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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Jul 1, 2016 12:39:56 GMT -5
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Jul 1, 2016 13:33:35 GMT -5
Ah, good to know!!! Are there taxis available on the mall? Mass transit is a fairly foreign concept to me, so taxis seem less . . . precarious.
J
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 1, 2016 13:54:58 GMT -5
Ah, good to know!!! Are there taxis available on the mall? Mass transit is a fairly foreign concept to me, so taxis seem less . . . precarious. J Not "on" the mall, per se, but on the streets surrounding it. A walk down the mall is one if those things you have to do. Like strolling the Tidal Basin at cherry blossom time. The first time I tested, the Cherry Blossom Festival was on, and the trees in full bloom. 🌸 |
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Jul 1, 2016 14:35:35 GMT -5
That must have been something to see! So, I would definitely walk some mall, but after a day wandering the Smithsonian, a taxi back will probably be just the thing!
J
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Post by onepingonly on Jul 1, 2016 15:10:10 GMT -5
Taxi or Uber will take you to Udvar-Hazy, or rent a car. Good stuff there for flight enthusiasts.
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Post by Baymax on Jul 1, 2016 15:25:13 GMT -5
And I thought you were referring to the Space Shuttle Enterprise: that is located at the Intrepid Museum in New York Harbor. The A&S Museum Annex holds the Space Shuttle Discovery (I got to watch Discovery's final launch from Cape Canaveral... gotta get to the annex to see the bird up close). EDIT: I think my Trekkie card just got revoked.  |
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Post by trekker on Jul 1, 2016 15:26:26 GMT -5
The Smithsonian is an easy walk from OPM. You will all be fortunate if there is no government shutdown when you are in DC to test. I've never seen the Mall and the Smithsonian Metro station so empty. I remember between the government shutdowns of 1995 and 1996, I had a hearing at the DC OHA (that was what it was called back then) and walked over to the Vermeer exhibit at the Smithsonian after it ended. (Visiting the Smithsonian museums was the best way to relax after a difficult hearing back in the day.) Walked right in and had the exhibit to myself - the first shutdown ended fairly quickly. Two or three days later the second shutdown happened and DC was a ghost town. When it ended three weeks later, it was impossible to get into the exhibit. Strange how some things stick with you longer than others. |
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Post by trekker on Jul 1, 2016 15:29:10 GMT -5
Ah, good to know!!! Are there taxis available on the mall? Mass transit is a fairly foreign concept to me, so taxis seem less . . . precarious. J I would highly advise you to learn the transit system in DC -- even if it is falling apart. Depending on what time of year you are in the city, traffic around the mall is horrendous. Uber is good early morning or late evening but the rest of the day you are paying to sit in traffic. Plus the tourists and diplomats don't know how to drive. The metro is easy and generally reliable. |
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Post by wingnut on Jul 1, 2016 15:39:32 GMT -5
I am not from DC and I found the transit system super easy to use and got me everywhere. One of the draws of visiting, not having to mess around with a rental car and driving in a strange city.
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Post by sophie22 on Jul 1, 2016 15:43:11 GMT -5
For those that make it phase 3, I know we're are on our own financially, but does OPM give us a list of preferred hotels? Discounted rates?
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Post by pubdef on Jul 1, 2016 15:49:40 GMT -5
For those that make it phase 3, I know we're are on our own financially, but does OPM give us a list of preferred hotels? Discounted rates? They didn't when I was sent with the 1st 2013 group. Maybe they started something like that later, but I doubt it. |
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Post by Baymax on Jul 1, 2016 15:59:34 GMT -5
For those that make it phase 3, I know we're are on our own financially, but does OPM give us a list of preferred hotels? Discounted rates? They didn't when I was sent with the 1st 2013 group. Maybe they started something like that later, but I doubt it. They don't, but here is a thread for the DC testing done last fall: aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/3463/lbmt-testing-august-september-threadAnother thread: aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/3453/moving-dc-phase-testing-2015I used these threads to narrow down the best hotels and get intel on area dining/grocery/etc. and the Embassy Suites where the SI is usually held. I stayed at the State Plaza Hotel, which is just down the road from OPM. I was able to get the government rate (not bc of OPM - rather because of my current job), which included a free breakfast at their restaurant (which opens at 7am - which is what time I needed to be at OPM for testing the first day - but had a yummy omelet the morning of my SI). :-) The State Plaza had its own mini kitchen, a nice sized room, powder room in addition to the bathroom, and was VERY comfy. The Embassy Suites where the SI is usually held was too expensive to justify two nights, and it was only a 25 minute walk from the State Plaza, and very doable. In the above two threads someone mentioned the Whole Foods that is about 5 blocks from the State Plaza, which proved to be an amazing find. TIP: the first floor (ground level) of the Whole Foods is their huge prepared food/hot food area, while the grocery store is one flood down (I learned this the hard way). Anyway, there's a LOT of amazing info on the board about logistics for the WD/LBMT/SI trip to DC. |
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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Jul 1, 2016 16:03:55 GMT -5
For those that make it phase 3, I know we're are on our own financially, but does OPM give us a list of preferred hotels? Discounted rates? DC is NOT a hard place to figure out. Pick a hotel near a metro and you will be set for an easy ride downtown. I would tell you Rosslyn, Crystal City and Pentagon City (All located in Arlington County and directly across the Potomac river -so an easy metro ride) will all be safe bets - just do a travelosity search and make sure the hotel is walking distance (or a shuttle provided) to the metro... but in those 3 areas I note above - super easy. There are other spots - including downtown - but those tend to be more expensive. Spots in Maryland like Chevy Chase - but that is a bit farther of a ride. There is a whole thread devoted to travel with recommendations. Read through it for ideas - but honestly folks - until you get that email - what is the point. We have all traveled enough in our lives to know how to book a flight and find a hotel. DCA - Reagan National Airport is the closest airport physically to DC (sits between Alexandria and Arlington) - you literally fly down the Potomac on approach and see Georgetown University, the Washington Monument - it is a pretty approach into the city. You can also fly into Dulles airport... often flights are cheaper into Dulles as it is a bigger airport. I would not recommend staying out there (In Northern VA - Reston/Herndon area) as that is 35-40 min outside of the city assuming NO Traffic - and there WILL BE A LOT OF TRAFFIC during rush hour. Then there is BWI (Baltimore-Washington International) - usually has the cheapest flights in area overall - BUT it is a bit over an hour away without traffic... it is essentially outside of Baltimore - and not what I would describe as close to DC - that said - if you fly into BWI - you will definitely want to arrange for a close in hotel. |
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Jul 1, 2016 17:42:39 GMT -5
If we can't be overconfident, there really is no point to participating in the process.  Back to planning my vacay! J |
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 2, 2016 1:26:45 GMT -5
I stayed in the hotel where they conducted the SI portion of the exam it was a walkable distance from OPM. I arrived early enough on the day before the exam to walk over to OPM and from there onto the Mall and to visit the separate war memorials. I always try to visit them when I am in DC.
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Post by litig8tor on Jul 3, 2016 15:55:17 GMT -5
I used Hilton points to stay at their hotel directly across the street from the McPherson Square Metro stop. It was a straight shot and cheap Metro ride in from and back to Reagan airport and a quick ride to OPM for the test. I flew in an extra day early (just my lack of faith in airlines and predicting good weather) so I had a day to visit old favorites. Being in the middle of town made that very easy.
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Post by christina on Jul 3, 2016 16:40:11 GMT -5
I stayed at river inn next to gwu. Very near whole foods and a comfortable walk to opm building and where our Si wad held.
I loved it there and it is my go to hotel in dc.
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Post by numbersix on Jul 3, 2016 17:26:00 GMT -5
I was happy with the Courtyard by Marriott, Foggy Bottom. I took the Metro to the hotel. Easy walk from the Metro stop. I liked being able to walk to OPM's building. I even went back to my room at the lunch break. There is a Starbucks on the same block. I took an Uber to the Structered Interview location.
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Post by stevil on Jul 3, 2016 18:22:23 GMT -5
I did exactly what numbersix did and it worked great, except I ate lunch at OPM's cafeteria.
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Post by pumpkin on Jul 3, 2016 20:01:07 GMT -5
Well, I'm being very optimistic here and working on crocheting some red white and blue doilies that say "ALJ" on them, which can be used as coasters for your coffee mug or snappy display-type holders for your ALJ badges. It's not too early to start your holiday shopping for the ALJ-candidate in your life  Can you knit a wrap to go around my sitting standing desk with the ALJ logo on it? But of course! I will run out to Michael's for the yarn tonight....I've got a 50% off coupon that expires tomorrow. |
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