Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

214  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
TRAVEL INFORMATION

Washington is easy to get to via any mode of trains, which arrive at and depart from Union
transportation. Three airports serve the DC Station, right in the center of Washington.
area; they are used by most major airlines for Visitors often tend to travel first to DC, base
domestic and international flights. Intercity themselves in the city, and then arrange day
bus lines also operate to the city, as do Amtrak or week end trips into Maryland and Virginia.
service and the Metro, expect from BWI, but it is more costly
to spend up to 90 minutes to and takes longer than a train ride.
reach the city center. The taxi fare from BWI into
Alternatively, the SuperShuttle central DC is rather expensive.
share-ride bus service runs every For security reasons, anyone
hour and will drop passengers at arriving in the US on a visa is
their door. It is a cheaper option now photographed, and will
than a taxi but journey times have their fingerprints taken,
depend on detours made to drop before being allowed into the
off the other passengers. Taxis country (see p206).
are plentiful and are the quickest
but most expensive option.
Uber and its rival, Lyft, are web- Air Fares
based car services that can be The busiest season for travel
booked through your cell phone to the US is March through
if you have pre-registered a credit June and September through
card with them. early November. Christmas and
Located about 5 miles (8 km) Thanksgiving are also busy.
Glass-walled interior of Reagan outside the city in Arlington Flights will be at their most
National Airport County, Virginia, the Reagan expensive during these periods.
National Airport is the most Flights in June and July are
convenient airport for central usually the most expensive
Arriving by Air
Washington. The city is easily but there are many discounted
There are three main airports accessible using the Metro, accommodations at this time.
in the Washington, DC area: or by taking the SuperShuttle Weekend flights are usually
Dulles International Airport, (every 30 minutes), or a taxi. less expensive than weekdays,
Reagan National Airport, BWI Airport, 30 miles (48 km) while Apex tickets are often the
and Baltimore-Washington northeast of DC, tends to be best deal. Apex tickets must be
International Thurgood Mar shall used by low-cost airlines. The booked at least one week in
Airport (known as BWI). Most of Maryland Rail Commuter Service advance, and your visit must
the major carriers, including (MARC) is the cheapest way to include a Saturday night. Cheap
American Airlines, British get from the airport to the city, air fares can be obtained by
Airways, Air France, and United but it runs only on weekdays. shopping around, so it is worth
Airlines, fly to at least one of Amtrak offers the next-best train checking with the airlines and
these airports. The majority service for just a few dollars more. websites such as Expedia,
of international and overseas The SuperShuttle is also available Kayak, and Priceline.
flights land at Dulles International,
26 miles (42 km) west of
Washington in Virginia. Dulles
is not directly served by a Metro
but there is a connecting shuttle
service, the Washington Flyer
Silver Line Express Bus, to take
new arrivals to Wiehle-Reston
East Metro. Between the coach The Washington Flyer Silver Line Express Bus
Distance/Time to
Airport Information Taxi Fare SuperShuttle
Washington, DC
26 miles (42 km)
Dulles (703) 572-2700 $60–65 $26–35
40 minutes
5 miles (8 km)
Reagan National (703) 417-8000 $25 $18–27
15 minutes
30 miles (48 km)
BWI (410) 859-7111 $100 $32–42
50 minutes

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