Odd question

[Rob M.]

All,

This is an off-topic question but in preparation of our vacation to the states we booked our trip in May. Now our travel agent is stating that in the Washington DC area the sales tax has been raised by 2% so we have to pay an additional fee for our booked holiday (app. 60 euros). Is this indeed the case or are they trying to get some compensation for the increased fuel cost of the flight?

greetings,
Rob & Simone

PS See you all at Carlisle!!!

[Dave Suesz]

Re: Odd question

Rob- This link was similar to several others.

http://www.agacgfm.org/conferences/nlc/aboutdc.aspx

For what it's worth, the local paper recent article index:
http://www.washtimes.com/metro

I assume you are renting a car (Carlisle is such a long walk from D.C.) you could stay in Maryland or Virginia and drive into town. The city is a unique entity, not part of the nearby (VERY nearby) states, and will have different tax rates (and probably lower hotel fees).

I would suggest you start your tour by driving to Arlington National Cemetery, just over the Memorial Bridge in Virginia, and see the Guard of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Then you can take the Metro or bus into the city, or even walk (a lot of walking, but I am a hiker). Wear comfortable walking shoes, the center of the city is the Mall, which runs from the Lincoln Memorial (near the Memorial Bridge, and one of my favorite places on earth- be sure to read the inscriptions inside) to the Capitol, almost everything you would want to see is near this long rectangle. You will be suprised how small the White House is, I have seen Buckingham and Versailles. You can get very close to it on the Pennsylvania Avenue side.

Use Mapquest.com to pre-plan your driving, European visitors here typically underestimate how far apart things are.

[Larry P.]

Re: Odd question

My advice to anybody visiting Washington DC would be to stay outside the city and use the Metro system. Use the Trolly tour and it will take you close to everything. The quides are knowledgeable and you can get off and back on every 15 minutes, all day. Don't miss the cathedral or the Smithsonian(5 buildings). I would plan two full days for Washington.
Larry