ILuvLexie

Hello. I am planning an Easter trip to D.C. with my family which includes two small children ages 5 and 7. Can someone recommend a higher end hotel but one that we will also feel comfortable staying at with the children and that is also well located for access to the museums? I would like to be in D.C. not Virginia. Thanks!

mcnyc

I would suggest the Willard, which has large rooms. My second recommendation would be the Mayflower, booking the junior suites, which are larger rooms, some with queen beds. But I usually travel on business, and while I may consider them for my family, it does not yet include small children.

The other consideration I would make is Embassy Suites. There's one located by the Convention Center, which is down a few blocks from the Spy Museum.

Hopefully, others who have traveled with children can make better recommendations. Are you considering roll-away beds? Or both kids sleeping in the same bed?

ILuvLexie

Thanks for your very quick response. I would prefer a room with two beds- even if they were doubles and then a rollaway but I know that it is often hard to come by in the city hotels.

mcnyc

Oh, and check out the Willard, Mayflower, and Embassy Suites online. Are they your idea of higher end and within your price range?

Those would help others who have something else to add.

PS- off the top of my head, the closest hotels to the Smithsonian museums are:

North End:
Willard, JW Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott on 9th & H Street (another good place for your family), Renaissance on 999 9th Street, Hotel Monaco, Sofitel on Lafayette Square, Hay Adams, MetroCenter Marriott, Grand Hyatt

South End:
Lowe's L'Enfant Plaza, Holiday Inn Capitol

If you would actually consider Virginia, there's a Ritz there, next to the Pentagon City Mall, which sometimes has relatively reasonable rates.

If you find something you like that you feel is reasonable, I would suggest you book immediately. It's around one of the most popular times down there (cherry blossom time), and hotels will book fast.

richbutnot

We stayed in the Doubletree Suites in Foggy Bottom a couple of years ago when our kids were 14 and 11. Had a separate bedroom with 2 queen beds, a living room with sofa bed and dining table, and full kitchen.

We walked across to the grocery store in the Watergate building and bought breakfast foods, and even cooked a couple of dinners. Convenient and a money saver with kids. Not close to museums, but only five minutes to the metro which will get you everywhere you want to go.

Instead of using roll-aways, we travel with a twin size air mattress, sheets and a battery powered pump to blow it up. The kids take turns sleeping on it. Cheaper than paying $5-10 for a roll-away and more comfortable.

Little_Man

We stayed in the downtown Embassy Streets in '00. It was very, very nice then, superior to any other Embassy suites we've ever stayed in. If it's been well kept, it's a a good family choice.

ccrosner

Just back last night from a three night stay (with extended family) at the Renaisscance Mayflower Hotel. I highly recommend this hotel and think it would be great with your young children (ours are 10 and 12).

We booked a regular queen/queen room online for $169 and asked for a free upgrade. We were given one (it's not a busy time of year in DC) to an "Executive Room". This was a larger room with two double beds and a sitting area (two chairs and ottoman) and desk. It has a foyer with an honor bar and a closet and a good sized updated bathroom. There would be plenty of room for a rollaway.

My parents had a suite which consists of two rooms--one with a king or queen bed and the other with a small couch and two chairs, desk, t.v., fake fireplace. They also had a kitchenette with a fridge. Don't know if the couch pulled out to a bed. The rate for that was $269.

The location is quite good. A half block gets you to the Farragut North Station which we used and just took it to Metro Center and changed to whatever line we wanted. You are four blocks from the White House and there are plenty of stores (including McDonalds and CVS nearby). Staff was VERY accommodating especially when our son became ill (late checkout, offer of hot tea, doctor arrangements, etc.).

Some of the other spots sound good too. I would suggest that you will be fine wherever you pick as long as you are near a Metro stop. There is a LOT of walking to be done in DC so you don't want to spend your "getting there" time walking because those young children will need to save energy for walking to monument and through museums.

FauxSteMarie

For the money, the best deal for families is Embassy Suites. There are several in the area. You do not need to be on top of The Mall. In fact, there are no hotels right next to all of the attractions. You will be doing a lot of walking. The key thing to ask is how far the hotel is from Metro. There is no need to spend the sort of money you will spend to stay at the Willard--which is basically a business hotel. I was a great devotee of Embassy Suites myself when the kids were small because you had increased privacy and a nice breakfast was included in the morning.

seetheworld

I don't think you would feel comfortable at the Willard with children.

The JW Marriott (next to the Willard) is very nice and only a couple of blocks from the Metro (to the museums)and an easy walk to the White House and Monuments

mcnyc

Just my opinion, but my rooms (and bathrooms) at the JW have been tiny at best, although undoubtably well appointed. My rooms at the Willard have always been large, especially when I am given a room with 2 beds. Admittedly, I have not stayed at the JW in a room with 2 beds, so have no way of comparing 2 beds/room, JW vs Willard. I was just figuring at ages 5 & 7, they would like more room to run around in.

The rooms I've had at the Mayflower have largely been hit or miss in terms of size. There are times I will get a huge room, and then there are times I will get a room so tiny, I walk into walls, which is why I made sure I mentioned a junior suite, which will give one a larger room. The bathrooms there have always been large, regardless of the size of room.

All in all, higher ended hotels in DC mostly cater to a business clientele, and from what I've seen, they do tend to children exceptionally well.

And I echo the suggestions here of getting a hotel near the metro. The hotels I mentioned above are close to metro stations. Metros in DC are relatively easy to navigate. For a map and more info, check out http://www.wmata.com

Not to add for confusion, but in case you're still looking for suggestions (if none of the above work for you), should mention a boutique chain that my boss prefers whenever he's in DC, the Kimpton Hotel group, of which Hotel Monaco is one. http://www.kimptonhotels.com/ Most of their hotels are very convenient to metro stations as well.

KathrynT

We stayed at the Embassy Suites on 22nd and M with our family a year ago and thought it was perfect for our family of 4. We had one room with 2 beds (I think they were queen sized) and another room with a sofa bed that my daughter said was actually very comfortable. That sofa bed would have also held 2 people. The hotel room was nicely furnished, roomy and comfortable, with a small kitchenette. The hotel was very family friendly, had a small indoor swimming pool and breakfast was included. The only negative we found was that it was a 4-5 block walk (level and easy) to the subway.

seetheworld

We just stayed in an Executive suite at the JW, which was nicely appointed and very spacious. Although I would agree with mcnyc about the bathroom size.

However, the JW had loads of kids running around, which is why next time, I would stay at the Willard, lol. Not a place to let kids run around. JMO.

Anonymous

My choice would be the Embassy Suites in Chevy Chase. Yes, I know it sounds far away, but they are located literally on top of a Metro station, as well as being part of a shopping mall complex. With young kids (or even older kids), it's wonderful to get off the train at the end of the day and not have a hike of several blocks ahead of you, just a couple of escalators, and to have small shopping conveniences right at hand. Some of this ES's corner suites are huge, so ask for one specifically.

nina

We stayed at the Hotel George with our kids and it was surprisingly great for a family.

Our room had 2 queens plus a sofabed, it was very large, and I thought, in a good location for sightseeing.

We also only paid $125/night but that was in August. Check their hot rates for hot dates, you might get lucky.

nina

Hotel George is a Kimpton Hotel.

FauxSteMarie

The Embassy Suites in Chevy Chase, MD, gets consistently good reports for the reasons stated by the prior poster.

ILuvLexie

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I think we will be picking the Embassy Suites I will look into both the M Street location and Chevy Chase.