Frequently Asked Questions about Washington DC
Is Washington DC safe?
Washington DC has a lot of crime and safety precautions should be taken to minimise risks of becoming a victim. Women should take extra care walking at night. In general, neighbourhoods in the Northeast and Southeast, past 11th Street, are more dangerous with higher crime statistics. Expats should be vigilant taking the metro line late at night. Most apartments in popular residential neighbourhoods do not need private security and well traversed sections of the city are well patrolled around the clock.
Do I need a car?
A car can be a major liability in DC. A car is necessary if accommodation is not near any of the interconnecting public transportation routes. These are well run, cheap and easily navigable means of transportation and close proximity to these lines negates most benefits of a car. Parking is a major problem in DC and, besides finding coveted parking spaces, is very expensive.
How do I find cheap accommodation?
Although property rentals are very high in DC, it is also unusually easy to find cheap short term rentals. There is a large student population in DC, which largely goes home for the summer. Subletting apartments over university holidays is a cheap means of first renting apartments in the city. Universities also often rent out unused housing during the summer months.
What is the weather like?
DC was considered a hardship post by UK expats working for the British Government before the advent of air-conditioners. Summer months of July and August get extremely humid with temperatures hovering around 86°F (30°C). Cold but winters hover around freezing temperatures for December and January, with occasional snowfall.
