|
Post by gary on Aug 31, 2015 17:13:29 GMT -5
I don't know if it will be covered by the CA. In 2013 it was one hotel and we all knew which one because we got a second email Admission Notice for the SI shortly after receiving the one for the WD/LBMT.
If they test as many a day as they did in 2013, they'll have several panels of interviews running at once. I'm not sure whether the Theodore Roosevelt Building could accommodate the SIs most days while also doing the WD/LBMT testing for the next group.
|
|
|
Post by nj4096 on Aug 31, 2015 17:34:00 GMT -5
If possible either do not rely on metro subway system or give yourself a lot of lead time heading to your test and interview. I must acknowledge that I telework a lot so do not take metro regularly. Lately there have been a lot of snafus/delays on metro. I have been stuck one stop away from my destination for 20 minutes due to track maintenance for example. Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by ba on Aug 31, 2015 19:08:59 GMT -5
I stayed at the state plaza (stateplaza.com). It was the cheapest option I found, was very close to opm and was an easy walk to the Embassy Suites where our si was. Funky is still trying to get rid of the bedbugs.
|
|
|
Post by Ready-Now! on Sept 2, 2015 15:59:31 GMT -5
I am looking at the Hilton Garden Inn $189 per night. Anyone know anything about this hotel?
|
|
|
Post by Ready-Now! on Sept 2, 2015 16:02:04 GMT -5
Not being familiar with the area, this Hilton is in the area on M street. So I walk the length of the alphabet from M to E street.
|
|
|
Post by luckylady2 on Sept 2, 2015 16:08:02 GMT -5
I think you walk not just M to E but from 14th to 19th Streets NW, and don't forget the intervening named streets (states (diagonals), not letters or numbers (grid)) You might want to take a cab.
|
|
|
Post by Ready-Now! on Sept 2, 2015 16:11:38 GMT -5
Might want to just find something closer,lol. I did like that price though!
|
|
|
Post by keepsake on Sept 2, 2015 16:34:16 GMT -5
Just my personal take - there are a lot of hotels in the general area of downtown D.C./White House area that I saw - and I mean right in D.C. and not outside of it - and these are within quite a reasonable distance of OPM and/or the SI site I had (the Embassy Suites). These hotels are within a short and inexpensive cab ride (I spent less than $15 with tip on each day) I just spent a lot of time walking around this area on Sunday as I had flown in on Saturday so as not to stress about finding where everything was or having a flight delay/lack of sleep etc.
One could even walk to one or both places from a lot of these many hotels if one elected, about which I throw the following word of caution - don't try this if it is hot and humid (90+ like it was earlier this week) and you're not sufficiently acclimated to this type of weather or you might be an absolute sweaty hot mess when you arrive for either the testing or the interview, which is not a good thing. Nevertheless, I saw a lot of hotels that were quite close to the sites. Of course price and availability on any particular day is a question and, as they say, your mileage may vary. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by ba on Sept 2, 2015 18:47:09 GMT -5
Not being familiar with the area, this Hilton is in the area on M street. So I walk the length of the alphabet from M to E street. There's no J street (because I and J were indistinguishable in the old days), so that's one less block.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Sept 2, 2015 23:05:22 GMT -5
OPM is doing it differently this time. The testees will receive the SI Admission Notice at OPM's building on the day they take the WD/LBMT. I wonder if we can read into this that the SI will also be at the OPM building. Is that a piece of intel that the first week testers can share once they find out? Or would that bring us in to the CA realm? No, I don't think that means the SI will be at OPM. The SIs have been at hotels for a long time. They know the SI dates, they reserve the interview rooms. You know the date of your SI, just not the time.
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Sept 3, 2015 7:28:45 GMT -5
I wonder if we can read into this that the SI will also be at the OPM building. Is that a piece of intel that the first week testers can share once they find out? Or would that bring us in to the CA realm? No, I don't think that means the SI will be at OPM. The SIs have been at hotels for a long time. They know the SI dates, they reserve the interview rooms. You know the date of your SI, just not the time. The only reason I can imagine them doing the SI at OPM is if there is only 1 SI panel and they have an empty conference room. Otherwise why change what has worked for them in the past.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Sept 3, 2015 8:31:41 GMT -5
I don't know if it will be covered by the CA. In 2013 it was one hotel and we all knew which one because we got a second email Admission Notice for the SI shortly after receiving the one for the WD/LBMT. If they test as many a day as they did in 2013, they'll have several panels of interviews running at once. I'm not sure whether the Theodore Roosevelt Building could accommodate the SIs most days while also doing the WD/LBMT testing for the next group. That, (and what Gaidin said) and all the security and badges and escorts that go along with getting in to the OPM building-- much easier to set up in a hotel.
|
|
|
Post by corvette1963 on Sept 4, 2015 20:28:58 GMT -5
I'm testing Oct. 29th with SI on Oct. 30th. The best government employee rate I could find was $222 p/nt at the State Plaza Inn. Will probably reserve the night of the 28th but a friend of mine who lives in D.C., and is an SES at the Department of Interior, has offered me his guest room and a guarantee that he will have me at OPM by 7:30 a.m.
|
|
|
Post by cafeta on Sept 4, 2015 23:29:22 GMT -5
I'm testing Oct. 29th with SI on Oct. 30th. The best government employee rate I could find was $222 p/nt at the State Plaza Inn. Will probably reserve the night of the 28th but a friend of mine who lives in D.C., and is an SES at the Department of Interior, has offered me his guest room and a guarantee that he will have me at OPM by 7:30 a.m. Dang, best deal yet! I would definitely accept that offer!
|
|
|
Post by cafeta on Sept 4, 2015 23:33:39 GMT -5
Just my personal take - there are a lot of hotels in the general area of downtown D.C./White House area that I saw - and I mean right in D.C. and not outside of it - and these are within quite a reasonable distance of OPM and/or the SI site I had (the Embassy Suites). These hotels are within a short and inexpensive cab ride (I spent less than $15 with tip on each day) ....edit.... I hope you tipped well! [former cabbie here!].
|
|
|
Post by lawmom90 on Sept 6, 2015 15:06:51 GMT -5
I'm going to stay at the Hampton Inn, thanks to my generous and helpful Father in law One question--cabs or UBER?
|
|
|
Post by auroraborealis on Sept 6, 2015 15:17:39 GMT -5
I'm going to stay at the Hampton Inn, thanks to my generous and helpful Father in law One question--cabs or UBER? Uber. Hands down much better service and cheaper than cabs in DC.
|
|
|
Post by lawmom90 on Sept 6, 2015 15:21:24 GMT -5
I'm going to stay at the Hampton Inn, thanks to my generous and helpful Father in law One question--cabs or UBER? Uber. Hands down much better service and cheaper than cabs in DC. Thanks, now I just have to figure out how to use it I am flying into Reagan and staying at a hotel 5 miles away from the airport.
|
|
|
Post by Gram Pop on Sept 6, 2015 19:36:07 GMT -5
I'm going to stay at the Hampton Inn, thanks to my generous and helpful Father in law One question--cabs or UBER? Lawmom, I stayed at the Hampton Inn when I tested. It's just a few blocks from there to OPM and if the weather cooperates, it's a very nice walk. If the SI is at Embassy Suites, that's a bit further, though I walked there as well. I found the walk to be calming and it helped me get ready to deal with the "ordeal." Walking also removes the worry about whether the uber driver will show up on time. The best part comes after your first day of testing when you slowly walk back to your hotel and just happen to encounter a dark but pleasant establishment that serves the adult beverage of your choice. Stop in. You won't regret it. And.... you earned it. Best of luck!
|
|
|
Post by lawmom90 on Sept 7, 2015 18:54:45 GMT -5
I'm going to stay at the Hampton Inn, thanks to my generous and helpful Father in law One question--cabs or UBER? Lawmom, I stayed at the Hampton Inn when I tested. It's just a few blocks from there to OPM and if the weather cooperates, it's a very nice walk. If the SI is at Embassy Suites, that's a bit further, though I walked there as well. I found the walk to be calming and it helped me get ready to deal with the "ordeal." Walking also removes the worry about whether the uber driver will show up on time. The best part comes after your first day of testing when you slowly walk back to your hotel and just happen to encounter a dark but pleasant establishment that serves the adult beverage of your choice. Stop in. You won't regret it. And.... you earned it. Best of luck! Thank you for the kind remarks and wishes. Now I have to go research the location of the Embassy Suites, since this is not the first time I've seen this mentioned as a prospective location for the SI. I also need to look into buying a pair of "kitten heels."
|
|