I have read many of the threads here about hotels in Washington DC but am still having trouble deciding for a trip in October. Dates are October 20-24. We need parking (not optional, our visit is part of a longer road trip) and we want to be near a metro stop since we won't use the car while there. Would like a place with lots of basic, simple eating options nearby. By that I mean diners, casual restaurants, even chains. We're not foodies, we like to be on the go all day and by evening we just want a simple dinner that doesn't involve reservations or dressing up.
I know that many recommend Dupont Circle or Penn Quarter but everything in those locations seems to be over my budget which is an absolute max of $300 per night.
So far I have booked the Residence Inn on King Street in Alexandria for $264/night with AAA. Parking is $18.
Am I missing some better options that are actually in the city or outside the city but in a better location? Thanks for any suggestions!
Yet another DC hotel question - would appreciate suggestions
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1 New York City Parking
- 2 J-ville airport ground transportation
- 3 Can You Typically See Mt St Helens on the train from Seattle to Portland?
- 4 South Tahoe around July 4 - GTG?
- 5 stay near newark or nyc
- 6 Maine - July 5th to July 14
- 7 Priceline, WARNING
- 8 Carmel, California where to stay??
- 9 Less commercial beach?
- 10 Washington Wineries
- 11 Buy now or wait . . . airfare to Santa Barbara in late July?
- 12 Best place for rafting: Moab, Taos or Durango?
- 13 Driving from Seattle to San Fran
- 14
Hill-Crest "Museum"
- 15
1st time to Kauai! Will not be the last!
- 16 Trip Itinerary Advice Needed - 1wk Yellowstone & Tetons
- 17 Breakfast in Chelsea district NYC
- 18 2 Brits Travelling USA July-Aug 2013
- 19 Moab Condo Rental Possibilities
- 20 Kauai golf
- 21 time for a new countdown to Hawaii
- 22 San Franciso to Vancouver
- 23 Maui. . .where to stay for local feel
- 24 First-Time Hawaii Advice
- 25 Manzanita Or restaurants
Since you used I so many times, I take it you will be travelling alone
Actually I'll be traveling with my husband, but I'm the trip planner.
The Madera in Dupont Circle is available on the Kimpton Hotels website for $249/night before taxes ($250/night with breakfast or cocktail). Parking is $41 onsite but there is a 24 hour access parking garage about 0.5 miles away for $22/day.
On Marriott’s website, the Key Bridge Marriott has some Advance Purchase rates cheaper than your current hotel. It is 0.2 from the Rosslyn Metrorail station (according to the website). Same with Courtyard Arlington Rosslyn. (0.4 from the Rosslyn Metrorail station, according to the website)
Last Minute Travel has a 3.5 star for $154/night. I think it is Four Points by Sheraton.
(Room Cancellation Policy
Hotel cancellations or changes made 3 day/s prior to check in time (Noon local hotel time), will be subject to 1 night/s fee
Hotel cancellations or changes made 1 day/s prior to check in time (Noon local hotel time), will be subject to a full fare fee
No-show is subjected to a full fare fee)
Look at Foggy Bottom - Doubletree (on New Hampshire Ave), River Inn, and One Washington Circle are all showing rates under $300 a night. All are less than a 5 minute walk to the FB Metro. Lots of neighborhood restaurants in FB and the West End. Also a short walk to Dupont Circle and Georgetown for more places to eat. I'd imagine parking is in the $35-$40 range but you could reduce that with the suggestion above or by leaving your car at Reagan National ($20 daily/$12 economy) and taking the metro into the city.
I like the Madera too and am a big fan of Kimpton Hotels. If you do choose Alexandria as a place to stay, look at the Lorien which is showing rooms under $300. It is a beautiful hotel at the top of King Street near the metro.
Not in the city but with easy access to it are the Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, and hotels near the Courthouse metro station in Arlington. Chain hotels and restaurants of every stripe abound. Also lots of local restaurants in the Courthouse & Clarendon neighborhoods.
We have stayed at the Embassy Suites on King St in Alexandria multiple times. It is directly across the street from the metro station, easy access to everything. Full breakfast is included, there is a Whole Foods Market behind, and a few other restaurant options close by. I'm pretty sure it fits well in your price range also. Good luck.
Pat, check the Woodley Park Guest House. It is a B&B that I have stayed at many times. It looks like they have rooms available in your price range and the surrounding neighborhood fits the needs you describe. You can see the Metro stop from the porch. I am not sure what they charge for parking but I am sure that it is on their website. www.dcinns.com.
Great suggestions, I'll look into them. Thanks!
I don't have time to check your dates for availability, but we loved Clarion Collection Arlington Court Suites in Arlington. Parking was $10 a day and is near Courthouse Metro. (and tax is cheaper here!!)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g30242-d650005-Reviews-Clarion_Collection_Hotel_Arlington_Court_Suites-Arlington_Virginia.html
We always got significantly cheaper prices by calling them rather than booking online. I think we paid in the $120 range for a 3 bedroom in October! They mark it as a "manager's price."
Breakfast is great... a buffet on the 9th floor.
We loved the Madera when we went. We were very pleased with the Dupont area and the location to the metro was an easy walk. good luck!
Hey, if all else fails, park in the long-term lot at DCA (National Airport) and take the metro into town for your hotel. (I hate the idea of going to DC and then staying out in the suburbs somewhere...)
Also, if you're considering Madera, try Topaz - same chain, it's near to Madera and Dupont Circle, and almost as nice, and usually a little cheaper.
Crystal City in Virginia fits the bill for your dining needs to a T, with lots of hotels and a metro stop.
Old Town, Alexandria also includes charm and shopping, in addition to dining (more upscale option but plenty of casual options too) and a metro stop.
Comfort Inn, Arlington/Ballston. Free parking, breakfast inclulded, within walking distance of Ballston metro stop - which has blocks and blocks of all sorts of restaurants, shops. There is also shuttle to metro stop - not sure hours of operation, but it is a safe walk of about 10 minutes.
Just stayed there last month - don't usually like this chain, but was in area for family reason and this was most convenient. Gets good reviews on TripAdvisor, which I agree with.
If you are willing to move, stay downtown DC on the cheap Saturday and Sunday night(4*s will go for $100ish, so even w/hi prking sub $150), then move Monday to Alexandria, Arlington or Crystal City
The notion of switching from downtown to a near in hotel midway in a 4 day trip to save a $100 or so sounds pretty unappealing to me. Alexandria, Crystal City & environs, and Arlington all operate on the same cycle as downtown -- higher during the week for biz travel and cheaper on the w/e. If you want to go lower cost just do that and travel into DC to tour. Lots of options that don't require wasting vacation time transferring hotels.
I have stayed at the State Plaza Hotel in Foggy Bottom. My son has been in an apartment right around the corner for two years. It was very convenient for seeing him and visiting the Mall, the White House, the Kennedy Center and Georgetown. It's an easy walk to the metro. I think the per night AAA rate would be a little lower than the Alexandria Hotel and the parking a little more so you might net about $10 per night. But I would personally prefer the location in the city.
There are not as many restaurants as in some neighborhoods but plenty within walking distance. I could give suggestions if you decide to stay there.
Fall is high season for hotel rates, that's the reason thigns are so expensive.
There is the Marriott COurtyard in Silver Spring which is probably as convenient as the one you chose. It is a bit cheaper ($229-249 in October) and there are tons of casual places to eat within walking distance. It is about 2 blocks to the metro. They are actually right next to a public parking garage, the rates are around $8 a day. There are a couple other hotels in Silver Spring you could check, but I think that's the one closest to the metro.
There is a Hampton Inn on Colesville Rd in Silver Spring that would only be around $120 if you want cheaper. It's more like 4 blocks to the metro. They are next to a public parking garage also, they say parking is $12 for valet parking.