We are going to DC for Thanksgiving and there are several great rates in the downtown area, but I am wondering if we would be better off (have more to do) nearer Georgetown or the Ritz Pentagon City. Any ideas? We want to stay for appox $150 or less, which is very doable at that time. We like to shop, eat, and tour. We also want to spend time at the downtown DC sites.

You might check out www.biddingfortravel.com and review the information there and bid through Priceline. When I checked yesterday, 3 and 4 star hotels in DC in October were accepting bids in the $60+ range. This might save you quite a bit of money.

An advantage to staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City is that it is directly connected to a Metro station and a shopping mall. The Metro will get you to many of the sites you want to see.
That Ritz is my hotel of choice in Washington. Nice rooms, friendly staff... and afternoon tea is available everyday in the lounge. The Sunday brunch is quite good.
If you can reserve a room on the Club level, facing the Potomoc, you will have a great view.

Smitty- I LOVE the RITZ CARLTONS--
We always stay at the one at Tyson's Corner- I would higly reccommend that one over Pentagon City esp for Thanksgiving--THe REASON- it is directly connected to the Gallleria Shopping Ctr and has a shuttle to Tyson's 1- a great Mall- with all the sales after Thanksgiving, it would be fabulous!

However, IF you Decide on Ritz in Pentagon City-they will have an AWESOME THANKSGIVING DINNER ( you need to make reservations) and IF you stay on Concierge Level you get free continental breakfast -including bagels and smoked salmon-Lunch-afternoon tea and scones and little sandwiches-hordoureves-cocktails and late nite liquors)...

PLUS they also have a shopping special-so call and request that rate if it is lower

topping

Another vote for the Ritz Pentagon City. The attached mall and access to the metro can't be beat!

I think the question is what is it you want. Do you want a "Washington experience" or do you want suburban luxury.

The Ritz Pentgon City is a beautiful hotel attached to a suburban, generic shopping center (which won't be open on Thanksgiving and will be a nightmare the weekend after). Yes, you are on top of a Metro, but there is nothing "Washington" about the experience. You could just as easily by in Houston, Birmingham or LA.

G-town is a more "Washington" experience, although not as close to a Metro. It wouldn't be the part of town I would go to if I were visiting the town I live in (I would stay on Embassy Row/Dupont Circle), but people generally like it.

Unless you have a car, the RItz Tysons is a suburban nightmare come to life. There is absolutely nothing in Tysons except generic shopping malls (again, envision Houston or LA) and its congested, far from everything, and sterile. The hotel, however, is beautiful.

Hi - I am a washingtonian and if I were about to visit a city that has as much sightseeing available as Washington has - then I would stay INTOWN. There are a couple great hotels for sightseeing (JWMarriott downtown and the Hyatt on Capitol Hill; also the Holiday Inn - Capitol Hill) You're close to the capitol, the mall (meaning the mall that stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. Who wants to shop at Tysons, Pentagon City or any other mall on a holiday?
Enjoy the city - take a cab up to Georgetown - see a show at the Kennedy Ctr or a show/game at MCI Center. If you tried to visit all of the Smithsonians - that would take many years - see the Egyptian art at the Natl Gallery of art. Check out where your congressmen work and your Prez works; go see the pandas at our fantastic zoo - Walk down Pennsylvania Ave and be mesmerized by all the activity of this great political town.

I posted earlier that I prefer the Ritz -Carlton, Pentagon City and that still stands.
Smitty mentioned that shopping was something he/she ENJOYED, that's why I mentioned that Fashion Center Mall was attached to the Ritz.
I have also stayed at the Capitol Hill Hyatt and it is, indeed, very handy for exploring the Hill and The Mall. One can stroll out the hotel's front door, turn right and walk to the Capitol in <5 minutes.
Smitty, since June, the only way you can explore the inside of the Capitol Building is via a guided tour. Tickets are required,they are free and distributed on a first come, first served basis. The tickets are available at kiosk that is near 1st & Independence. I believe the first tickets are handed out about 8 AM.

I enjoyed the JW Marriot two years ago in November. It's so centrally located. There is a SMALL shopping mall attached but may not be impressive.

Hi again,
I'm not trying to find fault with anyone's advice - if it appeared that way to you then I apologize.

I do believe in what I said "we CAN visit shopping malls any time or day" but our nation's capitol is a almost like opening one present after another; each better than the first. Where else can one visit so many fantastic places free of charge!! I like what DC offers - I should I've been escorting friends and family around for years.

I believe you can stay in fancy hotels anywhere - but there's only one Washington DC - so see it in the most convenient way possible.

ttt

As a native, I would have to recommend the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC just for the fact that it's in the city. While the Pentagon Ritz is very nice, it's in a boring area that will seem dead after 5PM. While the metro is a walk from the DC location, cabs in DC are fairly cheap and it's probably a 5-10 minute ride to anywhere you would be exploring. The Metro system is very nice, but there will be times a cab is more handy.

Another great hotel to check out is the Renaissance Mayflower - centrally located and a gorgeous hotel (very Ritz-like). One opf my wife and I's favorites.