Where is the best place to stay in Washington DC?

Question

I am planning a trip with a friend. Lots of places look very pricey... any advise?

Answer 1

Call up George Dubya and see if he's got a spare room in the White House !

Answer 2

There are deals to be had but it is more important to know which areas to avoid when looking for a hotel deal. If you are not going to pay the prices to stay downtown I would find a place west of Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. That is your best bet to get a safe neighborhood.
Anything in Old City, Capitol Hill or Downtown, or even out in Montgomery County, MD or Northern VA is likely a good location but not many cheaper deals. The subway extends into MD and VA so hotels in Montgomery County, MD, Arlington County, VA, Fairfax County VA or the City of Alexandria in VA are all viable alternatives. Beyond that there are decent places to stay in SW, NE and SE Washington, or Prince Georges County, MD, but you really have to careful of the local neighborhood when you pick a hotel in these areas (some fine; some not so fine).
Most importantly, I would pick a place that is a short walk to metro rail. Washington has great subway system which will take you almost anywhere worth going (with a few exceptions.. like the heart of Georgetown) and staying right at a subway stop can greatly improve your trip.
DC is one place where I would say it would be worth it to spend a little more to get a good location as it could make or break your trip.

Answer 3

The Metrorail in Washington DC does an excellent job taking care of the tourists. If you and your family are flying into DC then of the 3 airports (Reagon National, Dulles, or BWI) the best choices if you want to avoid taxis and are not carrying much luggage would be Reagan National Airport bec it has its own Metrorail stop, then Dulles Airport which is much farther out to the west, transportation into DC is much more expensive than Reagan.

Where to Stay might be rather expensive running $100 and up per night but the safest places where it seems like the bulk of the tourists stay are located in Arlington County VA as evidenced by the crowded Metrorail in the morning and evening commutes. Hotels in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Ballston, Clarendon and Falls Church all have Metrorail stops. Also the one in Pentagon City has one of the larger indoor malls plus across the street is a Costco Warehouse. If you are renting a car and flew into Dulles, then it is possible to stay in nice lodging facilities in Fairfax County but you would have to pay for parking at the Metro or if you drove into DC, I would not advise bec parking is limited and tickets would simply ruin your vacation.

Best of Luck and Enjoy Your Well Deserved Vacation!

Answer 4

There are some great choices, in good safe neighborhoods, near the Metro, that are clean and affordable. My favorites are the Woodley Park Guest House and the Kalorama Guest House. The Woodley Park Guest House is a beautiful 18 room B&B. You can get a nice room with a shared bath, double occupancy for about $125 a night. It's a neighborhood of million dollar homes, across the street from a huge Marriott and a two minute walk to the Woodley Park Metro station and a nice commercial area right at the station full of great restaurants, coffee shops, etc. It's also about a 5 minute walk from the National Zoo. The Kalorama Guest House is a similar property, actually they have two. The one I'd recommend most is in the same neighborhood. It's near the Omni Shoreham Hotel (very expensive) and also benefits from being very near the same amenities as the Woodley Park Guest House. Rates there are a bit less, sometimes coming in at around $100 a night. There are hotels that offer the same price in town like the Hotel Harrington, but the perception of safety of the neighborhood at night there, as well as the overall value can't touch the B&Bs in the Woodley Park area. PS - I actually lived in DC for eight years (left in 2004) and still visit often.

Answer 5

Sadly, DC is pretty expensive. You could try staying in a suburb, but that will mean a longer trip on the Metro every day, and Metro charges based on time of day and how far you travel (if you travel during the rush hour, it can cost more). If you do stay at a suburban hotel, check www.wmata.com (the Metro website) for how to best get from your hotel to a Metro station, as the hotel shuttles are not always the most reliable--my sister and dad found out the hard way when they visited me a couple of months ago.

Answer 6

I spent 18 years in the area and can tell you that all decent hotels in the Washington Metro are are expensive. Beware of inexpensive ones, they are dives. You will probably have better luck if you book a trip with a tour group then go out on your own.

Answer 7

that's beneficial to attempt Falls Church, VA. that's truly close, the Metro is interior strolling distance of the place I stayed, and the quotes are lots extra low value than in DC. i think of I paid $189 a nighttime in June of 2006.

Answer 8

Try this:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/iadcy-courtyard-dunn-loring-fairfax/

It is in Virginia and walking distance to metro. I take the metro to DC every day and I see a lot of tourists using this hotel. However, if you want to stay somewhere downtown and be in the heart of actions, stay in DC. unfortunately hotels in DC are kind of expensive, specially during the tourist season.

Answer 9

My family and I enjoy the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.....it's very nice for the price of the room (usually about $110-$150)......

Answer 10

I've heard Laurel, Maryland isn't so bad. You can buy a subway pass to DC for about 5 bucks. I'm thinking about going there next week.