Rockville, Maryland, or Washington DC?

I am coming to Rockville for a two-day meeting in May, staying at the Sheraton Rockville. My business host covers my travel and hotel, including two extra nights. To save on the airline ticket I have agreed to come two days earlier, expecting to stay in a hotel that is reasonably located in Washington DC. My host%26#39;s travel agency now suggests that I stay for all 4 nights in the Sheraton Rockville Hotel. Being a European visitor who would like to see some of the DC museums, I%26#39;m not too keen on staying in Rockville for my two days of ';free time';. So I wonder if perhaps it is quite easy to go back and forth between Rockville and Washington DC (museums). Would be very grateful for advice.

Rockville, Maryland, or Washington DC?

It%26#39;s easy to do so, but it does take time--an hour or so each way via public transportation (Metrorail and a connection from/to your hotel) to get to the heart of Washington, or from 35 to 60 minutes or more driving depending on the time of day/day of the week.

So if it%26#39;s worth perhaps two hours of travel each day in order to not risk alienating your host, stay in Rockville. That%26#39;s a question only you can answer.

Will your host allow you to pay the price difference by taking a hotel in Washington for those two nights? I don%26#39;t think the difference would be that much, especially if it%26#39;s over a weekend.

Rockville, Maryland, or Washington DC?

Thank you very much, Tubman. I think I will follow your advice and ask the travel agency if I may pay the price differential.

If you can%26#39;t get the costs covered, I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s too much off a hassle. Taking the Metro from Rockville to the heart of DC is probably 40-45 minutes, but it is really easy and if you are staying at a hotel in the city, you will likely have to hop on the metro to get to a specific location anyway. It will save you some time to be staying in DC, but Rockville%26#39;s not too far, so I wouldn%26#39;t worry too much about it....especially if you plan on going into the city in the morning, then spending the day there and going back to Rockville in the evening. Just my two cents.

Thank you, TravelDreaming. This is useful to know, and since it sems I%26#39;ll be staying in the area for 5 nights I might take the first four in Rockville and the final night in DC.

While my own interest centers on the museums, I have promised my teenage children to do some shopping for them (US style T-shirts, sweat shirts and trousers). Considering I do not have a car available (but I do not mind taking a taxi), I wonder if anyone could suggest a shopping center preferably near a metrostation, or perhaps near the Sheraton Rockville Hotel.

Again, thanks TravelDreaming and Tubman for taking time to provide information!

The Sheraton is part of a planned community, the King Farm development, at the end of Metro%26#39;s Red Line. There are businesses there, but most of them are more service-oriented and geared towards the residents rather than retail. You may find yourself somewhat stranded there without a car looking for conventional retail.

http://www.kingfarm.org/Village-Centre~74002~12658.htm

You will probably want a major shopping mall to find stuff for your children. The closest to the Sheraton is Lakeforest, about 5 miles away (would likely require a taxi). Using the Metro, the closest from the Metro in that general area is White Flint.

If you happen to find yourself staying in Washington for a night or two, I%26#39;d try the Pentagon City mall, which is directly accessible by Metro and a few stops from downtown.

pets