Save Yourself $11.00 Per Person Getting From The Gaylord To The Metro

When you’re attending Sage Summit 2011 at Gaylord National it’s likely that you plan to do some sightseeing. Luckily the Gaylord National offers a shuttle from their doorstep. Unfortunately the price for the shuttle which only deposits you at the local King Street Metro station – is steep at $14 per person round trip.

Here’s how you can work around this fee. Take public transportation. Save $11 per person on each round trip. More details after the break.

The last time that we were in DC for a Sage conference we rode the public transportation (Route NH1 – National Harbor Line). It’s remarkably easy to do – and so long as you don’t mind waiting as the bus makes about a dozen stops on the way to the Metro station (this bus goes to the Branch Ave station while the Gaylord’s goes to the King Street station — and both seem about the same distance from the hotel) you’ll save yourself some money – especially if traveling with a large family.

Planning your trip is easy. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has a web site where you can plan schedules and routes. This site also displays fares for selected route – which as you can see for a trip from Gaylord National to Branch Ave is $1.50 ($3 round trip) when purchased on the SmarTrip Fare card.

The line runs from Gaylord to the Branch Ave Station where you can then purchase a Metro fare to head into Washington DC – or anywhere that Washington Metropolitan Area Transit will take you (see map here).

The bus leaves from a stop directly outside the Gaylord National and according to the schedule (PDF)  it starts running at 6:25 am and stops at  10:58. While the $11 savings in fare for a round trip ($14 that the hotel charges less $3 that the bus costs) might not be much it could add up if you make many trips from the hotel into DC.

via: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Trip Planner

UPDATE: Looks like the Gaylord Shuttle will take you to either the King Street Metro station or directly to Old Town Alexandria. For those going only to Old Town Alexandria riding the Gaylord Shuttle may be a better deal since it will eliminate any transfers (and waiting time) going from bus to Metro.