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_US/es/hotel/WASCCES-Embassy-Suites-Washington-D-C-Convention-Center-District-of-Columbia/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_US/es/hotel/WASDNES-Embassy-Suites-Washington-D-C--District-of-Columbia/index.do

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)?

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.

What type of Hotel?

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.

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)?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?"

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.

Lovebug,

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

We are thinking about 5 or 6 nights.

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.

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.

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

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)

Seconding Capitol Hill Suites and the Residence Inn Pentagon City - two good options. While the Residence Inn is close to but not in Washington, DC it has the advantage of having two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites.

How about the Holocaust museum? Anyone been to that?

The Holocaust Museum is outstanding -- well done and very moving. It may be a little too intense for your 9-year old, but they have a special section for children.

I remember taking my son when he was 11 or 12 and really enjoying the FBI building and tour - I think you should write in advance to congressman or senator for that one. I have heard great things about the Spy Museum but have not been.

Love the FDR Memorial and I think Arlington Cemetery is a very impressive place. So much to do. And I second Jaleo - great food!

The Holocaust Memorial Museum is great - highly recommended.

http://www.ushmm.org/visit/

Re: FBI tour -- I also have extremely fond memories of this tour dating back to my own childhood, but unfortunately the FBI has not been giving tours for a long time, a post 9/11 development:

http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/fbi-headquarters/fbi-tour

I would definitely recommend the Holocaust Museum. I was in Washington DC last year with a multi-age group. I had been to the museum before, so we split up, and I took the 10 year-old in the group through the museum exhibit that is designed for children while the rest of the group toured the main areas of the museum. We had prepared him in general terms to understand what the museum was about and the exhibit was just about right for his age and understanding. We finished the exhibit in about a half hour and then walked over to the Mall while the rest of the group spent about 2 ½ hours going through the main exhibit and a film.

<<<We finished the exhibit in about a half hour and then walked over to the Mall while the rest of the group spent about 2 ½ hours going through the main exhibit and a film.>>>

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is next door to the Holocaust Museum. You could take your 9-year old to see them printing money after you're done with the Holocaust Museum.

When are you planning to visit DC. The time of year may impact your activities. Besides the must do list of free museums, it's worth splurging on the Newseum and/or the Spy Museum. The kids (9 - 18) would enjoy both. The zoo is also free and nice. Some of the places that might not be on your list but worth visiting are the National Cathedral (go to the top for a great view), Washington Harbour (in Georgetown for waterfront views), the C&O canals, Eastern Market on the Hill. If you have 5 - 6 days you'll be able to cover a lot of territory but make time for festivals, etc. Check out the local listings for fee movies, concerts etc that happen all the time in dc. You'll love the ease of getting around and that most things are free.

Wow, I am so thankful for all the ideas! I am having trouble filtering through all the hotels trying to find one close to the metro... a lot of them don't specify. As I am not familiar with all the suburbs, etc. it makes it difficult. I am guessing Georgetown area is a good area? What other "keywords" for places would help me get in a good hotel location for sights using the metro?

Try http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

Click on a metro station and you'll see a map which shows hotels that are near that particular station.

No, the metro does not go to Georgetown. It's a nice area but no metro.

Try Foggy Bottom/West End and Dupont Circle. Both are walking distance from the sites and close to metro. You'll be able to take advantage of more if you stay in the city rather than Pentagon City or other close in 'burb. It's worth the extra money to stay in the heart of things.

321go's tip to use StationMasters.com is an excellent one. Hotels on these maps of metro station areas shows as "red blocks":

In particular look at these five Metro Stations and the hotels close to them:

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/CAPITOLS/capitols.html
(all around good area - only one hotel nearby "Capitol Hill Suites", recommended)

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/FEDCENSW/fedcensw.html
(great for sightseeing proximity but area lacks any nightlife, restaurants, etc. as it's in the midst of all gov't office buildings - two hotels nearby)

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/GALLRYPL/gallrypl.html
(excellent location for touring, restaurants, etc. - lots of hotels to choose from - my top neighborhood choice, especially south of H st.)

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/METROCEN/metrocen.html
(also excellent location for touring, restaurants, etc. - lots of hotels to choose from, especially south of H st.)

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/DUPONTCI (anywhere on this map between N. St. and R St. would be an excellent option, Marriott Residence Inn or Tabard Inn might work for your group here.)

Credit goes to you, bardo. You were the poster who first told me about stationmaster!

321go - tx.

Lovebug -

You havn't specifically mentioned a budget, so I just want to throw out what I consider to be the best located hotel in DC, The Monaco.

It is literally steps away from the Gallery Place Metro entrance at 7th&F, 3 blocks walk to Nat'l Archives, 4 blocks to National Gallery of Art, 1 block to American Art Museum, 1 block to American Portrait Gallery, 1/2 block to Spy Museum, 6 blocks to Museum of Natural History, 6 blocks to Air & Space, 5 blocks to Newseum, 5 blocks to E st. Cinemas theaters (8 screens), 1 block (in different directions) to the two Shakespeare Theater halls, 5 blocks to Ford's theater, and, most significantly, at Ground Zero for restaurants with limitless options within a few blocks of the hotel.

It's not the cheapest place, but NOT in the most expensive category either. Average rate per room for a room with two double beds is $340/night but depending on when you are coming it could be less (or more). You might also ask about specials. It's definitely "nice" in terms of decor, furnishings, services, etc.

http://www.monaco-dc.com/

I love that Monaco.

When is the OP visiting? That can seriously drive the price of the hotel.

bardo, I can't believe you failed to mention that the Monaco is within spitting distance of Jaleo. (if it weren't against my religion I'd insert the smiley face icon here)

The Monaco is fabulous but if it's not in your budget, there is a Marriott Courtyard a block away. The rooms are not as large as most courtyards but it is in a great spot - across the street from the Spy Museum and Portrait Gallery.

I just heard from someone that their travel agent recommended the "Harrington Hotel"...anybody have any experience with that hotel?