where to stay in DC
 

I am combining a work trip with a family vacation. Looking at Expedia, it is hard to tell where to stay. most of the museums are near the mall, but I know DC has a good metro system so it shoul be easy to get around. How is foggy bottom? any hotel recommendations?

we've stayed at the loews l'enfant plaza several times and like it very much. it's within walking distance of the mall attractions and sits above a metro station for heading to other areas. there are shops and restaurants in a mini mall leading to the metro.

To get any useful recommendations you will need to give more details about the # of travelers, when you are going, your budget etc. But in the meantime I can give you a run down of the hotels that I've stayed at.

JW Marriott - very nice, located near the White House, connected to a mall with a food court, rooms are average sized.

Loew's L'Enfant Plaza - also very nice, rooms are nicely decorated, very convenient to the Mall, the Metro is right there as is an underground mall with lots of fast food choices. Has an indoor pool. Located in the midst of office buildings.

Embassey Suites, Foggy Bottom - a little further away from the Mall, not sure how close it is to a Metro station as I took cabs. Not alot of restaurant choices nearby that I could tell. Rooms are nice sized, includes breakfast and there is an indoor pool as well.

Radisson Barcelo - my least favorite. Large rooms, very reasonably priced but the rooms are dated and the only pool is outdoors and is not maintained. About 2 blocks to the Metro at Dupont Circle, restaurant choices right outside the door.

4 total going. 2 adults, 2 children - one is 12 and the other is a year old.

Going late March.

The rates seem to be cheaper when you go farther away. Anyone stay at the melrose?

Avoid Lowes L'Enfant Plaza Hotel at all cost. The so-called mall consists of snadwich places, and it closes up tight at 3 p.m., M-F, and the hotel is marooned away from nightlife and restaurants, not to mention most of the tourist sights. Suggest instead you check out J. W. Marriott at 14th NW and Pa. Avenue. Look at a map of DC before you decide on a hotel.

The metro system in DC is terrific. Because of that, we always stay in Alexandria. Metro to DC during day, much more to do at night. DC after 6 pm. seems to close up. Also check out Georgetown.

Have not stayed at the Melrose but it looks nice and the location is fine: 2-1/2 blocks to Foggy Bottom Metro. Georgetown is a short 5 block walk. Here's a map of the area:

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../foggybot.html

Thanks. Close to Georgetown would be good for dining options, right?

Is it pretty easy to get on the metro with a baby? I remember the tube in London being jampacked.

A few comments on earlier posts:

``JW Marriott - very nice, located near the White House, connected to a mall with a food court, rooms are average sized.''

-- That mall and food court has been out of commission awhile. Location is still good, though, and there's plenty of good dining nearby.

``Close to Georgetown for dining.''

--Georgetown's dining, with a few exception, is overrated.

``Loew's L'Enfant Plaza''

--With the exception of the Metro stop and proximity to the Mall, it's on the wrong side of the Mall from downtown.

Another possibility might be the Marriott Wardman Park. Metro's right there. Zoo is up the street. Plenty of dining options close -- including great kid and adult choices.

Send some rough hotel rates you're seeking and folks will be much more specific.

Hotel Lombardy is one block from the George Washington campus and three blocks from the White House.

I just returned from a long weekend in DC (thanks everyone for the recommendations). We stayed at Jurys Washington on Dupont Circle, and there were loads of dining options nearby. In addition, the metro is across the street. My wife and I were really happy with the hotel on all counts (price, location, cleanliness, amenities, comfort, etc). Enjoy your trip!

I agree with the poster above who said that Georgetown's dining generally is overrated.

I think that the St. Gregory's Suites (all rooms have a kitchen and a sofa bed) and Embassy Suites are nice hotels. Embassy Suites has a good breakfast and nice atrium with a cocktail hour. Both are about a few blocks from Foggy Bottom. One Washington Circle Hotel is the closest to Foggy Bottom. If you have a car most hotels in DC charge you to park your car and hotels outside of DC might not. I would check that out if you have a car.

You will do a lot of walking. My suggestion is that the first day you get there talk to your hotel about the old trolley tours or the red line tours; they do the same route and cost about the same. Do the tours early in the morning so you see things or you miss out if you do it too late. It gives you a good overview of the city. I would buy a few metro cards and put money on each because a $6 unlimited metro card for one person isn't worth it.
P street has several nice restaurants and my favorite pizza place is Pizzeria Paradiso! Have fun.

I think that the St. Gregory's Suites (all rooms have a kitchen and a sofa bed) and Embassy Suites are nice hotels. Embassy Suites has a good breakfast and nice atrium with a cocktail hour. Both are about a few blocks from Foggy Bottom. One Washington Circle Hotel is the closest to Foggy Bottom. If you have a car most hotels in DC charge you to park your car and hotels outside of DC might not. I would check that out if you have a car.

You will do a lot of walking. My suggestion is that the first day you get there talk to your hotel about the old trolley tours or the red line tours; they do the same route and cost about the same. Do the tours early in the morning so you see things or you miss out if you do it too late. It gives you a good overview of the city. I would buy a few metro cards and put money on each because a $6 unlimited metro card for one person isn't worth it.
P street has several nice restaurants and my favorite pizza place is Pizzeria Paradiso! Have fun.
Make sure you do the library of Congress; it is awesome! Arlington is neat too and make sure you do the bus tour there (I think it is $5) and well worth it or else you are walking up steep hills. Again, have fun:-)

Doubletree Suites is a block and a half from the Foggy Bottom metro. The rooms have a separate bedroom, full kitchen, and living room with sleeper sofa. Worked out very well for our family of four.

We were in D.C. last February - we had great weather for walking around. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt - it has a metro system beneath it that is very handy - Great location! We walked to the Mall Museums from there but the metro was good if the weather is bad and you want to go to outlying areas. There are a number of great restaurants in the area - Loved Oceanaire and Ten Phen was the best!!!

SergioL-you're flat out incorrect that the "so-called mall" (I'll grant you it's not the best) attached to Loew's L'Enfant Plaza "closes up tight" by 3pm. Simply not true. Both "Roma" restaurant-a long-time favorite Italian eatery that bakes its own bread-and Au bon Pain (right off the top of my head) don't close until at least 6-7pm. I know other stores in the mall not only stay open later, they are open on weekends as well. There's an optometrist, US post office, CVS drugstore (it doesn't close early) Chinese restaurant, etc., among many other shops/services here.

I agree with those recomending that you stay away from L'Enfant Plaza. It closes down at the end of the business day.

Melrose is fine, though you are moving away from Metro stops (it is close to the edge of Georgetown, which does not have Metro). During peak rush hour Metro can be crowded, most of the time you'll have no problem.

For hotels, there are plenty of Hyatts and Marriotts, all of which are acceptable and many frequently have good rates. If budget is an issue, you can stay in Arlington/Alexandria or Bethesda/Rockville and "commute" into the city on the subway.

River inn has specials on expeida right now. Any feedback?

I am looking into the other recommendations as well. Thanks for all the help!

It's OK - Foggy Bottom has a ton of hotels but there are better areas(Dupont Circle and Metro Center are two that come to mind). I would also consider Capitol Hill Suites: 2 blocks to Metro; walkable to the Mall; and located in an upscale, quiet residential area.

That said, River Inn is fine - it's all a matter of degree.

Print this map for reference when evaluating hotels.

http://www.wdcahotels.com/images/DCmap.pdf

Decided to use up some frequent flier miles and stay for the weekend at the PArk Hyatt in Dupont Circle. any feedback? we will stay at a Hampton before that near National airport.

The Park Hyatt is quite nice but not really in the Dupont neighborhood (though it is walkable to it - about 6 blocks).

Do you really need to stay near National Airport? The airport is less than a 15 minute taxi from downtown.

Only staying there as I can drop off the family at the hotel, and then take the rental car to make business visits. Most of the hotels in DC cost an arm and a leg to park the car.

River Inn is really nice. The location isn't as good as Dupont Circle in terms of nightlife, but I love the actual hotel and there are some good places to eat around. 2000 Penn is close by, which houses Kinkeads (best seafood in DC IMHO) and Bertuccis. Plus the Watergate Safeway is less than a 10 minute walk away.