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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnyone here familiar with Washington DC?
I hope this is where I can ask this question. My daughter and I are trying to plan a trip to DC to participate in the Womens March. Shes looking at flights into Reagan Intl - well be there 1/18-1/20. Im wondering about hotels - if there are areas we should avoid for safety reasons etc. I know absolutely nothing about the DC area. Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thanks!
spooky3
(34,303 posts)across the river and just north of the airport. Several hotels have free shuttles from the airport. CC is safe, and probably less expensive than comparable hotels in the cool areas of DC. There is metro access (Crystal City and Pentagon City metro stops).
Retrograde
(10,073 posts)When I was there a few years ago the hotel had a free shuttle to the Metro station; the station is also an easy walk from the main hotel areas.
Major Nikon
(36,814 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,076 posts).
I stayed at the Marriott in Crystal City, back when the underground was flourishing with stores, and since it's become rather barren. There's not much to do there, if you want to take a quick walk. That area seems more set up for business travelers who go to training events, meetings and conventions. I even think the walk from the Hampton is shorter than that dank underground concourse from the Marriott to the Metro.
If staying in Alexandria, you have nice historic area with plenty of shops and restaurants to visit. A free bus takes people from one part of the town to the other, so walking is not a problem. I think the Alexandria stop is just one more stop away, on the same line.
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Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)You could stay near the airport.
My personal recommendation would be the Hyatt Capitol Hill. It is just a few blocks from EVERYTHING. And it's just a couple of blocks from Union Station, and Capitol, the museums, the Mall (not shopping mall), the White House, etc. etc. etc.
I don't know what your budget is. Obviously Washington can be expensive.
As far as safety is concerned, it used to be the case that N.E. might be a dangerous area.
Enjoy! I love Washington.
Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)[link:https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/washington-dc/hyatt-regency-washington-on-capitol-hill/wasrw|
With family and without.
marlakay
(11,370 posts)At Christmas time, i guess its slow then because all the politicians go home. It was a great time to visit, after a storm with snow all over.
Nice buffet there and fun bar.
Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)It's the first hotel I stayed in in D.C. and I fell in love with the location then.
atreides1
(16,046 posts)There are several hotels near Reagan, in an area known as Crystal City...which is part of Arlington Virginia! There is a Metro station that you can catch into D.C.
Here are some of the hotels in that area.
Holiday Inn National Airport/Crystal City
Hilton Crystal City at Washington Reagan National Airport
Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City National Airport
Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)StevieM
(10,499 posts)TomSlick
(11,035 posts)Anywhere near a Metro stop would work well.
lindysalsagal
(20,444 posts)At the stations can be tough. Getting an uber after a march would be tough.
likesmountains 52
(4,093 posts)We booked kind of late, stayed in Arlington. The metro station made access easy, and the motel ( Holiday inn Express) was pretty reasonable.
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)elleng
(130,156 posts)CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)StevieM
(10,499 posts)phylny
(8,353 posts)I live 4 hours south, but to this day, I still call it Washington National. It was ALREADY named after a president, dammit!!!!
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)We stayed at Crystal City Marriot. It was excellent, lots of restaurants, near the Metro, felt very safe. After tour I stayed a few nights on my own to spend a day at the Newseum (which was incredible).
cally
(21,589 posts)Ive stayed multiple times. Just stay near metro or major bus line. If book early, try to get near city central. last time I stayed in a great airbnb about 6 blocks from DuPont Circle. I enjoyed that. Time before, stayed at boutique hotel (typically smaller, older, smaller rooms, but more fun and less expensive, on the way to Georgetown. I would try to not stay near WH as its typically highly secured and restaurants are very expensive. Everything is a long walk away from there.
Alternatively, Alexandria is a great historic city and a short metro ride to DC.
Glimmer of Hope
(5,823 posts)Dupont, Georgetown, Logan Circle Cap Hill and Penn Quarter are all great neighborhoods with character and a lot of restaurant options.
appalachiablue
(41,054 posts)MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)Most major hotels in ARL/ALX are within walking distance of a METRO stop a well.
NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)Walking distance to Metro, very close to DC. A few decent restaurants around.
bottomofthehill
(8,261 posts)There are some good hotels for about 100 dollars which is a great deal for DC
The Americana in Crystal City is the least expensive, nothing fancy but not bad
Residence inn navy yard, close to march, lots of room for 2 people
anything on the Hill
Book soon, the prices will go up
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)You can get a great deal for a room at Ft. Belvoir.
Jersey Devil
(9,863 posts)There are a lot of furnished condos in the area available for rent by the day at better than hotel prices. Make sure they have parking.
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)or similar chain within walking distance of the Metro.
They tend to be far cheaper (in the range of $80 - $105/night for a bed and full kitchenette in the DC area) and - as to the specific brand - they have always been clean and in a safe location.
I can't remember the name of the Northern Virginia one I stayed in a few years ago - I don't think it was in the Extended Stay family.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)They have bus / transit access to the mall and shouldn't be a problem. Everyone will give you friendly directions.
Stinky The Clown
(67,695 posts)Usually cheaper airfares.
VERY easy to get on the MARC trains to get into DC or the DC suburbs and connect at Union Station to the DC Metro.
WhiteTara
(29,676 posts)and some are next to public transport to National. I never had a problem, but some people are afraid of them and have had unpleasant experiences.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)some reasonable motels and its a fairly young neighborhood. Shops and restaurants are up in the center. There is a tube station in walking distance to get you into the city.
leanforward
(1,073 posts)Walk to the tomb of the Unknown. Check out the Womens Memorial.
Be sure to keep quiet at the Tomb, especially at the changing of the Guard.
ChoppinBroccoli
(3,764 posts)It was a nice area with lots of options for things to do, places to eat, etc. There was a Metro station within walking distance of our hotel that will take you right into D.C., which made it super convenient. It was also appreciated when we returned, because we literally spent the entire day walking. D.C. is a neat place with lots of things to see, but it's very spread out, and you'll be walking A LOT. And we were there on an incredibly hot day.
Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)technotwit
(71 posts)I hear the area between 15th St. NW and 17th St NW between H St NW and Constitution NW is not a good neighborhood anymore, filled with liars, tax cheats, adulterers, and those who consort with international murderous regimes.
spooky3
(34,303 posts)leanforward
(1,073 posts)Where to stay, your choice. We've been to two marches. January 21, 2017 and January 20, 2018. If you can a hotel near one of the outlying Metro Stations, you will be better served. The train from BWI will get you to Union Station. You can walk from there or take Metro to other stations.
Keep in mind the near in airport use to be called the National Airport or DCA. Someone later changed it to R+_#$% National Airport. My recommendation is to call it DCA airport.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)And if anyone calls it Reagan you say Reagan courted racists for votes and brought us Trump. His assistants campaign manager was Lee Atwater.
enjoy!
Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)From my recommendation, the Hyatt Capitol Hill, you are literally steps from something that will give you goose bumps and be an indelible memory. There is nothing like being right there. Nothing. The power center of the world, really, in a most beautiful city that is more like a park. At all hours. And there are great hotel deals on many weekends.
Luz
(769 posts)and lots of good restaraunts. I felt very safe there.
As a matter of fact, we felt safe throughout our visit. Everyone we spoke to was helpful and kind (and we did ask for a lot of help) and finding our way around was a breeze. It was a wonderful visit, and we fell in love 💘 with DC.