Fort Belvoir review

Author Message   Bob Dart Senior Member Username: Bobdart Post Number: 1373 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 76.29.20.95 Posted on Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 01:28 am:    If I'm on that side of the area I enjoy Ft. Belvoir or Quantico. If I'm on the east side then Bolling is okay but there isn't any place close by to eat.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6125 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 - 12:09 am:    B.J., perhaps your family members in Clarendon could investigate what nearby civilian motels would give you a good military discount? That could eliminate the traffic problems that others already have discussed. (Staying at a military base is not always the best choice when all factors are considered!) However, if you do not need to STAY near those folks, but will just be going to see them maybe once or twice during your visit to Washington, then consider trying for lodging (Gateway Inn OR Navy Lodge) at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, just outside the District line. From its campus you can walk across the street to a MetroRail station for the 'subway' into DC -- no parking problems, and Metro will take you near all the main tourist spots with no parking problems and no traffic jams to sit in for a couple of hours each day.   Richard T. Brown Intermediate Member Username: Dick Post Number: 130 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.242.179.68 Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 02:10 pm:    Yes they are both in D.C. and the area immediately outside the gate is less than desireable. Know the area.   DeeDee Clarke Senior Member Username: Deedee Post Number: 558 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 72.181.14.46 Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 12:24 pm:    Leland - Bollling AFB and the Naval Research Lab are actually in DC.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5881 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 11:43 am:    Hi Karen, Belvoir is nice, but the trip up US-1 or the Parkway (or, shudder, I-95) to the Clarendon area will be grim any time between 06 and about 10, and back down southbound between 16 and 19. That is one of the rush hour corridors and you can absolutely count on sitting stationary in your car, fuming. Besides, Myer is beautiful in its own way. Not bucolic, no deer, but a lot of very nice historic buildings, the US Army Band giving concerts at their home hall, the Old Guard doing funerals at next-door Arlington National Cemetery (complete with horse-drawn caisson), the Pentagon just down the hill, and a mess hall open to retirees. Then, of course, there's Bolling AFB and the Navy Lodge at the Naval Research Laboratory, both physically closer than Belvoir, but in Maryland, which requires crossing the Potomac (something everybody tries to avoid due to traffic). Of the military bases, Bolling will almost certainly be cheapest, followed by the Naval Research Lab, then Belvoir, then Myer. Unfortunately, only Myer gets you out of the bad traffic.   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 305 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 162.39.14.105 Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 11:05 am:    B.J., the locals on the board can advise you better than I on distance/location. But here's my 2 cents: I agree that you may be able to score something cheaper on Priceline. We liked staying at Ft. Belvoir & I really loved walking through the beautiful base housing area not far from lodging. (some deer were walking around). Next time we plan to try & stay at the lodging in Annapolis, MD, at the military academy. It was just so beautiful, that I would recommend staying there atleast 2 nights.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5875 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 03:23 pm:    If you want to call Ft Myer (now officially Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall) their contact information is at http://www.fmmc.army.mil/sites/newcomers/lodge.asp   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5874 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 02:24 pm:    In terms of proximity your best bet would be Ft. Myer. But it is expensive. I would think you would do better to go to Hotwire or Priceline for a commercial hotel.   B.J.O'Connor Member Username: Billyjo Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 68.127.176.254 Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 02:21 pm:    Doris & Karen, We plan on visiting the D.C. area in early August and will need housing for a week or ten days. Would this area be ideal for visiting family in the Clarendon area of N. VA. or might there be better alternatives closer?   Doris Noblet Senior Member Username: Dorknob Post Number: 772 Registered: 09-2003 Posted From: 71.252.88.95 Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 07:25 pm:    I'm so glad you enjoyed our "neighborhood" base, Karen. I've been recommending Ft. Belvoir as a place to stay for quite some time.   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 272 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 216.153.181.206 Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 10:57 am:    My family & I just stayed at Ft. Belvoir for 2 nights. $70 total for 2 rooms with a shared bathroom. Good breakfast was included. The rooms were very tastefully decorated, WI FI access in rooms, as well as a computer in the billetting hallways to check your email, etc. We stayed in Bldg 80, which was a short drive away from check-in, near the officers club. The nearby base housing is a beautiful place to take a walk. Very nice houses,landscape, deer running around, (O-6 and above housing). Also, at Ft. Belvoir they have built a downtown Main Street area, which a Starbucks, little BX, GNC, etc. About 15 minutes away is the Franconia Metro station, which will take you to downtown DC in about 30 minutes. I would recommend staying here. Very beautiful base. Also close to Mt. Vernon.