Family of 6 visiting for 5 nights in October. Considering Washington Suites Alexandria. Anyone have experience with them? Know of any other options?

Don't know the Washington Suites, but my sister and her family stayed at the Residence Inn in Arlington and found it perfect, especially location right near the Metro. Residence Inns usually have suites with at least two bedrooms. good luck!

There are also two Residence Inns in downtown Washington, one at Dupont Circle (very convenient for Metro and good restaurants in the area), the other on Vermont Avenue is close to the new convention center and the White House/Mall area. They may charge for parking.

There is also a Residence Inn in Old Town Alexandria which would be nice as it is away from the city and Old Town is very charming. There is a Residence Inn in Bethesda Maryland, which is just over the DC line. Very nice neighbourhood of restaurants and shops, a little inconvenient for the Metro or driving into DC.

Check out Marriott.com

I just looked at the website for Washington Suites, it looks nice. It also looks very much like an apartment building in Alexandria, which I am guessing it what it used to be. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Free parking is nice too. My only thought is that it is not near a Metro, and while they will shuttle you to the Van Dorn Metro stop, that stop is quite a bit out of DC, and is past the Old Town Alexandria stop. If you are going to be sightseeing mostly in DC, you are better off staying in DC, as a long Metro ride will add time on both ends of long days. (Same is somewhat true of the Old Town Alexandria area, the stop there is King Street. For a map of the DC Metro go to http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm)

I've stayed numerous times at the Washington Suites in Alexandria. It is a former apartment building and the 2 bedroom suites are very spacious and include a full kitchen. Although there is a shuttle to the metro, it's a better place to stay if you have a car. It's about 15 minutes to get into Old Town Alexandria (normal traffic on Duke Street) or into downtown DC (normal traffic via I95). If we know we're going to do the museum/monument thing all day, we'll drive to Pentagon City, park and take the metro into town.

If two bedrooms is what you're after, also consider the Executive Club Suites which is at the north end of Old Town Alexandria. These are former condo's and very nicely redone, also with kitchens I think. I've not stayed there but have seen the interior. This place is about five minutes from National Airport and 10-15 minutes from downtown via the GW Parkway.

Two bedrooms downtown are a little harder to come by although Washington Suites does have a place on Wisconsin Ave in (very upper) Georgetown. I've stayed there too but I don't recall if there are 2 bedrooms suites.

Summerfield Suites (by Wyndham) Embassy Sq is about 2 blk from Dupont Cr Metro & have suites w/ 2 bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen/LR combo. Good breakfast buffet (comp).

Thanks to all for the informative responses.

"obxgirl", where do you park at Pentagon City when driving from Washington Suites? How much does it cost to park?

Thanks again

There is also Washington Suites Georgetown - which is not really Georgetown but a few blocks from Foggy Bottom Metro stop. We stayed there a year ago. Sounds a little like WS Alexandria. Location is great - you can walk to Georgetown restaurants. We had 1 bedroom suite with full kitchen, continental breakfast included. We were in a suite at the end of a hallway with a hallway door which could be locked so that one party could reserve both suites at end of hall and keep room doors open. Bedroom had 2 queen beds and living room had sofa bed. Not a lot of frills at hotel - carpet in hall a liottle tired, but all personnel very pleasant and helpful.

Just stayed at Summerfield Suites/ Embassy Square this August. Highly reommend it. Has tourist innnfo in lobby, laundry facilities. I chose it over Gtown suites b/c it had a pool, which might be irrelevant given your timing.
1br was 99/night and 2 br (must be made over phone ) was 179/night. included breakfast in the down stairs, and FREE parking and metro passes (might have been a summer special. parking is usally 15/day and my minivan was just within height requirements).
Where ever you stay,. be near a metro. don't drive in DC. Parking is a nuissance and the metro is great.

Right by the metro

markylinda, There's parking at the mall at Pentagon City and across the street at Pentagon Center. My recollection is the cost for the day is about $10-$12.