D.C. - Is this a good place to stay?
 

I'm planning on taking my mother on a week long trip to D.C. from 8/29-9/5. I have been searching for hotels a lot lately and I have come up with one that fits my needs and price.

It's the One Washington Circle Hotel. Has anybody heard of this hotel? If so, would you recommend it? All of the reviews I have read from different websites seem pretty positive and they recently finished remodeling. One thing that really sells me to this hotel is that all of the rooms have kitchens and that is a big plus since I'll be there for a week. While I'm there it's going to be running me $129/night for a room with 2 double beds. From what I've seen, this is a pretty good price.

Another thing I was wondering about was how good it is to use travel websites such as Expedia or Orbitz? I have never used one before, but I want to for this trip. My total cost for 2 roundtrip tickets from Orlado to Dulles, and 7 nights hotel would be $991 on Expedia. I'm just nervous about it since I have never used any of these sites before.

Sorry it was somewhat long, but any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I stayed at a similar property n that area last year and it was fine - the kitchen really was a nice thing to have. There is one type of room that does not have a kitchen, so be careful when you are booking. The area is Foggy Bottom, close to George Washington University. A number of restaurants re within walking distance, as is a Metro stop. You do realize, I hope, that at that time of year DC will likely have near swamp like weather?

Expedia and Orbitz are both well known travel sites. Sometimes they offer a better package deal than you can get by booking air and hotel separately, but always check and compare the details. For example, Dulles (IAD)is out in the boonies and it will cost you time and money to get into DC and then back to Dulles; it would be much more convenient to fly in and out of National (DCA) airport. Be sure to read all the details (like $999 is the total and not the per person cost, and are you getting one of the rooms with a kitchen) before you actually complete the purchase.

The $991 is total for both people. On the details it did say that the room has a kitchen. I do realize that the weather won't be the greatest, but I am coming from Florida so I'm sure it won't be that big of a problem for me.

I did look into flying into an airport other than Dulles, but it would end up costing me around an extra $200 more, and I wouldn't be able to have a nonstop fight unless I paid even more. I looked into getting to the hotel from Dulles already. I plan on taking the Washington Flyer as far into the city as it goes (which doesn't cost much), then taking the Metro to the stop that is 1-2 blocks from the hotel.

Don't know the hotel other than seeing the exterior but the location is fine. So I can't answer many of your questions, but can offer suggestions.

Not a real lively area. But with the kitchen, the good news is that the only DC Trader Joes is just several blocks away. From IAD you can take a shuttle to West Falls Church and catch the Orange Line straight to Foggy Bottom/GWU. Also, there's a great bus -- the Circulator -- that runs from Georgetown to Union Station, mostly along K St.

Check out the area around the metro stop at:
http://www.stationmasters.com/

Plus, I don't know if Galileo will be reopened by then, but if it is -- check outside for an old charcoal grill on the sidewalk. That means Iron Chef winner Roberto Donna is offering his take-out grill menu -- one of the best food bargains in DC. (1110 21st NW).

As for you costs, that's pretty decent IMO. Say the two airfares are $150 each from Orlando -- not bad for a non-stop. That leaves $661 for seven nights -- a very good deal even without taxes and a great deal if it includes them.

Heck, after those savings, skip the shuttle and take a cab from Dulles.

I don't see how the math works out. If the room is $129 per night...7 nights would be $903. That would leave only $88 for both flights. I don't see how that is feasible for the airlines. I would recheck this via phone with expedia.

The route from IAD to West Falls Church then the Orange line is the one I'm most likely going to take. I don't mind having to take the Metro to my hotel. Yeah I think it is a pretty good deal, I know the airline tickets by themselves are around $260-$270 so it ends up making the hotel around $103/night.

Aweek is a good length of time to stay in D.C. right? I haven't been since I was around 7 and my mother hasn't been since she was a teenager. I don't remember a lot. I've been keeping track of everyting that I want to do while we're there. There's so much to do! I think that a week will give us enough time that we won't have to try and pack evrything into a couple days and we can enjoy everything much more.

The room is $129 on the hotel's website, but I am looking into booking it through Expedia combined with the airfare and it's cheaper doing it that way.

are you saying airfare for 2 people plus 7 nights at the hotel is a total of $991 or just the hotel for 7 nights is $991? Your original post says that but when I went onto expedia just now the cost is $991 per person for the hotel and flight so a total of almost $2,000 for the both of you. I would book direct...use usairways for $300 per person per flight non stop into DCA and therefore adn then book your hotel. Call the hotel direct to see if you can get the same rate.

Yes, the airfare and 7 nights in a hotel is $991 total for both people. It says $495 per person. I'm logged onto Expedia right now. It says if I booked the airfare and hotel separately on Expedia it would cost $1,324 but since I am booking together it would save me $333.

The hotel is is a safe area. It is on Washington Circle and if I remember correctly they have a restaurant called Circle Bistro or Bistro Circle and it is very good. There is also Primi Piatti right arount the corner and they have outdoor seating. The Foggy Bottom metro is about 2 blocks from your hotel.

How could I forget Trader Joe's?! It was an almost daily stop for me.
Fun2, this sounds overall like a great deal and I would jump on it.

I used to organize meetings for my board of directors at One Washington Circle, and I've always liked the hotel very much. You might want to avoid a room on the front of the hotel because on the other side of Washington Circle is a big hospital. But that rate is excellent.

Thanks for all of the replies so far, that's a good tip Ruff. I really think that this is the best deal for me that I have found so far. I'm so excited about planning this trip. This is going to be for my mother's birthday (mine too, it's the day we leave) and I'm paying for the whole thing. I think she's going to love it.

Sounds like a great deal! Have a good trip.