If you can afford the Willard, by all means stay there. While I've never stayed there (I live in the DC area), I know a lot of people who have, and they all rave about it.

babiesmama,
If the prices hsavn't scared you (they would scare me :) ), then go for it. It is a beautiful property and about as convenient as you can get. While staying there means you won't need taxis, people that tend to stay there don't tenf to worry about taxi cost. You'll be close to the Mall, White House, Metro, monuments and the downtown restaurants.

If you want something less expensive, I can recommmend two other choices: 1) Capitol Hill Suites (one block to Capitol South Metro and two blocks to Capitol Bldg - also close to Penn. Ave restaurants.
2) Radisson Barcelo (two blocks to Dupont Circle Metro and in the midst of the many, many Dupont Circle restaurants.

Both of these can be found on the highly recommended discount hotel website http://www.capitolreservations.com/

Thanks Bardo,

I will try capitalreservations. I'm not sure the exact dates of travel yet, so I haven't gotten a firm rate yet on Willard. I know it will be a bit steep, but I may splurge, not sure. Have you stayed at the Radisson, and how are they about having kids?

Kids are not a problem at any hotel in this day and age.Don't worry.

Hi Babies Momma- I hate to have to recommend another web site- but here I go- I ALWAYS read the reviews at trip advisor- www.tripadvisor.com--I have learned so much about the hotels from that site! One reason I went with the one I did--I had been thinking of putting out $$$ and staying at the Fairmont or the St. Regis or the Willard, etc--but decided that the BW had lots of space- room to keep drinks etc in the fridge-so many pricey places don't have that-- and after deciding we would not be in the room much of the day- or evenings probably either- and after reading the reviews at trip advisor- I felt pretty safe in my choice. DH wants do some work in the evenings while there and you do not have to pay extra for the internet connection- where in the pricey hotels it is an extra charge. And some of the reviews have said that some of the hotels networks are not good- so that was one of our decisions to. The reviews rallu helped me out- I was able to scratch quite a few off the list I had right away...
oh- and did I mention that for 5 dollars the BW has an agreement with the Fairmont for use of their health club!! That is pretty good- especially since if you stay at the Fairmont you have to pay to use the health club as well- and I believe one review said it was 20.00 extra...who knows- maybe after a hot day a dip in their pool would be nice...but a pool was not a priority on my list either.

Another on my list was Homewood suites (a Hilton property), oh, and The Hilton Garden Inns. They both had good reviews. They were sold out my dates.

I hope you like the web site as much as I do. You will 4sure love Wa DC- this is our third trip- love to visit there...

Also!! In the future- make sure your hotel is not under construction- I have noticed in my surfing a couple in DC are being fixed up this summer...I have learned also before I book a room to ask if there are railroad tracks or hospitals near by...after once staying at a Holiday Inn right on the railroad tracks.

I have found the best rates for hotels are at their own web sites. All rates and available rooms show...I have found internet special rates are better than AAA.

I have found Turbo Trip (www.turbotrip.com)is a good search--I often find buy two nights get one free there for some reason I don't find on other hotel booking sites...

I will tell you my all time favorite site- is luxurylink.com. I have used them in the past- just know what you want- check prices and date availability at the hotel web site- and make your bid!

Oh- and I slept in a crib until I was 4--LOL- :)

What does lol mean?

Here's a second for the Doubletree Suites on New Hampshire Ave. recommended in a post above. I stayed there last year with my wife and 2 children and the accommodations and location were both great. Short walk to Foggy Bottom metro stop, and the area is surrounded by expensive brownstones. We'd definitely stay there again!

mg - lol means "laugh out loud".

Karen

karen: Thanks

The Doubletree Suites on New Hampshire and the Radisson Barcelo are both ones I would recommend. The Doubletree Suites you get a bedroom with separate living/dining area (pull out sofa), as well as a kitchen area with refrigerator, etc. It is possible to prepare some meals in the room. Both hotels are very close to metro -- Doubletree to the Foggy Bottom metro stop and Radisson Barcelo to the DuPont Station stop.

You and your children will find the zoo fun. The aquarium in D.C. is not much to speak of, very small and dark, but it might be perfect for such little ones; I do occasionally take my grandchildren there. (The really nice aquarium is in Baltimore.)

A place that might be good for the children is the sculpture garden at the National Gallery -- it is outdoors and has kinds of sculpture that children really enjoy, e.g. a gigantic eraser. There is a small cafeteria in it, although I'm not sure if it is open only in the summer.
I will think on other things to do that might be fun for the little ones.

Trips4me,

Great advice! I think a fridge and an area to fix snacks is a great idea. But what is the BW you mentioned?

It is the Best Western Hampshires Suites....BUT I have been checking in every so often with the Hilton property- Homewood Suites- and I found a 1 bedroom suite with two doubles (like I said- most hotels have doubles with doubles and not queens) and I made the reservation there also!

So now I have two- I will probably go with the Hilton property becuase I have Hilton Honors points. They have a "hot" breakfast- I think- I am wondering if it is like the Embasssy suites breakfasts (also a Hilton property). Homewood Suites is #3 at tripadvisor.

I have reservations at BW for only 119.00 a night(they have gone UP too for the same weekend for 149.00)- HS are at 129..so not that big a price difference...the parking is a lot more than at the Best Western- but I have read on Fodors that I will probably be able to find street parking around the Embassies- I just do not want to pay 26.00 a day for parking- I am a tightwad that way...I also found a great site today that shows all the public parking and stations and maps with all the locations and hotels- it is great!
www.stationmasters.com

If anyone has any advice- Homewood Suites or Best Western Suites- I would appreciate a heads up! TIA!

We stayed at the Best Western New Hampshire Suties a couple of years ago. It's rather small and seedy and the breakfast selections were sparse. I'd choose another place if the cost was comparable.

We reserved as "one bedroom" suite and it was actually one room with a narrow part in the middle.

Thanks Anony- I read that somewhere else too- I believe Homewood actually has a seperate room- I will write up a short review when I get back--I am leaning that way now- thanks for your input!-
and so that I am not hyjacking this thread- :)- here is another site I found -well it is Yahoo maps- but if you plug in an address there you can find parking and other info related to the address you plug in- here is Homewood for example:
http://tinyurl.com/6e4mz

Yahoo Maps- I Learn something new every day! (I have just used Mapquest in the past!) :)

Homewood doesn't look too far from Chinatown- love to go there for dinner-there is a warning on one review that says to watch your address- not to go beyond 14 th st east of Mass. ave etc etc.
(New Orleans French Quarter was that way too- safe streets to a point and then don't stray)..the reviewer recom. getting the scoop from the conciege...

We just came back from DC. Stayed at the Lincoln Suites in downtown. We had free continental bkft and free cookies and milk in the evening. The metro is 1& half block from hotel. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance. Hotel is located at L Street and 18. We were there for 1 week and did not use our van all week.

Y'all have been so helpful. I'm still trying to decide between the Willard and the Doubletree Suites. We definitely wanted to stay in a really nice hotel, but I am weighing the benefits of a place where I can easily fix snacks and meals for the kids when they are hungry and keep juice in the fridge, etc...I am thinking that the trip would be mor enjoyable if it was more like home for them. Of course, I haven't asked if they have a fridge in the rooms or suites at the Willard. Does anyone know?

If you mean mini bar,Of course .Other than that I don't knpw.

Most hotels that don't automatically include a fridge in their rooms will provide one on request. I recommend that you call the hotel directly.

The Lincoln Suites had both a refrigerator and microwave.

Great idea, thanks!