malvika
Bangalore
I'll be spending 4 days in DC and would be really grateful if you could recommend a location or hotel which is equidistant from the usual tourist spots such as the National Mall / White House, and also from shopping spots in Georgetown, Arlington (Pentagon Fashion Center), Alexandria. I will be relying entirely on public transportation.
Your best that is to stay in Pentagon City as this is on the blue line. The blue line will take you to almost all the tourist sites in DC except Georgetown (Washington DC) which is not accessible by metro. It is also on the yellow line which will take you to Alexandria (Virginia).
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Tysons Corner Center Good metro access. Much less expensive and a very nice area.
Use Airbnb app to find a room, studio or apartment to rent on a budget. Read the overview to see if the room is close to a metro stop. Pick up a map at the metro and explore. Be sure to get a place within the city limits and not in a suburb outside of the city.
Crystal City is a good option. Several hotels sit right above the metro so you don't have to go outside. It's in VA but it's only a few stops away from the major sites in DC. Prices are a little more reasonable than downtown.
Hilton Washington, Hotel Palomar Washington DC or Hotel Monaco Alexandria in Alexandria is the ticket. Right off the Metro and Amtrak. Alexandria (Virginia) is such a great destination for shopping and dining and its easy to get wherever you want to go.
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Try the Key Bridge Marriott. You can walk right across the bridge into Georgetown (Washington DC) and it's not far from Metro, which will take you into DC.
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