Family Friendly Hotels in Washington DC - 2

Across the Bridge

While a convenient location within D.C. is often the first choice, a sometimes better choice is to look beyond the city to Arlington, Virginia, a short walk across the Key Bridge from D.C.’s tony Georgetown neighborhood. A nearby Metro station ensures you are just a few stops from all the sights in D.C. The following hotels are located almost at the base of the bridge and all offer on-site parking at a fraction of the price of parking downtown or even free.

• Key Bridge Marriott, www.marriott.com/waskb, 1401 Lee Highway, tel. 703-524-6400 or 800-228-9290, M. Rosslyn (Blue and Orange lines): Ask for a room overlooking the Potomac and check out Sunday brunch in the hotel’s rooftop restaurant for a birds-eye view of the city. Kids will like the indoor/outdoor pool. Rates from $149.
  

• Hyatt Arlington, www.arlington.hyatt.com, 1325 Wilson Boulevard, tel. 703-525-1234, M. Rosslyn: The complimentary washer and dryer in the fitness room is an unusual and welcome amenity for parents. Rates from $119.
  

• Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, www.holidayinn.com, 1900 N Fort Myer Dr., tel. 703-807-2000, M. Rosslyn: Offers free parking with overnight stays. Rates from $109.
  

Hotel Tips

In general, when looking for a deal on hotel rates in Washington, D.C., consider weekends, holidays and—if you can take the heat—summer. There’s no getting around the fact that the city can be hot and horribly humid this time of year—it is built on a swamp after all. But if you’re planning a trip full of museum visits, it’s a good option to consider. While tourism is an obvious source of income for hotels, meetings and conventions are really the “bread and butter” for most mid-priced hotels, but in summer, both conventions and tourists typically stay away, which makes it a good time to find great rates.

Luxury and budget hotels tend to be the most popular lodging choices among tourists. Extended-stay properties—which sometimes provide price breaks in other cities—are often dominated by government contractors in the area for extended periods of time, thereby limiting their availability and discounts.

If you can time your visit right, you might find a better rate at one of the more upscale business hotels than at a budget hotel. Look at mid-range properties that would normally appeal to the business traveler, such as a Marriott or Sheraton then look at dates a business traveler would prefer to stay at home. For example, spring break is the most popular time to visit Washington, and Easter is an absolutely breathtaking season, but many hotels that cater to business travelers just outside of the core downtown hotels have availability on Easter weekend, which makes it a great time to find hotel deals. Another overlooked holiday is Thanksgiving weekend. Ditch the family after dinner and enjoy some of the great price breaks in the city. Christmas week before the New Year often boasts mild weather and gorgeous decorations around the city, and many hotels often have great rates up until the first week of January.