Try booking 2 rooms with Priceline 4 star in the Convention area of the city.I have never payed more then $90 a night (August is a slow time in DC).Staying in the city you will have to pay for parking,but you will be able to walk to a lot of things.

The great thing about going to Washington on a budget is that all the government museums and attractions are free.

There are many residential hotels that incorporate kitchettes. This spring, we stayed in a Doubletree Suites on New Hampshire Avenue with a big kitchen and easy access to a Whole Foods and the Foggy Bottom Metro stop around the corner.

The Americana Hotel in Arlington's Crystal City will have rooms well under $200 a night. It's a budget hotel in a great location for touring Washington DC. Free parking which is virtually unheard of in that part of the world. Free breakfast too I think.

As a neighborhood, CC lacks charm but it's a very busy business, commercial and residential area. There is a large grocery store, a 24 hour pharmacy, and a major shopping mall.

The hotel is walkable to two metro stations, a ton of chain restaurants and a few one off neighborhood restaurants.

I agree with the Americana. But with a family that size, you will need 2 rooms to make it work. THere is free wifi and free breakfast

Travelzoo has a few deals in DC

The Embassy Suites in Alexandria VA has a 2 room suite that will sleep 6 with parking for $214 per night. They also have a complimentary made to order breakfast that will save you on your food budget.

Here are some easily searchable extended stay options/ If you use AAA discount several were under 200.00 for a 2 room suite (seperate bedroom w/door)& w/kitchen taxes will be added so will go alittle over. Residence Inns often have a free shuttle to Metro...research or ask

https://www.marriott.com/search/findHotels.mi

Embassey suites is another extended stay hotel. This one has a free full breakfast and for dates I plugged in using AAA discount came to 187.00 for a 2 room w/kitchen at Pentagon City Mall location... Also offer a free shuttle to Metro in some locations.

Stay away from Fairfax Mall area: construction posted and would be a nightmare w/car.

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en_US/es/search/findhotels/results.htm?view=LIST

Here is a google search using key words "washington Dc extended stay hotels."

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=toolbar-instant&hl=en&ion=1&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4LEND_en___US494#q=washington+Dc+extended+stay+hotels&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4LEND_en___US494&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=plcs&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=b4YmUKvpMJPzqwH53YHwCQ&ved=0CLkBELcDMAo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=139457463186445b&biw=1292&bih=718&ion=1

I'll third the Americana recommendation. www.americanahotel.com

Lee Ann

From which direction are you coming ?

We've stayed out in Rockville, Md before...there is some good clean economy lodging and the area is safe. You do have the 6 round trip train tickets to figure into the budget daily however, from here. The Best Western had shuttle to and from the train station, but driving to the nearby train depot and parking was simple, too.

Yes you really need to factor in metro fares for 6 people. As an example if you go non rush hours from the Alexandria metro to Smithsonian stop, it will cost you $3.65 per person each way. If you ride during rush hours it will cost you each $4.35 each way. For that amount of money you can stay in DC and pay for parking. Check out the metro site and u can play around with the fares.
http://www.wmata.com/index.cfm

I think you've got two good suggestions--the Americana if you want a budget choice and don't mind 2 rooms (which also means 2 bathrooms, a godsend with 4 kids) or the Embassy Suites if you'd like something nicer--fully cooked breakfast, indoor pool, etc. (BTW, if you don't have AAA, you can get that Embassy Suites Old Town WITH parking included for $234 per night for the days you listed.)

I would highly recommend NOT using Metro for your family if you stay outside of D.C. As Yestravel pointed out, it's just too darn expensive. Traffic in August in D.C. is VERY light, so it's not difficult at all driving in/out, especially if you are staying as close as Arlington (Americana) or Old Town Alexandria (Embassy Suites). You should be able to find convenient all-day parking for much less than you would pay to ride Metro. For instance, all-day parking at the Ronald Reagan building (which is so close to the Mall, the White House, many of the Smithsonian museums, etc.) is only $23.00.

Embassy Suites is a great choice because it will give you two separate rooms with two TV's and the breakfast is really good. There is also an afternoon reception with free drinks and snacks. Several years ago our family of four stayed at the one near Dupont Circle, but it's a little over your budget and the parking isn't free. I'm not familiar with the locations in the suburbs, but if they have free parking I think it's worth looking into because the breakfast alone will save you about $50/day. If you are a AAA member, you can get a discount. It's worth calling the hotels directly to see what they can do for you (not the 800 number).

We've stayed at Arlington Court Suites http://www.arlingtoncourthotel.com/ twice, and the last time was a 3 bedroom with full kitchen and living room. The free breakfast was great. You'd have to call and ask about your dates and the rate. They always gave a fantastic rate over the phone (manager's price kind of thing).

Here are the Trip Advisor reviews (mine in buried in there somewhere!) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g30242-d650005-Reviews-Clarion_Collection_Hotel_Arlington_Court_Suites-Arlington_Virginia.html

Thank you all so much for your help. I really appreciate it x10000. Using Priceline and comparing all the hotels suggested for our, I am thinking that I may just go with Washington Suites Alexandria in Alexandria, VA.

It is a studio suite that has received may great reviews including one from someone who went with their family of 6 as well. It also comes with free parking and 4 free all day metro passes. It is around $350 which is within our budget. With two queen beds and a queen pull out sofa in a separate living area, fully equipped kitchen, shuttle, & continental breakfast what do you all think? Is it a good deal?

In general, I am happy that we were so below our budget, but I had thought we could get a better deal from all the comments we received, however I am thinking because our dates are so close and rooms are already reserved/going fast that might be why.

Sorry if this is too many questions - but with the 4 free metro tickets, does that make it worth using it instead of driving in? We figured we can use them with the younger ones (if that makes a difference)

If you have free metro tickets I think I'd skip the driving. Parking in DC will be expensive and you might end up needing to ride the metro anyway. The DC metro is probably the cleanest, most efficient transit system I've ever used!

I assume you have seen that this hotel is almost a mile from the nearest Metro station (and the roads cannot be easily walked). Your hotel advertises a free shuttle to the Metro station, but that puts you on their schedule. It may work out fine for you, but it is not a situation I would generally recommend.

Also, I'm a little confused, Endeavor. Had you found the Washington Suites Alexandria before you posted your thread? If so, it would have been helpful to all those that responded to you to know what you were already considering. I imagine some of those who responded would have said "Take this great deal" instead of researching some choices for you.

@longhorn55 I had not found the Washington Suites Alexandria before posting this thread. I have been doing my own research as well as asking for help and comparing everything suggested as well as what I had found. The only thing it seemed was that many of the rooms were booked leaving only rooms that would have been inconvenient (only single room queen beds, expensive suites, etc.). That being said, I've never been to D.C before so I definitely considered each response and looked into it.

I didn't consider that about the metro, but I figure if it comes down to it, we can drive in and park at an all-day parking building like someone suggested. I saw the price, better then what I've been finding, and that it was in Alexandria--a suburb and figured it would work out.

If you are getting 4 free metro cards, I would prefer to metro into DC and leave your car at your hotel. Much easier.

Doesn't seem like a good deal to me compared to the Arlington Court Suites (which is 2-3 blocks from the Courthouse Metro). In May 2007 we paid about $250/night for a 2 bedroom (also 2 bath, kitchen, LR). Last October we paid about $150 (yes, $150) for a 3 (three!) bedroom (2 bath, kitchen, LR).

It is one of the best deals around, but you're not going to find rooms on Priceline. You have to call them (and believe me, I MUCH prefer to do all my booking online, but this is one place it pays to call directly).

Of course, all this said knowing it might be too last minute for any availability next week. But when I saw you were willing to pay that much, I had to give one more shout out to our favorite family stay in DC.

We stayed at a hotel that required a shuttle-, and the shuttle was limiting at times. We knew it would be annoying, but we stayed there to be near my brother.

Obviously study TripAdvisor first if you go with your choice. But if it were me, I'd pick 4sharie's. You have a person vouching that it is a decent place. And you have freedom to take the Metro on your own terms.

I don't know if you're aware but Room for 5 has hotels listed in DC that can sleep 5 or more, some within your budget http://www.roomfor5.co.uk/list/258261

Washington Suites Alexandria and the Arlington Suites are very similar hotels - both former mid rise apartment buildings converted to hotels. Spacious rooms and full or near full kitchens. Both cater to military & government groups doing extended stays in the DC area as well as conference business and families.

I've stayed in the WS Alex before -- it's what you looking for but of the two I'd pick the Arlington Suites as it is much closer to the city by a factor of 3. You can walk to the metro, a grocery story and restaurants from there. Not so with the WS Alexandria. Traffic won't be non existent and if you've never been to DC before, driving into the city on I395 or Duke Street can be pretty confusing. 4 free metro passes is something to consider but so is your time. You're only there for 2 days.

I don't know the accommodations being debated, but agree with obxgirl. While traffic is a touch lighter in August, believe me unless you're from another large city, it will seem pretty bad to you. Also the closer you can get to the city itself the better off you will be.

I agree with other posters regarding location. With only 2 days, you want to limit the time spent traveling!

It's the same philosophy as choosing a non-stop flight over a flight with interim stops. You pay more, but there is more time available at your destination!

I called Arlington suites and they have there 1 bedroom queen available for a mangers special of 201 a night but online it is 199 (for 1 bedroom suite with 2 Queens).

It is a little more but we are finding ways to cut out other areas of our budget and I cancelled the other reservation. What everyone is saying makes a lot of sense, and with limited time we do want to make the most of our time and I don't want to be limited because of transportation.

Good choice Endeavor...don't think you'll be disappointed with the closer location although I can't vouch for the hotel!

Did you book 2 rooms? I'm not sure how $350 is well below your budget, but this $201 room is more than you wanted to spend? Maybe I misunderstood you somewhere. Easy for me to do!

Ask about an upgrade to a 2 or 3 bedroom unit when you arrive. I just read a review that said they had a queen room booked but they were upgraded to a 3 bedroom.

>>Did you book 2 rooms? I'm not sure how $350 is well below your budget, but this $201 room is more than you wanted to spend?<<

I think the poster meant $350 was the total price of the room for two nights.

endeavoringtraveler, hope you can report after your visit. Happy traveling!

Sorry I saw this too late - you would have had much more room, much closer to everything you want to see and for much less money here:

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/district-of-columbia-dc/district-of-columbia/capitol-hill

For 6 or more people, a vacation rental is a no brainer. Surprised no one mentioned the possibility.

VRBO might have worked. Worth exploring but I thought they generally required more than 2 nights though?