lewinr

thanks for the advice. being close to the airport would save me a rental car, but then will I need it anyway to get to/from the attractions?

CloudCoder

Your tax dollars paid for the nicest Metro system in the nation.

lewinr

not my tax dollars.

Andrea Waters

No. There's absolutely no need to rent a car in D.C. You don't even need one from DCA. DCA is a quick and inexpensive cab ride. My choice with three kids would be the Grand Hyatt as long as the renovations have been completed before your stay. I'd call to verify the completion date. It's near the National Mall and a short walk through the hotel to a Metro stop.

MarkP24

Agreed the mass transit system in DC is quite efficient.

AttorneyVin

Agreed - the GH was very nice when we stayed there last year. The Grand Club had quite a nice selection of foods at all hours, and the customer service was amazing. A very short walk to several attractions, and you are right on top of a major metro station that allows for very easy access to the Smithsonian area.

Train

Staying at the Grand Hyatt in mid-June, so checked about renovation completion which is scheduled for "early June". Their Starbucks will not be done until the end of June, though.

Miesque

I enjoyed my stay at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill when I was there in January. Its only a block from Capitol Hill and the Mall and the lounge was decent enough.

cdancer20

*Bump*. I'm taking my mom and grown sister to DC in a couple of weeks and trying to decide between some hotels. We plan to do all the tourist stuff so would like to be close to the action but also save money. We will be there for a total of 5 days. However, only the Hyatt Regency Crystal City has P+C on Mon/Tues & all other hotels are $250+ so I'm stuck with that option. Note: I am NOT a Diamond so no free breakfast or anything which is a plus for doing a Hyatt Place.

For the first 3 nights, here's my choices:
1 - Hyatt Regency Crystal City - $80/night
2 - Hyatt Place Washington DC / US Capital - $119/night (breakfast)
3 - Hyatt Place Downtown / K Street - $189/night but 4.8k + $75 (P&C w/20% Hyatt points back & breakfast)
4 - Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill - $130/night (BRG)

DHalltheway

HRW on CH is 5 minutes walk to the national mall.
HP DC is a couple of metro stations away but not that far away.
HP K st is 5 minutes walk to the white house.
Crystal city is a 20-30 min train ride into town.

Really depends what you consider as "tourist stuff", because there are so many memorials and exhibitions to see.

You won't really be able to see much in two days so I suggest you figure out what you want to do.

If you want proximity, and bang for your buck I would chooce the HRW on CH. what you save from the HP K street it is enough to have a nice breakfast outside IMO. If you don't mind the travel, maybe 10 mins more, then consider the HP @ DC.

I can't say much about the location of the HP though as I've not stayed at either, but I am familiar with the other 3.

cdancer20

Hi. Thanks for the response. We will be there for 5 days though. Well technically 4 days of "tourist" stuff so a bit of time. And if we did the Hyatt Place K Street, it would be on P&C rate and I have points to spare.

DHalltheway

I was confused because it went from 5 days to Mon/Tues to 3 nights. If you are there for 5 days, It doesn't really matter where you stay IMO, just get the best bang for your buck in terms of location and amenities.

FWIW, I think the P+C you got is not a worth while ROI to me.

4.8K points to save $114+taxes. you are a shade below 3 cpp.

But this is just my 2 pennies worth.

cdancer20

Sorry if that was confusing. I'm there for 5 days but 2 of the days I'm limited to only Hyatt Regency Crystal City due to prices and availability on P&C rates. The other 3 nights are in question so I will probably have to move hotels.

I agree that the P&C is not worth the ROI to me either when I can stay at other hotels for such low prices. However I wanted to throw it in there due to proximity to everything.

DHalltheway

Since you don't have diamond, and unless there is a benefit to you moving, I would say stay put at crystal city.

The money you save you can cover your breakfast @ McD (yes I do eat there.) and metro fare to and from the city. HRCC's shuttle also takes you to and picks you up from the metro station when I was there earlier this year.

It isn't expensive to cab into DC from this hotel either, about $10-15 from HRCC to HRW.

cdancer20

Thanks. My SO pretty much suggested the same. It's about a $120 saving of Hyatt Place US Capital and now that I've decided to add another day onto a trip later this summer, I can use that $120. My family is simple and has no problem eating McDonalds every day!

Thanks for your help!