Plan Your Stay in Washington, DC

While parts of this page are still being developed, we can offer you a good beginning in planning your trip with the information below. Please check back occasionally to learn more about traveling to Washington, DC, and arranging your stay in the Capital City.

Accommodations

You will find a diverse array of options at hotels, bed and breakfasts, dormitories and hostels, with numerous choices available at every level, in the greater Washington, DC area. Our Accommodations page presents a wide number choices, with an extensive range of costs, location, and neighborhood. We recommend that you look for lodgings in neighborhoods with good access the the Washington Metro (subway) system.

Special packages have been negotiated to help make your visit affordable in many types of accommodations.

• •  Our Flagship hotel, the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue, is located in a great
      neighborhood, central to DC. The Hilton is within an easy walk of two Metro (subway)
      stations, and only a few Metro stops from Verizon Center.
• 
      Offering a great rate, it is the location of many of our evening activities and would
      provide you with a great place to stay, including access to one of the best
      outdoor swimming pools in DC, great for the July weather.
  • Please check their website to learn more.
• • Event Lodging Solutions has negotiated with dozens of hotels to offer special 
•    rates for Kalachakra attendees. Please explore your options on their easy-to-use 
•    reservation link.


• • Bed and Breakfast accommodations throughout the area also are offering special 
•    rates when you identify yourself as someone attending the Kalachakra.


• • American University is accepting reservations for dorm rooms. Please print out,
     complete and return the AU reservation form.


• • For those who enjoy hostels, you will find a wide variety throughout the DC area.


• • Alternative options, such as short-term sublets and private-party rentals, are 
•    also available.

We highly recommend that staying somewhere offering good access to the local transportation system, the Metro, and avoid the morning traffic congestion and parking fees common in a major urban area.

Let us know if you need additional help by emailing info@kalachakra2011.com.

 

Travel to DC:

Airports serving Washington, DC, include:

• Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)  15 minutes from the city center; accessible by Metro.
• 
  Dulles International  26 miles from the city center; available by shuttle bus/subway,
  as well as shuttle services such as SuperShuttle.
• 
  Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)  32 miles  from the city center; accessible by shuttle bus/train (Amtrak and MARC) as well as shuttle services such as SuperShuttle.

Sites to help you find the best available fares include www.bestfares.com and www.farecompare.com.

Travel by Train

The beautiful Union Station welcomes those who enjoy travel by train to Washington, DC. It is in the city center, and a connection to the local subway system, the Metro, is right in the station.

Travel by Car

Please check your routes with your favorite mapping service such as Google Maps.
Parking in the city itself, like all major cities, can be quite expensive. Guests are encouraged to use the local Metro system of subways and buses whenever possible.

Rental Cars

Hertz Rental cars has provided the attached discount information for attendees of the Kalachakra for World Peace 2011. The attached rates are good at the 4 DC area Hertz locations listed
below from July 6-16.

Hertz locations in Washington DC:

Verizon Center 7th and G Street NW Washington DC Hours M-F: 07:30 -- 18:00 Sat: 09:00 -- noon Sun: Closed	Renaissance Hotel 999 9th Street NW Washington DC Hours M-F: 07:30 -- 18:00 Sat: Closed Sun: Closed
Hilton Washington 1919 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC Hours: M-F: 07:30 -- 18:00 Sat: 09:00 -- noon Sun: 09:00 -- noon	Union Station 50 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington DC Hours: M-F: 07:00 -- 22:00 Sat: 07:00 -- 15:30 Sun: 10:00 -- 22:00

 

Travel within DC

A safe and clean subway/bus transit system serves Washington, DC, and surrounding areas. The local name for the subway is “the Metro.” Bus and subway information can be found here.

If you know you will be using the Metro system each day, there are ways to purchase passes in advance which might make good economic sense. Visit WMATA. A special discounted Metro card is available for seniors as well as for those with disabilities.

 

 

Ride Sharing

Visit Ridebuzz.org to connect with others traveling to the Kalachakra. An event page on Ridebuzz has been created. Organizers of the Kalachakra for World Peace 2011 assume no responsibility, legal and otherwise, for any arrangements made among those who choose to participate in ride sharing.

What DC offers

The nation’s capital is a remarkable city, with so many offerings free of charge to grateful visitors.

The Kalachakra venue is close to the Smithsonian’s many and varied treasures.

For those who enjoy history, there is a long list of meaningful places within easy reach: all the iconic outdoor monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Viet Nam Memorial and the creative and inspiring FDR Memorial Park are within easy reach -- as is the US Holocaust Museum.

Looking for a quiet spot? There are many beautiful parks including unexpected delights such as the in-town Botanic Garden at http://www.usbg.gov/your-visit/index.cfm/.

 

Dining in DC

Like all major international cities, DC offers an extensive selection of restaurants from different cultures and styles.

You can survey your options on sites such as:

http://www.opentable.com/washington-dc-restaurants/

http://washington.dc.diningguide.com/

www.yelp.com/dc

 

Dharma in DC

The Dharma centers in the Washington area are scattered throughout Maryland and Virginia, with a few in the city.  You can also find many listed at  www.ibcdc.org; www.imcw.org; www.mamgl.blogspot.com/