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Originally Posted by Jetsetpensioner
(Post 36754474)
I'm visiting D.C. for a weekend in late January/early February next year and arriving on Amtrak.
I'm trying to decide on a hotel and also open to suggestions. For now I've been looking at the Sofitel or the Hilton Capitol Hill, would either of them be good options?
Originally Posted by Jetsetpensioner
(Post 36765433)
Up to US$1200 for three nights
Sofitel and Hilton garden inn are close to McPherson metro station. |
Originally Posted by amanuensis
(Post 36793913)
If you do indeed want to be in DC itself, given that you will be arriving at Union Station, which is on the Red Line, have you considered the Hampton Inn Washington-Downtown-Convention Center? It is a short walk from the Gallery Place Station, which is just 3 minutes by Metro from the Union Station Metro station. I stayed there once and enjoyed it. There are a lot of food options around Gallery Place, including authentic Chinese.
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Originally Posted by amanuensis
(Post 36793913)
My favorite neighborhood is Crystal City in Virginia. There are several hotels within an easy walk of the Crystal City metro station (and one hotel is at the station).
FWIW both the Crystal Gateway Marriott and the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport can be reached from Metro without going outside (not that this is confusing or anything...) although the latter involves going through a secured door that requires either a room key to unlock, or using an intercom. The Westin is nearly as convenient but does involve being exposed to the elements to cross the intersection. |
Originally Posted by LETTERBOY
(Post 36794452)
I'd stay away from Chinatown/Gallery Place. That area hasn't really recovered from the pandemic shutdowns. Crime has been an issue - Gallery Place/Chinatown station used to have the highest crime rate in the Metro system (don't know if it still does). The Wizards & Capitals tried to move to NoVa, in part because of crime, and they've had some restaurant closures in the fairly recent past. Prior to the lockdowns it was generally safe, if a bit sketchy. But personally, I wouldn't go there now (and I sued to go there all the time).
What do you all think about the hotels on the Green Line near the Navy Yard and Waterfront stations? I stayed twice at the Courtyard that is near the Department of Transportation building and at the time thought it was a little isolated. But I understand that there has been a lot of development in the last few years. Before COVID hit, I had planned on staying at a hotel near the Waterfront station on my next trip. But there have been no DC trips for me post-COVID. During COVID, my employer hired a person living in the DC area to work remotely. |
Depends on the what and where of your visit. Assuming this is a leisure trip, I'd avoid the 'work' areas of DC. That is avoid the areas around Metro Center, K Street, and Union Station/US Capitol, as they will be dead, especially at night.
While the Gallery Place area has gone downhill a bit, many good restaurants are there and so is the Hotel Monaco. I still recommend that area to visitors. Dupont Circle and Georgetown remain traditional areas of interest to visitors. Local people avoid Old Ebbitt Grill -- in fact the only time I've been there in the past 10 years is a lunch organized by visiting colleagues. More interesting restaurants are, for example, on the 14th street corridor NW below U Street, and newish corridors near the Marine Barracks (and Eastern Market more generally), H street NE. Shiny, modern construction is at the Wharf. There are favorites, for me at least, such as Bombay Club for Indian, near the White House. DC is a good restaurant town, from Ethiopian restaurants to Supra (Georgian) and several Laotian restaurants. I do not recommend Crystal City as I find it to be a soul-less concrete jungle. |
If it's not too late to chime in, I second the suggestion to avoid downtown DC (i.e., the business district), as it's soulless at the best of times and is pretty much dead after working hours, with the empty streets lending themselves to crime. DC is not a safe city, so crime is definitely a concern.
I'd recommend choosing a general area for your stay first and then deciding on your hotel. Dupont Circle is a busy area with lots of restaurants, bars, and shopping to keep you occupied. It's very walkable, has some beautiful architecture, and is right on the Red Line. I've stayed a few times at the Churchill on Connecticut Ave. and had a good stay, as did my mother when she stayed there for my grad school graduation. There are also a bunch of upscale chain hotels in the area, if you're looking to use/earn points or want to make use of status perks. Georgetown is also a great location, although likely to be a bit pricier than Dupont. I know there's a Four Seasons there (so obviously $$$$) but not sure what the cheaper options are. There's also Foggy Bottom, but that's more of a college vibe because it's right next to George Washington University. The Watergate could be an option if you want a bit of political history with your stay. I agree with the recommendation to avoid Gallery Place. You might find yourself facing roaming mobs of young miscreants. That area has really gone downhill since covid, if not before. I'd advise against staying anywhere other than NW (Northwest) DC. Capitol Hill is very pretty (and parts of it are so gorgeous they make San Francisco look meh), but the neighborhood can be a bit rough around the edges and it's not necessarily immediately obvious to visitors. Have you ever been to DC before? What's the main purpose of the trip? That could also influence the suggestions people give you. |
Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I chose the Capital Hilton for three nights.
I'm travelling for leisure as a weekend trip from Boston. Hoping to explore some of the classic landmarks and also sightsee. Have also booked dinner at Jônt and interested in gastronomic experiences there. |
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