Washington DC hotel location, can someone advise?

[ChrisinNJ]

So I posted the other day that we books Embassy suites in Alexandria, but I found room at this Embassy suites:

Embassy Suites Washington D.C.
1250 22nd Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, United States 20037

For less $ & with Queen beds rather than Doubles. But I know that this is in the city, is it a good safe area? Is it walking distance to the Smithsonian? I called but the "lady" who answered was a bit snippy. She said it is 4 blocks from the Metro & about 10 minutes walk to the Smithsonian and mall.

I dont want to change my reservation until I am sure because I got the last room at the Alexandria hotel the other day & if I cancel I may not get it back....

 

[Nik's Mom]

We're going to Washington DC next week, so I have been researching hotels like crazy. Sorry, I don't realy know the answer to your question. I'm sure someone will chime in though. We have some great DC experts on the Dis!

I picked the Embassy suites on 10th street. I was told it's about 6 blocks from the National Mall. I went to google maps and used their street view to check it out and it didn't look that far. Plus, it was close to buses and subway stops.

Does it have to be an Embassy suites? There are some great deals on the Travel Zoo website right now. One of the deals is for L'Enfant Plaza hotel, which is 2 blocks from the National Mall. Here is the website. http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/washington-dc/

I'm editing to add this link of your hotel on google maps. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
Click on the "A" and select street view if you want to try to walk around the area and see how it looks.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I picked the Embassy suites on 10th street. I was told it's about 6 blocks from the National Mall. I went to google maps and used their street view to check it out and it didn't look that far. Plus, it was close to buses and subway stops.

Does it have to be an Embassy suites? There are some great deals on the Travel Zoo website right now. One of the deals is for L'Enfant Plaza hotel, which is 2 blocks from the National Mall. Here is the website. http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/washington-dc/

I tried the Embassy Suites on 10th street & it had no available rooms. I chose Embassy suites becasue we are a family of 5 & it seems that only suite hotels can accomodate us, unless we book 2 rooms, or lie about the 3rd kid . Plus I figure we have 1 meal covered at Embassy.

I booked the one on 22nd street, so now I have choose which one to cancel. After booking I went back & searched prices again & got a rate $100.00 higher than the rate I booked at. I don't understand how hotels can change their rates so frequently.

 

[LoveKermit]

DH spent a summer there during law school, but that was 4 years ago, so I'm a little foggy.

I think it works like most big cities, in that the bigger the street number, the farther from "downtown" you are. In DC that also goes for the streets with letters as their name (E, F, K, etc).

Find a map of DC with the metro stops on it.

You do not need to be in walking distance to the mall. You need to be in walking distance to a metro stop. Additionally, the mall does not have too many stops, so it's always a walk from a stop to the mall. I got stuck 4 mo preg, in flip flops, running in the rain on marble sidewalks trying to get to a stop. They are not convenient to the mall.

But seriously, if you can get to a metro stop, you should be okay.

My mom is directionally challenged and she prides herself on navigating the metro alone while my dad was at a conference. They stayed in Crystal City. We went together a year later. It's not an area to really stay in, but with the metro, all we needed was a place to sleep. And our hotel was connected with tunnels to the metro, so we never had to go outside.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I tried the Embassy Suites on 10th street & it had no available rooms. I chose Embassy suites becasue we are a family of 5 & it seems that only suite hotels can accomodate us, unless we book 2 rooms, or lie about the 3rd kid . Plus I figure we have 1 meal covered at Embassy.

I booked the one on 22nd street, so now I have choose which one to cancel. After booking I went back & searched prices again & got a rate $100.00 higher than the rate I booked at. I don't understand how hotels can change their rates so frequently.

Oh, you definitely need a suite with 5 people. I'm reading some of the reviews for that hotel on Trip Advisor and they are really positive. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...n_D_C-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

It is close to subway stops. Sounds pretty good to me.

 

[ohanaMAMA]

DC "blocks" can be very decieving. look at a metro map and see how far you are from the nearest stop. The smithsonian stop is very near the smithsonian castle but nearly a MILE from the furthest museum (American Indian)

Also check how much parking is going to cost you! this can be a total budget killer at sometimes as much as $30 a day!

If its not to late I suggest trying for a hotel in a subburb. Maybe further into maryland or on the southern side of DC. Parking is usually free and you are more likely to get a pool. Then just ride the metro into town and you wont have to deal with parking OR walking a zillion miles from your hotel just to get to the mall where you will walk more. Believe me. we walked more on our DC trip than any 3 trips to WDW.

 

[LoveKermit]

My family went when I was 10. We wore a pedometer for the first couple days. When we walked 7 miles by dinner, we decided we were even more tired. We never wore it again that week.

 

[Irin997]

The Embassy on 22nd is in a good location, BUT it is actually quite far from the metro, when thinking in terms of DC block sizes.

Go to Google maps and you can select walking directions.

FYI from that particular hotel to the Museum of American History is a 44 minute walk. That museum is just about dead center of the Smithsonian museums/mall.

That hotel to the Dupont Circle metro station is a 7 minute walk. Plus you have to take the Red Line to the Orange Line to the Smithsonian station...so tack on another 30 minutes.

It depends on what you plan on doing while you're there. If it is centered around the museums, stay closer to them.

IF you stay at the Embassy in Alexandria, you are just one metro ride from the Smithsonian station...instead of having to transfer. And let me tell you, transferring between the Red & Orange lines at Metro Center is a major PITA. Be prepared to wait and be in tons of crowds.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites on 22nd st. last August and loved it. The rooms were great, the staff was very helpful and the breakfast is a great plus for our family of 6. We did not find the walk to the metro to be bad( this was with 4 kids, the youngest being 4). We either took the Metro or a cab. Both were good ways to get around and we enjoyed being able to look at different things in the cab. We found the area to be safe and enjoyable even at night. There is a Starbucks on the corner from the hotel and a CVS, so we were excited to be able to walk and get things.
As far as walking, It is way more than 10mins to the Smithsonian. I guess you could do it but if you have kids it may become unenjoyable very quickly.
We booked the hotel in July of last year through travelzoo.com It was $140 a night with free parking. The parking garage is very small and crowded, but we always found a space. It suited our needs and was a great price.
I think you would enjoy your stay here.

 

[dis-happy]

We stayed in Olt Town Alexandria at the Residence Inn and loved it (mainlhy did Smithsonian), and the Embassy Suites is in such a great location (directly across the street from the Metro). Plus, Alexandria itself is a neat tourist area. I'd stick with your first choice.

 

[cmjaffe]

not sure of rates, but we did stay (for 2 nights) at Hyatt Summerfield suites in Gaithersberg, MD. They had a complimentary shuttle service during the week (maybe on weekends too) that takes you to the metro station. THey have breakfast in the AM and a happy hour with food and beverages in the PM. Also the units have a microwave, full fridge and stove with a reasonable supermarket around the corner (think 5 min walk slow walking), chain restaurants nearby, free parking, very nice facilities and pool WITH a lifeguard on duty. We're members of Costco and there's one nearby and if you're a member of Costco there's a discount at Hyatt's for members. THere's also a way of saving 20% on top of rate since Costco sells Hyatt Gift Certificates at a 20% discount off of face value.
Have fun planning. We went last summer in August.. It was HOT!!! Went to the zoo since myDD had to see the pandas. Well she was disappointed since it was so hot, took up very long to drive and park AND the pandas were not active and engaging like the are in San DIego. If we had to do it again we'd spend time at Museums (DD really enjoyed the portrait gallery and she's not the museum type).

 

[Melissa]

Check out Hotel Harrington. Great Location walking distance to the White House, a block from the metro, easy to get anywhere from here. That said it is not nice, it is clean and old and not fancy, but the price and location more than made up for it. It smelled like broccoli in the lobby, if you are a Grand Floridian sort this may not be for you, I love the Poly and I am a little bit of a Hotel snob but since it was clean I could deal. I would stay there again because for us for our DC vacation we were there to see stuff and not to relax at the hotel.

 

[debbiedana]

We stayed at one of the Marriotts in Crystal City. It's connected to the Metro via underground tunnel. We had a really great stay. Plus, it's only a couple Metro stops from the airport, so there was no need for shuttles, rentals or cabs. Highly recommended!

Become a Marriott member, I think you can get a discount on rooms.

 

[Green Tea]

I had a room booked at the ES Convention center but just canceled it for the one in Arlington, at Crystal City. It is close to a metro stop (either Pentagon City or Crystal City. On both the yellow and blue lines) and the hotel has a scheduled shuttle to that and the mall every 30 minutes. The location is about 2 miles from the National Mall, but across the river and near DCA. Just a thought. I changed because it was over $100 less for the weekend and the parking was less as well.

The Convention center one is new, so that is always a plus. But this seems like a typical ES and there should be plenty of food options nearby.

 

[bookwormde]

We have found some good rates at the Holiday in 1.5 blocks below the mall ~160 with parking. It is so nice to have an easy walk to the hotel room for a break or if the weather turns.

http://www.hicapitoldc.com/?src=ppc_google_brand

bookwormde

 

[lovegrumpy]

My dh rides the metro every day for work. He can tell if your a tourist are not. He says alot of them get off at Petagon city and Crystal city. So you can check there for hotels. Also there are some hotels right by the king street stop. Its in old town alexandria.

 

[adkkev]

Washington Suites hotel in Alexandria ... large suites with full kitchens, continental breakfast every morning, pool (outdoor), free shuttle to Van Dorn metro station (and they'll take you to restaurants & the grocery store too). Actually there's a Giant supermarket fairly close ... one stop on the Metro gets you to King Street & Old Alexandria. If you buy a day pass for the Metro ($8.30), you can ride all day (after 9:30am weekdays, anytime on weekends). If you're driving, parking is free.

 

[shelemm]

I live in the DC area.

The ES location on 22nd St is very safe. You will have to walk 5 blocks to the metro stop at Dupont Circle. It is safe at any time, day or night.

Very few hotels are walking distance to the National Mall. Distances at the Mall and around the monuments are vast.

Please do not miss the single greatest thing you can do in DC: visit the monuments at night. They are lit at least until midnight. The best is FDR, truly spectacular at night. WWII is amazing at night. Korean War Memorial is excellent. The only one that is better during the day is the Vietnam Memorial. If you have a car, you should drive to the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, near the Pentagon. Amazing up close at night plus a stunning view of nighttime DC. The Air Force Big Band plays free concerts there at night. Here is the schedule:

http://www.airforcememorial.org/dedication/happenings.asp

At just about any monument, the park rangers are there to answer questions and should be able to give you a guided tour on demand. The only time they can't do this is if they are short-handed. But even if you are just two people, go ahead and ask.

In terms of cost, the other thing to think about is parking if you have a car. A hotel like the Key Bridge Marriott has its own parking, and I'm pretty sure it's free. Good location near a metro plus they have a shuttle so you don't even have to walk a step to get to the metro.

 

[dis-happy]

A hotel like the Key Bridge Marriott has its own parking, and I'm pretty sure it's free. Good location near a metro plus they have a shuttle so you don't even have to walk a step to get to the metro.

My dh used to live at the Key Bridge Marr. every week and parking is not free! Currently shown as $17. daily.

 

[MS_mom_1965]

My mom is directionally challenged

I love that phrase! I'll had to use that - my DH and I are both "directionally challenged"! We never travel without a GPS.