Originally Posted by
GUWonder
If doing Arlignton, VA, I'd say do Rosslyn instead of Courthouse -- if only because two metro lines are better than one. The Residence Inn there has breakfast even for non-Golds/non-Platinums.
From Rosslyn hotels to Georgetown is easily walkable within 20 minutes. From Rosslyn to downtown D.C., the metro is there.
Definitely true. Only edge the CH property has is that I personally think it's a little better hotel, and it has an indoor pool. But both are certainly good options. Plus I've always liked the food/drink options in the CH neighborhood if you want to do something later in the evening right near the hotel.
re: Metro outages. Benefit with both of these hotels is that worst case you'd have cheap Ubers to fall back on from any of the tourist spots in DC.
My only hesitancy with Alexandria as the base for the stay is that you're spending a lot of time on the Metro or in a car to get to/from DC. The OP's conference hotel is P-City, so I assume they want to be closer to DC than that...otherwise they'd just book a long stay there. (Not that Alexandria isn't a fun place to visit itself.
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I'd also recommend against a rental car unless you have a daytrip or two planned outside the city. DC traffic and parking are a pain...a totally unnecessary pain for a visitor to the main DC attractions.