deb

Any comments on which hotel to stay in Bethesda or thereabouts where we can then take the metro to DC? I thought it would be easier than taking the car downtown? We're traveling with a 6year old, any other suggestions welcome.

kmarie

One possibility is the Doubletree in Rockville, across the street from a metro station (sorry, can't recall the name of the station). Leave your car in the hotel parking area; no need to look for a space at a station.
Perhaps some other posters will have some suggestions for Bethesda proper.

As for taking the car into DC, I've found that, on the weekends, I can uaually get a parking space on the Mall if I arrive by 10 am.

Deb, when are you planning to go to DC? When you ask for suggestions, are you looking for child-oriented activities in DC? Is this your first visit? Tell us what you are looking for.

xxx

There's a Holiday in in Greenbelt close to the metro that you might want to consider.

xxx

Ooops, Holiday INN

Deb

I and my mother have been there before. First choice for my nephew is to see the air and space museum. Any other suggestions are welcome. We figure the 3 days before Christmas will be quiet.

Kelli

There is a Hyatt right above the Bethesda metro station. The rates for a Saturday night ranges between $90-120. The commute between Bethesda and downtown is a fairly quick one; it takes about 20 minutes to get from Bethesda to Metro Center. From what I understand, the majority of rooms have just been remodeled. The hotel location is also in the center of downtown Bethesda which is close to quite a few restaurants. While the restaurants in the downtown DC area are generally better, I would recommend the following places in Bethesda: Persimmon (Nouveau American), Matuba (Japanese/Sushi), Jaleo (Spanish/Tapas), La Miche (French), Positano (Italian).

Hyatt
One Bethesda Metro Center
Wisconsin Ave. at Old Georgetown Rd.
Bethesda
MD 20814
Telephone: +1 301 657 6453

I hope you enjoy your trip, but may I ask why you are staying in MD rather than DC? I work in Bethesda, and live in Georgetown and would generally recommend you stay in the district. If you like, I’d be more than happy to give you some hotel and restaurant recommendations in DC as well.

Kelli

Christina

I would stick with your original ideas of Bethesda as a good choice if you want the suburbs, as some of these other suggestions are nothing I would personally recommend to visitors--like Rockville (which is very far out) or Greenbelt (also far out and not a great area in other ways). If you are near the Bethesda metro, that's just about as convenient as many places in the District, and more than some not near the metro with nothing to do. There are lots of restaurants around there, for example. I'd suggest the Marriott Residence Inn suite hotel on Wisconsin, it's very near the metro and that might be nice with a kid (be sure you get the Marriott Res. Inn on Wisconsin in Bethesda, not the Marriott Bethesda which is on Democracy Blvd or someplace outside Bethesda and not near the metro). The Hyatt would be a good choice, also. There are some other cheaper hotels north on Wisconsin in Bethesda (HOliday Inn etc) but they aren't as nice as these two and not nearly as close to the metro and the area around them is pretty dull. Another good idea might be the Embassy Suites hotel at Chevy Chase Pavilion, a lot of people like that for a stay with kids and it's right at a metro stop. There are 1-2 hotels in Silver Spring that are ok (HOliday Inn and another Town Center which was just taken over by Hilton supposedly in early 2001, I don't know much about it) but downtown Silver Spring is not as nice as Bethesda and they are farther from the metro, so I wouldn't give them a preference over the others.

Deb

Thanks. I thought a suite would be nicer, and the Embassy Suites Chevy Chase is a lot more than the Bethesda Marriott Suites, so that's where we'll stay.

I'll let you know how it is!

Deb

Thanks. I thought a suite would be nicer with my nephew, and the Embassy Suites Chevy Chase is a lot more than the Bethesda Marriott Suites, so that's where we'll stay.

I'll let you know how it is!

Mike

I live in Maryland and always recommend to out of town guests to stay in the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. There is a metro stop across the street. You can walk to the water in the evening or Embassy Suites provides transportation to Old Town for shopping and dining. If you do not want to stay at the Embassy Suites I still would highly recommend staying in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Much more quaint and personal and very safe.