bandwife

We're going to DC at the end of March and are looking for a family-friendly hotel within walking distance to the monuments, museums, etc. We have a young child and will want to go back and forth to the hotel for naps, etc.

I'd prefer to keep it under $200/night, but after doing some research I'm starting to think that's not going to happen. We do have AAA if that makes a difference.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

tchoiniere

I found Hotel Harrington (436 11th Street, N.W.) via the Fodors guide. No frills hotel with very small rooms that is very cheap. It gets mixed reviews on trip advisor. I am planning a trip for June and keep meaning to post to ask for people's opinions here.

http://www.hotel-harrington.com/

bardo1

Another option within your budget walking distance to sites is Red Roof Inn Downtown:

http://www.redroof.com/reservations/...ls.asp?num=254

LN

I would recommend Red Roof over the Harrington and I would also recommend using Priceline. Depont Circle is a good area to choose on Priceline and so is the area around the Convention Center.

MikeT

Another option would be the Holiday Inn on C Street SW or the Residence Inn at E Street SW. They are both easily the closest inexpensive hotels to the Mall.

padams421

The Harrington is a 2 star, at best, hotel. The Red Roof Inn, Holiday Inn, and Residence Inn would be nicer choices. You may be able to find some deals at the Mariott and Hyatt given the economy.

Underhill

One hotel within walking distance of the Mall (and thus the Smithsonian museums) is the L'Enfant Plaza.

lincasanova

Have you considered priceline or hotwire?

tchoiniere

based on this thread, I changed my hotel from Hotel Harrington to Red Roof Inn Washington, DC - Alexandria in Alexandria. Any experience with this hotel? Trip advisor gives it mixed reviews but mostly positive. What subway stop is it on Metro?

I'm hoping this could also help the OP as the rates for June were around $100 per night and the hotel looks good. It is obviously beyond walking distance but may be a good deal pricewise.

vjpblovesitaly

Are you sure it is near a Metro stop? I think the recommendations above were for the Red Roof Inn in DC, not Alexandria. On their website it doesn't mention a Metro stop being nearby.

http://www.redroof.com/reservations/...ls.asp?num=169

tchoiniere

Agreed that the above was for the Downtown Red Roof but that is twice the rate that I found here. From the website for the Alexandria Red Roof, "Accessible from both I-95 & I-495, this Inn is located just minutes from restaurants, shopping and the subway system."

I don't mind driving to a subway stop as long as there is parking available and at a decent rate.

tchoiniere

Just called the hotel and it is a mile from the Huntington stop on the Yellow Line.

Does the Metro run all night? With us going to 3 Nationals games, I am concerned about how late the trains will be running.

kayd

Metro runs until midnight Sun-Thurs, to 2 am Fri-Sat nights. Nats games usually start at 7 and end by 10pm.

yestravel

No, the metro does not run all night. It runs through Midnight Sunday thru Thursday, and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights
here is the website for Metro
http://www.wmata.com/

MikeT

Be aware that at night, it could take you an hour to get from National Stadium to the Huntington Metro on the Subway. Huntington is the very last station on the Yellow line.

lady_di

We got the Hilton Washington for $75 per night for the first week in March -- try Priceline

tchoiniere

Given how often I go to games that end after midnight, I am very wary of depending on the subway after the games. Especially after having been at Fenway the night nobody left before the end of the T service. Maybe on those nights drive to a station that has parking close to the stadium so if necessary, we could take a cab.

I haven't been able to convince my friends on Priceline so I am not sure that will be an option.

lincasanova

I use priceline and hotwire almost exclusively for my USA travels now. In August we are often in hotels for 20 nights in different cities, and since we started using this system, I cannot get over how much one can save.

If you read up on it, I am sure you will lose your fear and perhaps, if not for this trip, try it for some weekend somewhere.

Then you wlll be hooked!

It is not terribly difficult to identify Hotwire hotels using www.betterbidding.com, and that moderator is very nice. Perhaps that would do better for you?

We stayed at the Embassy Suites through Hotwire for about $100 for three adults including breakfast.

At Priceline, name your own price, only two people allowed per room.

You can practice these systems all the way down to putting your credit card information in to see how it works. That will make you feel more comfortable.The total price with taxes and fees will come up.

god luck. Washington became very affordable for us using these systems.

Anonymous

Priceline only *guarantees* a room for 2, but I have had the experience of winning a hotel in DC (Marriott Metro Center), calling ahead to ask whether they could accommodate a third person, and getting a definite yes.