The 4-person rate isn't for 4 beds, it's for 4 people. The rooms still only have 2 beds.

I did not tell them we had four people, and I don't plan to. Seeeeeriously.

... Let me exhibit more of my questionable ethics: meara, do they check ID? (I've never been carded; I look pretty old.) My only ID is a university card that just says "Undergraduate"; if they're lax about it, that might be enough. Just checkin'.

There's much talk about a trip to Lush/Georgetown. I haven't been, so I'dl like to go.

Basically, it seems like Saturday consisist of trips to the zoo, the museums on the Smithsonian on The Mall (of which there are several), and Georgetown. there will probably be several groups running about. the Mall and the Zoo are on Metro lines, Georgetown is a bit of a hike from the nearest Metro.

Well, it sounds like something's gone awry if they're not giving you the established rate for 2 people in 2 beds. But aside from multiple beds in a youth hostel communal room setup, I don't think you'll ever find 4 beds in a room. One king or two doubles are the standard breakdowns.

Georgetown is a bit of a hike from the nearest Metro.

There are buses that go along M street, but I don't know how one gets to them if one is not coming from Friendship Heights.

Yeah, RLiz, I'd definitely say call back tomorrow and make sure we're getting the group rate then--and perhaps more importantly, that we're being counted toward the Buffista Total Room Numbers.

And yeah, they card. I could see, when it gets closer, if I'll know the door person, but it's iffy. I'll ask the door person I know how close they card--and how much leeway I get as a performer. :)

There are buses that go along M street, but I don't know how one gets to them if one is not coming from Friendship Heights.

Bus? What is this bus thing you speak of?

Big boxy things with TV ads on the side. You know, with the wheels?

There is a metro stop in Friendship Heights, Tenley Town.

I'll say that I'll go, but then I'll end up sleeping in and not knowing when or whence people are leaving and just sit around talking all day instead.

I could be totally cool with this, too. Especially the "sleeping in" part.

But aside from multiple beds in a youth hostel communal room setup, I don't think you'll ever find 4 beds in a room. One king or two doubles are the standard breakdowns.

OK. I must have read the thing too hastily (certainly not impossible or improbable!). Still, it doesn't matter, because the four-person rate has nothing to do with me because I'm not telling them four of us instead of two are going to be in the room on Saturday. I don't feel bad about that at all, either; I figure, when I went to Chicago with my mother and one of the women in the room right next to us brought a guy back to her room late one night and they had loud sex interspersed with loud sexy banter (the walls were very thin) until early morning-- I figure, you know, she didn't pay extra because she brought a guest back to the room one night, and in the extremely unlikely event that a hotel employee notices we suddenly have four people in our room instead of two I will easily and simply explain it by having sex with meara.

Oh, see how I did that?

No, *seriously*, though, Kate and meara have nothing to do with the rate of our room. I did not mention them on the phone to the woman.