Planning a trip to Washington, DC this summer

[AnnInLa]

Can someone recommend a nice, not extremely expensive, hotel that would be convenient to seeing the sights around the mall area....particular interest in the Museum of Art and the Kennedy Center? We are 2 women, so would like a safe area to return to after dark, and a safe area to venture out to dinner in the evenings. Any tips for best way to get from Reagan (spit, spit) airport to hotel? Any tips for saving money? Have visited DC twice before, but the latest was 7 years ago, and I've slept since then.....thanks for any tips!

[Skinner]

1. I think the Dupont circle area is very nice.

It's a little too far to walk to the mall, so you'd have to take the metro. But it's a great area for nightlife and restaurants (much better than downtown or the mall area), and it's quite safe.

I've never stayed at any of the hotels in the aread, and I don't know how expensive they are. But here are a few options...

The Jury's Doyle is right on the Circle, and a block from the metro: http://washingtondchotels.jurysdoyle.com/jurys_washingtondc

The Radisson Barcelo Hotel is about two blocks from Dupont Circle: http://www.washington-dc-hotels-reservation.com/Radisson-Barcelo.html

The Washington Hilton is about four blocks from Dupont Circle. It's giant and kinda charmless. It's often called the "Hinkley Hilton" because it is where Reagan got shot. http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=DCAWHHH

The Courtyard by Marriott is right across the street from the Washington Hilton. http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASNW

And here's a nice Bed & Breakfast, which is about a block from the circle: http://www.dupontatthecircle.com

[AnnInLa]

2. I'll check them out......thanks very much

Looking forward to our trip!

[LuckyLib]

3. You can take the metro from National Airport (I refuse to

call it Reagan!) to anywhere in DC. You can walk from the terminals to the metro stops, get a map and get to a stop close to your hotel. Take a roller bag and join the folks using the metro. Easy, fast, cheap, and a breeze to navigate. Changing trains at metro center is easy and Dupont Circle and the area south, near George Washington University and the Kennedy Center, has some good hotels, good eating spots, and folks are walking everywhere. The Wash Hilton is a convention hotel, appropriately noisy and boring.

[uts2641]

4. I not sure of specific hotels to stay in

but, unless you really want to stay in DC, consider taking a look at hotels in Arlington and Alexandria. They may (or may not) be cheaper.

Also, both Arlington and Alexandria have their own bus systems that serve metro stops.

Alexandria DASH

http://www.dashbus.com/

ART bus

http://www.commuterpage.com/art/

I always enjoy Old Town in the evening. There are a couple places I've been in Arlington at night, the ART bus page has more information about individual areas. I'm just more familiar with Alexandria than Arlington or DC.