Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Hyatt Capitol Hill or Liason Capitol Hill?

From what I've read the Liason is more upmarket with better rooms? How long would it take to walk to the nearest Metro (Union station)? I look close on the map but when I was there walking 1 block seemed like forever!

that is not a nice walk, and not safe. if a taxi doesn't get you, a bike messenger will. it's only two blocks, but very heavy traffic, and a lot of streets.

the two hotels you mention are very close together, and one uses the same path to the subway.

don't forget to consider the cirulator if you are just going down k st or some such.

that is not a nice walk, and not safe.

Oh OK. I'm looking for a hotel thats near the Capitol, near a metro station and under $2000 for 5 nights. Most of the main hotels (St regis, Willard, W Washingtone etc) are near the Whitehouse and over $2000. Another choice would be the Courtyard marriott Navy Yard or L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.

Oh OK. I'm looking for a hotel thats near the Capitol, near a metro station and under $2000 for 5 nights. Most of the main hotels (St regis, Willard, W Washingtone etc) are near the Whitehouse and over $2000. Another choice would be the Courtyard marriott Navy Yard or L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.

As a contrasting opinion, I would (and have) be comfortable making that walk alone at 2 or 3 in the morning as a small woman. I did it every week for years around 10 in the evening without ever feeling unsafe. It's not exactly picturesque--office buildings, not tree-lined streets--but it's nothing that unsightly either.

I concur that the two-block walk to Union Station is just fine. Cross the mess of streets in front of the station (1st, then Mass) and walk down E St. Cabs are a menace, sure, but email has largely obviated bike messengers. Traffic is a lot lighter around there than in the core of downtown to the west.

The walk to Judiciary Square is sketchier but still harmless, since it passes a homeless shelter.

As for the hotels, I've only stayed at the Hyatt, which was fine; can't comment on the Liasion or Affinia in general. They are indeed right across from one another.

Thanks for the replies. Is the food in the Hyatt varied? Are there a few restaurants around the area as I get fed up of hotel food easily lol? I suppose I could walk to union station to try the restaurants there.

Hotel George is also in that area. Its restaurant Bistro Bis is quite good and upmarket.

In general, this is not an interesting area to stay. I would go a few more blocks away to the Gallery Place/Chinatown area, which has a boatload of restaurants/bars, movie theater, museums. There is the Hotel Monaco--check it out and what's around you in a 2 block radius.

I do not recommend restaurants at Union Station, except for a quick meal to take on the train.

Hotel George is also in that area. Its restaurant Bistro Bis is quite good and upmarket.

In general, this is not an interesting area to stay. I would go a few more blocks away to the Gallery Place/Chinatown area, which has a boatload of restaurants/bars, movie theater, museums. There is the Hotel Monaco--check it out and what's around you in a 2 block radius.

I do not recommend restaurants at Union Station, except for a quick meal to take on the train.

Seconding Bistro Bis and the general disrecommend for Union Station's establishments. The Hyatt restaurant is okay but pretty bland. If you do decide to stay there and get tired of Bistro Bis (or can't swing repeated visits on your expense budget; it's not cheap), the closest strip of restaurants is east of Union Station over on Mass Ave.

Hotel Monaco looks like its in a great area but it's slighty too close to my $2000 budget.

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel = $1,276.68
Hotel monaco = $1,940.80

Hotel Monaco looks like its in a great area but it's slighty too close to my $2000 budget.

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel = $1,276.68
Hotel monaco = $1,940.80

I would definitely vote for Union Station over L'Enfant, if you're choosing between the two. The L'Enfant area is even more hurting for restaurants. But Hotel Monaco and the rest of Chinatown/Downtown would be more fun, if you can swing it.

There is basically -no- life down by L'Enfant after dark.

Whats Crystal City or Pentagon City like?

Whats Crystal City or Pentagon City like?

Pretty much the dictionary definition of suburbia. I'm not a fan, but there are restaurants and whatnot. Better than L'Enfant, for certain.

Pretty much the dictionary definition of suburbia. I'm not a fan, but there are restaurants and whatnot. Better than L'Enfant, for certain.

Say what? I would define suburbia as Fair Lakes, Oakton and Annandale.

Crystal City is NONE of these.

The Marriot, Radisson or Sheration as Crystal City are pretty cheap plus they are close to a Metro. Are they any good compared to the Monaco? Is it a quiet and safe area?

The Marriot, Radisson or Sheration as Crystal City are pretty cheap plus they are close to a Metro. Are they any good compared to the Monaco? Is it a quiet and safe area?

The Monaco is much more upscale than the Crystal City hotels. Hotels in Crystal City suit travelers doing meetings, government contractors or IRROPS passengers from DCA. None them are anything special.

The Marriott is probably the best of the lot (for Crystal City)...

You do have the Ritz Carlton over in Pentagon City :D

Say what? I would define suburbia as Fair Lakes, Oakton and Annandale.

Crystal City is NONE of these.

That'd be exurbia. Fairfax County is actually one of the standard case studies of exurbia you find in reports on urban and transit planning.

Not wanting to get into a semantics debate....

I've never heard of places like Oakton or Annandale referred to as "exurbia".

Demographia.com defines the suburbs as:

Suburb: Collectively, the suburbs are all of the continuous urbanization that extends beyond the core city (all of the urban area except the historical core municipality and other adjacent historical municipalities). A specific suburb can be an individual municipality or community in the suburbs. For example, the cities of Evanston and Oak Park are suburbs of Chicago. In the London area, municipalities that are outside the Greater London Authority, but inside the greenbelt are suburbs, such as Epsom and Ottershaw (the London urban area is within the green belt).

You can't go from DC to Annandale and see a green, open space!

If, Evanston and Oak Park are deemed suburbs of Chicago, i cannot see how Oakton (just outside the Capital Beltway) or Annandale (mostly inside the Capital Beltway) would be an exurb.

Further, an exurb is defined as a municipality that is separated some distance from the urban core and greater metro area by open space. Frederick, MD, Fredericksburg, VA, Winchester, VA, and Waldord, MD are exurbs.

The Brookings Institute largely agrees - finding most all of Fairfax County (save for places like Clifton) to be suburbs.

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2006/10metropolitanpolicy_berube/20061017_exurbia.pdf

BLS places the definition of exurb even further out than Brookings:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2006/12/art1full.pdf

Out of the Ritz Pentagon and Monaco which one offers the best deal for restaurants and transport links? I think they are both very close to Metro stations but I'm not sure about the frequency of trains to get into DC to the museums and back again in the evening.

Out of the Ritz Pentagon and Monaco which one offers the best deal for restaurants and transport links? I think they are both very close to Metro stations but I'm not sure about the frequency of trains to get into DC to the museums and back again in the evening.

On these two criteria, I'd give the nod to the Monaco. Its in Penn Quarter/Chinatown which is in a HUGE boom phase in terms of restaurants. Its also Gallery Place/Chinatown metro which gives you the Red, Yellow, and Green lines.

The Ritz is on the Blue and Yellow lines and is attached to a rather nice shopping mall. However, its not walkable as the Monaco is. The restaurant choices are fine but not as chic or upscale as the Monaco.

Well, it is a classic question of what's important -- the area, the room, or what. Sounds like you're a tourist or at least looking at a place from that perspective. As a single tourist, I would target the Gallery Place/Chinatown and Dupont Circle areas to stay in.

I would not like Pentagon City or Crystal City as the former is a big shopping mall and the latter is just icky. They are safe and you can get a decent meal, but to do pretty much anything you must take the subway or taxi. As a tourist, I like to walk a lot and I like the option of returning to the hotel room mid-day in a convenient way. But if you can save a lot of money by staying in Crystal City then that's a consideration. I'd only want to stay in this area if attending a conference or had extensive business meetings -- lots of DOD related offices here in tall office buildings.

Also in Gallery Place is a Courtyard. If the Monaco appeals to you, then check out other Kimpton properties in the area, like around Dupont Circle. There's also Tabard Inn -- have eaten there a lot but never stayed there.

Just for the record, Crystal City is not "icky." I've lived there for almost four years. It collectively houses the most expensive apartments and condos in Arlington and overlooks Reagan National. While it's not a sprawling night life spot, it's a great work/live area that has tons of restaurant options (Crystal Drive, 23rd Street, etc.). There are no homeless people, hardly any crime, and everything is clean, well lit, and appealing to the eye.

The hotels (2 Marriotts, the Hyatt, the Hilton, Doubletree, Sheraton, the brand new Renaissance and Residence Inn) do cater to the flying business traveler and airline stopovers for staff, but there are plenty of more affordable and nice options than downtown. If you book to close, the hotels will run nearly as much as downtown DC. The Metro ride is 10 minutes from Crystal City to L'Enfant.

Also, check out Hotel Monaco in Arlington (Rosslyn). Great rates, great views of DC, and one stop to Foggy Bottom or Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line.

That being said, downtown is more fun for a hotel stay like yours. If would only book in Arlington if you want to save on the rate. For downtown, check out The Hay-Adams, The Westin, The Ritz-Carlton DC and Georgetown, The Jefferson, The Madison, and the Marriott Metro Center. Capitol Hill is hit/miss, but avoid anywhere near New York Avenue (There is a new Courtyard Marriott there across from a Federal Building).

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. My visit is mainly tourist based with visits to the museums etc. However I have some business near the Capitol so would like to be near there. I would like to be able to walk or take the Metro to most of the attactions (Space Museum, Whitehouse, US Capitol). Also I would not like to walk more then a block to a Metro station. Hotels in Dupont Circle are too far from the US Capitol.

I stayed in the St Regis last year and it was a great hotel but a bit more expenisve for me this time around. Unfortuantely most of the hotels mentioned are above my budget.

I'm a bit confused. DuPont Circle to Union Station (across the street from the Capitol) is 10 minutes on the Metro. Most hotels would require at least that to walk to the Capitol. Are you talking about transit time to the Capitol or actual distance as in miles?

This right here is at close as it gets: http://www.capitolhillsuites.com/

DuPont Circle/Penn Quarter/Chi Town/West End would leave you much more centrally located however.

I'm just talking about distance in miles.A friend might give me a lift and obviously I dont want to have him drive across DC from east to west.

My usual DC landing point -- Metro across the street, two blocks from the White House, ten-minute ride to the Union Station / Capitol area, lots of restaurants and pubs within a two-block radius:

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=DCACHGI

It is not the Ritz or anything but very comfortable and well-located and will not bust your budget.

download a circulator map. do things on the circulator routes. circulator is great.

http://www.dccirculator.com/Home/BusRoutesandSchedules/CirculatorRouteMap.aspx

I've seen the Phoenix Park Hotel, almost across the street from Union Station (which has a Metro station) and a pretty short walk to the Capitol. Reviews seem okay. I've never been inside, however. There are few restaurants and Irish "pubs" nearby, and Union Station has more restaurants/bars, but Gallery Place possibly more likely at night, and at a big Metro station that services more than one Metro line. Holiday Inn Capitol Hill and L'Enfant Plaza Hotel are two hotels south of the Mall and still within a short walk of many of the museums (e.g., Air & Space).

There's always Hotwire and Priceline.

I'm a bit worried about the Metro if I stay in crystal City or pentagon city. Are they safe and quick in the evening?

I've got some prices as well (from least expensive):

Marriot Cystal City (larger guest room) $1325
Phoenix Park Hotel (bi level suite) $1630
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown (1 king suite) $1661.91
Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Club Level King $1793
Monaco DC (Monte carlo accessible room) $1945

The Crystal City shopping mall looks like a its got a good selection of restaurants and I think the Marriot has it's own Metro entrance?

I'm a bit worried about the Metro if I stay in crystal City or pentagon city. Are they safe and quick in the evening?

Safe, for the most part. Quick.....well.....well.......Unlike a lot of cities, WMATA really scales back service on weekends. You have the blue and yellow lines there. If you were going to a particular place from Crystal City (Gallery Place, for example), you might have to wait upwards of 12 minutes between trains. And much longer as the evening turns to night (e.g., 11:00 pm). Metro does not run after midnight except on weekends.


I've got some prices as well (from least expensive):

Marriot Cystal City (larger guest room) $1325
Phoenix Park Hotel (bi level suite) $1630
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown (1 king suite) $1661.91
Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Club Level King $1793
Monaco DC (Monte carlo accessible room) $1945

I know nothing about the Phoenix Park Hotel. Based on the pricing, you're paying for location and perceived luxury (with the oddball being the Phoenix Park which being 520 North Capitol is not a terrible address).

I think the HGI is way over priced for that type of hotel (even if it is a suite).

The Crystal City shopping mall looks like a its got a good selection of restaurants and I think the Marriot has it's own Metro entrance?

Its been years since I've walked that area. It used to be pretty dismal. I'm also a little confused. There used to be a "Crystal City Underground"...Is that the same as the mall? The Underground used to be a soulless maze of quick stop curio shops and convenience stores and public service ads reminiscent of 1984. There are stores above ground and restaurants (mostly chains) but it does have King Street Blues which I certainly like.