We are trying to plan a trip to D.C. in October but have had so many different opinions on where to stay (guidebook, travel agents, people who have been there).

We'd prefer to stay close to everything, I don't think I want to stay in Maryland or Virgina. I'd rather be in the heart of it all. Any hotels in the $120-175 range that you'd recommend? Any suggestions locals can give would be appreicated!
How about restaurants not to miss? Sites not to miss, sites to miss, etc.....locals know the best so I am counting on you!!

Thanks for your help. Contact me if you need Chicago advice!

I did the same search earlier this year. I settled on the Capital Hilton...2 blks to White House, good neighborhood etc. We go in 2 weeks so I can't tell you if I was right. Go to this URL, and put in your dates etc, and it will show you a list of available hotels. I figure we saved a bunch off the regular room rates...

http://www.hoteldiscount.com

Hi, I live in the area and work downtown. The best hotels would be close to the Metro, so you could just hop on the Metro and go anywhere you want! I would suggest the Marriott either JW or the one at the Convention Center. There are also several Holiday Inns in the area that are more reasonable in price.

I would suggest seeing the museums including the Holocaust, the White house, the Arlington Cemetary and definitly going to Georgetown.

I hope this helps.

We stayed at the Summerfield Suites near Dupont Circle. It was a block from the Metro and had interesting restaurants nearby. we could get to all the interesting spots with no trouble.

We have stayed at the Mayflower Hotel several times and liked the location very much. It is right next to a metro station and we got all over D.C. with no trouble.

I just came back from Washington. I can recommend an excellent and inexpensive Chinese restaurant. It's called City Lights of China (1731 Connecticut Ave. NW, Metro: Dupont Circle). Notice a picture of Harrison Ford at the entrance with the owner. It's quite good.

Cleo, have you found a hotel? If you haven't, you may want to try the Loews L'Enfant Plaza hotel. It is off of Independence Avenue across from the Mall. It is an excellent location and in walking distance to the Capitol, White House, Mall, etc. I also work up the block from the Capitol Hilton and agree that it is a good place to stay. Dupont Circle is an excellent area to stay in due to its proximity to the metro and excellent restaurantes. For that area, I recommend the Radisson Barcelo. Have you contacted your member of Congress to see about the availability of White House tickets? Congressional offices can give out ten tickets per week for tours and they go fast! If you haven't contacted him or her, do it now. Also, be advised that the FBI has indefinitely suspended its tours for security reasons. Please email me if you need any more information on hotels or attractions. I'm a docent at the Air and Space Museum, and can tell you everything you need to know about it, or the rest of the Smithsonian.

Hotel Harrington is quite nice and it's right in the heart of everything. There are three different metro stops nearby. I will absolutely stay there if I get back to D.C. They have a website - just do a search for Hotel Harrington.

Do a search on this forum for Hotel Harrington and you will find that the consensus is not to stay there. Hotel Harrington is the biggest, most vile pit in Washington. My co-workers and I always talk about how sorry we feel for the people who end up staying there. I know people who stayed there against my advice and ended up switching hotels because it was so horrible.

Yes, by all means avoid Hotel Harrington!

We just stayed four nights in the
Hotel Harrington. I agree it looks
like a dump. It is an old hotel, in
a run-down part of town. But, it is
one block from Ford's theater,
which is next to the Hard Rock
Cafe, and a few blocks from
the mall and the White House.
It is one block to the metro.
We paid ninety-four dollars for
two beds.
If you want to stay downtown,
I would check out the Hotel
Washington, which is near the
White House.

Work here in DC. The Holiday Inn on Capitol Hill is close to everything - a block from the Mall (where most museums and monuments are). It is a Holiday Inn though - not my favorite. It is also less than a block away from the Metro (L'Enfant). Would reccomend the Holocaust Museum, an IMAX film at the Air & Space Museum, and try making a call to your congressman/woman's office - a staffer will be happy to give you a tour of the Capitol. Call in advance for the tour. Check out Washington Post online (www.washingtonpost.com) and check out their weekend section right before you come. One of the good things about touring here is that virtually everything is free!

I just stayed at the Wyndham (AKA The hotel where Marion Barry got busted) and it was nice. They have a buffet breakfast every morning that's something like $7 or $8 for guests, and it is walking distance to DuPont Circle and some other main things to see.

Loews L'Enfant is an excellent hotel - with a metro stop and shops below the hotel - it is very close to the Holocaust Mueseum and other Mall sites. Doubletree Suites near GWU was also nice and yummy cookies but not very close to a lot of attractions. City Light of China is very good.

Been there and stayed at the Hoiday Inn-Smithsonian. Close (1 block) from Air and Space Museum and the subway. A couple blocks from the mint and tour bus picks up at the hotel. Was clean-not fancy and we got a deal for around $100/night. Stayed also at Hilton by Dupont circle. Loved the hotel but hate to subway or taxi everywhere. Taxi's are inexpensive though. Get tickets at half-price to the shows at the half-price day of show office. By the capitol hilton there are lots of street vendors which I thought were fun to bargain with. Be sure to contact your legislature for tickets!! Helps avoid many lines!

I just returned from a trip to Washington. While I DC I stayed at the Crowne Plaza (got a decent deal at $108 per night via 1-800-96hotel)
The hotel is situated on 14th and K streets, which seemed to be a reasonably pleasant area, there was a metro stop one block away, and the White House and Mall were within easy walking distance. The hotel itself was pleasant and corporate. The lobby was rather small but somewhat ornate, and the building itself was where one of FDR's innaguration balls was held. A breakfast buffet was offered each morning for a reasonable fee, and the hotel staff was exceedingly pleasant. The only complaint I had was that because it was in a district that was primarily offices, there was a dearth of restaraunts open for dinner nearby. Excluding that one little caveat, I would recommend it.

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Regency in late July and enjoyed it very much although it is a large hotel. It is connected to the Convention Centre and the Metro. Although not close to anything particular, it is easy walking distance to the White House, the Mall, Chinatown, the restaurants up around K St. etc. Convention rate was $165 single but who knows what a hotel's true rate is anymore?? Have fun, we wnjoyed Washington very much.

I'm going to DC for a wedding at the end of October & am glad I checked out these forums before staying at the Harrington. I was considering it because it was in Fodor's! Do the Fodor's people read these posts because they should consider taking the Harrington out of their listings.

Just returned from DC with our two boys ages 12 and 13. We stayed at the Lincoln Suites Downtown to the tune of $119 per night with a AAA discount and it was worth every penny! Friendly staff, wonderful location, continental breakfast on weekend, fresh baked cookie reception in lobby each night! It was included in every travel quide we read and we recommend it highly, good luck and have a great trip!

We're considering either the Westin Fairfax (formerly Ritz Carlton), Westin Grand or Watergate Hotel. Any rec's on which one? We have dad, mom, and 14 yr old son. We are planning to ride the Metro everywhere. Thanks!