Free parking in DC today!

DC parking enforcement has the day off so enjoy parking in any space you please. Seems like they won't even tow abandoned vehicles today so get out to a Smithsonian or enjoy the last day of the Folklife Festival!

The new DC Taxi system

So as you all know, several months ago DC taxis switched from a zone system to a metered system. One would think this new system is better for the consumer because you don't have to trust the driver to tell you how many zones you crossed or attempt to read a color coded map that fails to list street names.

HOWEVER, I have realized that taxi drivers will now go out of their way to take longer routes so that they can charge more on the meter. Sure this was bound to happen but taxi riders should be aware of the best path to their destination and should feel to tell the driver which way to go.

I live in Rosslyn and I've taken two taxis from Rosslyn to Union Station under the new system. Both times the driver took 110 to 395 instead of going straight down constitution. This longer, highway route ended up costing $17. The next time I did this ride and told them to take constitution it was only $12.

I realize that in rush hour constitution is really slow but when I was going it was during the early and late hours or the weekend when there was no traffic.

Oh Metro how you failed me....

The other day I walked into a metro station, swiped my card, and then received a call that a friend was nearby and would give me a ride home. So I left the station without using Metro. My friend suggested I call Metro to ask for a refund since they can easily see my card's history and that I entered and exited the same station within minutes.

I tried doing this today and learned about their unjust policy.

The only reason Metro will issue a refund is if your train is more than ten minutes late because of Metro's mistake. If you enter and leave the station by mistake they will not issue you a refund.

I'm quite disturbed by this policy and think we should call call to issue a complaint: 202-637-1328.

Priceline Negotiator!

So my good friend Lina is getting married in Connecticut this May. She secured discounted rates at a local Marriott for $99 a night. I was about to pay this price when I remembered my in-laws telling me how fabulous Priceline Negotiator is. I have never used it before but decided to take a risk.

When you go on Priceline and look up the hotel, it gives you a price of $179 a night. However, then I clicked the negotiation feature and told them I wanted to stay at a 3 star hotel in the area of the wedding. They told me the average price for a three star hotel in that area was $165 so I told them I was willing to pay $52.

You have to commit to whatever hotel they give you since you put your credit card number in at this point.

Anyway I clicked on negotiate and the hotel where all the wedding guests are staying came up and they accepted by $52 offer!

I had just saved around $50 thanks to Priceline (and my inlaws)!

Travel from DC to NY for $2 RT

HAPPY INAUGURATION!!!

Now how will you return home?

I feel like everyone knows about Chinatown buses to get from Washington to New York for $40 (roundtrip) but there is a relatively new company called BoltBus which is pretty incredible.

Basically Bolt's tickets range from $1 (yes they offer at least one $1 seat per bus) to approx $25 each way to NY from Washington. The best part of Bolt though is not that it can be cheaper than Chinatown buses but that these buses have wireless internet free of charge!

Bolt also has a reward program - travel 8 times, get a free trip.

Bolt also travels to Philly, Boston, and Cherry Hill. Check out their schedules here.

While you're at it, save your company money and take Bolt instead of Amtrak! Plus those work trips will count towards your rewards.

Cheap Ways to Get to Dulles and BWI Airports

For those needing to get to Dulles Airport for the holidays, save yourself the cab fair and take the 5A from L'Enfant Plaza or Rosslyn Metro to Dulles. This express service is only $3 each way. The bus comes every 30-50 minutes. Go to wmata.com to plan your trip. If you get back too late the bus will stop running so check the bus schedule before booking your flight.

For those needing to get to BWI, take metro to Union Station and buy a MARC train ticket to the Baltimore Airport Station for $12. There are free shuttles to the airport terminals.

Safe Travels & Bon Voyage!

Trash the Gym Membership

If you live in Washington DC, there are so many ways to get a free workout around the city that leaves no excuse for paying for gym membership. Try these alternatives:

1. Go to your nearest metro and run up and down the escalators.
2. Truth be told, there are plenty of super long escalators in the Washington Metro System. Stop standing on them and start walking up them to burn the calories.
3. Buy a bike and use it! DC and the surrounding areas have incredible bike trails. Save a ton of money by biking to work (my bike ride from Rosslyn to Farragut West area is only 20 minutes). Or else just bike on weekends on the trails around town.
4. Want an arm workout too? Declare yourself the official water cooler replacer at work and make friends at the same time.

Save on Public Transit

Here are a few ways to save on public transit:

1) Enroll in your company’s transit program so you avoid paying taxes on commuting costs.
2) Consider a bus route instead of the metro. In Washington, DC taking the bus is $1.25 compared to $1.65 for the metro during rush hour. The bus is often a much more pleasant experience. While your commuting time may slightly increase, I know I’d rather be sitting down reading Express watching Georgetown go by than going into the depths of Metro and cramming myself onto a crowded train.
3) Find out the times your city changes from rush hour to regular prices. In Washington, DC if you wait until 9:30 AM to use the metro instead of 9:25 AM you will save $.30. Going home it’s the same- the prices go down to $1.35 at 7:00 PM when rush hour ends. They calculate the fare by the time you ENTER metro and not by the time you leave it.