We are going by Amtrak to Washington DC?
Hotel Rates
doody asked:
We want to find a hotel on the metro rail. We will have 3 children and dont want to walk at night to the metro station…any ideas
Janet
We want to find a hotel on the metro rail. We will have 3 children and dont want to walk at night to the metro station…any ideas
Janet
March 4th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Frederick
Well, any response will rest on a number of factors. First is price, second is how far from downtown you want to be, and third is whether you would be willing to walk a few blocks at night, but in a safe neighborhood?
Hotels in the outer suburbs are going to be cheaper, but few are going to be right on the metro. You will most likely have to take a taxi or shuttle to get to a station. Hotels in Washington or the near-in suburbs within walking distance to metro will obviously cost more, so recommendations will hinge on how much you are willing to pay, etc.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Duane
If you’re also looking to save some money, I’d recommend staying at a hotel in Crystal City (Arlington) Virginia. There are MANY hotels here right next to the Metro. The area is mostly businesses and condos, and is very safe. You can get on the Metro (blue or yellow line) and be in DC in a matter of minutes.
March 10th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Pedro
I would agree that looking at hotels in Crystal City is a good idea. I would also look at hotels in Bethesda, Maryland - I know there’s a Hyatt and a couple of others (I think there’s also a Ramada? And others as well) right in downtown Bethesda. Bethesda is an extremely safe area, there are plenty of good restaurants right near the hotel as well (many of which are good for families), and the hotels are within a block of the Metro (the Red Line, which is the same Metro line that Union Station is on) - and it’s also a very short Metro ride, maybe at most 15 minutes, from Bethesda to downtown Washington where all the museums and monuments are. I grew up just past Bethesda so I’ve never stayed at any of these hotels myself - but they all look nice and I know it’s a good area.
The only thing about these hotels (especially in Crystal City) is that they’re mostly geared towards business travelers. Which means that they’re not historic or charming at all, and also not luxury resorts, but they’re very comfortable, well-maintained, and most importantly, easy to get to - so if you’re looking for a comfortable place to sleep and that’s it, then check these areas out.
March 13th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Ted
The Ballston area of Arlington, Virginia will meet your needs very nicely. It’s a safe neighborhood, about 20 minutes from downtown via Metro. There is a Hilton directly above the Ballston Metro station–you can get from one to the other in the rain without getting wet. A five minute walk away is a nice Holiday Inn. Ballston has a large indoor mall with a nice food court and a CVS drugstore, almongst many other stores. There’s a direct skywalk connection to the Hilton.
If you’ll have a car, I can direct you to several very nice playgrounds that are a short drive from Ballston–a good way to finish up your day sightseeing.
March 13th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Andrew
Stay in Rosslyn. It’s in Arlington, just across the Potomac from DC. It has a small business district (with a CVS, restaurants like Qdoba and Burger King, plus some independent restaurants) and is extremely safe. I’d recommend staying at the Key Bridge Marriott - it is an easy 2 block walk from the Metro Station and the hotel is very nice. They have a seasonal pool for the kids. Go to marriott.com and sign up for their “frequent traveler” program (it’s free). As a member you get special discounts. Try using promo code C77, M11, or MEB (can you tell I go there a lot?). You can often find rooms there for as little as $85 a night.
And this is a very nice hotel in a great central locaiton. Rosslyn is on the orange and blue lines so you can go into DC and all of the attractions, or south to go to Arlington Cemetary.
Have a great time!