Hotel recommendation in DC

911pcars · 12-25-2007, 11:03 PM

My daughter (student) is planning an overnight trip to Wash. DC and is looking for an inexpensive hotel to stay.

I'd like her close by the metro and, of course, in a safe area of town. Any recommendations?

She found a Windsor Park Hotel in the Dupont Circle area for $70/night. Any comments about this particular hotel?

Thanks,
Sherwood

John_AZ · 12-26-2007, 04:30 AM

I have only one point to suggest after many years of business travel-do not believe the hotel web site.
I use many of the web sites to find reviews. Here is one from Trip Advisor; http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g28970-d75021-Reviews-Windsor_Park_Hotel-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html. Consider the most current reviews, eliminate the best because it is probably an employee posting. Eliminate the worst. Spend more to protect your daughter.

John_AZ

Seahawk · 12-26-2007, 05:39 AM

Crystal City, VA is across the river from DC and has a wide variety of hotels, all with easy access to the metro. I always stay at the Double Tree, which is closest to the Pentagon. Less convienient metro access, but close.

I concur with John...DC has some very rough areas. If she is only staying one night, load the money gun and aim at a safe, business travellers type of hotel.

scottmandue · 12-26-2007, 06:57 AM

I stayed in Alexandria and took the metro into "the mall"... the historic part of Alexandria was very cool... cobblestone streets and blocks of historic old buildings... but getting to Alexandria from the freeway driving through the projects even gave me the creeps.... and that is coming from a native Los Angeleno who is used to hanging in the hood.

Location. location, location.

VaSteve · 12-26-2007, 07:43 AM

Crystal City is probably good. A little more night life than it used to be....used to really shut down at 5 pm. Old town Alexandria will put her a couple of blocks walk from the King Street metro

Jim Richards · 12-26-2007, 08:09 AM

Sherwood, IMO the NW part of DC is pretty nice, as is the Capital Hill (close-in SE) area. The Windsor Park Hotel is a few blocks from the Adams-Morgan neighborhood, an area that is more for the younger generation. Nightclubs, ethnic restaurants, kitschy (sp?) shops, etc. Like Georgetown, but seedier. I would think it's probably OK there. If there are some specific things that she's interested in doing here, perhaps that might influence her decision where to stay.

Jim Richards · 12-26-2007, 08:16 AM

Sherman, I did a quick check and that hotel is at least 0.5 miles from a metro rail station. There are buses, but if being close to a metro rail station is preferred, perhaps she should look for another location.

scottmandue · 12-26-2007, 08:20 AM

I was only there once so I hardly qualify as an expert... but it seems to me on the night I went out pubbing in Alexandria I found a Irish pub and Ramada hotel just a few steps from a metro stop.

911pcars · 12-26-2007, 09:55 AM

Thanks gentlemen,
This information is quite helpful. I'll pass it along to her.

Happy holidays,
Sherwood

WI wide body · 12-26-2007, 10:32 AM

Sherwood,

A few years ago when my #2 daughter wanted to attend an art show in DC we stayed at a Courtyard Inn on Conn. St. (it was across from the hotel where Reagan was shot) and it was reasonably priced and it was in a good area and easy access to getting around. Nice Italian restaurants around there also.

Ed

p911dad · p911dad's Garage

The Holiday Inn Capitol (550 C St) is in a perfect location if you want to be in the center of the action(2 short blocks to the Smithsonian), very safe, parking, etc. However, it is a little pricey($180. + taxes). You might get a special rate, they have lots of them. Safe trumps cheap in DC. I have stayed in this hotel several times, and recently, and it is a great spot.