Washington, D.C.-Area Hotels Starting at $135 Per Night

New York (November 12, 2008) – With more than two million people expected to crowd Washington, D.C. for President-Elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2009, travelers need to start planning now if they want to be part of one of the biggest public parties in history. Washington, D.C.-area hotels are either at capacity or sold out.  Luckily the editors at ShermansTravel.com have found several chic and affordable hotels from $135 per night on Inauguration Day, plus a handful of deals to help get you to D.C. a few days early.

■    Days Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel: $135 per night.  Less than an hour's drive from Washington DC, the Days Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel is a comfortable and affordable choice for budget-minded travelers heading to the capital for the big day. Stay here and you're just steps from the picturesque waterfront, where you can climb aboard the Civil War ship USS Constellation and also find diverse dining options and excellent shopping. www.daysinn.com; 410-576-1000.

■    Doubletree Hotel Bethesda from $299 per night. Just northwest of Washington, DC, in the trendy suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, the newly-renovated Doubletree Hotel Bethesda is just five short blocks to the subway into DC. Its reasonably priced accommodations will get you to the Inauguration from $299 per night and allow you to unwind after the festivities in a spacious, newly renovated guestroom with free internet access. Amenities also include an on-site restaurant, wine bar, sushi bar, and state-of-the-art fitness center.  www.doubletreebethesda.com; 301-652-2000

■    Georgetown Inn from $429 per night. For deluxe accommodations right in DC, try the chic European-style Georgetown Inn, where 96 stately guestrooms and suites offer spectacular city views. Visit the upscale shops and restaurants along the nearby Georgetown Waterfront, or jump on the metro at Foggy Bottom for a quick ride to the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, and other top DC attractions. Rates for rooms from January 17-21 start at $429 per night; a four-night minimum stay and full advance payment are required. www.georgetowninn.com; 202-333-8900

■    Hotel Monaco Alexandria from $442/night.  Just minutes away from the Washington, DC capital, Hotel Monaco Alexandria offers four-star accommodation in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, the Colonial seaport that was George Washington’s hometown. Luxurious amenities include a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, in-room spa services along with free airport shuttle service, and wireless internet. Book one of the hotel’s 241 spacious guestrooms and suites during Inauguration week with rates from $442 per night.  www.monaco-alexandria.com; 800-556-6087

■    Round-trip flights to DC on US Airways from $165.  If you plan to fly to the capital, book one of the low round-trip fares currently available on US Airways. Starting from just $165 round-trip, you can fly from New York and other US cities, avoiding the drive into the city. A 21-day advance purchase is required. Travel is valid through February 11. www.travelocity.com; 888-872-8356

Travelers can prepare to make their way around the nation’s capital and get the most out of their visit by checking out the ShermansTravel.com Washington, D.C. Editor Picks.  Get the lowdown on the city’s top restaurants, bars, and hotels – and discover the best places to rub elbows with the nation’s power elite.

If you want to experience a taste of the nation’s capital, then visit now – when it’s affordable.  To beat the crowds and experience all the capital has to offer without Inauguration Day price tags, ShermansTravel.com recommends these affordable capital-city vacations:

■    Hotel George four-night package with flight from $707.  Book this luxury Capitol Hill vacation, and you're just steps away from major attractions and monuments like the White House, the Vietnam Memoria, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Starting at $707, this deluxe package includes flight and four nights’ accommodation at the fashionable Hotel George, a luxury boutique hotel with spacious modern guestrooms and amenities that include a 24-hour fitness center, steamrooms, and a classic French bistro onsite.  www.travelocity.com; 888-872-8356

■    Quick DC weekend escape with flight from $230.  Looking for a last-minute DC getaway? Check out Travelocity's affordable hotel and flight packages. Starting from just $230, you can head to the capital as soon as this weekend with your choice of hotels and round-trip airfare included. For $290, you’ll get flight and accommodation at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Woodley Park, an Art Deco landmark just a few minutes away from DC’s main tourist center. For a deluxe stay just one block from Dupont Circle and Embassy Row, try a contemporary weekend getaway at the Hotel Palomar, where package rates start at just $366. www.travelocity.com; 888-872-8356