<p>we are taking train to DC area and will using mass transit to travel between GW and U of Md (metro-taxi ect). What is best area to stay in in DC that would be convenient to both?</p>
<p>Any specific hotels (not to expensive) would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I think there was a thread about this not long ago, places to stay near GW - but anyway, when we visited GW we stayed at the edge of the GW campus at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 801 New Hampshire. You could walk from here to anywhere on the GW campus (places to eat) and you were very close to the Foggy Bottom metro station (or to the Lincoln Memorial, for that matter). And because it was a Doubletree, there were chocolate chip cookies. 
The rooms were very big, with kitchens; they were kind of weirdly shaped. We got a great deal on our room rate; this worked out well for us.</p>
<p>There is a free shuttle from College Park metro station to the UMD campus. This makes taking the metro between the two very easy.</p>
<p>These two campuses are both extremely easy to access via metro. UMD campus has a free shuttle running every 10 minutes during morning/afternoon “rush” and every 15-20 minutes midday/late night that picks up/drops off right across from the student union. The metro is actually about only a 15 minute walk from the student union so the bus ride is extremely short.</p>
<p>I assume GW is within walking distance of a metro stop or otherwise very easily accesible. </p>
<p>I go to UMD so I know only of hotels in and around the UMD campus. There are several hotels walking distance to campus. The one I can think of off the top of my head to recommend in College Park is the Quality Inn. It’s actually one of the cheapest around (altho hotel prices are inflated in CP because it is close to DC) and right down the street, easily within walking distance. The room I stayed in was also actually pretty nice as far as hotel rooms go (basic streamlined room, no horribly patterned comforters, clean); there is crappier for more $$$ in CP, anyway - haha. You can also stay at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center, run by the university I think and located on campus (albeit off the beaten path, on a faraway corner on the other side of a huge parking lot haha). I’ve never stayed there but I’m sure it’s nice (and pricey!). Here: <a href=“http://www.admissions.umd.edu/admissions/visit/accommodations.asp[/url]”>http://www.admissions.umd.edu/admissions/visit/accommodations.asp</a></p>
<p>I would call the schools and ask which hotels are closest to campus/walking distance. Then plug in the addresses into mapquest and what have you and decide from there what best suits your needs :).</p>
<p>We stayed at a Courtyard Marriot in Alexandria VA last summer. The hotel shuttle made regular trips to Reagan Airport where you can get the Metro to Foggy Bottom. When you wanted a ride back you just called and they would pick you up. This was all complimentary. We made the reservation through hotels.com and with a frequent stay card it was 75 dollars a night in July. It was a great value and the transportation was simple.</p>
<p>I don’t know the logistics of getting to U of MD but I imagine you could get to most places via Union Station.</p>