Accommodations
In this government town, the lodging industry is big business. Hotels and motels are the single largest contributor to the city’s $5.57-billion travel and tourism sector.
With some 97,500 rooms spread throughout Metro Washington, hotels and motels seem to be as common as lawyers and lobbyists. There’s usually room at the inn, but the lawyers, lobbyists, and other business travelers can drive rates sky-high during peak periods.
As a general rule of thumb, hotels in the suburbs, even close-in areas, are priced less than D.C. properties. That’s not always the case, but it’s pretty safe to say you can find a slew of real values out there as long as you don’t mind being a bit off the beaten path. No matter where you stay, the area’s comprehensive public transportation system (especially Metrorail and Metrobus) does an excellent job linking hotels with business and tourist areas. You’ll discover that many hotels also offer their own shuttle and limousine services to destinations around the area.
While D.C. teems with tourists in the summer, business travel reaches its peak in spring and fall. Occupancy rates are at their highest during these months, and so too are room prices. Planning ahead is never a bad idea. December and January are the slowest months for tourism in the D.C. area. The weather is cold, but you can find amazingly low hotel rates.
No matter what time of year, Metro Washington hotels do the bulk of their business Monday through Thursday hosting the area’s business travelers. Most hotels cut their rates on weekends, sometimes as much as 50 to 60 percent. With that in mind, always feel free to negotiate for the best deal and always inquire about weekend, off-season, holiday, corporate, and family rates.
The best source we know to keep you informed of the latest seasonal rate discounts and other special hotel package programs is the Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation (202-789-7000, www.washington.org). When in town, also be sure to stop by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center, located on the street level of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (across from the Federal Triangle Metro Center). You can make hotel and restaurant reservations there, as well as buy tickets for local tours and even send an e-mail postcard back home. The center’s number is (866) DC-IS-FUN. Its Web site is www.dcchamber.org.
We’ve divided this chapter into several categories, beginning with a section on extended-stay accommodations. For those of you who plan to house hunt in the area, who might be on a short-term work assignment, or just simply need a place to call home for a while, the extended-stay section is intended to give you an overview of some of the region’s best options. Almost all the choices here include properties that have kitchenettes, many with separate living areas as well.
We follow with a section called Full-Service Hotels. This is intended for tourists, newcomers, and longtime residents alike who are looking for, or need to recommend, interesting, practical, and/or memorable places to spend a night in Metro Washington.
If you look hard enough, you’ll find that the District, Northern Virginia, and Suburban Maryland all have more than their share of hotel bargains—some you might even call steals. To help you along, we’ve listed some of our favorite values in the On a Budget section. Believe us, no one appreciates a bargain more than writers.
A short section on hostels and university inns lists some of the unsung and nontraditional accommodations found only in Washington, D.C.
Although the following lists are by no means exhaustive, we feel they represent some of the best and most viable choices available in each category.
1. Best Western Georgetown Hotel And Suites
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 457-0565
Address: 1121 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Description: This all-suite property offers 76 no-frills suites with kitchenettes, complimentary continental breakfasts, and valet parking. Bring along the jogging shoes and shorts, for you’re only a hop and a skip from Rock Creek Park and its miles and miles of gorgeous wooded trails and running paths.
2. Carlyle Suites Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 234-3200, (866) HOTEL–DC
Address: 1731 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Description: This art deco, all-suite hotel in the trendy Dupont Circle area offers rooms with fully equipped kitchens, a health club, a coin-operated laundry, complimentary Internet kiosks in the bar area, free Wi-Fi in the guest rooms, and free parking. From here, you’re just a 3-block walk from the Dupont Circle Metro station and tons of galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and bars. Pets are accepted.
3. One Washington Circle
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 872-1680, (800) 424-9671
Address: 1 Washington Circle NW
Description: All 151 units here include kitchens and some feature balconies. Just across the circle is George Washington University and Foggy Bottom Metro. Also within walking distance are the Kennedy Center, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and parts of downtown. The on-site restaurant, Circle Bistro, draws a lively crowd of guests, neighbors, and patrons attending the nearby Kennedy Center’s performances.
4. The River Inn
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 337-7600, (888) 874-0100
Address: 924 25th Street NW
Description: It’s not on the Potomac, but the river’s not too far away. Nor is most of Georgetown and all of Foggy Bottom. All 125 units in this former apartment house are suites, each equipped with complimentary high-speed Internet and a full kitchen. Small pets are welcome. It’s a nice place to unwind after an evening at the Kennedy Center, just a couple of blocks away.
5. Savoy Suites Georgetown
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 337-9700, (800) 944-5377
Address: 2505 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Description: This recently remodeled 150-suite hotel is in earshot of the inspiring Washington National Cathedral and is largely insulated from the hustle and congestion of closer-in lodgings. All suites have free Wi-Fi, many have in-room Jacuzzis and full kitchens, and you can request fridges and microwaves. There’s also a swimming pool, coin-operated laundry, Metro shuttle, and free on-site parking. Pets are welcome, too.
6. Capitol Hill Suites
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 543-6000, (800) 424-9165
Address: 200 C Street SE
Description: You can stay a night, a week, a month, or a year at this flexible, all-suite property just a short walk from the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, Metro, and other “Hill” destinations. All 152 suites have kitchens. It’s a popular extended-stay choice among government and private sector workers with ties to Capitol Hill. To accommodate that clientele, the hotel offers complimentary continental breakfast and newspaper, valet parking, and lunch or dinner delivery from area restaurants.
7. Dc Digs
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 536-2500
Description: If you’re looking for a more personal experience during your extended stay, check out DC Digs, a hip home-away-from-home built out of a charming row house in Dupont Circle. The owners have thought of all of the extras—cozy living rooms with hardwood floors, personal fax machines, and a fully stocked kitchen with pots, pans, and high-end fixtures like stainless steel sinks and granite countertops. There’s a laundry facility inside and spacious walk-in closets, plus free high-speed and wireless Internet. Despite all of the luxurious personal touches, rooms are very reasonably priced and can be rented nightly, weekly, or monthly.
8. Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 857-3388
Address: 1250 22nd Street NW
Description: This West End addition to the national chain boasts two-room suites with separate living rooms (including queen-size sofa beds) and bedrooms. Standard in each suite are two color TVs, two phones with voice mail, data-port hookup, a kitchenette, iron, and hair dryer. The 318-suite property is close to everything: downtown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and Georgetown. Guests receive complimentary cooked-to-order breakfasts, and there’s room service available from the Italian restaurant on-site. Both an indoor swimming pool and health club are on the grounds. This is an especially popular place with families, which is not surprising because kids 12 and under eat for free.
9. Georgetown Suites
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 298-7800, (800) 348-7203
Address: 1000 29th Street NW
Description: This is an ideal choice for extended stays that require you to be in or near Georgetown. All 214 suites, in two separate buildings, have kitchenettes with refrigerators and coffeemakers, and come equipped with irons, hair dryers, and computer outlets with free wireless Internet. The facility serves complimentary breakfast, has a coin-operated laundry, access to a nearby health club, and a multilingual staff. Georgetown Suites is frequented by corporate managers and government employees on short-term assignment. The surrounding Washington Harbour complex is a stunning waterfront development that also houses restaurants, gift shops, boutiques, and the like.
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Address: 425 8th Street NW
11. The Quincy
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 223-4320, (800) 424-2970
Address: 1823 L Street NW
Description: Past visitors may remember this modest, centrally located hotel as the Lincoln Suites or the Hotel Anthony. After a top-to-bottom renovation in 2006, it reopened as the Quincy. It’s now a lovely boutique, all-suites hotel. You’ll still find the amenities that made it a popular choice for business travelers, like mini fridges, microwaves, and milk-and-cookie service in the evenings, not to mention its stellar location, just five blocks from the White House. Now you’ll also enjoy wireless Internet and new decor. Mackey’s Irish Pub is located within the hotel.
12. The State Plaza Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 861-8200, (800) 424-2859
Address: 2117 E Street NW
Description: Don’t let the harried urban setting fool you. The State Plaza Hotel, across from the State Department in Foggy Bottom, is a quiet, self-contained world unto itself. The former apartment building now houses 228 spacious suites featuring separate kitchens and dining rooms, same-day valet, shoeshine, safety deposit boxes, garage parking, complimentary breakfast, and fitness center. The hotel is often frequented by government employees, especially State Department types, on short-term assignments.
13. Channel Inn Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 554-2400, (800) 368-5668
Address: 650 Water Street SW
Description: This basic 100-room hotel is perched right on the Southwest waterfront, with beautiful views of East Potomac Park and nearby marinas. You’re also a short walk to the Metro, the venerable Arena Stage Theater, the National Mall, and the Smithsonian museums. Free parking is available, and guests can enjoy indoor as well as outdoor pools. This is also the home of the Pier 7 restaurant, which features dining and dancing.
14. The Churchill Hotel
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 797-2000, (800) 424-2464
Address: 1914 Connecticut Avenue NW
Description: This elegant, historic Dupont Circle hotel boasts a full-service business center and meeting rooms. There’s a health club on the premises as well as a restaurant and piano lounge. The hotel, which was built in 1906, was renovated several years ago. Public rooms are very impressive and guest rooms are comfortable and geared to the business traveler. The Embassy Row location is equally accessible to Dupont Circle and downtown. It has 144 units, including 36 suites.
15. The Dupont Hotel (Jurys)
City: Washington, DC
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (202) 483-6000, (800) 423-6953
Address: 1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Description: Owned and operated by Ireland’s largest hotel group, Jurys, the Dupont Hotel is right across the street from the Dupont Circle Metro station, close to some of the city’s best art galleries, bookstores, boutiques, and restaurants. The 313 businesslike rooms come with wet bars, and there’s an upscale restaurant and lively Irish pub on the premises. This hotel caters to a lot of international groups.