7 nights in DC-first visit
 

I will be using a 7 night award(up to cat 5)for a week long stay in Washington DC.
This will be our first visit.
I know there are opinions already stated on other posts-but if YOU,as an experienced DC visitor,had to choose a MI property to stay a whole week at which one would you choose?
We would like one that has easy access to public trasportation.
A full service property might be best-but a nice new Springhill or Residence Inn would be ok also-as long as it is really nice.
If it is a FS property one with a nice lounge that is open seven days would be great.it would save the cost of breakfast.
a pool/health club would be a welcome amenity for my companion.
Thanks in advance for the advice.

We love the JW on Pennsylvania Ave. Short walk to the mall area with all the museums. The lounge isn't open on the weekends though.

The JW is a category 6 property. If you are flying into DCA, I would stay at the Crystal Gateway Marriott (category 4). You will be right on top of a metro stop, and this will give you easy access to DC (within 15 minutes to the Mall) and Alexandria. Parking is cheaper than DC, although you can take public transportation from IAD if you want to stay here.

It depends if you will have a car. If you want to stay in DC, I would not get a rental car because the parking fees are high and parking in DC can be expensive. If you rent a car and are coming from IAD, I would consider the CY Dunn Loring. It is across the street from a metro stop. They do not give free breakfast to gold/platinum members, but you can get to the Mall in 25 minutes from the metro stop. However, they do give free gym passes to the Golds Gym that is about half a mile south of the property on Gallows Road.

You should also consider the Key Bridge Marriott (category 5). It is across from Foggy Bottom, and you can walk there (and crawl back after spending a night drinking) from the bridge that connects DC to Arlington. The metro stop is a bit of a hike from the hotel (about a quarter of a mile). Parking is cheaper than in Crystal City, and the lounge here is supposed to be pretty good (they give breakfast coupons on the weekend when it is closed).

If you are willing to drive to a metro stop, I would consider the Washington Dulles Marriott Suites (category 4). This property is in Herndon, about 5 miles from IAD. They have no lounge, but they give gold/platinum members a free breakfast everyday (excluding tip). This benefit will be given to both of you.

The hotel is located in a shopping mall with ten restaurants (including a good Turkish place, an okay Afghan restaurant and your typical Chinese, Japanese, Indian [I didn't like this place - some have mentioned that the restaurant's food has more Persian influence than is typical of Indian restaurants] and Vietnamese places).

My family and I did a similar stay about a year ago though it was a paid stay rather than an award. We stayed part of the time at the Crystal City Marriott and the rest at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. They are literally right across the street from each other. We chose those two because the weekend rates at the Gateway Marriott were lower and the Crystal City had lower rates during the week. As mentioned, they are perfect for metro access and very close to the airport (and unless you come very late, there is a complementary shuttle to the hotels.) If I remember correctly, we all received free breakfast even on the weekends at the Gateway Marriott.

I would recommend the Gateway Marriott as the better of the two. When we stayed there (two rooms on awards), they upgraded one of the rooms for us to a suite room. ^ You won't need to rent a car at all. Take the shuttle to the hotel when you get there, and use the metro for the rest of your stay.

Also, while I like the Marriott Suites that VA1379 mentions, I only stay there when I'm working in Herndon or Reston. You will definitely be a bit outside of DC if you stay there. If you are planning on spending most of your time inside of DC itself, I would suggest getting a hotel there rather than worrying about getting a car, traffic, etc. Actually, if you really want to stay that close to IAD, I would suggest the IAD Marriott. It is actually on the airport grounds and a fairly nice FS Marriott. The benefit of staying there is that since you are on the airport grounds, when you are going/coming to DC, you can use the "inside" lanes of the toll road. Much less traffic and you don't have to pay the toll either. ^

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Key Bridge Marriott just completed a renovation. Many rooms have great views of Georgetown and DC. I have always been given breakfast certs on the weekend and they do have a lounge during the week. Blue and Orange lines are a 5-7 minute walk. Georgetown is right across the bridge. $12-14 cab ride from DCA or 40 minute Metrobus ride to IAD ($3.10). I think Key Bridge is the best choice for a Cat 5 property.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Key Bridge Marriott just completed a renovation. Many rooms have great views of Georgetown and DC. I have always been given breakfast certs on the weekend and they do have a lounge during the week. Blue and Orange lines are a 5-7 minute walk. Georgetown is right across the bridge. $12-14 cab ride from DCA or 40 minute Metrobus ride to IAD ($3.10). I think Key Bridge is the best choice for a Cat 5 property.

JW
Gateway
Keybridge

MAYBE the Pentagon City Residence Inn too

All are at or close to Metro stops.

SKIP Crystal City....the 3 times i have tried to check in there i have been treated rudely by desk associates and managers....who REFUSED to comprehend that the EEO B1G1 certificates printed off the website were, in fact CERTIFICATES and not ads. Three or 4 different people....they refused to call customer service...needless to say, i walked across the street WITHOUT a ressie, and they took care of me!

The Gateway will let you eat in the dining room when the lounge is closed-pretty yummy...they let you get the full buffet!

I would not stay out by Dulles (but I have, since the rates are usually cheaper!!):cool: BUT, you will waste a lot of time getting in to and out of DC!

All the posts were good posts and the DC area probably has the most number of Marriott hotels as it is their Corp office city.

To get a fair assessment, one would have to stay in DC many time and "try" out all of the properties. Also, depending on when you go (season) will depend on which property has the best rates.

JW on Penn is a great hotel but sometimes the rates are $499/night. Also they always give full buffet for P and G members and it is an expanded buffet as well!

Try staying by the Metro Zoo on the Red Line. Much cheaper and really nice there. I had anice suite next to the Con Lounge. Also it is right next to the Zoo on the Red Line.

A car in DC?? Only if you know where you are going and have a GPS and don't mind paying for parking. My choice is the Metro and taxis for sure.

Enjoy -- DC is my fav city -- so is Boston!

For a cat 5, I agree this is to be your best bet. You are in Rosslyn and very close to metros and just a jump across the bridge from Georgetown. Also you can take the $3 shuttle to downtown metros which is sometimes quick and easy.

As a local, I don't recommend either of the Crystal City Marriotts for a long term stay. They are geared towards business travelers and conference attendees, not to mention there is not lot open around there after 6:00pm.

Here is a list of Marriotts that I recommend to friends and business associates who want to be in or close to DC.

Renaissance Washington Category 5 – excellent downtown DC location. Two blocks from Metro. Concierge lounge. It is in the new Penn Quarter area of DC. The Spy Museum is walking distance. Verizon Center (Capitals Hockey, Wizards Basketball, concerts, etc.) and the Convention Center are a couple of blocks away, so there is a great variety of restaurants within walking distance. The hotel has a fitness center and is one block from DC’s Chinatown. We put clients and employees up at this hotel all the time and have never heard any complaints.

Marriottt Wardman Park Category 5 - excellent quiet downtown location in more of a residential section of DC. Beautiful grounds. Newly renovated. Concierge Lounge, gym, but pool is outdoor heated which means it is open seasonally. Three block walk to metro and Connecticut Avenue which features a good variety of ethnic restaurants. Four blocks from the National Zoo.

Residence Inn Arlington Pentagon City – Category 4. Across the street from Metro and Pentagon City Mall. Not a standard Residence Inn, in that it is a high rise, so it does offer great views of the Pentagon and DC from upper levels. Work out room, but not sure about a pool. Pentagon City Mall across the street features Macy’s and Nordstrom’s and 120 + stores and restaurants. Also one block up is Pentagon Centre which features a Borders, Best Buy, Costco, California Pizza Kitchen and Chevy’s Mexican. Three blocks south is Pentagon Row with more shopping, a Harris Teeter (excellent grocery store) and numerous restaurants including Champps, Lebanese Taverna, Zen Bistro.

Hope this helps.

RIP....

In May this year, I stayed at both Crystal Gateway (during weekdays) and Crystal City (on weekend). I prefer the Gateway better as echoed by many. It is simply a better property in many ways. However, its rated as a CAT 4 (vs CC is a CAT 5). As for public transport, the Metro is but 4 to 5 minutes walk, all indoor. If you want to see DC, you can get to almost everywhere by subway. That's the reason I stayed in Arlington location.

Cl closes at both properties on weekend (as far as I recall), breakfast coupons provided when CL was closed at the CC (my own experience).

See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...crystal&page=2

JW Marriott is best location, and a very nice property. My only complaint there is the gym - it's horrible and I ended up buying a short-term membership at a real gym to manage during the week I was there recently.

None of the DC lounges (FS properties) are open on the weekends and neither JW nor Renaissance offer breakfast certs for plat members - believe me, I called them all when planning my two recent trips. I did get a nice young man at check-in at the JW who responded to my incredulous "Plats really don't get breakfast on the weekend here?" with a two day buffet pass, which was nice, though certainly not necessary.

Mayflower is nice, but I don't know what category they're in. Wardman Park is in a very nice setting and recently renovated, but I've only spent one quick night there and wouldn't presume to recommend or not recommend based on that.

I couldn't agree more, it's an easy walk to everything within DC (including the Metro which will get you around extremely easily)...park the car and walk/use public transit, you'll spend more time looking for parking anyways

I've stayed at the JWM and Mayflower many, many times from 2001-Present, and have always received breakfast coupons on the weekends - this has also been true for me at the Marriott Metro Center and Key Bridge Marriott. YMMV.

Marriott Wardman park is cat 5, very nice, and right by the metro stop. Also right up the street from the zoo.

Only drawback is no pool IIRC.

Another vote for the Key Bridge property. Nice views, and it's really not that far of a walk to the Metro.

I couldn't find the Mayflower correspondence handily, but found this below from the Renaissance. Since I actually stayed at the JW last time, I can tell you you are not entitled to breakfast vouchers. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't or won't get them if you ask nicely. ;)


Good Morning Ms. krobbins-

The lounge is not open on the weekends and we do not give out breakfast certificates over the weekend, but as a Platinum you would be entitled to your Platinum upgrade.

Courtney XXXXX
Reservations Sales Manager
Renaissance Washington DC Hotel
202-962-XXXX (Direct)
202-962-XXXX (Fax)

The Residence Inn Rosslyn is nice for a Residence Inn as well; the staff is very friendly, it's in a quiet upscale residential neighborhood, and it's only a Category 3. I stayed there at the beginning of last month for 4 nights. It's only about a 5 minute walk from the Rosslyn metro station, and a 10-15 minute walk to get across the Key Bridge into Georgetown. You'll get a free hot breakfast daily, and the "social hour" food in the evenings during the week is good too. There's also a Starbucks right across the street from the hotel.

2 new(?)MI properties near/in DC
 

There is a new RI at National Harbor
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...washington-dc/

And a new FI on New york avenue.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...w-york-avenue/

Any info on these properties?

How many travelers? Recommendations may be different for 2 mobile adults vs a family & with or w/o children or elderly.

2 able bodied men-one into cycling/walking swimming.
The other into museums and culture.
Both fairly adventurous.
Not into bars/nightclubs although one will explore this a little.

BigGuy - Unless you will have a car, I wouldn't recommend either of these properties. To be fair, I haven't ever been to either of them, but the location is not nearly as good as something like the Key Bridge Marriott or even Crystal City.

The NY Ave property is a long walk through a mildly sketchy area to get to a Metro - at least 2 miles, if I had to take a guess. You could take a bus, but it really isn't convenient.

The National Harbor property is also not located near any Metro stations. Again, you would have to drive or take a bus to get to the Metro.

I would certainly recommend KB Marriott, Crystal City, Wardman Park, or Washington Marriott over either of these other two properties - they are in much better areas and much more convenient to everything.

I agree with JKM - for your first time, I definitely suggest something central with access to metro. The two new ones you mentioned look nice, but I would never recommend for tourists.

I don't think anyone upthread mentioned the CY at Cap Hill. I've never stayed there, but my parents have done so a couple of times and liked it. Here's the caveat emptor... they're not super picky and don't see why I insist on the Ritz whenever possible. :p

Best bets are Renaissance properties and the JW, IMHO. I don't like to be in Virginia, but that's just me. When I'm in the city, I want to step out the door and BE there.

Having a car in DC is a hassle since parking is expensive and parking ticket enforcement is much better than road maintenance. If you want to do anything outside of DC, I think Crystal Gateway or Key Bridge Marriott would be a good choice. The parking is cheaper, and it is easier to not drive in DC.

You should get appetizer and drink coupons too.

Without a doubt...

Either the JW Marriott or the Ren on M.

The JW is basically across the street from the Mall, with all the museums, historical sights, monuments, and it's a great place to walk or bike. You are in the thick of tourist Washington. (Be warned, though, of the noise.)

The Ren on M is located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, which is a short cab ride or Metro ride to the Mall, and is in the thick of a neighborhood full of small, interesting shops and restaurants that you would probably enjoy. (Yes, it's also where many of the bars are located, but there is a lot more to the neighborhood. I'm not much of a bar person anymore, but I still love this neighborhood for it's vibe.) You are also steps from Rock Creek Park, which is great for biking or hiking.

The Mayflower and the VA hotels are in the middle of business districts or, in the case of the RI, a b-o-r-i-n-g residential area like many others across America. And I don't think I'd stay on NY Ave. It's still a little sketchy. It's not going to give you the experience you're looking for.

The JW or the Ren on M will give you a better, more real, DC experience.

My experience at the Mayflower this year: No coupons, they just gave me a free buffet breakfast every morning, and I didn't have to ask.

Two questions; first, when this year? Second, how did the comped breakfast work? Did you expect to pay, but it wasn't on the bill when you checked out, or did the restaurant mgr have your name as a plat guest, or something else?

This is my favorite DC property, in the same block as the Metro red line, walking close to mucho attractions including DuPont Circle, the extraordinary Phillips Collection, the White House, shopping and galleries, restaurants, etc. It also has the real feel of Washington history.

A few have commented as to how small the smaller rooms are. I've always been upgraded so have never experienced this, but would surely want to avoid those rooms.

Earlier this year - spring. They volunteered the information at check-in. I was charged for the tip only for my breakfasts at the restaurant. I agree it is a nice location for the reasons you mentioned. I believe they have a relatively high ratio of suites to standard rooms and make it a point to try to upgrade higher tier elites to suites when they can. I do not know if they give the same treatment to gold elites as platinums.

I'm concerned that they may have changed the policy subsequent to your stay. Obviously, this would be a significant backwards step for a property that has provided such a perk for the many years I've stayed there.

Renaissance Washington is definitely a very very nice hotel that is in the mix of everything downtown.

It was my prior experience that plats received breakfast at the Mayflower in the past as well. I can tell you that when I called about my fall trips, I was told that was no longer the case.

Of course, I was told that at the JW as well, and all I had to do was ask nicely and I received coupons for breakfast, so YMMV. I do know that the "official" line I received was that it was no longer an automatic platinum perk at the Mayflower or any of the DC hotels where I had previously received coupons.

My vote would be for the Renaissance DC (Not the M Street) for the best mix of a nice facility, great service, and an outstanding location. My second choice would be the Metro Center Marriott, and my third choice would be the JW.

FWIW, I've spent a LOT of nights in DC at almost all of the FS properties. And I've been a tourist, a business traveler, and a local on weekend getaways. The places I listed consistently offerered the best overall product for the money.

I'm very surprised and disappointed to hear this. I hope this is not true - maybe you were talking to uninformed employees?

I have to pay extra for at FS properties for things that are free at courtyards and such, and I really look forward to the free breakfast at FS properties. I'll generally go to a competing property that offers breakfast if necessary.

It's certainly possible that I got people who didn't know what they were talking about, but I called twice and got the same answer each time. I ended up choosing the JW for my trips so I have no first hand info on how they are really handling it.

It may be that there's an "unofficial" way for employees who are asked about bfast certs to give them out at the Mayflower. As I mentioned above, the "official" line at the JW was no certs, but I'm three for three on getting them there since September simply by inquiring - very very nicely :p. YMMV

I just completed a 3 night stay at the M and the experience was fantastic. I followed some suggestions as posted by others to request for a room upgrade - if available. To my surprise, they moved us to a corner "larger king room". I am just silver elite. I was very pleased w/ the service because the only room available was a queen or double for the rate booked. Also, when arriving to the hotel, my folio was already checked in and the person just handed me a pair of keys. Really great service and would return again.

The M bar has some great happy hours and drink specials. Illy coffee shop is also great for espressos and cappuccinos.

ab