The Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington is doing its part to help The Washington Ballet bring George Washington to the stage, and as a nutcracker yet. The company’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 7-23 in the Warner Theatre, is staging the holiday classic with colonial sets and costumes, and of course, the first president in the title role. The InterContinental’s “Nutcracker Package” combines a night’s stay with ballet tickets. Is it a money-saver?
THE NUTCRACKER PACKAGE
Good on performance dates Dec. 7-23 at The Willard InterContinental.
$715, assuming a stay the night of Dec. 10.
Includes: one night in a Superior room; breakfast; overnight valet parking; premium orchestra seating for “The Nutcracker.”
Doesn’t include: Transportation to or in Washington; taxes of 14.5 percent.
Contact: 202-628-9100; www.washington.interconti.com
THE VALUE
Of items similar or equal to those of the package.
Hotel: $529 for one night in a Superior room at Willard InterContinental using the “Best Flexible Rate With Breakfast” and assuming a stay the night of Dec. 10.
Breakfast: included in “Best Flexible Rate With Breakfast” (otherwise, it’s $30/person).
Parking: $28
Ballet tickets: $191 ($80/person ticket, $11/person convenience fee, $5 order processing fee and $4 ticket delivery fee) for premium orchestra seating for “The Nutcracker,” assuming the 1 p.m. matinee performance on Dec. 10.
Total: $748
Difference: $33 less with the package.
BEYOND THE DOLLAR SIGNS
For what it’s worth: The package also includes a gift tin of sugarplums and nuts. Not that such an item doesn’t have value, but we didn’t price it because it’s not the sort of inclusion substantial enough to make or break a travel decision.
We chose Sunday, Dec. 10, because The Washington Ballet’s Web site had a note that the company holds a tea party after the 1 p.m. matinee that day. We don’t know how much extra the tea party would cost; our calls to the contact for that event weren’t returned (maybe it’s still too early in the season). But it sounds like fun. Of course, trying to arrive on the day of a matinee performance would require an uncomfortably early departure. And who can trust December weather where flight schedules are concerned? In our scenario, it’s really better to arrive a day early, understanding that you’d have to pay for that night separately. The same Superior room for that night, Saturday, Dec. 9., costs $299 at the “Best Flexible Rate” or $529 at the “Best Flexible Rate With Breakfast.”
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tsalama@tribune.com
