Originally Posted by
jlb3
For your situation, I would recommend the Residence Inn Dupont Circle. Only a Cat 6 (versus 7+ for the rest of the city). You'll get the free breakfast, plus it's only 2 blocks to the Dupont Circle metro. While there aren't too many cultural attractions in the immediate area, this neighborhood is very nice and safe and has a ton of great food and drink options. You will only be 2-3 metro stops away from the downtown DC attractions and a quick uber/bus right to Georgetown. Also easy to get to Pentagon City later - just go 3 stops to Gallery Place, and transfer to the Yellow Line for a few stops. I think it's your best bet.
Basically everything except the higher end properties are Cat 7. Cat 6 isn't cheap to begin with, so if it were me, I'd pick from the innumerable (and solid) Cat 7 choices. I'd say the two nicest properties are
The Mayflower (an Autograph) on Connecticut Avenue and
the Renaissance (the one on New Hampshire Avenue is far nicer than the one on 9th Street).
If you really want to save the points and are looking for a Category 6 -- do the
Marriott Wardman Park. It's down the street from the zoo in a quiet, residential neighborhood. Literally next to a Metro Station, so you're 10 minutes from downtown and 20 from the Pentagon.