A few days ago, I checked with a half-dozen Washington-area hotels, ranging from the luxe Willard Intercontinental to the not-so-luxe Hampton Inn, and found that all had rooms available for this weekend’s Obama inauguration festivities. That was a huge change from Obama’s first inauguration, in January 2009, when nearly all the area’s hotel rooms were sold out.
On Saturday, as Obama supporters arrived for the Monday ceremony, I checked with those hotels again. I asked if they had a room available for arrival on Saturday, staying three nights and departing on Tuesday, January 22. All still have rooms available.
Earlier this week, downtown’s Grand Hyatt had standard guest rooms available for $499 a night. They still do.
Earlier, the Hampton Inn near the Washington Convention Center had rooms available for $249 for Saturday and $459 for Sunday and Monday. The hotel still has availability, but the price is now $209 for Saturday and $529 for Sunday and Monday.
Earlier, the JW Marriott, right on the Pennsylvania Avenue inaugural parade route, had rooms available for $999 for Saturday and Sunday nights and $879 for Monday night. They still do, same price.
Earlier, the Holiday Inn across the Potomac in Rosslyn, Virginia, had rooms available for $395.99 each night. The rooms are still available, now at $369.99 per night.
Earlier, the Hotel Monaco had rooms available at $959 each night. They still do.
And finally, the luxurious Willard Intercontinental, in the middle of inaugural festivities, had rooms available, for $1,532 each night. They still do.
