DC Recommendation - maximize point redemption?
 

Dear Friends,

We are looking at doing a mini-vacation before the hubby has a conference in Pentagon City.

I would prefer staying in DC the five nights before the conference.

I am planning to use my points to maximize the free fifth night benefit.

What would the experts recommend as the best property to maximize that strategy? Want to be near the attractions. Best bang for the buck?

Thanks in advance.

William

Do you want a full service hotel or a points bargain?

Pentagon City is a bit out of the way from most of the things to do in DC, so you probably don't want to stay there for the vacation part of your trip.

For proximity to things, the JW on Pennsylvania Ave is hard to beat. Near the WH, walking distance to many Smithsonian museums, near the Metro. But it's a fairly soul-less, modern property.

Another good choice is the Mayflower. Good access to Metro, walking distance to WH, DuPont Circle.

Points Bargain. Love the free internet... and breakfast would be a bonus.

Not one to make use of full service facilities.

Yes, we are planning to stay in DC itself for the first five nights.... we will be in Pentagon at the conference hotel for the final four nights.

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.

The OP is Silver status. If he goes w/ the RI he gets free brekkie, which he mentions he's interested in as well as using less points (Cat 6). If he stays at a full-service, he doesn't get free brekkie & only the Wardman is the same cat.

Cheers.

If you have to take metro anyway, why not pick one slightly further away? I stayed at the RI in Pentagon City which has free brekkie. There's another RI at Rosslyn which is right by the metro also.

5-night personal stay as a Silver? I'd be looking Residence Inn or Spring Hill Suites, period.

If you wanted to knock it down to a Category 5, consider the Residence Inns in Rosslyn or Courthouse. Easy to get to/from DC, whether by Metro, Uber, or even on foot if you enjoy walking/running.

I always check rates for all days I'm going to be in DC. Rates fluctuate wildly based on demand. Your five-night stay might include a $300 night followed by a $120 night. I know the 5-night award is *usually* better, but check to be sure.

I have never been able to get myself to do a 5 night stay on points DMV area because some paid nights went down to around $70/night so I would never use point on that.

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.

Best bang for the buck is certainly not inside DC.

If you pick one outside DC and needs Metro, check the Metro maintenance schedule. That system is taking a lot of outages to catch up on decades of deferred maintenance.

Also, hotels outside DC (and some are near Metro) are very reasonable on weekends. So, you might not want to waste your points, especially on weekends, if you stay outside DC.

I was in DC last weekend and the Metro closures were brutal. On the weekends, it's worse than New York or London at the peak of their rebuilding efforts a few years back. Definitely worth avoiding some of the peripheral locations on the Metro, because you're likely to be stranded there.

Of course I got trapped in the elevator of the Downtown DC RI, but other than that, it was a great stay! Breakfast spread there is better than RI in Rosslyn, too.

When do you plan on being in town? Your dates determine a lot.

It's the run-up to inauguration, so metro is trying to look presentable and handle the rush. The weekends are always miserable though.

If you are in a group of people, consider renting a car and stay outside DC. I did it with 3 kids back in June. Use a parking app to get cheaper rate. I parked close to Smithsonian for like $18/day. Cheapest Metro fare is $2.5 (no child discount), so renting a car gives you more freedom plus you can drive outside e.g. to outlet malls.

It really depends on what the OP is planning to do for their 5 days. If you add rental car & parking costs, that's more than what metro would cost he & his husband.

Since he has Silver status, the RI & SHS are his best options for free brekkie & maximizing point redemption, both of which are important to him.

Cheers.