Hilton HHonors - Advice on Arlington, VA/ DC Hotel in Jan? Marriott or Hilton?

We are going up for the inauguration in January and are having trouble deciding where to stay. We are flying into Reagan and need to stay on the metro line so we don't have to rent a car. We also have friends which we will be visiting in Alexandria.

We could stay at the HGI in Arlington which is 1/2 block from the metro and it would cost 90,000 hhonors points. Since we are gold, it would mean free breakfast. They also have 2 queen beds and that is a plus because two adults in a double when you are used to a king is a bad thing. Our school age kids will likely stay some at the friends house.

Or... we could stay at the Arlington Residence Inn, 1.5 blocks from the Metro. It is 55K Marriott points. One queen and a sleeper sofa.

Which do you think is the better hotel and better value? Both of these hotels, in addition to all others in the area, have rates of about $260-320 per night since it is during the Inauguration.

Honestly, I wish an Embassy in the area was available as I they are a better value and require the same number of points. We have also looked at staying in Woodbridge at the brand new Residence for only $70 per night and renting a car, but I think we are better off staying closer in town.

All advice is welcome!!

Personally, I don't think the hotels in this area offer good points redemtion value!

I've gotten weekend rates at the Double Tree Crystal City, Hilton Crystal City and Sheraton (Regan National) of around $70 per night. All of which are very close to metro stops. If you are HHonours Gold this will also mean free breakfast at the DT and Hilton.

-- Dambus

EDITED: I kinda assumed that 'inauguration' is a weekend event :)

Both hotels are in a decent area. I prefer the Couthouse location, but the Residence Inn will be slightly more convienient to National Airport on the metro. The blue line goes from DCA into Rosslyn, but you would have to switch to the Orange line there to get to Courthouse. Both are equally accesible to the city via metro.
I cannot say for sure, but you probably have a better chance at good DC skyline views from the Residence Inn Location.

Personally, I don't think the hotels in this area offer good points redemtion value!

I've gotten weekend rates at the Double Tree Crystal City, Hilton Crystal City and Sheraton (Regan National) of around $70 per night. All of which are very close to metro stops. If you are HHonours Gold this will also mean free breakfast at the DT and Hilton.

-- Dambus

EDITED: I kinda assumed that 'inauguration' is a weekend event :)

Avoid the DoubleTree Crystal City anytime soon. I was there last weekend and it's being remodeled and is a mess. They are also working on the elevators and long waits are common.

Have you checked out the Embassy Suites in Crystal City (which is a part of Arlington)? Just as convenient as the Rossyln locations, I would say - and just a few miles from Reagan. In fact, I bet they have an airport shuttle. A few block walk to metro (again, I think they have a shuttle). It's the standard ES - nothing too special. But every room is a suite, there's free booze at night and free breakfast in the morning - what more can one ask for in life? :)

Crystal City (one stop from Reagan on the metro) also has quite a nice brand new Hampton Inn and a Hilton. Can't vouch for the Hilton - I think it's fairly old.

Still don't know where I will be staying but...

I have made reservations for both. I will decide soon. Thanks for the input.

While you certainly can take the metro, it's much simpler to stay in d.c. Then again after I wrote this, i went to look up rates on the web sites. My gosh, those rates listed are absurd.

There are some smaller hotels in d.c.

While you certainly can take the metro, it's much simpler to stay in d.c. Then again after I wrote this, i went to look up rates on the web sites. My gosh, those rates listed are absurd.

There are some smaller hotels in d.c.

Wow - at those rates, I may have to break out the extra shampoo and soap I've lifted from hotel stays and open the Woodley Park Hilton (limited upgrade options, though)

Both Crystal City and Alexandria Old Town are strong options for ready access to both the airport and Metro. Don't see any compelling reason to go to Arlington unless that's where the hotel type at the rate you want happens to be.

Still don't know where I will be staying but...

I have made reservations for both. I will decide soon. Thanks for the input.

If your two choices are only Residence Inn Rosslyn (Arlington) or HGI Courthouse (Arlington), then I suggest the Residence Inn for purposes of convenience (in terms of fewer metro transfers to/from airport). The Residence Inn is (approximately) three years older than the HGI Courthouse, but maintained to the same end.

The Residence Inn gets more airplane noise than the the HGI Courthouse, but the the HGI Courthouse gets the occassional police sirens while the parking garage behind it may produce annoying noise and lights.

I like the HGI in the District across from the Macpherson Sq Orange/Blue Line stop. With Gold status you get the full hot breakfast with omelette bar. Yum! More of a Metro run from DCA but not difficult to get to. This is my favorite DC metro system map: http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

I like the HGI in the District across from the Macpherson Sq Orange/Blue Line stop. With Gold status you get the full hot breakfast with omelette bar. Yum! More of a Metro run from DCA but not difficult to get to. This is my favorite DC metro system map: http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html
Yes, the HGI in DC is a good hotel in a good location. But this hotel, and other HHonors hotels in DC, are showing as "not available" for a stay of January 19-23. It looks like the only available HHonors hotel in DC itself is the Hilton Washington, but it has rates starting at $359 + tax per night; and it shows NO reward availability. I'm sure that's why the OP is asking about hotels outside DC -- they are much more likely to be available and affordable for this very high-demand period. (I was toying with the idea of attending some inauguration-related events, but for a number of reasons, among which would be the high prices, I don't think I will.)

I've stayed at the Hilton Wash and I was underwhelmed. Too bad the DC area hotels are full and do not have award availability. I've heard good things about the HGI in Arlington - close to some restaurants and shopping - but I have never stayed there.

I've stayed at the Hilton Wash and I was underwhelmed. Too bad the DC area hotels are full and do not have award availability. I've heard good things about the HGI in Arlington - close to some restaurants and shopping - but I have never stayed there.

The HGI Arlington (at Courthouse) is within a 10-minute walk to some shops (Barnes & Nobles, Starbucks, Crate & Barrell, Apple, etc.) and restaurants on the way to the Clarendon metro stop. Courthouse itself has a little plaza with a few so-so casual lunch restaurants and a movie theater, but that is a two-minute walk from the hotel itself.

HGI probably has a Verizon corporate rate if any of you are entitled to that.

I lived 2 blocks from that big Verizon area and the Arlington Courthouse. It would be a pleasant area in which to spend the weekend. Not the hottest nightlife, but you are a short metro ride away from everything. We walked from our apartment at the Courthouse area to the Mall all the time when the weather was nice: just ask your hotel front desk the streets and trails to use if you want to walk over to D.C. (You cross over the highway and get on a trail near the national cemetery.)

If those hotels are sold out, go out a couple of stops on the Orange Line and perhaps you'll get better luck. (I'm thinking Ballston, but that is a nasty Hilton there.) Failing that, head up Northwest to the Woodley Park area or Friendship Heights - still an easy Metro ride to the Mall. There's a decent (and large) Marriott up that way and a great 4-star OMNI that we've gotten cheap off of Priceline a couple of times.

I'm guessing that you should be able to find something near a Metro somewhere, but you'll have to give up on prime location and definitely give up on using hotel points. See if anybody is getting anything out of Priceline in some of those Virginia or Northwest DC zones a few miles away from the inauguration...

Thanks for all of your great advice.

I just found out that we can use a free night certificate at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City (on ArmyNavy Drive) in addition to using points for the other three nights. Much better than paying the $319 they wanted.

We still have reservations using points at the HGI at Courthouse during the same time period. However, is it that much nicer to warrant staying at the HGI for three nights and then switching to the RI for the last night?

Is there some shopping around the RI? Thanks in advance for your help!

Thanks for all of your great advice.

I just found out that we can use a free night certificate at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City (on ArmyNavy Drive) in addition to using points for the other three nights. Much better than paying the $319 they wanted.

We still have reservations using points at the HGI at Courthouse during the same time period. However, is it that much nicer to warrant staying at the HGI for three nights and then switching to the RI for the last night?

Is there some shopping around the RI? Thanks in advance for your help!

Not sure exactly what type of purchase you need to make, but yes - there is a large mall and a Costco in/near Pentagon City.

I like the HGI in the District across from the Macpherson Sq Orange/Blue Line stop. With Gold status you get the full hot breakfast with omelette bar. Yum! More of a Metro run from DCA but not difficult to get to. This is my favorite DC metro system map: http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

I'm gold and just left the HGI in DC near Macpherson Square. They only gave me and my traveling companion free continental breakfast (but with the option to upgrade for $4.00 to the full breakfast), and only for one of the 3 nights we had booked. I booked months ago asking for a room away from the elevators, and was given a room right at the elevator. The walls were thin and we were awakened each AM by loud screaming children in the adjacent room. The plug in the bathtub did not keep the water in the tub and something was amiss with the thermostat in the room. I was so underwhelmed I checked out a day early and went over to the Capital Hilton instead for the final night. I'd think twice about coming back to that HGI, though the location is very good, and maybe I just had bad luck this time because the reviews on it in this forum are good.

I'm gold and just left the HGI in DC near Macpherson Square. They only gave me and my traveling companion free continental breakfast (but with the option to upgrade for $4.00 to the full breakfast), and only for one of the 3 nights we had booked. I booked months ago asking for a room away from the elevators, and was given a room right at the elevator. The walls were thin and we were awakened each AM by loud screaming children in the adjacent room. The plug in the bathtub did not keep the water in the tub and something was amiss with the thermostat in the room. I was so underwhelmed I checked out a day early and went over to the Capital Hilton instead for the final night. I'd think twice about coming back to that HGI, though the location is very good, and maybe I just had bad luck this time because the reviews on it in this forum are good.
It's all kind of a moot point anyway, since this hotel (and nearly all the other HHonors hotels in DC proper) are showing NO availability for the inauguration time period in question (as posted on previous page).

As far as only getting breakfast coupons for one night instead of the whole stay, did you remind them to give you the missing coupons? And did you ask to be moved to a different room, or were they unable to do that?