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Post by lucy on Jul 3, 2016 23:20:42 GMT -5
just reading this thread makes me feel superstitious and jinxed.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 4, 2016 10:48:12 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. This, IMHO, is the best advice. Another factor is that DC summers can be nasty hot and sticky! Walking in anything other than super light and (very little) clothing is not a viable option.
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Post by aljwishhope on Jul 4, 2016 11:38:37 GMT -5
Best bet this summer is to try to stay within short can ride to OPM. I do not know if metro can be relied on. They are doing this crazy safe track maintenance this summer. It normally takes me 1 hr 15 minutes to get home . Last week it took me 2 to 3 hours. Stations may be closed. Plan ahead if you must rely on metro. And note the closest metro stop to OPM was a long walk.
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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Jul 4, 2016 13:55:36 GMT -5
All: Anyone who applied on this recent refresh and just finished the online testing - please go to Polling section and vote - aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/3958/class-2016-ea-online-poll2 fold purpose - 1 I think many are curious how we each handled the EA - and I see that this poll was done in past. Second - If all of us who took the online testing vote on this - we will have an idea of numbers so that when we figure out who did or did not get the invite to stage 3 - we can get a handle on numbers cut/passed through.
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Post by mamaru on Jul 4, 2016 19:56:51 GMT -5
Best bet this summer is to try to stay within short can ride to OPM. I do not know if metro can be relied on. They are doing this crazy safe track maintenance this summer. It normally takes me 1 hr 15 minutes to get home . Last week it took me 2 to 3 hours. Stations may be closed. Plan ahead if you must rely on metro. And note the closest metro stop to OPM was a long walk. There are plenty of hotels within walking distance or a short taxi/uber ride from OPM and the Embassy Suites where the SI traditionally has been held. This is not the time to economize by relying on the metro to get you to the test.
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Post by bac on Jul 4, 2016 20:30:14 GMT -5
Courtyard. Walk to the SI. But for the testing at OPM, Courtyard
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Post by alohastate on Jul 4, 2016 22:59:05 GMT -5
I was thinking DC testing would probably be starting sometime around November, though Gary's excellent intel suggests an earlier start date. Even so, the conversation about where to stay if invited seems a bit premature.
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Post by Ready-Now! on Jul 4, 2016 23:14:09 GMT -5
FYI back in November 2015 OPM gave notice that the SI was moved from the Embassy Suites to the Washington Hilton. I don't know if this is the new site for future testing or yet another location will be chosen. Hotel planning may be a bit premature.
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Post by cafeta on Jul 7, 2016 15:34:39 GMT -5
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. Agreed! I highly recommend the State Plaza! For all of the above reasons! I stayed there, based on Funky's recommendation and loved it. I also got the govt rate due to my current position. It is very close to OPM, but if testing is in the sweltering season, I would definitely try to be close to the SI location over OPM, which is more casual. So I'd wait until the SI location is certain.
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Post by jagvet on Jul 7, 2016 15:44:52 GMT -5
Metro schedule is messed up this summer and fall for repair work. Give yourself extra time. I walked from Embassy Suites to OPM last summer and it was fine. Then the interviews were in the Embassy. If possible, stay in the interview hotel in case of rain or extreme heat, or even wind messing your hair! Less to think about, impossible to get lost!
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Post by bac on Jul 7, 2016 15:47:54 GMT -5
This is interesting because to me it was more important to be close to OPM and I would wing it to SI at Embassy. Different strokes
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Jul 7, 2016 15:58:37 GMT -5
I think it would depend on the time you had to be at a particular place. I think one poster said he had to be at OPM at 7 in the morning. In which case, one might prefer to be across the street. It's also possible to change hotels to wherever the SI is held. I'm probably too lazy for that, but it's been done.
J
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Post by basileia on Jul 7, 2016 20:22:21 GMT -5
I stayed at the Embassy Suites and walked to OPM for the first day. It took me maybe 20 minutes. I tend to prefer to walk if it is under a couple of miles. I wanted to be where the SI was because I wanted to be able to get to that without worries about working up a sweat walking and because, since it was the day I was checking out of the hotel, I then could have the hotel hold my luggage without me dragging it around with me. My husband flew in, arriving after the SI, rented a car, and picked me up. We then went to Delaware for the weekend. So I made a mini vacation out of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 5:38:02 GMT -5
I stayed at the Embassy Suites and walked to OPM for the first day. It took me maybe 20 minutes. I tend to prefer to walk if it is under a couple of miles. I wanted to be where the SI was because I wanted to be able to get to that without worries about working up a sweat walking and because, since it was the day I was checking out of the hotel, I then could have the hotel hold my luggage without me dragging it around with me. My husband flew in, arriving after the SI, rented a car, and picked me up. We then went to Delaware for the weekend. So I made a mini vacation out of it. Ditto for me.
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Post by Bueller on Jul 8, 2016 6:32:07 GMT -5
The bike share system is really easy and let's you get a few miles out without stressing. Not ideal for the interview of course.
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 8, 2016 7:18:57 GMT -5
Last time, I forget how I found it, but I stayed in what amounted to a one bedroom apartment. Might have found it on TripAdvisor. An easy walk to OPM, but I took a cab to the SI. I could have walked there, and in fact walked back, but I wanted to not stress out about anything before that. Easy walk to the Metro and to a Whole Foods and several other eating places.
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Post by atentamente on Jul 8, 2016 7:44:23 GMT -5
I agree with the assessments regarding The State Plaza Hotel.
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Post by mamaru on Jul 8, 2016 8:14:34 GMT -5
Another option is the Marriott across from Embassy Suites. When I went it was about $100 less per night - which brings us back to the point that price and availability of rooms in DC varies considerably based on the date and what happens to be going on in town. You cannot book ahead because (1) you don't even know if you will be invited to DC yet and (2) you don't know when - even if we can predict the range of dates. Take a deep breath people.
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ducky
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Post by ducky on Jul 8, 2016 11:26:56 GMT -5
Took the metro from DCA and walked dragging my small suitcase. I think to/from Foggybottom. But, you can check the Metro map for the hotels. I am up there often enough for work to want to avoid dealing with cab during the busy part of the day. Stayed at the Embassy Suites- they have breakfast. Took the paper coffee cup from my room and made a little egg bowl to get through the morning. That was convenient. Stayed on the Hilton Honors floor with a better rate and snacks. Beer and wine in the evening-all guests. The rate was good enough that I did not check around. The Marriott and Courtyard are right there too and pass the look test. I am picky. The Embassy Suites would not have passed the look test, but other than being dated, was comfortable and fine. I walked back, but took a cab to OPM. I walked to kill the nervous energy. It was a fine walk, but it was a little dark out for my walking taste in the early morning. There are plenty of cabs everywhere. At OPM, walk across to the hotel for a cab. There is a coffee shop at OPM and a cafeteria downstairs for lunch. I think almost all of us stayed there for lunch. I recommend cabbing it if you have any sports injuries. Several in my testing group including me did. The cab ride was super cheap (not even worth the Uber hassle).
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 8, 2016 20:06:49 GMT -5
I stayed in the SI hotel. I took a cab to OPM the morning of the WD and then just walked downstairs the morning of the SI. It was more expensive than other hotels but I felt better knowing I was only going to need a cab once.
I also think this conversation may be a bit premature because they may chance SI hotels. Not trying to stifle conversation but I would keep that in mind.
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