Looking for a SANS CDI 2026 hotel where you can rest after a long day of labs? American Guest House is a historic bed and breakfast at 2005 Columbia Road NW in Kalorama, and the house has been here since 1893. SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2026 runs from Monday, December 14 to Saturday, December 19 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW. The Grand Hyatt is a short Red Line ride from Dupont Circle, so you train downtown all day and sleep in a quiet residential neighborhood at night.
SANS CDI 2026 at a glance
- Event: SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2026 (CDI)
- Dates: Monday, December 14 to Saturday, December 19, 2026. Courses are 5 or 6 days long, and SANS lists classes starting at 8:30 AM ET on December 14.
- Venue: Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Format: In person or Live Online (ET). SANS says you can switch between the two during the week as needed.
- Organizer: SANS Institute. Courses, registration and the full schedule are on the official SANS CDI 2026 page.
SANS lists 41 courses, 35 GIAC certifications and one NetWars tournament for CDI 2026. The focus areas include AI security, offensive operations, cyber defense, digital forensics and incident response, cloud security, ICS security and cybersecurity leadership. SANS describes the courses as hands-on, with lab practice each day, and adds evening keynotes and SANS@Night talks after class.
Before you book a SANS CDI 2026 hotel, put two dates from the SANS page in your calendar. The refund deadline is November 27, 2026, and the hotel group discount deadline is November 23, 2026. Course lists and schedules can change, so check the SANS page before you book travel.
Getting from Kalorama to the Grand Hyatt
Dupont Circle Metro, on the Red Line, is a 10-minute walk from the house. From there, the Grand Hyatt is a short Red Line ride from Dupont Circle. SANS notes that the Grand Hyatt has a direct connection to Metro Center station.
Class starts at 8:30 AM, and the first morning also means badge pickup and finding your room. Give yourself some margin on Monday. A rideshare is another option on a cold or wet morning.
SANS lists lunch as on your own during class days, so you will eat downtown at midday. In the evening, the ride runs the other way, and you are back in Kalorama for the night. That ride is the one tradeoff of a SANS CDI 2026 hotel outside downtown.
Planning a SANS CDI 2026 hotel stay for the full week
CDI is a training week, not a one-day conference, so the length of your course sets the length of your SANS CDI 2026 hotel stay. Here is how the dates work out:
- 6-day course (Monday to Saturday). SANS offers early check-in the evening before classes begin, so a Sunday, December 13 arrival makes sense. Stay Sunday through Friday night and check out on Saturday morning before class. Leave your bags in the parlor until 5 PM. If your day runs later, ask us in advance about a later pickup.
- 5-day course (Monday to Friday). Arrive on Sunday, December 13, and check out on Friday, December 18. The same luggage storage applies on your last day.
- Staying the weekend. If you want a slower Saturday night in DC after the last lab, add a night and leave on Sunday.
For early check-in at the venue, SANS says to bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Our rates are dynamic, so the total depends on the nights you choose. Booking is online only. Pick your dates and Check Rates & Availability.
Why a bed and breakfast for a training week
Six days of labs is a lot of time in one building. SANS makes the case for staying at the venue, and for some students that works well. Others would rather end each day somewhere else, with a short ride home and a quiet street.
As a SANS CDI 2026 hotel alternative, staying with us is closer to staying with a friend who has 11 spare rooms. Each room has a private ensuite bathroom and one bed, a queen or a double. If two people from your team are coming, book a room each. The lobby has a Keurig with pods, a cookie jar, and a water jug with cups, so you can get a coffee before you head to the Metro.
Kalorama is a residential neighborhood, and the house is an 1893 row house. After a day of packet captures and incident timelines, that change of scene helps.
Breakfast, check-in and luggage
Breakfast depends on the rate you book. A homemade breakfast is included only with the Standard Rate and the 2-day refundable rate. It is served at 8:30, 8:45 or 9 AM, and you reserve your time in advance. Other rates do not include breakfast. Our post on how breakfast works with each rate explains the details.
Check the class schedule against our breakfast times. SANS classes start at 8:30 AM downtown, and our earliest breakfast seating is 8:30. On class days, the house breakfast will not fit before class. It can fit a weekend morning at the end of your stay. Choose the rate that matches your week.
Check-in is from 4 PM to 10 PM. Bags can stay in the parlor from 8 AM on your check-in day, and after check-out until 5 PM. An earlier drop-off or a later pickup can be arranged, as long as it is set up in advance.
Training on an agency or company budget
SANS points out that CDI falls in the first quarter of the federal fiscal year and at the close of many calendar-year training budgets. If your agency, lab or university is sending you and you need a SANS CDI 2026 hotel, our page on government and university travel in DC has notes for you. For other work trips, see our DC business travel page.
Were you here for CDI last year? Our 2025 SANS Cyber Defense Initiative post is still online for reference. The dates and details on this page are for 2026. To compare parts of the city, read our guides to where to stay in Washington, DC and safe neighborhoods to stay in DC.
Finished the week? We offer two add-on packages: Desert Wind Winery, with Cabernet and strawberries, and Delight Moment, with Chandon sparkling wine and berries. Both are on our DC getaway page.
Book your SANS CDI 2026 hotel room
If you want a quiet room in Kalorama for your training week, a 10-minute walk to Dupont Circle Metro, and a short Red Line ride from Dupont Circle to class, pick your nights and book direct.
SANS CDI 2026 FAQ
When and where is SANS CDI 2026?
SANS lists Cyber Defense Initiative 2026 for Monday, December 14 to Saturday, December 19, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, with a Live Online (ET) option.
How do I get from American Guest House to the Grand Hyatt?
Dupont Circle Metro is a 10-minute walk from the house. The Grand Hyatt is a short Red Line ride from Dupont Circle, and SANS notes the hotel connects directly to Metro Center station.
How many nights should I book for a SANS CDI 2026 hotel stay?
It depends on your course. For a 6-day course, arrive Sunday, December 13, and check out Saturday, December 19. For a 5-day course, arrive Sunday and check out Friday, December 18.
Is breakfast included with a SANS CDI 2026 hotel stay here?
Only with the Standard Rate and the 2-day refundable rate. Breakfast is homemade and served at 8:30, 8:45 or 9 AM, booked in advance. With classes starting at 8:30 AM, it will not fit before class on training days.
Can I take my course online instead?
SANS offers CDI 2026 in person or Live Online (ET), and says you can switch between the formats during the week as needed.
Where can I leave my bags on my last day?
In the parlor, after check-out until 5 PM. A later pickup can be arranged in advance.
Last checked: October 2026. Event details are from the SANS Institute’s Cyber Defense Initiative 2026 page. Please confirm course dates and times with SANS before you travel.
