Washington Travel Clinic

Dr. Akl is great. Took some extra time with my wife to make sure she didn’t pass out. Really appreciate how kind he was.

I have been seeing Dr Akl and I was impressed by his professionalism, courtesy and ethics. I was seen promptly and I really appreciated his candor.
Dr Mohamed Ibrahim

Easiest doc appointment. iPad on the wall to sign in and then a few minutes later in the doctors office. I outlined my trip itinerary (Lima/​machu pichu, Peru followed by equator and the Galapagos) for three weeks. He took notes and let me know I would need hep a, typhoid, and yellow fever (required by Ecuador if traveling in from Peru). Gave me prescriptions for travelers diarrhea and altitude sickness. No need for malaria pills as I won’t be going to the Amazon.
Asked how I was feeling and I mentioned my insomnia and super random leg pains. He listened and asked good questions to narrow it down. No solve for it though as I will likely need blood tests and what not. Gave me a prescription for ambian and highly recommended I follow up with my primary care doc.
All the prices are on the website and also on the wall in his office. I prepriced it and compared with all other travel clinics in dc and his are the best. Still came out to like $ 400+. Alas america’s health care system.
Shots were administered great in my opinion. Easy and quick. I was out of there 25 minutes after I walked in.

I do not recommend this travel clinic. I called Dr. Akl prior to an in-​person visit to ask about bilharzia/​schisotosomiasis medication. I had just moved to DC and wanted to ensure that it was available and that he could prescribe it. He said that yes he could write a prescription and when I asked about cost of medication he said «oh it is very cheap.» Once at the office, I found the doctor’s manner to be quite aloof and smug. I appreciate straight-​forwardness but he was border-​line just cold. He writes the prescription, doesn’t tell me anything about when to take it, side effects, etc. I had done a lot of research and knew details but wanted to double check so I asked when the medicine should be taken to which he stated «anytime. One month.» Which is completely inaccurate, especially based on CDC and WHO guidelines. You need to wait at least 6 – 8 weeks after last exposure. When checking how much the medicine costs, he said treatment would cost over $ 500! Remember his initial comment about «very cheap?» (Treatment is cheap in sub-​saharan Africa, less than $ 1 and that’s why when I called initially I asked about cost here in the US).
He still had the nerve to charge $ 60 for a two minute visit with inaccurate information about when to take treatment and cost. He also mentioned nothing about tests etc. Very very disappointing and an unpleasant experience. I honestly don’t trust his knowledge of tropical disease or medicine. Don’t waste your time.

Dr. Akl is awesome…
I made a last minute decision to go to Bali for a yoga teacher training program, and I looked at my vaccination book with a bit of anxiety because I realized that I needed a Typhoid shot and some diarrhea meds (just in case). I also have a cold of two weeks that I haven’t been able to shake.
I Googled and Unilocaled… And Unilocal is the BEST because UnilocalERs helped me find Washington Travel Clinic and Dr. Akl.
I literally booked my appointment online last night… arrived and checked in on the iPad on the wall. And then Dr. Akl saw me.
Dr. Akl is super professional, patient and kind. He was super quick with the shot, which is excellent because I’ve suffered in the past to know what it’s like to have a slow injection. He was really patient with me, so I would emphasize that he’s super efficient, but he doesn’t rush you. He actually asks a lot of questions to make sure he covers everything. He inquired more about my cold and past chest infections, heard that I was wheezing, and prescribed me an inhaler. I greatly appreciate the fact that he was thorough.
*This is like the most efficient doctor’s appointment that I have ever been to… I paid him with credit card, and he emailed me the receipt of payment. He also emailed me a travel guide, which was excellent.

Dr. Akl is a trusted immunologist with an efficient practice. By cutting out a receptionist and nurse, he is able to offer the most competitive rates for travel vaccines in the downtown DC area.
You show ID on the ground level, take the elevator to his floor and enter a lovely waiting room with classical music playing. You then sign in on an iPad affixed to the wall. From the waiting room, Dr. Akl can see you through his webcam and will call you in when he is ready. My wait was 5 minutes.
In spite of thinking I had to get 6 shots for the country I’m traveling to, Dr. Akl was realistic and really only recommended 3: a clear sign he was not in this for the money.
Shots were administered gently, I was bandaged up, paid by credit card, got a printed itemized receipt and immunization card and was on my way.
Highly recommend!

I’ve visited the Washington Travel Clinic twice this year, and have been incredibly pleased with both of my visits. The WTC is especially great if you’re not looking for something too involved, a quick in-​and-​out visit, and at an affordable price.
i first visited in January 2014 to get a yellow fever vaccine, as well as prescriptions for malaria and diamox ahead of a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Dr. Aki contacted me prior to the appointment to inform that a yellow fever vaccination was not only expensive, but also not necessary with my travel history. All in all, the first appointment took only a few minutes, and was very efficient with his self check-​in method.
My second visit was in December 2014 for a second climbing trip where I needed a doc’s sign off that I was fit for the climb, as well as a new prescription for diamox and cipro. The visit was speedy, completely sufficient, and the best part… totally free. Because you pay the initial «membership» type fee at your first visit (only $ 55) which is good for the next year, this simple visit was at no cost to me.
In addition, I love that you can make appointments online, which you can easily change if needed. Highly highly recommend WTC to fellow travelers.

Great experience start to finish, from timely appointment reminders to helpful emailed instructions and everything in between.
Best of all, Dr. Akl is that perfect blend of caring and efficient. He made sure I was getting vaccinated appropriately for the countries I was visiting. He made sure I didn’t faint after getting my shots — by checking my pulse before letting me get up. Nevertheless, I was in and out really quickly. He had a cheerful attitude and made me feel at ease. And the shots were far less painful/​difficult than I had feared!
I think some people have commented that he doesn’t have a receptionist but that actually worked fine for me — you just sign in on the iPad. Everything is very quick and easy, and well-​explained.

Highly recommended for travel shots. I never would have thought a trip to the doctor could be that easy and fast. Dr. Akl is very efficient and knowledgeable. The whole visit took about 20 minutes (maybe less) from the time I arrived to the time I walked out the door.

This was such a great, easy experience. I realized that I needed my typhoid vaccine days before I leave so I frantically searched around online and found this place. I signed up for a one-​vaccine ten minute slot online, showed up a few hours later, and was seen exactly on time. Dr. Akl was easy to talk to, emailed me travel tips and my receipt while I was sitting there, wrote me out a few prescriptions just in case for my trip, and we were done in no time. His prices were also pretty good for vaccines.

Dr. Was very helpful in deciphering my medical records to see what immunizations I needed for my new job. I don’t know how to read med records at all so this was very helpful.
It was also the most painless shot experience I’ve ever had! You can tell he’s an expert shot giver.
Great for last minute needs, as there is a lot of availability!

I really like going here because the doctor is extremely efficient and helpful. Extremely reasonable rates. Very easy to get an appointment via the online system. The doctor is usually running on-​time and so there is very rarely a wait.
Only thing to mention is that this is a one-​man shop: there’s no receptionist and so you walk in, check in on the iPad, and then wait for him to call you in. He’ll review your medical history and will enter it into the computer as you speak (very efficient!). Then he advises on what you need and, boom, you’re done.
I like this place because it’s extremely convenient (less than 1 block from the Farragut West metro & 1.5 blocks from Farragut North) and extremely efficient, especially for last-​minute things.

Recently has to get shots for my trip to Brazil. I am allergic to eggs (so I thought) and from reading information online, decided to consult with Dr. Akl my concerns and if i can take the shot. He advised me to consult with my doctor before coming back AFTER seeing me and my friend at the same time and charging us BOTH appointment fees (what a ripoff?). Weeks later I came back after getting allergic test ran on my skin and on my blood which turns out that I am not allergic to eggs. I gave him the results and STILL he didnt feel comfortable about administrating the shots. Understandable, but you should have took me this in the first place instead of wasting my time and seeing you again. He knows little about allergic reactions, what the vaccination contains or does. He basically give you a shot (which ANYONE can do) and signs a paper. He stated that he has never known someone to be allergic to the yellow fever vaccination, which tells me he hasnt been around long or has many patients.
I will NEVER go back to him again. I actually went back to my allergist (because Dr. Akl sold me the vaccination) and had them give it to me. My allergist and his team were great — Dr. H. Fishman (on 21^st — K st) .
Dr. Akl is slow operating, not impersonal and condescending. Dont go in thinking you are going to get someone warm and engaging.
The only good thing about my experience was, it was paperless and you can get an appointment fairly quickly. But now I know why it was so quick… Oh, the location is very easy to get to (off the Metro)

Easy fast great service!
Cheaper than everywhere else in Washington. Very convenient and physician was great! Highly recommended!!!

This was the easiest and most efficient appointment I have ever had.
Scheduling was very easy online.
The check-​in by iPad at the office was simple, and the waiting area was nice.
Getting all my shots and prescriptions for my upcoming trips was quick.
And I appreciated the follow-​up email that gave me more background on avoiding getting sick while traveling.
5 stars for sure. I will be recommending this place to others.

Hassle free scheduling, plus Dr. Akl was very knowledgeable, friendly, and laid back. Services are very reasonably priced; just one $ 55 annual fee plus normal prices for shots. WTC was easier than dealing with my primary care provider and way more pleasant.

I am giving one star b/​c I would specifically recommend avoiding this clinic. More than once once he has taken long cell phone calls while I was waiting. To make matters worse, I could hear everything the person on the phone was saying (enjoy that trip to Nigeria, Erica!).
Like the another commenter, I too had to wait outside a locked office after my scheduled appointment time for him to arrive. Another patient just left while we were waiting in the hallway, but my trip was so near I didn’t feel comfortable getting the shot later than that day or I too would have left.
In addition, he told me he would schedule an email to be sent 1 yr after my first visit, but it never came. The downside for me is that he charged me the annual visitation fee, which isn’t cheap. I should have ignored his promise to send me emails in advance, but it was still annoying.
Other than that, he really pushes on that plunger when administering shots which yields an unpleasant sensation. Not such a big deal to me, but feels noticeably more uncomfortable than any other shots I’ve had which are not noticeable. Maybe it’s just me projecting the overall rushed feel of the place (e.g. he was on the phone while I’m on the chair seconds before he injects me), but I had this feeling before as well.
To list the positives rather than keep going with the things I didn’t like: He is fairly responsive if you send him an email, and the location is very good. anyway… one star

I was happy with my experience here, especially given how long I procrastinated before figuring out what vaccines I needed for my trip. Oops! :-) I booked my appointment online through a very simple system, and was seen the same day. The office is no-​frills, but the doctor was helpful and had the vaccines that I needed. Dr Akl also emailed me travel precautions the same day that I saw him. I waited in the waiting room about 10 minutes max before I was seen, and the appointment was quick but not rushed. This is a great solution for anyone who needs to take care of their travel vaccinations quickly.

I have been going to the Washington Travel Clinic for the last couple of years to get vaccines for different volunteer trips I have taken abroad.
The process couldn’t be simpler — check in using an ipad in the lobby, have a brief chat with the doctor, get the shot and be done. Far more convenient than dealing with my primary care physicians’s office — I ended up having my updated Polio vaccine done at the WTC (with my other weirder travel vaccines) rather than deal with the hassle of waiting a few weeks for an appointment with my PCP.
Also, they will email you everything — receipt, appointment reminder and also detailed WHO/​CDC information about the countries you are going to be visiting, which I think is a nice touch.
FYI — if you want to get reimbursed by your insurance company, fill out the claim yourself.

1 star– easy 5 minute walk from Farragut metros
1 star– ability to schedule appointments online
I saw Dr. Akl for a vaccine for overseas travel. I had a 1:40 appt and had to wait well over an hour to be seen. There was also an obvious lack of organization as I know Dr. Akl took the patient with the 2 pm appt before he called me. There was no acknowledgment of the office miscommunication. Actual office visit was brief, about 10 minutes. Dr. Akl got my vaccination from a travel cooler, even though there was a refrigerator in his office. Ummm!!! I ended up finishing my appt close to 3 pm.
Ridiculous.