Has anyone stayed here recently? Is this a safe area? It is DuPont area of DC. Are there any inexpensive places to eat near here? It is located at 1731 New Hampshire Ave. NW between R & S Street. Where can one find a few staple grocery items near this area?

My mother and friend and I stayed at the Carlyle two summers ago. It was in a great area, lots of restaurants that I don't remember the name of. We had a great rate of about 79 dollars per night. the rooms aren't much, but they are large and have a mini-kitchen. They were clean and adequate. We weren't there much. There were also groc. stores in the area. People were extremely helpful and friendly. Just ask

Suggest yu buy a DC Access Guide - gives you all you need by neighborhood. Not expensive.

It's an extremely safe area and there are lots of restaurants nearby, many cheap, just walk up Conn Ave from the metro stop; there are also some on 17th St and many in Adams Morgan, just a little north of there. There is a grocery store a few blocks from Carlyle at 1800 20th St NW (about 20th and S Sts), which is unusual in the city so you are in luck. It's not a huge one but bigger than a corner market.

My husband and our two daughters stayed there 10 years or so ago. The room we were assigned was very small. (Almost no room to walk when the couch was opened for a bed.) We arrived quite late at night so stayed for that night. The next morning my husband inquired about a larger room--we were willing to pay a little more. They showed him several rooms, gave him the keys, and when he showed them to me, all of the rooms were different sizes. They allowed us to pick the one we wanted (obviously the largest!) and kept us at the original rate.

We had three rooms at the Carlyle this past weekend, for an impromptu family get-together. We had a AAA rate of $129 per room (although they never asked to see the card); with tax about $147. It's a perfect neighborhood to be in the middle of everything, close to Metro, Dupont Circle, lots of restaurants - and don't miss Marvelous Market on Connecticut - a truly stunning bakery/gourmet shop, plus a large Safeway around the corner, and a new Fresh Fields within walking distance. Of our 3 rooms, all had two double beds, one had an additional sleeper sofa. There are no amenities - coffee service, shampoo etc., just basic bar soap, so take what you use. We had to ask for a coffee maker. Be sure to ask for a corner room on the upper floors - they are much brighter. But for well-located budget rates, I don't think this can be beat.