While others may disagree, I'd rather stay in the Holiday Inn Crystal City if it's the one fits your budget better than the Dupont Circle one. But if it's by just a few bucks, definitely stay at Dupont Circle. You will have access to way more interesting shopping and food than at Crystal City. Plus, you will have the option of walking back to your hotel if the spirit should move you, whereas at Crystal City, you'd have to depend on the metro. Not a bad thing, but can be if you're trying to get home at midnight, when most stations close for the night.

Checking out Orbitz for your dates, I see that the State Plaza hotel is available much within your budget. And it's 3 blocks from the Foggy Bottom metro station - convenient if take the Blue line from National. I'm not familiar with that hotel, but it seems to have stellar reviews. Act fast, as it's a limited time offer.

Although it may not work because of limited hotel availability during that time, have you considered making a bid on Priceline? Check www.biddingfortravel.com to see recent winning bids.

We used it at Thanksgiving time and got a great rate at the Captial Hyatt. I would guess it's probably easier to win a bid on weekends in DC, as opposed to weekdays.

Oh, and they only guarantee a room for 2 people, so we bid on two rooms for our family of 4.

Thanks so much!!! One more - does everyone recommend the Mt. Vernon tour? It seems to offer a lot of history and is close enough to DC.

Thanks again! This is so helpful!

If you go to Mt. Vernon, I'd plan on spending a good part of the day there. One problem is that you have to stand in line to gain admission to the house and the last time I was there it was May and the line was over an hour long. (We skipped it). There are also several tours (free with your paid admission) which are worth doing. Also, since you will be going there by public transportation, you'll have to factor that time into your schedule as well.
You might want to look at doing a cruise/tour to Mt. Vernon. Spirit Cruises offer this option and it makes for a nice day trip. Check their website for more details.

I think Mt. Vernon is well worth it-it is one of my favorite spots. I have usually driven there, but did take the cruise once and really enjoyed. Last time I was there was early Nov and no waiting-of course that will be different in the spring.

OK - we are now considering the State Plaza Hotel, but are a little concerned why the price is so cheap ($149) compared to other Georgetown hotels.

Please vote:
Georgetown - State Plaza Hotel
Dupont area - Holiday Inn
Crystal City - Holiday Inn or others nearby

Thanks for your help! (Flying in to Reagan Nat'l - no rental car)

Check out the reviews on tripadvisor.com

Think my vote would be the Dupont Circle choice. State Plaza looks fine, but you'll find you have to hike a bit to get to things like food or Metro -- and you're near a rather busy intersection/rotary that's tricky to navigate on foot. Crystal City is convenient to the point of absurdity -- it's like living in a mall with an embedded Metro stop, but it's soulless and doesn't give you the sense of being in Washington DC.

The Dupont area has charm and lots of walking-around things that you'll enjoy for free -- lovely neighborhoods, embassies on nearby corners, restaurants and shops, as well as the metro. Do that.

Wouldn't say State Plaza is actually IN Georgetown, which may explain the price differential -- it's on the fringe.

For that matter the "Central" Holiday Inn isn't actually ON Dupont Circle, but it's still reasonably well located I believe. Do check the tripadvisor reviews.

I would choose between the State Plaza and the Holiday Inn near Dupont Circle. Both are pretty basic but OK. The State Plaza is not really in Georgetown, but more in Foggy Bottom near George Washington University. I would lean toward the HI simply because the Dupont Circle area is interesting in itself and has lots of good restaurants. The walk to Georgetown from Dupont Circle will be nice that time of year and you will see its residential area along the way.

Hope the cherry blossoms are out for your visit. I also agree that you may well enjoy the Spirit Cruise to Mt. Vernon if the weather cooperates.

State Plaza is cheap compared to Georgetown because it is in Foggy Bottom at 21st and E Streets, not Georgetown. I think it may be a converted apartment building -- my cousins stayed there for several days a few years ago and found it just fine. It is within easy walking distance of the Lincoln and Vietnam memorials and the Foggy Bottom metro.

Thank you! Anyone else?

The Marriott Wardman Park is in a very nice location w/ a metro stop right in front of the hotel. You can walk to many of the fine restaurants in Dupont Circle and you can also walk to the National Zoo. The prices are usually pretty cheap if you can go AAA or Corp. Check it out at Marriott.com

The OP's dates are at the height of the Cherry Blossom Festival; the AAA rate at the Marriott is over $300.

If the STate Plaza is actually at 21st and E (sorry, I didnt check), that would be great because you could actually WALK down to see the Cherry Blossoms, walk over to the river, walk to the Vietnam Memorial and the Washington Monument, and to Georgetown (well, I love to walk but I think you could do it). Some of those places are far from the Metro so hard to get to.
I agree too that the trip to Mount Vernon is worth it and the boat ride is fun.

Yes, it looks like it's on 21st and E Streets. A great location to go sightseeing at the Tidal Basin. Here's the website http://www.stateplaza.com/

As for Mt. Vernon, check out the recommendations given by its website http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/pla...x.cfm/pid/824/

Please vote:
Georgetown - State Plaza Hotel
Dupont area - Holiday Inn
Crystal City - Holiday Inn or others nearby

1st Choice: Georgetown - State Plaza Hotel

2nd Choice: Dupont area - Holiday Inn

3rd choice: Crystal City - Holiday Inn or others

All three are good choices. I would rank them pretty equally.

FWIW, The State Plaza Hotel is ot actually in Georgetown but it is walking distance. The Holiday Inn is not actually in the Dupont neighborhood but, again, it is within walking distance. They are both in good enough enough areas, I just have to laugh at the "real estate speak" where realtors or hotels s-t-r-e-t-c-h the boundaries of the most desirable areas to include their properties.

Calling 21st and E Georgetown is quite a stretch. If you consider Georgetown to begin where Pennsylvania ends at 28th and M, that's a good mile or more; 28th and K street under the Whitehurst Fwy is closer, of course, but I doubt that's what visitors expect when they think of Georgetown.

The Holiday Inn on 15th is only four longish blocks from Dupont (19th, Mass, P, Conn).

I'd pick State Plaza if the kitchenette was important to me (with extra points at ths time of year for walking to the cherry blossoms), the Holiday Inn if atmosphere for evening strolling and proximity to a good variety of restaurants more valuable.

I'll admit it, I'd pick State Plaza hotel because the travelers pictures on tripadvisor look great, and it's super cheap considering the time andicat will be there! All those other hotels andicat listed were above $200.