Phoenix Park is $264 for 5/13, a Sunday night which is usually the cheapest of the week. I wanted to go up to DC the weekend of NTD but I can't find a place to stay that I can afford - including Crystal City and Arlington etc.
Assuming you only want 1 night on the 13th, right now I see a
Hampton Inn out by Reagan/National for $141 AAA rate.
And the Hampton in
Silver Springs, 3 blocks from the subway is $132 AAA.
Silver Spring is a great option for DC visitors wanting to say without paying the high downtown rates. There's a Marriott Courtyard there that can be had for $129 a night, and a Crowne Plaza that's comparable. Both are within walking distance from the Metro, and Silver Spring has a very vibrant, walkable downtown that's worth spending time exploring into itself. It's right on the Metro Red line, and is 15 min from Union Station.
As for things to do, there's definitely the mall, the monuments, the tidal basin, and the Smithsonian museums, which are all quite good, and Free. Be ware of other museums that charge, as some I'm not quite sure are worth the high cost of admissions. Examples in this category are the National Museum of Crime and Punishment, the Spy Museum, the Newseum, and the National Geographic Museum.
Two hidden gems that many tourists overlook are the Old Post Office Building clock tower, which offers great views of the city and hosts the Congressional Bells, and the National Building Museum. That, and the Post Office museum right next to Union Station are two of my favorites.
For the more nature inclined, there's the National Botanical Garden right on the mall, and if you are up for a short drive, bike ride, or decent walk, there's the National Arboretum as well.
Then there are plenty of off the beaten path small monuments, parks, and other things to see and do. Is there anything in particular you are interested in seeing/doing in DC?
~ DCTE