Where to stay in Dc that's safe,close to metro and sites,easy to get from airport-Reagan,things to do @night-I'm single mom w/2kids.Would like in the $150 range.Is Arlinton bettter or downtown or what area?We're going June 15.Thanks

DC is better because it makes returning to your hotel easier. In Arlington, you're more likely to spend the whole day out and once returning to Virginia, your nightime walking/dining/shopping/entertainment options are more limited.

In DC, both Downtown and Dupont Circle are good areas. On your budget, Conn. Ave. Days Inn (by the zoo & 1 block to metro) might be an option as well.

To be honest, you should have reserved a room months ago, but here is a site that can help. When you find something that sounds right, come back and people here will tell you if it's OK or "avoid".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...heretostay.htm



Here's info on the Metro system:
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/default.cfm

I'm far from an expert on the matter, but chiming in because I'm going to be there myself from the 12th-18th, so I've checked availability and rates many times over.

It depends on what you're looking for. If you just need a place to spend the night and only need 1 room, $150 is so not going to be a problem for you in DC. If you plan on getting 2 rooms for it, you'll probably have to look out of DC.

I originally found Days Inn Connecticut Ave for about $90 a night and decided to go with it. It is fairly close to a metro station, but it's also out there. The closest attraction its to is the National Zoo, and that's pretty far from most other things, so you'll be using the metro a lot.

Anyway, I just found the Red Roof Inn with those dates available, same rate for 2 full beds and the location is infinitely better, about a mile east of the white house and centrally located to a lot of other attractions.

If you're looking for a more pampering stay or multiple rooms, you're probably best with staying out of DC.

My advice to you would be to check orbitz.com or expedia.com or whatever site, find something that seems like it's in your range and then focus on those particular hotels to see if they match your needs. In most cases, the hotels match the prices on orbitz/expedia when you book directly through them and you don't need to pay up front to reserve.

Try this discount hotel site that we've used to get good rates:

www.capitolreservations.com

I stayed at that Red Roof and it was a great location, and the hotel, while no bells & whistles, was better than your typical "roadside" RRI. As it is, I've got a resv for the Conn Ave Days Inn on upcoming trip, unless I see a price drop at the Roof.

from what i gathered here, it was actually a comfort inn in a former life, for what that's worth. anyway, guess i lucked out. got my reservation (canceled days inn) and now there are no rooms left for that time period.

try hotel helix (price under your limit). It's boutique hotel, very cool with nice continental b'fast. nice staff. fine location (everything is easy from airport because airport is on metro (as opposed to Boston...). we took 8 year old daughter on night trolley tour; we all loved it. It went to many monuments; at night they are really beautiful. We would not have seen these with her otherwise (at that age.) This tour leaves from Union Station and is fairly well known.