Okay, so the family and I decided we wanted to hit up Washington D.C. this year. We’ve got two kids, and let’s be real, trips can get pricey fast. So, the mission was: D.C. on a budget. 2024, here we come!
Planning, Planning, Planning
First thing’s first, we picked our dates carefully. We avoided peak season like the plague – no summer crowds or holiday weekends for us. We aimed for the shoulder season, specifically late March. The weather’s still a bit iffy, but way fewer tourists.
Next, we looked at flights. We used Google Flights and set up price alerts. We were pretty flexible with our departure airport, too, which helped us snag a cheaper deal.
For lodging, we completely skipped the fancy hotels downtown. We opted for an Airbnb in a nearby suburb, something with a kitchen so we could save on food costs. It was a bit further out, but with D.C.’s Metro system, getting around was pretty easy.
Free Stuff is Our Best Friend
D.C. is amazing because so many of the big attractions are totally FREE. Seriously, free!
- We spent a whole day just wandering around the National Mall. We saw the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial… all free!
- The Smithsonian museums? Also free! We hit up the National Air and Space Museum (kids loved it!), the National Museum of Natural History (dinosaurs!), and the National Museum of American History. Could’ve spent weeks in there.
- We even took a free tour of the U.S. Capitol Building. We booked that one in advance online, super easy.
Food Hacks
Eating out every meal would have destroyed our budget. So, here’s what we did:
- We made breakfast at our Airbnb every morning. Cereal, toast, fruit – simple stuff.
- We packed lunches for most days. Sandwiches, snacks, water bottles. We’d find a nice spot on the Mall or in a park to eat.
- For dinner, we did eat out a few times, but we looked for deals. Happy hour specials, early bird discounts, that sort of thing. We also found some great, affordable ethnic restaurants in the suburbs.
- Grocery shopping was key! We stocked up on snacks and drinks at a local store to avoid those tempting (and expensive) tourist traps.
Getting Around
As I said, we used the Metro a lot. It’s clean, efficient, and way cheaper than taxis or ride-sharing. We bought a SmarTrip card and loaded it up with enough money for the week.
We also did a lot of walking. D.C. is a very walkable city, especially around the National Mall. It’s a great way to see the sights and get some exercise.
The Result?
We had an amazing trip! We saw so much, learned a ton, and didn’t break the bank. It took some planning and a bit of effort, but it was totally worth it. D.C. on a budget? Definitely doable!
