IF YOU HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT INAUGURATION ACCOMMODATIONS

[Samantha]

This thread is for you.

I learned this morning that a friend of mine is putting her entire home up for rent for one week. It is a beautiful home in University Park, Maryland (next door to College Park, home of the University of Maryland). This location puts you in the near vicinity of two metro stations, College Park and Greenbelt. I believe this location is about 15 miles outside of DC, and if you are a driver, you would be close to the Beltway.

Here are the specs I asked about, with the idea of alerting DU'ers who have inquired about places to stay (some of whom seem very anxious). Seven to eight people can sleep here. The rental is $7,500 for one week. Go to the following link (which I believe is up and running now; it hosts rental places for the Inauguration).

inaugurationweekrentals.com

I have been in this house many times, and it is beautiful. There is also an attached garage and beautiful back yard wonderfully landscapped. I guarantee you you will not be disappointed.

I submit this info for those desperately looking. Please keep this thread bumped if you can so many people will see it who need a place.

Thanks.

Sam

[MadBadger]

1. Is beautiful University Park anything like shithole College Park?

[Samantha]

2. No

This thread is probably not for you.

Sam

[MadBadger]

3. No need to assume, just wondering how beautiful beautiful is.

[Samantha]

5. It is an upper scale community which houses many prominent

people in the area, successful attorneys, University officials. Just go to realtor.com and look at some of the homes for a better idea. There are no commercial businesses allowed and it has its own separate police force. It is a very safe area. One cannot walk to the metro from this location, however, so one could have to catch a cab, a bus, or drive. But it is very close to the University's metro stop and not too far from the Greenbelt station. The homes are extremely well cared for and the neighbor is very refined.

Inside the house, a split foyer, one enters and the living room, beautifully decorated, is on the upper level. Behind it is the very large kitchen. The cooking area is to the left, and the eating area is to the right. There are double-glass doors which look out into the backyard. There is a pond there, a large deck, and a small greenhouse attached to the house. The deck is quite large and has seating for many. Beyond the yard area which hosts the pond, the land rises, and there is a separate level plateau. Beyond that are some woods.

After entering the house, if one does not go up the stairs but looks to the immediate left, is a very large family room with a very-large screen television (and I do mean large). The family room seats many people comfortably. Beyond that is a powder room and an office. The garage is also on that level, it accommodates I think three cars.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, but I am not sure if they are all used as bedrooms. The master bedroom is stunning as is the master bath. There is also another full bathroom on that level.

Sam

[yourguide]

4. I would suggest this thread is not for anyone

who thinks $7500 is a ridiculous amount to spend on accomodations needed for 1 to 3 nights tops.

[Samantha]

6. That's for one week

I posted this thread as a service to DU'ers looking for a place, not for my own benefit. A place that can accommodate 7-8 people for one week in an extremely nice neighborhood, I don't think that is a bad price.

Sam

[yourguide]

7. 98% of those going to town for the inauguration

are going in for 1 to 3 days tops.

I doubt many will plan to stay a week in sub freezing conditions in DC when renting a space for a few days will suffice.

[Samantha]

16. There are 10-12 rooms (University-type student rooms) going up

for rent soon at this same sight. They will be available to rent for 7 days, four days, and just overnight.

If you are looking for something like that, the pictures will be posted in the next few days.

I inquired today for people like you looking for something a lot less. There is a lot of other housing going up between now and the Inauguration at varying rates. Don't know anything more.

Sam

[1Hippiechick]

8. My boss has been invited to the BALL! I am so excited for her!

She is taking her entire family to DC to "look around." She asked me if I would be willing to move to DC. I said, "In a hearbeat!!!" Keep your fingers crossed. I have had a feeling for months that she would end up in DC. She wouldn't tell me anything except, "Keep thinking like that." Man, wouldn't that be a dream come true--to work in DC now. Plus, our older son and his wife live about an hour south of DC. My feet haven't touched earth.

(Sorry, I know this is a little off topic, but it fits a little, and I didn't want to create a thread just on this.)

[Samantha]

11. This is truly a unique place - I would be excited too if I were you

There's a neat little place on N Street called the Iron Gate Inn. If your boss is in that neighborhood, she might want to stop by. It's a restaurant built from an old carriage house. I believe it is the only one left. A large grape arbor hangs over the patio area; in the summer time, it is the neatest little place in the world to take a friend. Inside, the eating areas are reportedly constructed from the stalls where the horses used to be bedded down for the night.

The museums and concert places are unbelievable. I personally Love Wolf Trap in Vienna and, of course, the Kennedy Center. I hate to date myself but two of the most memorable nights of my life were sitting on the lawn listening to the Righteous Brothers perform at Wolf Trap, and going to the Kennedy Center to see a Dionne Warwick performance.

Many visitors here love the International Spy Museum. There are just too many attractions to name them all, but one can live here a lifetime and never run out of exciting things to do and interesting people to meet.

All one has to do is take a casual walk down K Street, and he or she will meet political personalities frequently observed on cable passing through the park, talking on their cell phones or strolling down the sidewalk conversing with a friend. I left my job a couple of years ago at lunchtime to visit Borders, where Ted Kennedy had a book signing. It was the first time I had personally come so close to someone I so admire so much, and it was so simple and so easy to do.

I attended two book signings of Al Gore with the same ease, and I also attended two of Richard Clarke's, two of my all-time heroes.

There is no other place like this place, and I love it here. So will you boss, and of course, you as well if given the opportunity.

Good luck.

Sam

[flpoljunkie]

17. Invited to a ball by the Obama campaign? Or, one of the state balls?

How exciting for her and for you!

[virginiamomma]

21. Great news for your boss!

I have been working in the DC area for 20+ years and the gov't
can be a great place for a woman to have responsibility and
get ahead. 
Does she have a place to stay for her trip  We can accomodate
up to 7 people at a very reasonable rate.  I would also be
willing to show her (or you around)the area.  I tried to email
you but received a message that I don't have enough posts to
send you an email.  

[KansasVoter]

9. Great, SPAM on the DU!

[Samantha]

10. How rude you are

I am getting zero from this. I posted this info for the benefit of anyone looking for a place after I have repeatedly read posts for info. I heard on NBC this week, the cost of a hotel room has gone up to $1,000 per night during the Inauguration. That is an incredible figure per night for one person. There are, however, a myriad of spikes of increases in costs this town will face as a result of the huge multitudes of people coming here.

I posted the website I was told was going up, and I have zero interest in that as well. The website was just built, and new properties will be added between now and the election.

You might call this info Spam; I saw it as offering the information I learned as a public DU service. And if I hear of anything else that might be available, I plan to post that as well.

Sam

[angee_is_mad]

12. Have picture?

maybe that would help.

[Samantha]

14. No, I am sorry

I went to the website that has just been built and saw only two pictures. I know this house was just listed, so I thought it would be a good idea to tell people here before the general public found out, sort of give a leg up.

I am sure you saw the comment above about the price. Let me tell you what I am thinking. If I desperately wanted to come to the Inauguration and couldn't get a place, I would do what most people here in the City do when they want to rent a highly desirable place out of their price range. We get together with our friends who also cannot afford the higher priced vacation places, define the dates we want to rent, fill it to the desired sleeping capacity (I think this house sleeps nine, see above, split the cost and negotiate with the agent-- oops, on edit, sleeps up to eight). That is exactly how I manage to vacation in a condo that is $2,500 a week in Ocean City that is right on the Ocean -- and I am a person of modest means.

If you keep checking that website, I believe a picture will go up, but all I can tell you is that it is a very lovely home in an extremely safe area. Safe (considering this is the D.C. suburbs "safe" is the key word).

If you want me to ask when a picture might be available, I will take a shot at that. Let me know.

Most of my friends who live here have already been contacted by out-of-town friends and relatives looking for a place to stay for cheap or free. I don't know of anything else available for that reason. But if I hear of anyone renting a room or two, I will post that information for any DU interested parties. I am only interested in being of help to those here who like like a little assist. There's nothing else in for me.

Sam

[stillcool]

13. I can't go, but it seems like a very..

good deal for a group of people who want to take the week off and make it a really great vacation.

[Samantha]

15. That is what I thought

If I lived outside the Beltway and were planning on coming here for a historical event, if at all possible I would try to stay one week. Looks like from most of what I have seen and heard, places are being rented nightly, by four-nights or by the week. There is so much of historical and cultural significance to see here, if I thought I only would get to make one trip, I would try to make the trip last a week, and catch some of the other amazing sights to see.

It is the political capital of the world, and even a week does not do it justice. But I am sure not everyone has the luxury of staying the whole week....

Sam

[ecstatic]

18. ..

That sounds like a great opportunity for your friend, hope someone takes it.

[ddeclue]

19. Sorry but I'm just a poor Democrat.. (hey that's redundant)

If I wrangle the tix I requested from my Congressman-elect then I'll most likely be staying in the closest Motel-6 rat trap that I can find...


Doug D.

[Samantha]

20. Did you see the above post about the rooms coming up for rent

for a single night, four days or a week? They are going to posted soon - very simple accommodations for people looking for a lower price and a shorter stay. There will be a lot of other places posted as well, the whole range of prices and stay duration is going to posted as people here list them. Maybe even a poor Dem can find something. I not I have a feeling you will still find a great way to celebrate.

Sam

[KittyWampus]

22. Great Thread, I'm in the public accommodations business. The price you mentioned is reasonable

for a large group of people over 3 nights.

Though I would want a huge security deposit in the event the strangers turned out to be destructive idiots.

And those people who are going might want a thread to SQUEE in.

[randyjrres]

23. Inauguration Accommodations

Hello we are offering our retreat for rent for the week of the Inauguration.

It is located 2 hours away on Maryland's Eastern Shore. This place is absolutely beautiful you have to check it out.


Check put our website at http://www.chesapeakeretreats.com/default.htm

Or contact Percy Ransome on his CELL:1-215-350-1165, WORK:1-888-988-5747, HOME:1-856-231-8850