Looking for budget friendly hotels in DC...

[DisneyCrafter]

Has anybody stayed at a DC hotel that wasn't very expensive but still offered easy access to the metro? Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated! I'm trying to plan a trip for the end of April but every hotel I find is over $250 a night! Thanks

 

[DCPrincess]

Do you belong to any of the hotel discount sites (like jetsetter/snique away/luxuy link)? Those type of sites are probably your best bet. D.C. is expensive!

 

[lisaross]

if u want to be close to the metro, don't mind an older motel but its clean and comes with continental breadfast checkout the Americana Hotel!

Has anybody stayed at a DC hotel that wasn't very expensive but still offered easy access to the metro? Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated! I'm trying to plan a trip for the end of April but every hotel I find is over $250 a night! Thanks

 

[englishteacha]

A former coworker suggested a budget hotel in the DC area, as both his kids went to school near DC...it had "Rose" in the name but I can't remember the rest. After Googling I still can't find it, and I don't have his info now to ask him. I'll keep looking.

 

[mom2t]

We stayed at Hawthorne in Alexandria. Near the metro and they shuttled us. It included a deluxe buffet breakfast and a lite dinner Mon. - Thurs. with entree, salad, bread and desert. We had a LR, dining table, small kitchen, bathroom and seperate bedroom with 2 beds. I think it was less than 175 a night. We thought it was a great deal for all of that. We will stay there when we return.

 

[vicki_c]

I second the idea of staying Alexandria near the Metro. You can usually find good deals w/breakfast included there.

To the PP - I think Rose Hill is a section of Alexandria and looks to have a lot of hotels with a quick search - well, it's hard to tell on the website I looked at actually. I don't know anything about that area though. I would look around Old Town.

 

[chrissy92972]

In June we stayed for 7 nights in Falls Church Virginia. It was near the Dunn Loring Metro Station. We stayed at a Hilton Property xalled Homewood Suites. It had breakfast included, a free shuttle to the metro, dinner included Monday thru Thursday.

 

[BurnsideMommy]

DH booked a super last minute DC trip en route home from a cruise this past May. We were flying out of Dulles airport so he thought booking a hotel near the airport was wise. He booked the Wingate by Windham.

It was under $200 - but I can't recall exact prices. It was nice. Getting into DC was a bit of a game and took almost an hour (from leaving hotel to get to DC) but was nice to sit and sightsee.

Hotel shuttle (free) to the airport - like 5 mins total. At the airport you get on the bus that takes you right into downtown DC - maybe a 30-40 minute ride. I want to say it was $6/adult and they let all 3 kids on free. It was a nicer bus with cushioned seats like a greyhound not a city bus. Took us right downtown DC where you could walk to tourist spots (which we did) or across the street to the Metro.

It wasn't a bad experience though, but future trips we'll stay in town no matter the cost just since it's easier with smaller kids.

 

[eduk8r26]

Sign up on Travelzoo.com. They will send you weekly notices of deals. Washington DC often shows up.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Might try staying in Crystal City. There is a metro stop at the Marriott there.

 

[valee]

The Americana is in Crystal City, close to (Reagan) National Airport
It sounds like you'll be doing some siteseeing while you're here. To save a bit of money on admission tickets, bookmark the DC site on Groupon to see if there's anything of interest, as well as Goldstar. Over Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to take family members to Mount Vernon for $7 instead of the usual $15 (Groupon), and the Museum of Crime and Punishment for $10 (Goldstar). Mt. Vernon's recently added an orientation center and separate museum that are definitely worth seeing. Don't be scared off by the big sign saying "Education Center" - it's entertaining.
The Smithsonian museums are free, but if you go out to the Air and Space (the Udvar Hazy annex) facility that's way out by Dulles airport, parking is $15. Locals know that parking is free there after 4 pm, and the museum's open until 5. That gives you an hour, which is about the right amount of time to spend there if you aren't an aeronautics buff.
And major word of warning: our traffic is terrible. The Interstate Beltway 495, is undergoing major construction in Virginia. I don't recommend anyone to take it when it's dark or raining. Be sure to stop at every red light and observe the posted speed in DC - they've got cameras everywhere. It's a good idea to take the Metro into DC, since parking is scarce, and the city brings out fleets of tow trucks to haul away parked cars beginning at four pm along certain routes.

 

[brymolmom]

This past April, we stayed at Marriott Wardman Place and LOVED IT! We got it for $109 that INCLUDED parking (my goal was $100 with parking included so just missed it but was close). Metro is right out the door, walking distance to the zoo, and a plaza across the street with a chinese place, Chipolte and a few others - came in handy to grab something to eat on our way back from exploring - just brought it right to our room. Only potential negative was no frig - but we drove and only stayed 3 nights so the cooler was fine for us.

Keep watching Marriott's site for deals.

 

[punkin]

April? Would that be "cherry blossom" season? If so, pretty much every hotel in a 25 mile radius will jack up prices that particular week.

 

[Janepod]

We paid $159 (plus taxes and $35 for parking) at the Hilton Garden Inn on 14th in October. Easy walk to the mall, White House, Chinatown, etc. Clean and convenient.

 

[disneyofcourse]

Check on craigslist for people renting out apartments by the day or week. I stayed at a really nice studio apartment with a walk to metro for $159(?) a day for 2 weeks. It was located in the good area near the zoo. Much cheaper than any hotel I looked at! Look under sublease/temp housing

 

[PurpleDog]

I take the train up to DC often, and have learned that in DC it's all about location location location. The best value I have found is the Holiday Inn Capitol at C SW and 6th SW. Its very close to L'Enfant Plaza and its Metro station, and is within walking distance to anywhere on the Mall. [The Air and Space Musuem is literally 200 yards away from the lobby.] There is a StarBucks in the lobby if you need a coffee, and a CVS 2 doors down for inexpensive sodas, snacks, and bottled water. There is a McDonalds 3 doors down if you need a big Mac. =)

I just stayed there Friday night after Thanksgiving, and a nice room with 2 doubles was about $125.00.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Check out LMT & this fantastic tip.

 

[KathleensKid]

When we go to DC, we stay at the Embassy Suites. It has a small indoor pool, nightly free happy hour w/drinks & snacks and free breakfast. There is a koi pond in the hotel and they let kids feed the fish - that's my dd's favorite part. Walking distance to the Metro. I did a quick search on their website - when we stay in January (for DD's birthday trip) rooms are 150 a night. In April, they are 350 a night!! Unfortunately, you are going in the expensive season.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en...Washington-D-C--District-of-Columbia/index.do

 

[lisaross]

The Americana is 1 block from the Marriott

Might try staying in Crystal City. There is a metro stop at the Marriott there.

 

[Hmom]

Try hotwire.com We went to DC in October. $80/night at the Bethesda Hyatt Regency. The metro stop is in the basement of the hotel. It was an awesome location! Parking was reasonable either $10 or $15/day in the hotel garage.

Yes, hotwire can be scary. You don't know the name of the hotel until you pay/book , but I've done it several times & always with good results . You just have to decide what amenities you require & what star level rating you want in a hotel.

Down the street a little is a bakery/restaurant called La Madeliene. Yummy!!! DH brought me croissants & tea each morning