We are a family of 4 (2 children ages 7 & 10) going to Washington, DC for 8 nights during the Cherry Blossom festival & Easter. We hope to hit many of the major attractions during our visit.

Given the following choices, which hotel would you choose?

1. Fairmont Hotel ($179 per night plus parking & taxes)

2. Topaz Hotel ($188 per night plus parking & taxes)

3. J.W. Marriott ($193 per night plus parking & taxes, includes breakfast for 2)

4. Marriott at Metro Center ($219 per night plus taxes, includes breakfast for 4 and includes parking)

Thanks so much!

Those are great rates during Cherry Blossom festival! Given those choices, I'd take the Marriott Metro Center. It is a great location for catching the metro to places that are too far too walk and relatively close to the Mall area attractions.

i'd go with the marriott metro center, great location i have stayed in the hotel it was fine and the staff very responsive. the toilet was broken in our room when we checked in, the flush handle had a problem. we went out- they fixed it while we were out and when we came back we had a huge fruit basket in our room as an apology for the problem. for us it was no problem as we weren't even in the room ... we were already trekking around the city. if it is a sit down breakfast, that may be good. real breakfast (not just coffee and a roll at union station....) can be expensive at least 10/per person and that is probably a low price....

Since parking would be $25-30, and breakfast or 4 that much again, I agree the Marriott MC is the best deal for you, and the location is great. You've done exceptionally well for Cherry Blossom season!

It's a pretty close call but I'd favor the JW.

While the Metro Center is slightly closer to Metro, the JW is still close to the subway (the difference is about a block) and is better located overall.

Plus you've got a chance at a decent Pennsylvania Ave. view at the JW (although not all rooms have them). In general, it's a bit nicer. We've used both for business clients. It has a nicer pool, which can be a good break for kids after a day on their feet.

The JW is a very easy walk to the White House and Mall. There's a food court in the same block and another very nice court in the Reagan Building across the street. For adults, two great places to go for drinks -- the Round Robin in the Willard (a classic) and the Sky Terrace are just across the street.

Are you sure that you only get two breakfasts? Many DC Marriotts have kids eat free with adults deals. Even so, if you want to skip the hotel breakfast, there's a Corner Bakery on the same block.

Either way, you're not going to go wrong. Both these places are solid family choices and the variety of dining options.