WASHINGTON - While President-elect Obama didn't have any problem finding a room at the Hay-Adams Hotel, other people coming to the district for the inauguration are finding few choices left.

Experts, however, are saying there are still good rooms available for those who know where to look.

At the Adams Inn Bed and Breakfast in Adams Morgan, there are still rooms available. Owner Adam Crain said they were fully booked until people who were spooked by concerns about the crowds, traffic and weather, started canceling.

"It's interesting that we haven't sold out because there's the hype in the media that everything's booked, and that's not the case -- including homes for rent, Crain said.

In fact, there are a lot of people still trying to rent out their homes for the inauguration and it's turning out it's not the easy money many thought it would be.

Long and Foster Real Estate has set up its own unit to help match owners and renters. One condo in Mount Pleasant is going for $1,000 a night for a four-night minimum.

"It's wonderful for them to be able to stay in a home, and in some areas of the [city] they may not have thought about that are really fun areas," noted Long and Foster Realtor Juliet Zucker.

Most visitors from out of town will be hunkering down in hotels and the hotels close to downtown are for the most part fully booked.

Those without rooms don't have to go very far -- just across the Potomac -- to find vacancies. The Hotel Palomar Arlington, for instance, has 26 rooms still open, if visitors are willing to pay at least $800 a night.

But while many hotels require a four-night minimum stay, this Arlington hotel is different.

"We're actually giving a little bit of flexibility and offering a three-night minimum stay which at the end of the day is [going to] save money," said Telesa Via, of the Hotel Palomar Arlington.

They are hoping people won't close the door on a chance to witness history.

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