Has anyone been to the Renaissance Washington hotel. It is run by Marriott and in the Chinatown section of DC. Is this a safe area within walking distance of attractions? Has anyone with kids been there? How's the pool?

Can't address the kids or pool part but it's a good hotel in a decent area that is currently undergoing some revitalization.

The hotel is nice, and the area is ok for some purposes, but it wouldn't be my first choice. It is primarily a convention hotel (it's across the street from the Convention Center). The area is definitely undergoing revitalization, but it's still somewhat marginal, esp. at night, so depending on what you consider "safe," you may not be entirely comfortable. The Chinatown/MCI Center area is great, but it's pretty small and mostly consists of bars and restaurants and a couple of shops, so I'm not sure it would be the ideal place to stay with kids. The Mall area is walkable from there, but you won't be right in the heart of it.

If you stay within the Chinatown perimeter, you'll be safe. Walking north of K Street or Massachusetts Avenue is not advised after dark sets in. The area at K and about 6th Street has a gay bar and sometimes has it's share of transvestite prostitutes. Walking east from Chinatown past Fifth is not to be advised.

I work near the Renaissance, and have to say that I would not stay there with kids. The area can get a little creepy after dark. Look a little closer to Pennsylvania Ave.---it will put you farther away from the construction and closer to attractions that the kids would like.