Some tips to help make getting from point A to point B a little easier.

Washington D.C. has four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. Quadrant designation is required for all D.C. addresses.

Numbered streets run north-south, lettered streets run east-west (no J, X, Y, or Z). Once you reach the end of the alphabet (W Street) the streets have two-syllable lettered names starting with A(Adams, Belmont, etc.). Once the end is reached again, the streets have three-syllable names in alphabetical order. Diagonal avenues have state names.

Taxis

D.C. cabs don’t use meters. The number of zones crossed determines the fare. Surcharges apply for rush hour and extra passengers. Minimum fare is about $4.50 and taxi drivers are usually tipped about 10% of the total fare.

Metro Tips

Metrorail hours are 5:30 a.m. weekdays (8:00 a.m. weekends) to midnight. And Friday and Saturday until about 1:00 a.m.

Fares range from $1.10 to $3.25, fares are reduced during non-rush hour, evenings and weekends. One day passes are $5 and allow unlimited travel on weekdays from 9:30am and all day on weekends. The 7-day Fast Pass, $25, allows unlimited rail travel for 7 days.

The Adams-Morgan Shuttle

The Adams-Morgan shuttle runs evenings between Woodley park and U street metro stops, Calvert, 18th and U streets. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 6:00 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday. It runs from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Getting to Airports

BWI

Via train: Amtrak trains (202/484-7540 or 800/872-7245) leave from Union Station and take about 30 minutes to BWI. MARC trains (410/859-7400 or 800/325-7245) also leave from Union Station and take about 30 minutes. A free shuttle operates between BWI rail station and the terminal.

Via taxi: Cost is about $45 to $55 from downtown D.C.

Dulles International

Via Metro: Take Orange line to West Falls Church Metro, then Washington Flyer shuttle for $8.

Via Taxi: Cost is about $47 from downtown.

Via transport service: Washington Flyer travels to Dulles every half hour (every hour on weekend mornings) and departs from the Washington convention center. Tickets are $16.

Reagan National

Via Metro: Take the Blue or Yellow line to National Airport Station, inside the main airport terminal.

Via Taxi: Cost is about $8 from downtown Washington or Capitol Hill, $11 from Georgetown.