DC Area Motel Question

[welovedisneyx4]

We are going to DC next weekend and we were going to stay w/ my Uncle in Alexandria, but that has fallen through.

I found a Courtyard by Marriott Dunn Loring/Fairfax in Vienna. It is adjacent to the Dunn Loring Metro station. Does anyone know if that is a decent motel and area?

We would like something close to a Metro station (which this should be) and it has an indoor pool, which will be nice. I don't think we are concerned w/ being far out of DC, as long as we have the Metro. The price is also a concern, b/c we wern't planning on spending $$ on a motel. We can get a fairly good rate on this through AAA.

Please let me know any info on this! TIA!

 

[LukenDC]

The Dunn Loring Metro area is very safe. I am unfamiliar with the hotel you mentioned, but Marriott is a good name. Dunn Loring is about 20-25 minutes out of DC by Metro and a short cab ride away from Tysons Corner shopping Mall.

 

[Straitlover]

Travezoo has a listing for a Sheraton near the Crystal City Metro. Check it out!

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/washington-dc-hotels/246065

Sounds nice and the price is right, but I don't think the pool is indoor.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Straitlover, Thanks for that info about the Sheraton, it looks really good. I am going to check it out now.

We don't really care if the pool is indoor or out, hopefully it won't rain!

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Can anyone give me some pros and cons for these areas?

Dunn Loring vs. Crystal City.

It will be DH and I and DD(10) and DS(6). We are planning on doing the zoo, musuems and sightseeing around the city. We will probably drive to Baltimore 1 day for the Aquarium and Inner Harbor. We will be driving our own car. They do charge for parking at CC, but it makes the rate about the same as the Courtyard at Dunn Loring. Where ever we do stay, we want to use the Metro as much as possible.

P.S. I know there is a mall near Dunn Loring, but I must stay away!!!! We are not going to shop!!!!

 

[cbm26002]

If the price is the same, I would go with Crystal City. You'll be much closer to DC and still have access to the Metro, plus you'll be pretty close to Alexandria too. Find out how close the Metro stop is, just to make sure it's not too far to walk. Dunn Loring is a safe area, but really not much of interest there. I think you'll be happier being closer in to the city.

 

[Christine]

Crystal City is a much better location. Nothing wrong with Dunn Loring--it is just farther out.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Is the Sheraton at Crystal City in a safe area?

Please don't laugh if that is a silly question. I have a basic knowledge of DC, but that is about it. I do know that you can go one street too far and be in the wrong place! We found that out 2 years ago when we went a couple of blocks too far and almost got run into by 2 cars in a car chase w/ lots of unsavery characters hanging around on the streets!! We got out of there quickly!

 

[Christine]

Is the Sheraton at Crystal City in a safe area?

Please don't laugh if that is a silly question. I have a basic knowledge of DC, but that is about it. I do know that you can go one street too far and be in the wrong place! We found that out 2 years ago when we went a couple of blocks too far and almost got run into by 2 cars in a car chase w/ lots of unsavery characters hanging around on the streets!! We got out of there quickly!

Yes, it is safe but I wouldn't go roaming around there at night. Not because it is "not safe" but I just wouldn't go around at night...period. The chances of anything happening are slim, it is not a bad neighborhood at all but it is not perfect.

 

[LukenDC]

Crystal City is less than a 10 minute Metro ride from DC. It is adjacent to Reagan National Airport. If given a choice between Dunn Loring and Crystal City, I would go with the latter simply due to its superior location.

 

[BuckNaked]

If price is the same, I would definitely go with Crystal City, if for no other reason than you are a Metro stop away from Pentagon City Mall.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

O.K...I am trying to stay away from the malls on this trip!! I must repeat..No mall, no malls, no malls... LOL!

Just kidding, thanks for all of the advice! It is very helpful. DH seems to be leaning toward CC, but I havn't told him anything but the basics. I'll show him the websites if he and the kids ever stop watching Justice League and some other superhero cartoon on Boomerang!!

 

[Mercy]

Since you mentioned Alexandria, we stayed at the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria which is directly across the street from the metro. Nice area, and Old Town is a nice place to walk through.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Thank you again, straitlover!! I just booked the Sheraton for 79.00/night!! We do have to pay 149.00 for the 1st night, but then only 79.00 for the remaining 3 nights. It seems to be a decent place and was recently renovated. The big plus is the Metro right next to it.

Anyone have any knowledge of restaurants around Crystal City? Any Bennigans or Chili's? (We like those, but don't have any here.)

Thanks for everyones help! I'll let you know how the trip was when we get back.

 

[Christine]

Thank you again, straitlover!! I just booked the Sheraton for 79.00/night!! We do have to pay 149.00 for the 1st night, but then only 79.00 for the remaining 3 nights. It seems to be a decent place and was recently renovated. The big plus is the Metro right next to it.

Anyone have any knowledge of restaurants around Crystal City? Any Bennigans or Chili's? (We like those, but don't have any here.)

Thanks for everyones help! I'll let you know how the trip was when we get back.

I *think* there might be a Chili's there (over at the Buchanan building in Crystal City). It will be near the Hilton hotel if it is still there. They've added a lot of upscale restaurants to Crystal City. The ones I know off the top of my head are Legal Seafood (good), Jaleo (good Spanish tapas), and Ruths Chris steakhouse (wonderful views). There is also a Chipotle, Starbucks, and Caribou Coffee there too.

You can also venture out about a mile over to Pentagon Row. There is a courtyard of some shops along with restaurants--there is Wolfgang Puck's Cafe (counter service), Lebanese Taverna, Champs (sports bar kind of place), Thaiphoon, and Irish place, Baja Fresh, Maggie Moo's, Noodle and Company, a French crepe place. The Pentagon City Mall also has some restaurants in it, a movie theater, and a food court. The mall is accessible by the Metro but Pentagon Row is not. But they are all, literally, right next to each other.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Thanks Christine, those sound like some good options. I am sure w/ all the walking we will be doing, I won't have to worry about eating too much!

 

[Straitlover]

Thank you again, straitlover!! I just booked the Sheraton for 79.00/night!! We do have to pay 149.00 for the 1st night, but then only 79.00 for the remaining 3 nights. It seems to be a decent place and was recently renovated. The big plus is the Metro right next to it.

Anyone have any knowledge of restaurants around Crystal City? Any Bennigans or Chili's? (We like those, but don't have any here.)

Thanks for everyones help! I'll let you know how the trip was when we get back.

Yay! Be sure to post how it is because it is on the short list for me for next spring (so is the Embassy Suites in Old Town that was mentioned here - if they have any specials!).

 

[floridaminnie]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/

This website is awesome with hotel/restraunt reviews plus they have a discussion board.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

O.K., here is my review of the Crystal City Sheraton.

Decent place, especially if you can get a good rate. We got 79.00 for 3 nights, but had to pay 149.00 for the 1st night. Too much to pay in my opinion, but I am cheap.

The location was good, right across the street from Crystal City Metro. I think the blue line and yellow line went through there. It was easy to get to all the stops and the transfer stations.

Parking was 15.00 day. I hate to pay for parking, but I think you would have to pay at most hotels in that area.

They didn't have a free breakfast, but they did have oranges and apples, which provided a nice snack for us during the day. One night we ordered a "heavy snack" of chicken fingers and onion soup from the restaurant. It was good, wasn't too expensive as far as hotel food goes. For some reason, the ice machine was only working on a few floors, even though one was located on all floors.

Rooms were nice, not huge, but not too small either. Nice big window w/ good curtains to block out light in the morning. TV stations were very limited. We couldn't even get NBC or the Disney chanel that they said they had. I know it is a motel geared towards business travelers, but they could have had a few more stations. Bathroom was o.k., nothing special. I've seen both better and worse showers. However, the bathroom did not have a fan, wasn't a big deal, but a fan is nice.

Pool had limited hours, but was a decent size. I think it was opened 12-8. Water was freezing, but this was the week after it had rained so much and the temps didn't get any higher than mid 80's the days we were there. We only got to swim 1 day b/c it closed so early.

I would recommend this hotel, especially if you can get the good rate. We didn't have any obvious problems. However, if we go back, I might try the Dunn Loring place. I don't know if the time on the Metro would make a difference, but I think we would try it, especially w/ the kids.

Let me know if anyone has any specific questions and I will try to answer them.

We had a good trip, there is just so much to do and see. I felt more tired than when we go to Disney!