luckyone

I to am heading to Washington D.C. in March with 11 yr old grandson. Would like a hotel convenient to all. Don't need night life, but would like to stay under $150 a night. Will be staying 5-7 days. Looking for any help I can get.

LLKlein

You might catch a good rate at the JW Marriott right near the White House, within walking distance of all the museums. It is a wonderful hotel, and sometimes you can get a good deal if you plan far enough ahead. It is next door to the Willard Intercontinental. Be sure to just walk through the Willard. It is spectacular. Good luck and have fun. It's such a great place. My 16 year old daughter is there right now on a journalism trip.

posha

I recommend The Hotel George. It's two blocks from Union Station and within walking distance of the Capitol, Supreme Court, the mall, and the museums. It's a contemporary boutique hotel in your price range.

LN

Hi

If you'd like to be near the Mall then I would recommend the Jw Marriott which is off Pennsylvania Ave near 14th or 15th. There's another nice Marriott up near 17th Street and Conn. ave. Otherwise you could also look at the Dupont Circle area. There are lots of very nice hotels and restaurants in that area. Find out which hotel will give you the best rate or try for Priceline. Washington's a great walking city - so much is available close to the mall and to the metro but my biggest piece of advice would be to stay in DC and not in the suburbs.

You shouldn't have much trouble in that price range.

Your grandson might also like to go to the Spy museum - the American History, Air and Space. Call your Congressman and see if you can get tickets to the White House, and the capitol and also see if you can sit in on a session of Congress. I don't know if the tours are open again but the Naval Observatory tour used to be great for kids - the floor rises and the kids get to see through a huge telescope.

Research it well and you'll have a ball with your grandson. Enjoy!!!

patg

The Hilton Garden Inn, well-recommended on tripadvisor.com, has rooms for about $150 in March, with lower rates on the weekend. It has a good location and a heated, indoor pool, which should be a big hit with your grandson.

Stephanie

You really don't have to stay right in D.C. to be close to everything. I stayed in a Holiday Inn in Rosslyn, VA, which is right across the Potomac from D.C. and there is a subway about 2-3 blocks away from it. J.W. Marriott in The Shops would be very convenient but I can't tell you about the rooms or service. You should be able to get some deals at that time because tourist season really gets under way in April.

Ann1

I have always love the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel,480 L'Enfant Plaza S.W.
Washington, DC, 20024
Telephone: 202 484 1000
It's a wonderful hotel right across the street from the Smithsonian Air and Space. Perfectly centrally located for walking the city.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Loew's L'Enfant Plaza is convenient to most Smithsonians, and with ready access to the Metro, it's like being close to everything.

Since you're staying almost a week, Rosslyn area of Arlington isn't bad either, and usually a heck of a lot cheaper, both for room rate and the taxes. Not as close to the Metro as the Holiday Inn is Virginia Suites, and they have a shuttle to the Metro. Closer to the Metro is a Hyatt which has some good deals at times. I've stayed at Quality Inn Iwo Jima that has an enclosed pool. The Red Roof Inn in DC is by no means luxurious, but clean & next to MCI center & the Building Museum (see it). Many participants in this forum will "knock" staying outside the District, but if you're willing to spend an extra 15 minutes getting into town each time, you can save hundreds of dollars on your lodging.

Doh

Loew's l'enfant plaza is convenient to many Mall museums, but the area can be like a ghost town at night. I know luckyone suggested that nightlife didn't matter, but I just wanted to point that out. Also, sometimes it's nice to be able to go back to your hotel in the middle of the day, which isn't very practicable if your hotel is in Va.

bardo

You've gotten some great recommendations. In particular the JW Marriot and Hotel George are both great hotels and are an easy walk to all the sights. I agree the previous poster that it's important to have the option to slip in and out of your hotel in the midst of your sightseeing. Good luck! (p.s. if you decide on Hotel George, their restaurant is considered to be one of the best in town - if you can talk your grandson into steak frites one night: http://vidaliadc.com/bistro/index.asp

Dee3

We've stayed at the Loew's L'Enfant Plaza which was, as others have said, within walking distance to the mall museums. A very nice hotel. This past June we stayed at the Holiday Inn @ Smithsonian on C Street which was directly behind the Air and Space Museum. Kid friendly restaurant on site, roof pool open during the summer months. Less expensive, not as fancy as the Loews. Recommend both.

holly

I stayed in Arlington a couple of years ago. It was easy to get in and out of the city via the metro.
I'm going again in March/April, but opted to stay closer this time since I'll be traveling with an older parent and 12 year old. I got a room at the Hilton Garden Inn through Priceline for a reasonable rate. The metro is right across the street. This might work for you.

Pumpy

I stayed at the Hyatt on Capital Hill for $69 a night via Priceline. We had a view of the Capital out our window, it has an indoor pool (there is a $10 a day health club/pool fee to use), and it's only about 4 blks from Union Station & 1/2 mile (easy walk) to capital or mall. Enjoy!

payant

If you are a senior, the Marriott should offer good weekend rates. Check out their web sites for the individual hotels. They have been aggressively trying to match any rates shown on the internet to keep the fees in their pocket. It's a great town for an 11 year old.

TKay

If you are a Priorty Club Member (DoubleTree, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc) I suggest the Crowne Plaza at Franklin Square at 14th and K Streets. It is right on the Metro line waling distance to the White House. etc.

http://www.hamiltoncrowneplazawashin...index-main.htm