DCA Crashpads?

[Beechnut]

Can someone tell me about getting around and crashpading in the DCA area? I see there is a train, but does it go to areas where there are crashpads?

I'm all ears for anything anyone has to offer!

thanks,

S.

 

[avrodriver]

I might be tossin one up here once I see how this realignment pans out somewhere along the trainline and within stumbling distance from a boozin district.......I've seen how you operate BN....might be just the oasis your looking for. AD

 

[jimbo]

Beechnut

Depending on how your flight scedules are and if you're a little more flexible with transportation I know of a bunch of crashpads around the BWI airport. They run around $160 a month. BWI is about 45 minutes driving (no traffic) and there is public transportation that would take a little longer. Just a little input from a former AWAC guy. Again it is for those guys with a little more flexibility but you will definately save a few bucks.

 

[Beechnut]

What kind of public transportation between BWI and DCA? I've found airport limo's that run around $60 a pop.

Thanks,

S.

 

[jimbo]

Bus service runs about every half hour every day from BWI to the Greenbelt (Md) Metro. From there you can get to Reagan via the metro (subway). It'll run about $8.
On weekdays a train (MARC) leaves regularly from BWI (actually its across the street from BWI about a half mile and buses run often to and from the BWI airport). From there you can get into DC and to Reagan from there via connection on the Metro (subway). That will run you about $12 (aprox) but a little less time than the 1st suggestion.
The 3rd suggestion is to have a car. Drive time is 45 minutes (no traffic). I flew with a Capt the other day who lives by Reagan and she said the commute isn't to bad as long as you miss rush hours.
I'm guessing you live in DEN but United serves BWI from there and so does Frontier. Frontier has been alot more hospitible as you might guess.
I hope the suggestions help. I know it might be a little foot work to get to Reagan from BWI but I don't know the crashpad situation at DCA. I know the crashpads here are cheap and there is alot (mostly SW guys).
There were 2 guys that I flew with in ATL with AWAC and they live near IAD.
PM me and I'll give you the names. They might know some stuff from there end that might help as well.
Good luck!

 

[Beechnut]

Jimbo, that has been the most valuable information I have read. I appreciate it. I'll be looking into that buss...

S.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

I don't mean to be contradictory Jimbo, but I live in the area and if you were sitting reserve or looking for a crashpad, you certainly wouldn't want to be as far away as Baltimore. With the bus and train combo, you'd be looking at an hour and a half to the airport. Look at places in Arlington. That's where the airport is.

 

[LearLove]

I'm sitting in a DCA crashpad in Crystal City right now. There are 4 US Air/MidAtlantic ones that I know of including this one.

If your going to be based in DCA I would suggest being in a crashpad in Arlington, DC or Alexandria. I can be at the airport in 20 minutes which means that I can be out doing what I want, get a call and have planty of time to mosey back to the pad, shower, get ready and show up. From Crystal City to the airport you can walk, take the metro or go to U HQ and get the shuttle that goes every 30 minutes. Since our pad is 2 blocks from HQ I usually take the company shuttle.

This area is very $$$. All rich people and govt money. You can eat off the sidewalks. Plenty to do. Bike paths all over if you bring a bike but everything is within walking or a short metro ride. If I had the $$ I'd get my own place and move here but once again this area is $$$. The only apartments around here that I found that I could possibly swing myself if I moved here are 40 min south down by Quantico/Dale City. The crashpads that I know of range from 160 to 300+.

As for hotels if you need to go that way try the Americana in Arlington. 50 or 80 dollar crew rate depending on the time of year.

PM me and I'll get you the numbers for the ones that I know of.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Learlove, good post. If you're single, you can easily live here for $500 a month by renting a room. Check out Craigslist.com. It's a great city, especially if you're single in your mid twenties and early thirties.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Let me second Learlove's post. You don't want to rely on the public transportation around DC for any extended trips. If you have a car you can also look further south as far as Woodbridge if you have to make a 2 hour call at DCA. It's a little less expensive down there at you can pick up Rt. 1 or the GW parkway to get to the airport. Avoid Maryland.

 

[2yrs2go]

There are also crash pads out towards IAD (AWAC, DH, UA etc). Reston, Sterling, Herndon etc are all near freeways. Your drive will often be against the traffic and only about 45 minutes. If you have a crash pad car, your car insurance is much cheaper if you are out in the VA burbs as opposed to Arlington or Alexandria (a buddy of mine's car insurance was 50% higher in the aforementioned cities than out in the burbs).

DC and the VA burbs are great. The two biggest problems are the cost of housing and the traffic. The traffic is the worst I have experienced anywhere in the country.

 

[XJslave]

Out of DCA are there crashpads near the metro so you don't need a car? Around how much are they?