Used Priceline/biddingfortravel for first time today for Baltimore Inner Harbor for August trip - was very skeptical but got a great rate for decent hotel. Now I am getting braver and and considering trying for Washington, DC. My hesitation is that I know there are some creepy areas in DC and will bid only if I can avoid them yet still be reasonable close to Metro. My choices are: 1. Alexandria and Old Town
2. Arlington
3. Capital Hill
4. Crystal City
5. Downtown
6. Georgetown
My sense is that I should avoid Capital Hill and Downtown for safety at night reasons and that Georgetown might not be as accessible to Metro. Correct/crazy/comments? Thanks in advance

Georgetown in wonderful, but only accesible by bus. I would stay on Metro if I were you. Look at Dupont Circle.

I would not cross off downtown DC. A lot of good hotels in the downtown area. Most are very close to the attractions and the metro. For example, Marriott at Metro Center. As for Alexandria, only stay in a hotel in Old Town Alexandria. Other hotels in Alexandria offer shuttle service to metro stations such as King Street, Van Dorn, or Huntington, but it is an inconvenience and not always reliable.

Georgetown depends on where exactly in G'town, and how much you like to walk. When I was a student at GU, I used to walk from campus to Rosslyn. And I had friends who lived at the other end of G'town who would walk to the Foggy Bottom metro.

I would be careful bidding in Alexandria, unless they confine the area it to Old Town. Alexandria covers a large area, and much of it outside of OT is strip mall and traffic hell (I live there, I know). I would also avoid Crystal City, unless you absolutely will only be using your room to sleep in.

My husband and I recently bid for a room downtown so we could wander around the city for a weekend without worrying about driving home, and I got 2 nights at one of the Hiltons for $75 a night on priceline.

My ranking of the areas you listed would be:
1. Downtown
2. Old Town Alexandria (but only if it's just OT)
3. Arlington (north Arlington, from Rossyln to Ballston)
4. Capitol Hill
5. Georgetown

ttt

I've stayed in most of those places when staying in DC. I don't think safety is an issue with any of them -- Capitol Hill is very safe these days, with police standing around every government building. My main issue would be how handy are you to the Metro, and of the places you listed only Georgetown and the outlying parts of Alexandria are away from the Metro.

Thanks for your help. I had somehow forgotten that there is a larger law enforcement presence in Washington these days. After checking on biddingfortravel I think I am going to try Downtown area and see how I do.

A friend who lives on Capitol Hill was complaining to me the other night that her neighborhood is becoming TOO safe, and driving up property values!

I went to Hotwire.com recently and selected the White House/Capitol Hill area and I got the 4* Grand Hyatt Washington for $95 a night!!