Game Sunday.. Hotels? Crystal City?

Those of you who live near DC, I usually just drive up for the game but my buddy hasn't been a tourist in DC so we're coming up Sat morning. Thoughts about Crystal City? getting to the stadium pretty easy from there? Better suggestions? Also, does anyone have an idea what parking will be this year in the non parking pass lots like the church on Jericho? I've paid everything from $20 to $40 over the last few years..

if you're staying in crystal city, you can take the metro (it's under the big hotel area) and walk a bit (~1 mile) to the game if you want to avoid the parking mess.

Metro - Getting Around - Metro to Events (http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/venues.cfm#FedEx_Field)

I think Rosslyn might be a better choice since its still on the Metro and Georgetown is just a short walk across the Key Bridge with all its bars and restaurants.

Old Town Alexandria might also be a good option since its also on the Metro for getting into the city, has lots of bars & restaurants and is close to the Wilson Bridge & the Beltway if you want to drive to the game.

if you're staying in crystal city, you can take the metro (it's under the big hotel area) and walk a bit (~1 mile) to the game if you want to avoid the parking mess.

Metro - Getting Around - Metro to Events (http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/venues.cfm#FedEx_Field)

I've never really considered the metro. What about leaving the game? Do you buy return tickets before hand or just get them when you arrive at the station? Is there a long wait? I have to get down to Richmond and over to Roanoke after the game so anything that saves me time is going to be a plus.. but if it ends up taking just as long it might be better to drive since I can just hit 495 and go..

I would say for you to stay in the Rosslyn area. The metro is right there. If you're looking for nightlife Clarendon is the perfect place.

FYI Skins stay at the Greenbelt Marriott.

I stay in the Greenbelt area close to the Stadium.

With the metro be aware it doesn't go to the stadium directly you get off in Greenbelt (?) and take buses over. Overall PITA.

But to be fair there is no easy way in or out of that hell hole. It is a pick your poison deal.

I've never really considered the metro. What about leaving the game? Do you buy return tickets before hand or just get them when you arrive at the station? Is there a long wait? I have to get down to Richmond and over to Roanoke after the game so anything that saves me time is going to be a plus.. but if it ends up taking just as long it might be better to drive since I can just hit 495 and go..

you can prepurchase a smartpass online and preload it with money, or add money to it at any station (because of the numbers during a game, i'd suggest doing it beforehand, either online or in person).

you can also do a day pass (lasts till 3am on fri or sat), but that's probably not worth it (when they were $5 forever ago, they were).

it is a mile walk, but MTA is pretty good about matching service to expected volume, so getting back towards where ever you're going isn't too bad. the parking lots are always a pain, they didn't design fed ex field's parking/highway access right, so it can take hours to get out of there if you park. it's bad enough that a bunch of people leave at the beginning of the 4th to avoid as much of it as possible.

parking or metro are both more painful than they need to be, but that's due to bad logistical design by the team/county.

I would say for you to stay in the Rosslyn area. The metro is right there. If you're looking for nightlife Clarendon is the perfect place.

Probably not doing much in terms of nightlife on this trip. Really more of the memorials and museums on Sat and the game Sunday. I did consider the Le Meridien which I think is in the Rossyln area but it looks like if we stay in the Pentagon area we could do the Blue Line Rail from there to Morgan Blvd pretty easy, no? Is there a difference in the quality of the two areas?