If you’re looking for a weekend escape but don’t want to travel, try one of the area’s luxury hotels. Because of the falloff in business travel on weekends, many high-end hotels like the Ritz and the Fairmont cut their rates—and some even offer special deals for locals.
The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner (1700 Tysons Blvd.; 703-506-4300) offers bargain rates on the weekend, including one package with a bottle of Champagne and seasonal fruit as well as breakfast for two for $259. Or upgrade to the club level, where five complimentary buffets are set up in the club lounge throughout the day—breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner, and late night—for $299, nearly $200 less than the weekday rate.
The Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Rd., NW; 202-328-2983) in DC’s Woodley Park also offers a “neighborhood” deal of $119 if you have a driver’s license with the 20008 Zip code and call the hotel directly.
If the holidays stress you out, take advantage of “Ohm for the Holidays” from Kimpton Hotels, including DC’s Hotel Helix (1430 Rhode Island Ave., NW; 202-462-9001), Palomar (2121 P St., NW; 202-448-1800), Hotel George (15 E St., NW; 202-347-4200), and others, and the Morrison House (116 S. Alfred St.; 703-838-8000) in Old Town Alexandria—where local residents can get a relaxing, Zenlike night away. The reduced rate, available through January 6, includes plush slipper socks, in-room TV programming of yoga and Pilates sessions, and a basket of exercise accessories to use while you’re there. Rates range from $129 to $149 a night at the DC hotels and 15 percent off the best available rate at the Morrison House.
