Kelvin Brown’s Personal and Marketing Blog

#1: The weather.

This time of year it changes frequently. This week it is supposed be in the mid to high 60s for the daytime. And around the 40s in the evening.
So, take note that the weather when you leave the conference, in the evening, may not be the same as when entered, or went out for lunch.

#2. Renting a car

Unless you are really pressed it is likely a waste of effort and money to rent a car. The cab ride to Crystal City is a short ride from Washington Reagan Airport.

#3. Arriving from Washington National:

The hotel should provide you with a courtesy van.

#3b: Arriving from BWI

If you are coming in to BWI, you can catch a train, BWI to Union Station, and then ride the subway to Crystal City. Make sure you have the Hotel phone number, they may provide a van to pick you up from the subway.

You can also catch a van, https://www.supershuttle.com/
BWI to Crystal City, 1 rider, $40. If you ride together, it is $50 for 2 people. Split the difference $25.

=== NOTE: If it is 2 people, it may be easier to take the shuttle, for door to door service. Rather than lugging luggage around on the trains. If you are coming in late evening or night, the van may be your only option.

#4. Riding the subway:

http://www.wmata.com/ While you are here, you may end up on the subway. If you do, you should keep some small crisp bills on you. The cheapest one way ride is $1.35. You can get change from fare card machines. But it is a bunch of change. So, I repeat, keep at least a couple of $5 bills handy, and maybe a few ones.

Each person riding the subway, will be required to use their own fare card.

For your convenience, if you plan on a round trip on the subway, make sure to add enough to your fare card in the beginning for the round trip. This helps when you know a train is coming, and there is a rush to get to fare card machines, instead you can head straight fro the train.

If you plan on multiple daily trips, i.e. sightseeing you will want to invest in an all day rail pass. $6.50. But if you are just going to make a couple of trips, you may just want to pay for a single roundtrip fare.

http://www.wmata.com/ One Day Pass $6.50 Buy rail one day pass. Valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays Pass expires at the end of the operating day—3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, midnight on other nights.

#5. local hotels

Many of the hotels in Crystal City, are within walking distance of each other, so you may not need to use the subway.

#6. Shopping

There are 3 shopping centers within walking distance, or a short subway ride of your hotel. Depending on where you stay, there is an underground shopping center, and place to eat, and you may never have to go outside if the weather is bad. Best buy if you need computer supplies.

A short drive on US Route 1, is a shopping mall. Groceries, office supplies, pizza, Targets, movie rental, etc.

#7. Touring

Although, technically, the conference is held in Virginia, you are literally, just a stones throw away from D.C. 6 minutes by subway. So, you can easily catch a subway, into and around D.C. as well as, to Maryland if you want.

Kelvin Brown