Best of Washington, D.C. (Hotels Edition)

As a tourist Mecca, Washington, D.C. has its fair share of hotels. Whether you’re in town to sightsee, work, visit friends, or even house-hunt, you’ll need a good, reliable hotel that fits your needs. Even if you’ve already moved here and have your own place, it’s still important to familiarize yourself with the hotels in the area so you can accurately advise your friends and family where to stay when they visit. The variety of hotels in D.C. is about as diverse as the types of neighborhoods here, making it challenging to know where to even begin your search, so hopefully this guide will help streamline that process for you.

Because the District is the home to government and in effect government contractors too, there are many extended stay options which provide comfortable accommodations for folks stuck in town on long-term assignments. As a forewarning, this type of housing does not run cheap, but if your work is covering the expense, then hopefully cost should not be a problem.

Interim Housing Solutions offers housing for those in transition, whether they’re moving in or out of D.C. and need somewhere to stay until their permanent housing is available. They also provide corporate housing solutions. Interim Housing Solutions maintains properties in almost all neighborhoods across the District and even the suburbs. The housing is fully furnished, including cookware, dishes, phone, and cable.

Another extended stay housing provider is Marriott Execu-Stay, offering housing for those planning to settle down for at least 30 days. Their fully furnished apartments include utilities, kitchen supplies, television, and even a gym. All you have to do is show up! Marriott Execu-Stay’s properties are located in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Downtown D.C.

Of course not everyone needs long-term housing. Some need a place to stay just for a weekend while visiting or perhaps you need somewhere to put your mother-in-law up for a few days so she doesn’t have to bunk with you. If that’s the case, then you have more hotel options than you could possibly ever need, ranging in price, amenities, neighborhood, in-house restaurants, and more.

For those valuing price and safety, check out Capitol Hill Suites, just minutes away from the Cannon House Office Building. This hotel is tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood of Capitol Hill which you might walk right past, unless you go looking for it. Capitol Hill Suites runs about $150/night, which is a pretty good deal for a hotel in a safe neighborhood of D.C. It’s nothing flashy by any means, but they have a continental breakfast and sit right around the corner from the Capitol South Metro as well as major sightseeing.

If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, consider the Four Seasons in Georgetown. They offer a full spa including facials, massages, and salon treatments. Make sure to bring your gym equipment with you too so you can take advantage of the hotel’s pool and fitness facility. The Four Seasons’ in-house restaurant is Bourbon Steak, where you should stop in for a juicy steak even if you’re not staying overnight. This luxury hotel frequently hosts weddings, celebrations, business conferences and meetings, so consider reaching out to them if you have one of those needs. Also, the location really could not be any better – right down the street is Georgetown where you can find the C&O canal, shopping, Dumbarton Oaks Estate and Garden, hiking trails and more. 

Moving northeast of Georgetown, you can find a great bed and breakfast at Bed and Breakfast on U St. where you can lay your head for as cheap as $95/night. They offer wireless internet, television, and a continental breakfast. Another great thing about the Bed and Breakfast on U St. is the neighborhood. It lies right in the middle of the U St. business district which has a number of great restaurants and bars and it’s directly north of Dupont Circle which offers good shopping and nightlife.

If you’ll be taking the Amtrak into town and want something convenient to Union Station, check out the Phoenix Park Hotel. Not only is this place rich with Irish charm, but they offer a pretty decent deal with rates starting at $129/night. There is no in-house restaurant here, but right next door is the Dubliner Irish Pub which cooks up some delicious Irish cuisine. The accommodations at the Phoenix Park Hotel are comfortable and quaint, making you feel like you’ve temporarily stepped into Ireland for your stay.