Washington DC on my own
 

Hello

I will be flying to BWI from a family vacation and then spending 2 days in DC on my own before a work meeting (rather than flying all the way home and then coming back).

I probably take the bus to Greenbelt metro stop and then ride the metro into the city. (This will be on a Saturday in October). I'm trying to figure out where to stay. I want an area that I will be comfortable walking around at night for dining and close to a metro stop (so I can get around easily). I've stayed in Alexandria before and would be fine there. I'm also looking at Dupont Circle area or Crystal City. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Dupont Circle, hands down. Staying in Crystal City is like staying at a shopping mall. Dupont Circle area meets all your criteria.

I would go with Dupont Circle. It has all that you are looking for and it is on the Metro

Also consider Penn Quarter/Verizon Center area. Hotels there include the Hotel Monaco and Grand Hyatt. You can easily walk to the National Portrait Gallery, Spy Museum, Newseum, White House, Capitol Hill, National Mall and Smithsonian Museums from there. The Gallery Place Metro is there, making you convenient to everywhere else (except Georgetown - get a cab), there are many nice restaurants in the area, as well as the Verizon Center and Chinatown. I have walked around in that area by myself at night before with no problems.

We stayed at the Sofitel, a couple of blocks from the White House and were able to walk to everything on the Mall. Plenty of restaurants in the surrounding couple of blocks. A less expensive choice right around the corner is the Hilton Garden Inn.

JW Marriott is close to many sights and restaurants. It also felt very safe at night and is very close to the White House. We loved the Old Ebbitt on 14th. There is also food court on the same block as JW for a quick lunch.

glimmer2: We stayed at the JW Marriott on a previous visit and also ate at the Old Ebbitt on both visits. Enjoyed both the hotel and the restaurant. The Sofitel is about 6 or 7 blocks from the J.W. and agree that the area is both safe and convenient.

I would vote for either Dupont Circle area or Penn Quarter. The Marriott, is fine too but to me is in more of a business area. Not as much to wander around in the evenings and see. The area around the Sofitel is safe, but there is a park right up the street that does attract a fair number of homeless folks, most of whom are harmless.

Penn Quarter is both a hotbed of great dining and a walkable distance from a number of attractions.

Penn Quarter/Gallery Place is very lively in the midst of the museum/entertainment district. Dupont is where residential/office/small retail areas blend. Both are great, safe areas with Metro stations and plenty of dining options. You choose whether you prefer the "Times Square" atmosphere of Gallery Place (a slight exaggeration but there is some neon and lots of chain restaurants) or something a bit more laid back (but not dull) Dupont.

Try the Woodley Park Guest House. It is just 500 ft from the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro stop. Many interesting places to dine in the neighborhood. Or just a short Metro ride to other areas.

If you decide on Dupont Circle, you might like to check out the Farmers' Market on Sunday morning if you enjoy them.

http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/marke...nt_circle.html