Traveling to DC with a 2 year old this December, and have a few alternatives for hotel.

The $ cost between them is a difference of cumulatively no more than (being conservative) $200 for the entire trip, so its sort of a push (not that I want to spend more $ just for its own sake.). What is important is services, convenience, dining options, ease to Metro, etc.

I previously stayed at the St Gregory on M and 23rd which was nice, but it was a studio set up, and we want a true one-bedroom (with door) this year.

Choices are:

Embassy Suites Downtown (22d Street NW)
Embassy Suites Crystal City
Embassy Suites Chevy Chase (Friendship Heights)
Doubletree Guest Suites (Foggy Bottom - N.H. Avenue.)

The Doubletree and Crystal City are both about $125/night (parking higher at Doubletree). Embassy Suites Downtown is $140 and Embassy Chevy Chase is about $145 or so. The cook-to-order breakfast is nice but not necc as long as there is a fridge and diners or Cosi's/Einstein Bagels/ similar places to grab food in the a.m.

Sort of curious why the Embassy Chevy Chase seems more expensive than the other locations.

Happy to hear of other suggestions. Have looked at One Washington Circle, RIver Inn, Georgetown Suites, and several Residence Inns, but most seem to be studio set ups, not true suites.

Don't really care if I stay in DC proper or VA/MD as long as the Metro access is good and its not more than 20 mins or so to Mall, etc. I did like having a 24 hours CVS close by to the St Gregory in case of emergency, no idea if something similar is avail at the Embassy Suits in Chevy Chase or Crystal City.

Thanks!

*bump*

I'd go with the Doubletree Guest Suites if it was me. I think the suites are roomier than the Embassey Suites. Also, the kitchen is a real full kitchen w/full size appliances at that Doubltree. If for some reason I was to do Embassey Suites, I'd do the one on 22nd St., but it is a further walk to Foggy Bottom metro from that Embassey Suites than it is from the Doubletree- about twice as far - and I am pretty sure you have to cross Washinton Circle to get to Foggy Bottom metro from the Embassy Suites (or walk to Dupont Circle mtero stop, which is just as far). I would not want to cross Washington Circle w/a baby stroller.
The Doubletree is very nice - a surprise find by some freinds of mine who stayed there a few months ago.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites on 22nd last summer and were very happy with it. The rooms were good sized, nicely decorated and comfortable. Breakfast was very convenient.

The only drawback to the hotel that we found was the distance to the metro (about 4 or 5 blocks) but the stroll was pleasant. I didn't find crossing Washington Circle difficult at all but I am used to crossing busy city streets. Cabs do pull up frequently in front of the hotel if you prefer to go that route.

Have a great trip!

The only comment that I can add is concerning Embassy Suites/Crystal City. Though we enjoyed it last March with our older children, I wouldn't stay there with a 2 year old particularly in cold weather. The walk to the metro would be very long with a small child. They will send a shuttle but the wait can be difficult.

I would vote for a suite that is as convenient to the sites as you can afford. The child will not remember a thing but you sure will!

Oh, and god forbid you should need it, but the two foggy bottom areas hotels are right near George Washington Univ. Hospital. I think there is an urgent care center there too? The Doubletree Suites is very very close. Just in case the little one gets sick. I've had that happen when we travelled when the kids were young, more than once, in the E.R in another city...but then our luck was always pretty bad like that. Every time we planned to go out of town, one of the kids got hives or something weird.

I agree with the above comment that the ES in Crystal City is inconvenient to the Metro. The ES in Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase, on the other hand, is literally above the Metro Station and furthermore is attached to a large shopping mall. With a toddler, this convenience would be a major factor for me. It's a bit farther out, but riding a few stops on the Metro is faster and more convenient (especially in cold weather) than walking a few blocks to the Metro station. What a treat it was, getting off the Metro at the end of a long day, to have just indoor escalators/elevators ahead of us rather than a long walk.

Also, IIRC, the ES in Chevy Chase had a tiny pool and an interior door that was glass, like a French door, providing little privacy, either sound or visual. At Friendship Heights, we had a regular door between the rooms, and a corner suite that was huge.

We have also stayed at the Doubletree in Foggy Bottom. I think the full kitchen will be a huge plus with a 2 year old. It includes a full size table with four chairs. The metro is a block and half away, and there is a Safeway in the Watergate building about two blocks away to stock up on breakfast foods.

No need to stock up on breakfast foods if you stay at the Embassy Suites, since they all have that huge breakfast buffet included in the room rate.

Add Washington Suites Georgetown to your list when you comparison shop - (it is not really Georgetown, about 2-3 blocks from Foggy Bottom). Separate bedroom, full kitchen, comp. breakfast.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the helpful advice. Right now its the ES on 22d but I want to give a closer look to the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase one. With the weather being what it is, at least having the option to enter the Metro indoors is nice - not an enourmous price difference.

I will also look at the Washington Suites Georgetown - sounds interesting. Any info on price?

Thanks!

The subway ride from downtown and the tourist sights to Chevy Chase is a good 15-20 minutes. Not a big deal if you only plan to go back there in the evenings. If you want the convenience of popping in and out of your room during the day (like naptime), however, then the ES downtown might be better.

Website for Washington Suites Georgetown is washingtonsuitesgeorgetown.com I did not know your dates, so arbitrarily plugged in Dec 26-30 for 2 adults and one kid and got rate of $119 for one-bedroom suite and slightly more for what they call deluxe one bedroom.

We stayed there a couple of years ago. It used to be something else (not sure what). Hallways were in need of recarpeting, but that was only issue I had with hotel. We had a very large true one bedroom (a real door between bedroom and living room). LR area had sofa bed, full kitchen with dishes, etc, full sized refrigerator. Also had dining table.

Continental breakfast buffet was included which was average - but since we were there in summer it was pleasantly served on an outside patio. Hotel does not have a restaurant, but there are plenty in the area. They even had a delivery arrangement with one of the closest ones.

Since it was summer, we walked several times into Georgetown - since I hate cold, I would not do that in December. Son was also able to run along the Potomac. Foggy Bottom is a solid 2-3 block walk. Valet parking was extra, but I recall it as reasonable.

Just got back from DC today. We stayed at The Embassy Suites on 22nd.It's about a 10 minute walk to the metro. But, if your child is in a stroller it should be no problem. The Hotel was clean, the staff was very friendly. and They serve Starbucks in the morning. There is a microwave and fridge. You shouldn't need anything more. Our kids loved the indoor pool at night. Oh, and by the wasy bundle up. We froze our butts off. Have fun!

Like others who have posted before me, I'd also like to highly recommend the Doubletree Guest Suites Foggy Bottom.....besides its proximity to GWU Hospital, it is also near the Foggy Bottom Metro (an easy walk to there) so you can go to a lot of the attractions you may want to see easily.
The Doubletree was very comfortable for my family when we visited DC last summer with plenty of space for us (including me--I have 3 other siblings and my parents of course.) It should provide plenty of comfort as well as great service and nice hotel amenities.

With respect to the Doubletree at Foggy Bottom, are there restaurants nearby? My memory is that there weren't that many, and that one has to hike over to Dupont or Georgetown or the Golden Triangle biz district, but maybe I am wrong? Thanks.

There are a restaurants around Washington Circle, and on the other side of GW Hosptial, on and around Penn. Ave. 5 min. walk.

Let me put in another vote for the Doubletree Guest Suites on NH Ave. We stayed there a few years ago, and were very happy. Nice large rooms, and a cooked to order room service breakfast for 4 (a promotion they were running at the time, not sure if they still do). Easy 5 minute walk to the Metro, and about a 20 minute walk directly to the Lincoln Memorial. And the cookies at check-in are a very nice bonus!

Again, thanks, and apologies in advance for what will be another nitpicky question regarding Doubletree, and one about the Alexandria area.

At present I've got reservations secured at both the Embassy Suites Chevy Chase and the Embassy Suites Downtown on 22d. As I write this Chevy Chase is leading by a nose mainly because to date the temperature in DC is in the mid-20s and that direct access to the Metro is appealing.

(Let me explain...I'm not lazy and usually walk a ton, just presently bitterly enduring the effects of the NYC transit strike that is requiring me and 7 million others to hoof it across town on a daily basis in 20 degree weather [pre-wind-chill-factor], hence I sort of relish the idea of not having to do any meaningful walking to public transport. In other words, I'll confess that this is a pure indulgence on my part...and I kind of feel guilty about it given that 4/5 blocks is a pittance to we NYers....but not that guilty. ;-) )

Anyway....


Regarding Doubletree Guest Suites, my ollection is that the hotel does not have a gym or an indoor pool, nor does it have guest privileges anymore with any nearby facilities (i.e. Watergate hotel). Is that correct? Also, one of my colleuges here thought that most of the dining options near Doubletree were on the pricier side, and that for quicker lunch or breakfast bites (i.e. Cosi, Au Bon Pain, Chipolte Grill, I'd wind up having to hike closer towards Golden Triangle/Dupont anyway.


One other place that I hadn't considered but sounds good is the Embassy Suites in Alexandria, which is right across the street from the Yellow/Blue line I am told, and unlike some of the other DC suburban areas, Old Town Alexandria isn;t generic and has some cool stuff and places to eat on its own. which is appealing since I've never toured Alexandria.

I have only 2 hesistations about staying there. First, I'm not sure how long of a ride it is into DC proper.

Second, I think (but I am not certain) that the Embassy Suites in Alexandria is not in Old Town proper, so while it has good access to the Metro, one has to take a shuttle bus or drive into Old Town, and can't really walk to the commercial district. Again, I may be completely off on this, so would appreciate any info on it as I throw that into the mix.

Thanks (and here's hoping that the DC metro workers don't take a cue from the debacle unfolding in NYC...never a dull minute here!)

The Embassy Suites in Alexandria is on the edge of Alexandria's Old Town commercial district and a wonderful easy walk to the heart of Old Town and the Potomac River. All along King St. (the main drag from the ES to River)are fun shops and restaurants. If it's too cold, or you can't bear the walk there is also a free shuttle from the metro down King St, but it really is a great walk.

There are also a number of nice playgrounds near this hotel which might be nice for your 2 year old if the weather is nice. The metro is across the street and it is about a 20 minute metro trip to DC, and a very easy drive via Washington St. (GW Memorial Parkway). Happy to answer any other questions about this area.