After spending several days in Washington, D.C., I have a few tips for people who are considering the trip.

Do Not Rent A Car, Instead Buy A Metro Pass

Unless you plan to travel outside of Washington, D.C. (Jamestown, Philadelphia, etc.). I do not recommend renting a car. Aside from the price to rent a car, the cost of parking is extremely high. Parking is extremely limited within the city, so finding a spot is more of a hassle than just walking.

I highly recommend buying an unlimited Metro pass. I used the 7-day unlimited pass. It made traveling around the city and surrounding areas easy to use. It likely saved me a good $100. The metro is easy to use and understand. They also have an app that you can download temporarily to help navigate around town. Using Google Maps also helps you find the closest Metro stations.

Stay Outside the City

To save money, especially if staying over several days, I recommend staying outside the city center. Places like Herndon and Reston are close to the airport and close to the Metro. You can find hotels with shuttle service to save money or you can take the Metro from the airport to the hotel. Staying outside of Washington, D.C. will save you hundreds of dollars. Yes, the metro takes a bit of time to get from point A to point B, but if planned right it is worth the distance.

Do Not Use Capital Bikeshare

Although the concept behind it is nice, it is more of a hassle than helpful. I bought the unlimited pass. It is misleading. You can only ride unlimited for 45 minutes at a time. It takes you almost 45 minutes to get anywhere with the mass amounts of crowds in the city. By the time you check out the bike, go to a couple places, and come back, you’re well into your day. I was charged over $20 on top of the $8 unlimited pass. They charge you by the minute. It is a ripoff, especially if you’re just trying to explore and enjoy your time. Instead, I recommend either planning your trip with walking and Metro in mind or using an Uber in extreme cases. Uber rides aren’t that expensive. I would still only recommend those for going across the city (i.e. Library of Congress to Washington Monument).

Tickets in Advance

I recommend purchasing as many tickets to events in advance as possible (i.e. Holocaust Museum, Washington Monument). I recommend waking up early to ensure you have an opportunity to visit some of these limited opportunities.

I would also get tickets to the Capitol and try for a White House Tour well in advance for your trip. If you reach out to your local representatives, they do a great job at preparing you for the trip. Although I wasn’t able to visit The White House on this trip, due to Memorial Day weekend and the debt ceiling debate, others are lucky in being able to tour it.

Plan Accordingly – Not Everything Is Close; Holidays Are Tough

I grossly underestimated the traffic of people on Memorial Day weekend. I know if I would’ve attended another weekend, it may not have been so crowded. Granted, I experienced once-in-a-lifetime opportunities while there (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Flower Laying, Parades, etc.), but it threw a wrench in my timing of events. Because of this, I ended up not seeing as many things as I had planned.

I also recommend planning things close to each other. I underestimated how big the city was. There is no way to walk around the entire city to see everything in one day, much less several days. I walked, on average, 9 miles a day and I still wasn’t able to see everything in three days. Pick the events, monuments, memorials, and sites that mean the most to you and plan around those first.

Prepare for Weather

I made the mistake of packing the light with only one pair of shoes. I recommend sneakers, but I recommend bringing at least two pair. Although I knew rain was a possibility, I didn’t expect a downpour. I would bring a purse sized umbrella just in case and have a plan of where to go if it does rain. I enjoyed the moment and lived in the moment. I accepted my fate in being poured on. It’s not an experience for everyone though.

Hydrate

You will do so much walking that you may forget to hydrate. Although street vendors are all over left and right trying to sell you water, they are expensive. I would carry some water with you to ensure you do not get dehydrated from the amount of walking you will do. On some days, it will be extremely humid too with the moisture from the river. You don’t want to get ripped off by someone selling a $1 bottle of water for $6.