richmond va hotels
 

We are going to be in Richmond for 4 days in October and plan to stay there as a "base" but make a few day trips in the area. We found a good rate at the Fairfield Inn on Mayfield, but since we are unfamiliar with the area aren't sure if this is a good location. We would love to stay at the Jefferson but they are already booked. Any other suggestions? Any must see/ must do as well?

You mention using it as a base but don't say what you want to do or which direction you plan on going. A little more info may provide you with better responses.

I live about 2 hours away. I've stayed downtown at the Omni and Crown Plaza - both very nice but the downtown can be a bear to negotiate. I was doing business downtown so it was perfect. I also stayed at a newer Marriot in Glen Allen that was nice and had easier interstate access.

It all kind of depends on what you plan on doing

well, to tell you the truth, we know absolutely NOTHING about the area, so we are really open to suggestions as to what to see and do. we don't want to spend every minute in the car, but probably won't get to that part of the country again, so we don't want to miss anything. I am going to be there on business and my husband is flying out to join me after for a few days. we have been told we can do everything from dc to jamestown to charlottesville. our only criteria is that we must fly home from richmond. if you have any suggestions, we would appreciate it. he gets in late on a friday so we will have saturday through monday and are returning to texas on tuesday. thanks!

I'm not familiar with this particular Fairfield Inn, but the area it's located in is fine. Kinda new, there is still some building going on around there. Mainly suburban/commercial. There are some chain restuarants close by, but if you go west on Broad Street maybe a mile, you run into the Innsbrook area, which will have more selections. You've probably looked at a map and are aware that I-64 is close, as is I-295. Main arteries for travel east/west. Williamsburg/Jamestown is maybe an hour east, Charlottesville an hour west, DC 2hrs.(depending on traffic and time of day) north.
Couple of suggestions...pick up a Thursday's Richmond-Times Dispatch.There is a Weekend section with local events listed. You might google Carytown as well as Shockoe Bottom to see if anything strikes you. (They are areas of Richmond with restuarants and boutique-type shops.) You might also google Church Hill, The Fan, Jackson Ward, all urban residential areas with restored older houses. If you are here during the middle of the month, there will be the National Folk Festival, which has turned into a pretty big deal.If history is of interest, Richmond has Civil War, Revolutionary War sites. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Lewis B. Ginter Botanical Gardens, possibly even a rafting trip down the James River, which runs through the middle of the city. Hope this helps.

Hi! I looked up your Fairfield inn on Mayland. It is located out of the city west near many businesses, shops and restaurants and should be a fine location.
What do you want to see? I am not sure if I would spend the four nights in some suburban area of Richmond. You could be in anywhere USA. I would plan to sleep where I was traveling to and get a feel for the area.
DC is great, but would be a trip in itself. There is so much to do and see there that I think you would be missing a lot to see it for a day, BUT we have done it for a school trip.

The Charlottesville area will be very pretty in Oct. Leaves will be changing. The Blue Ridge Mountains are located just west. You can visit Monticello (Jefferson's home). You can walk around the town which has a cute outdoor mall area that has restaurants and shops. It is a big college town and is home to University of Virginia. (Just make sure it is not parent's weekend as you will not be able to get a hotel room).
East of Richmond is Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Williamsburg would be about an hour's drive on 64East or you can take Rte 5 and stop at some old plantation homes along the James River. Williamsburg has an historical area with reinactments of the Revolutionary war time. I would spend an evening here at the Williamsburg Inn.
Virginia beach is another hour's drive east. (about 2 hours from Richmond). Here you can stay oceanfront and walk along the beach. I imagine since we have had warm weather so far, you might be comfortable swimming in the Atlantic in early Oct.

The Richmond Airport is east of Richmond on the way to Williamsburg.
Now in Richmond...Downtown is Shockoe Slip with some hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. Omni is the hotel that I would choose.
If your husband flies in to Richmond and takes a car service to the Fairfield inn, you could get up Sat, check out and drive west to Charlottesville. Spend a night or two there and then head east to Williamsburg. You can spend a night or two there and then fly out of Richmond.
Now you will drive thru Richmond on your way to Williamsburg. You can visit downtown and see the James River, Shockoe Slip and go through an area of Church Hill( I think) to get on Rte 5 to the plantations heading east to Williamsburg. You can also stop at the Capitol Building which has just been renovated and is our state capitol here in VA.
In Richmond, there are some unique areas to visit. Carytown is an area that has some unique shops and some good restaurants. River Rd and the University of Richmond has some beautiful homes. Monument Avenue has the statues of Robert E Lee, etc... Maymont park is a great park with a mansion, japanese gardens and a small petting zoo. That would be nice for a picnic lunch. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens has a lunch place and some nice floral gardens to wander through. Not sure of where your interests lie. Most of the things to see and do in Richmond are spread out.

So, if you could tell us more of what you want to do and see and what type of hotels you want, maybe I can help.