1st time to DC and trying to decide between a hotel in Dupont Circle or Downtown. Plan to do museums and monuments during the day and dinners/ bar and shopping in Dupont Circle. Would like to be near a Metro stop in case the weather is particularly cold (1st wknd in Dec.).
Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

Dupont Circle, hands down. You have close access to the metro to get to the museums and monuments by day and a more animated neighborhood for dinners, etc. at night. A couple of places that I regularly suggest: Radisson Barcelo and the Hilton Embassy Row. There are others; take a look at: www.quikbook.com for values.

Thumbs up on DuPont Cir, as well as Barcelo. Summerfield Suites by Wyndham looked pretty good too, but I didn't stay there, just looked at it for a future trip.

Dupont Circle, without a doubt. There's tons of restaurants in the area and unlike downtown, doesn't die instantly after the stroke of 6pm There's a nice Westin too in addition to the others above.
One note though, not knowing where you are coming from or what your feelings are, but Dupont tends to be a very gay friendly area, so if that offends you be aware.
If you do stay in Dupont enjoy the pizza @ Pizza Paradiso (near 20th & P) and great food, great services and great prices at Thaiphoon (near S and Connecticut)

Definitely Dupont Circle! You can walk or take the Metro anyplace from there and it is a beautiful neighborhood. Try to visit The Phillips Collection Art Museum at 21st and P Streets. It is one of the city's gems.

Dupont. Also a strong third for the Radisson Barcelo.

Consider going to MiMi's in Dupont Circle, you will love it. The wait staff often sing show tunes for you. Big grand piano is the centerpiece of the restaurant. Food was great too. Enjoy!

My teenaged son and I stayed at the Churchill just north of Dupont Circle last summer and loved it. Very safe feeling. Easy to get to Metro and go anywhere. Lots of great reasonably priced places to eat.

I lived in an apartment in the Churchill (well, back then it was called "The Highlands") in the mid 70s when I was single. We actually had a DC Fodor's GTG there a year or so ago, and it was fun to see the old place as a suite hotel! It is a fantastic location. You can walk straight down the hill to Dupont Circle and all the wonderful restaurants. Or you can head across Connecticut on Wyoming toward 19th street and enjoy an astounding choice of ethnic restaurants in Adams Morgan. Wish I could afford to live there again...(but the days of $110/month apartments are loooooooong gone!)

Dupont Circle by far! We stayed at a wonderful small inn called Dupont at the Circle. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

Just got back from DC and definitely Dupont Circle!! I tried in vain looking for anything open as far as restaurants and such downtown on a Saturday afternoon and everything was closed!! Dupont Circle is always open!!