Howdy.

I am going to DC for the big international stamp collectors show starting in a couple weeks, to be held in the DC Convention Center.

http://www.washington-2006.org/

Admission is free and if you have any interest at all, I recommend a visit. This is the largest show in the world and is held in the US only every ten years. You can see probably the world's most valuable item by weight, a unique Swedish stamp worth about $3,000,000 as well as a slew of the famous "upside-down airmail" stamps.

Anyway, I am looking to stay in either a Hilton family or Choice Hotel. Less expensive is better, and easy access to the Metro is vital. Don't mind staying way out in VA or MD if need be. Halfway safe neighborhood, too, I suppose.

Hotwire would be fine, too, if I can be sure of a hotel near the Metro.

Would very much appreciate recommendations. Thanks.

Embassy Suites at the Convention Center would be perfection, if you can get in with a decent rate. It varies widely, depending upon what's going on. I've been there for $180/night and rejected it when $400 was their best offer.
Close to three Metro stops, walk to the conv ctr.
5 blocks (downhill) to The Mall, passing Ford's Theater (tour the house across the street where Lincoln died).
4-7 pm happy hour $1 bar snacks will make a fine meal for under $10/person, and combined with the breakfast offsets the room rate somewhat.
Popular place with vacationing families, who maximize the value of that breakfast.

The trouble is that the Hilton family properties in and around DC tend to be in business-intensive areas, such as near NSF and DARPA in Arlington, or near the spook offices in Crystal City.
One day you can get a great rate, and the next day (see $400 above).
Possibilities for decent rates with Metro access include:
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport
Doubletree Guest Suites Washington, DC (not far from National Grille, a double-miles idine with free wifi)
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown and HGI Arlington Courthouse
Homewood Suites by Hilton® Washington, D.C. (reasonable walk to conv center, but usually booked)
Hampton Inn Washington, DC- Convention Center (usually booked)
Hampton Inn Alexandria-Old Town/King St. Metro
Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan National Airport (bit of a hike to Crystal City Metro stop, but quite do-able. Yellow line straight to the convention center)

For Choice, do a search on Washington, DC at www.choicehotels.com and take a look at the first five properties it will show.

I am quite happy with the HGI Courthouse Arlington both the hotel and the area around it. Metro access is about a block away. I have gotten decent rates there but it just depends on the time of year. I think they are more expensive during the week as they have a lot of business travelers.

Checkout the Embassy Suites D.C. too, near Dupont Circle. Relatively close to Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom stops and in a nice area over there.

Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown, also known as Franklin Square, is diagonally across from a Metro station. But it's also close enough to walk to the convention center, approx 7 blocks.
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13F

Might try to get on one of the Circulator lines. they are centered around the convention center.

http://www.dccirculator.com/interactive_map/

Only a buck, and they honor transfers. run about every 5 min.