Lovebug15

Any recommendations for a hotel for our family of six? We would like nice location close to the metro for transportation. Anyone with experience traveling with a family there...what do you have for advice? Our oldest is 18 and the youngest is 9 yrs. old.

bardo1

There are NO hotels with 6 or even 5 beds. I am assuming two hotel rooms. The Embassy Suites hotels all have a pull-out sofa in the rooms, meaning you can get by with only two rooms. The Embassy Suites Convention Center is conveniently located 4 blocks to the MEtro Center Station (11th & G st. exit) and 4 blocks to Gallery Place station (9th & G st. exit).

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_...umbia/index.do


The Embassy Suites Washington is not quite as close to Metro Station but still in a good area. It's about 7 blocks to the Dupont MEtro station (19th & Dupont Circle exit). It might be a little cheaper than the Convention Center Embassy Suites.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_...umbia/index.do

sf7307

This question is so open-ended as to be unanswerable without some more information. Where do you usually stay when you all travel together? Have you done any kind of search (on this forum, in the "destinations" section of this site, at your local bookstore or library)?

Lovebug15

bardo 1. I am not looking for a room with six beds. You are right, I am prboably looking at for two adjoining rooms to accomodate our family. Thanks for the links!!!

sf7307...we usually stay at a hotel. I am just looking for info. from families that have traveled to DC and what some nice options are.

Chads

What type of Hotel?

tdmort

Check out Residence Inn. There are several of them throughout the DC area. I personally have stayed at the one in Pentagon City (Arlington, Va) twice and loved it. Hotel offers a shuttle and is close to a metro stop. They offer a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with a pull out sofa bed.

nytraveler

What is our budget per room. Will you be coming by car that you need a place to park? If so, do you expect the hotel price to include free parking? If driving, which direction are you coming from?

Or are you coming by plane?

Also are you coming during the week (more expensive) or weekend (usually quite a bit less)?

Lovebug15

We are coming by plane from the midwest. Is it possible to use the metro to get around DC with the family..therefore, not needing a car? We were thinking of coming on a Tuesday and leaving on a Monday. As far as budget for a room...location is important so I am guessing that we will have to pay for that.

scarboroughmom

My family of 5 stayed at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City. We enjoyed it. We were very comfortable in the 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suite. There is a metro station and a large mall nearby, as well as several restaurants. We did drive to the Hotel, but never used the car until it was time to leave. DC is awful to drive in but metro system is terrific.

longhorn55

Technically, you can have 6 people in a 2-room suite at Embassy Suites (2 Queen beds and 1 sleeper sofa). If you have never stayed in an Embassy Suites, I think your family would like all of the amenities.
While it would be preferable to have two rooms in a hotel, depending on the time of year you visit, you may find the price of two rooms outside of your budget.
Finally, you absolutely do not want a car in D.C. Traveling in D.C. via Metro is the way to go.

Chads

I think Thompson Hotels are really good for you they are about 200 dollars per a room per a night.

bardo1

Lovebug,

Thanks for the added info. The Embassy Suites Convention Center is the best located of any of the suite hotels - I would suggest two suites (for a total of 2 beds plus 2 fold-out sofas. You do not need a car, in fact it is more of a problem to have one.

Another possibility is the Tabard Inn if you can reserve both the $230 room (suite) and a $205 room (two beds). It is very well located 2 blocks from the Dupont Metro station and a 10 minute walk to the White House. It also has the best breakfast in town.

http://www.tabardinn.com/rooms/tour/private_bath

Lovebug15

Thanks everyone! I feel like I have a starting points. Any other tips on what is a must to see? I realize that is an obvious question...but, anyone want to make a "top ten?"

lincasanova

If you do a search here in the upper corner, you will see numerous posts and hundreds of answers to the same question. Enjoy!

P.S: The pull out sofa at Embassy suites is only appropriate for two small kids.. It is not very comfortable IMHO.

bardo1

Lovebug,

How many nights will you be in town? It makes a difference when considering what is a "must to see".

Lovebug15

We are thinking about 5 or 6 nights.

MoonGirl

I have not had occasion to check their prices in a while, particularly since they have renovated, but the Capitol Hill Suites has great accommodations and a great location for family sight-seeing. http://www.capitolhillsuites.com/ You have the advantage of being practically downtown but in a historic residential neighborhood. The hotel is a couple of blocks from the Metro, can walk to the Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court and as much of the Smithsonian as you care to (also a short bus or metro ride if your feet are tired). Plus there are small neighborhood restaurants right around the corner. (If anyone in your family watches Top Chef, former contestant Spike Mendelsohn now has two casual eateries right around the corner from the hotel, Good Eats and We the Pizza). Various family members have stayed there over the years and always been happy.

Buckeyeknitter

Another option you might want to try is to rent a furnished house/condo directly from owner. I have rented many times from vrbo.com. I have never had a problem. You may even have a little luck with negotiating. Most of the listings have availability calenders. This way you could also have a little more room to spread out along with a kitchen where you easily make breakfast and a place to hang out if you want to order in.

MoonGirl

Buckeyeknitter raises a good a point about apartments; for what it is worth, I had a good experience placing friends in an apartment rental through this agency last year:
http://www.bedandbreakfastdc.com/index.php?id=9

bardo1

Capitol Hill Suites is a great option (and ONE block to Capitol South Metro).

Ans some VRBO's with very good locations (hint: best located VRBO's always include a map on their listing):
http://www.vrbo.com/273624
http://www.vrbo.com/228440
http://www.vrbo.com/233453

...and my "Top 10"
1) National Gallery of Art (both wings)
2) FDR Memeorial
3) National Zoo
4) Newseum
5) American History Museum
6) US Capitol
7) National Cathedral
8) Air & Space Museum
9) Lincoln Memorial
10) A meal at Jaleo (7th & E st. NW)