The Washington Plaza Hotel

10 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC

(800)424-1140
(202)842-1300

The host hotel is located in downtown Washington near a Metro (Washington’s subway system) station. Thus convenient public transportation is available from all three Washington airports and Union Station (the downtown railroad station). If you will be arriving Friday afternoon during our rush hour (roughly 3-7 PM), there is an additional incentive to use Metro or the railroad (from BWI), since it may well be quicker than a taxi cab or bus stuck in rush hour traffic.

All quoted rates are one-way, current as of March 2000, and do not include gratuities (in some cases there are discounts for a round trip, ask). Note that because Southwestern Airlines serves BWI, the fares into this airport are often significantly less than airfares into the other two airports.

Transportation from:

BWI (BWI) National Airport (DCA)

Dulles International Airport (IAD) Union (Railroad) Station (WAS)

SUPER SHUTTLE: is a "shared ride" system, where you may share the van with people going to two other locations. The cost of this is $28.50 for the first passenger and $5.50 for each additional passenger to the same destination and should take about an hour and a half (non-rush hour). Go to Ground Transportation between Carousels 6 & 7 and find the Super Shuttle booth. You do not need a reservation going to the hotel, however the delays may be substantial on Friday afternoon. (ph info 800-BLUE-VAN)

AMTRAK/MARC TRAINS: On Friday afternoon the railroad may be the quickest (and cheapest) way to go. First, catch the free shuttle bus to the BWI Rail station (the train station is on airport property) from the lower level near the baggage claim area (with a sign on the bus for the "MARC Shuttle"). Friday afternoon both MARC (the Maryland commuter rail system) and Amtrak trains operate. The MARC trains are cheaper ($5.00) and require no reservations. Between 12:18 PM and 6:41 PM there are 8 MARC trains and one more at 8:57 PM leaving the BWI station headed towards Washington (southbound). MARC Schedule There are an additional 22 Amtrak trains between 12:11 PM and 1:36AM AM Amtrak Schedule [Insert station codes BWI to WAS]. These cost from $19-28 dollars. Although 8 of them are "officially" reserved, this will not be a real problem since more people always get off a southbound train in Baltimore than board. Get off the train at Union Station (about a thirty to forty minute trip) and see the Union Station Directions

On Sunday, only Amtrak trains run between Union Station and the BWI Rail Station. There is usually about one train per hour starting at 5:00 AM until 1:00 PM from Union Station with more frequent service after that. Amtrak Schedule [Insert station codes WAS to BWI]. The Amtrak trains to BWI take less than 35 minutes. The fare ranges from $19-24 depending on the type of train and time of day. While several of the trains are reserved and you will not be able to board them at Union Station without a reserved seat ticket, obtaining a seat should not be a problem since more passengers always get on a northbound train at Baltimore than get off.

SUPER SHUTTLE: This is a "shared ride" system, where you may share the van with people going to two other locations. The cost of this is $10.50 for the first passenger and $8.50 for each additional passenger to the same destination and should take about 30 minutes (non-rush hour). Look for the Super Shuttle sign in the ground transportation section near the baggage claim areas. You do not need a reservation going to the hotel, however on Friday afternoon the delay may be substantial. (ph info 800-BLUE-VAN)

METRO: the Metro station is in front of the B and C Concourses. Take a Blue line train to McPherson and then walk up 14^th Street 3 blocks to the Hotel (3 mile). The rail trip should take about 20 minutes and will cost $1.40 or less. New to Metro? See our Metro 101

National Info: 703-417-8000 Website

SUPER SHUTTLE: This is a "shared ride" system, where you may share the van with people going to two other locations. The cost of this is $22.50 for the first passenger and $10.50 for each additional passenger to the same destination and should take about an hour (non-rush hour). From Baggage Claim area go outside and find the Super Shuttle attendant at curb locations 1F or 1B. You do not need a reservation going to the hotel, however the delay may be substantial on Friday afternoon. (ph info 800-BLUE-VAN)

METRO: take the bus to the West Falls Church Metro station ($8, 22 minutes), the Orange line ($2.15, 25 minutes) to McPherson and then walk up 14^th Street 3 blocks to the Hotel (3 mile). New to Metro?
See our Metro 101

Downtown Bus: In addition to the Bus to West Falls Church, there is also a bus to downtown ($16, 60 minutes, non-rush hour) that lets off passengers at the corner of New York Ave and 11^th Street NW (which is six blocks from the Hotel). From there a free shuttle bus will take you to the Hotel. Bus Schedule, 888-WASH FLY

Dulles Info: 703-572-2700 Website

METRO: The Metro station is on the west side of the station. Take the Red Line to Metro Center, either a Blue or Orange Line train to McPherson and then walk up 14^th Street 3 blocks to the Hotel (3 mile). The rail trip should take about 20 minutes and will cost $1.10. New to Metro? See our Metro 101

Metro uses cards with money encoded in a magnetic stripe, which is similar to the system used on the BART in San Francisco. You buy the cards from vending machines which are located in the station before the fare barrier. The machines also take coins and will give back change if you have inserted more money than you want on the farecard. Buying for both directions saves time. It is also a good idea to have extra bills available, just in case the vending machine doesn’t like your first offer.

To enter the Metro system, insert your fare card in the right hand side slot, pick up the returned fare card from the top, and cross through the barrier (which should open up when you pick up the fare card). (The wheelchair accessible gates, which are also useful if you have a luggage carrier, work differently; you insert the card, it is returned to you from the same slot you inserted it into, take the farecard back, and then pass through the opened gate.) DO NOT LOSE THE FARE CARD (otherwise you will end up like Charley on the MTA). At your destination you again insert the fare card into the slot, pickup the card, and go through the barrier. Assuming the printer is working, the remaining value of the fare card will be shown on the card. If the amount of money in the card equals the fare for your trip, the card is not returned, the gate simply opens and you go through.

Different routes are distinguished by color and direction is indicated by the end station. In some cases more than one color uses a pair of tracks. The front of the train will usually have a color card and there are displays on the side of each car that show the color and the end station destination. While the direction will be indicated in the station by the ultimate destination of the line, some trains are only going to intermediate stations and are labeled on the train with the name of that station. For the station pairs discussed in this web page all trains of the right color going in the correct direction are usable.

Once you have passed through the fare card barrier you will find signs indicating which stairs or escalator will lead to the color and end destination you want. At each entrance there is an attendant to provide help and answer questions. These attendants are usually in the booth that is in the center of the fare barrier.

BTW Metro is serious about its no smoking and no eating/drinking signs.

Info: 202-637-7000 Website

The B and C concourses have a pedestrian bridge with moving sidewalks to the Metro station. From the A concourse go outside and board any airport shuttle bus. Exit the bus at the next stop and go indoors and up one level and cross the pedestrian bridge to the station. Buy the farecard and go through the fare barrier. The fare for the trip will be $1.40 peak and $1.10 non-peak (one-way) and the trip should take about 20 minutes.

A Washington Flyer bus to the West Falls Church Metro Station leaves at least every thirty minutes until 10:30 PM from the lower level (the level of baggage pick up). The bus costs $8.00 and should take about 22 minutes, which should not be affected by rush hour traffic. (ph info 888-WASH-FLY, 703-417-8471, Bus Schedule)

An escalator to the Metro entrance is on the west side of the station just outdoors. Upon leaving the MARC/Amtrak train, walk to the front of the station into the Great Hall, then turn right, the escalator should be right in front of you once you exit from the railroad station. The fare will be $1.10 (both peak and non-peak) and take about 15 minutes.

You want a Red Line train to Shady Grove (trains to Glenmont are the wrong direction). Get off at Metro Center and go down to the lower level for either an Orange line train to Vienna or a Blue line train to Huntington (Addison Road and New Carrolton are the wrong direction). Exit the train at McPherson station and look for the Franklin Square/14^th Street Exit (which will be in the direction your train came from). At street level you will be at the corner of 14^th Street and I Street. Franklin Square park will be on the northeast corner of the intersection. Proceed north past K and L Streets to Thomas Circle. The hotel will be on the northeast side of the Circle about a 3 mile walk.

METRO: has elevators at all stations. There are two or more sets of elevators. The first elevator takes you to the fare barrier level. The second set, located after the fare barrier, takes you to track level. (The direction to the elevators is not marked on the horizontal station signs on the wall but are marked on the vertical pylons along the track.) At each Metro entrance there is one fare barrier that is wide enough for a wheel chair. In addition there is a white board at each attendant’s booth that lists stations at which elevators are not working. If one of the stations involved with your trip is listed, consult with the attendant on what contingency plans Metro has made.

Metro’s Mobility Impaired assistance number is 202-962-6464, TDD: 202-628-3780, and their Web Site provides details on their facilities for the Mobility Impaired.

MARC/AMTRAK TRAINS (from BWI): The shuttle bus operated by BWI airport (800-435-9294) and the rail station/train are equipped to deal with wheel chairs. (MARC-800-325-7245, TTY 410-539-3497, Web ) (Amtrak 800-872-7245, TTY 800-523-6590, Web)

NATIONAL: Passengers arriving on Concourses B and C can use an elevator located between the two Concourses on the lower level (baggage claim) to take them up to the Metro station. Passengers arriving on Concourse A (NW, TWA, Midway) will probably want to call 703-419-9795 for assistance.

DULLES: Some of the buses from the airport to the West Falls Church Metro station/Downtown are equipped for wheel chair passengers. Info: 888-927-4359, TTD: 703-572-2475.

UNION STATION: The elevators are at the north end of the Metro station. When exiting from the Amtrak or MARC trains turn right and go the end of the building where a sign will direct you to the right.

FROM MCPHERSON STATION TO HOTEL: The elevators at McPherson Station are located past the escalators to Franklin Square/14^th Street. The elevator to the street comes up on the southwest corner of 14^th Street and I Street. To the untrained eye, there appear to be adequate curb cuts up 14^th Street and around Thomas Circle for the 3 mile trip.